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Written Question
Veterans: Coronavirus
Monday 6th July 2020

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

What assessment he has made of the effect on veteran welfare of the temporary closure of the Veterans UK telephone helpline during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

Veterans UK has helped over 13,000 veterans since 23 March 2020.

Where urgent or vulnerable veterans have been identified, the Veterans Welfare Service has made immediate contact.


Written Question
Defence: Industry
Monday 20th January 2020

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to revise the Defence Industrial Strategy policy.

Answered by James Heappey

Our refreshed Defence Industrial Policy, published in December 2017, sets out our commitment to encouraging a thriving and globally competitive UK defence sector. The Ministry of Defence keeps its approach under constant review to ensure that the implementation and impact of our policies remain effective. We have decided in the past to adopt alternative approaches in specific areas, as we have done in Shipbuilding and Combat Air, and we continually assess our approach to other sectors to determine whether we need to develop separate strategies. Our approach to the Land sector is no different. Last year the Army launched the Army Industrial Engagement Framework which defined how the Army will develop a more cohesive and effective relationship with industry throughout the procurement and development process. The refreshed Defence Industrial Policy from 2017 remains the overarching policy document which describes our approach to industry more broadly.


Written Question
Army: Vehicles
Monday 20th January 2020

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his Department's policy to ensure that future vehicle procurement programmes for the British Army are awarded through open competition.

Answered by James Heappey

The Government's default position on defence procurement remains competition wherever appropriate. The Ministry of Defence has a responsibility to procure the best equipment for our Armed Forces whilst achieving value for money for the taxpayer.


Written Question
Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement
Monday 20th January 2020

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish representations his Department has received on value for money in relation to Armoured Fighting Vehicle procurements.

Answered by James Heappey

The approach taken by the Ministry of Defence to both achieving and demonstrating value for money follows clear policy and guidance, with the evidential case being subject to full independent scrutiny. Comprehensive market analysis of the options available for the procurement of Armoured Fighting Vehicles is conducted as part of this process, and this includes industry representation.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Land
Monday 20th January 2020

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department has not published a strategy for the land sector similar to those for the air and maritime sectors.

Answered by James Heappey

Our refreshed Defence Industrial Policy, published in December 2017, sets out our commitment to encouraging a thriving and globally competitive UK defence sector. The Ministry of Defence keeps its approach under constant review to ensure that the implementation and impact of our policies remain effective. We have decided in the past to adopt alternative approaches in specific areas, as we have done in Shipbuilding and Combat Air, and we continually assess our approach to other sectors to determine whether we need to develop separate strategies. Our approach to the Land sector is no different. Last year the Army launched the Army Industrial Engagement Framework which defined how the Army will develop a more cohesive and effective relationship with industry throughout the procurement and development process. The refreshed Defence Industrial Policy from 2017 remains the overarching policy document which describes our approach to industry more broadly.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Land
Monday 20th January 2020

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will include a land sector strategy in its Defence Industrial Strategy refresh.

Answered by James Heappey

Our refreshed Defence Industrial Policy, published in December 2017, sets out our commitment to encouraging a thriving and globally competitive UK defence sector. The Ministry of Defence keeps its approach under constant review to ensure that the implementation and impact of our policies remain effective. We have decided in the past to adopt alternative approaches in specific areas, as we have done in Shipbuilding and Combat Air, and we continually assess our approach to other sectors to determine whether we need to develop separate strategies. Our approach to the Land sector is no different. Last year the Army launched the Army Industrial Engagement Framework which defined how the Army will develop a more cohesive and effective relationship with industry throughout the procurement and development process. The refreshed Defence Industrial Policy from 2017 remains the overarching policy document which describes our approach to industry more broadly.


Written Question
Defence: Expenditure
Monday 30th September 2019

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row AA of the table entitled Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published on 9 May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Defence Capability DE&S DEL Costs.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Ministry of Defence is committed to appropriate transparency of its finances, and we make regular reports to Parliament on our expenditure as well as being subject to regular National Audit Office studies on various aspects of our expenditure. In particular, we produce an account of the Department's actual expenditure every year in the Annual Report and Accounts, and we also publish annually a detailed report on the Equipment Plan, focusing on departmental spending on the procurement and support of military equipment. These reports set out actual expenditure at the end of the relevant financial year. We published the 2018-19 Annual Report before the summer recess and the equipment plan report is due to be published later this year.

The figures concerned are estimates and are subject to variations in expenditure that take place throughout the year as the Department undertakes its business. The definitive record of our expenditure is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts and Equipment Plan. The Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2020 will be published in summer 2020 and the Equipment Plan 2019 is due to be published later this year. The latest versions of both publications can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-19

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2018


Written Question
Defence: Expenditure
Monday 30th September 2019

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row AB of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published on 9 May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading War Pension Benefits Programme Costs.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Ministry of Defence is committed to appropriate transparency of its finances, and we make regular reports to Parliament on our expenditure as well as being subject to regular National Audit Office studies on various aspects of our expenditure. In particular, we produce an account of the Department's actual expenditure every year in the Annual Report and Accounts, and we also publish annually a detailed report on the Equipment Plan, focusing on departmental spending on the procurement and support of military equipment. These reports set out actual expenditure at the end of the relevant financial year. We published the 2018-19 Annual Report before the summer recess and the equipment plan report is due to be published later this year.

The figures concerned are estimates and are subject to variations in expenditure that take place throughout the year as the Department undertakes its business. The definitive record of our expenditure is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts and Equipment Plan. The Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2020 will be published in summer 2020 and the Equipment Plan 2019 is due to be published later this year. The latest versions of both publications can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-19

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2018


Written Question
Defence: Expenditure
Monday 30th September 2019

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row AC of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Ministry of Defence is committed to appropriate transparency of its finances, and we make regular reports to Parliament on our expenditure as well as being subject to regular National Audit Office studies on various aspects of our expenditure. In particular, we produce an account of the Department's actual expenditure every year in the Annual Report and Accounts, and we also publish annually a detailed report on the Equipment Plan, focusing on departmental spending on the procurement and support of military equipment. These reports set out actual expenditure at the end of the relevant financial year. We published the 2018-19 Annual Report before the summer recess and the equipment plan report is due to be published later this year.

The figures concerned are estimates and are subject to variations in expenditure that take place throughout the year as the Department undertakes its business. The definitive record of our expenditure is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts and Equipment Plan. The Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2020 will be published in summer 2020 and the Equipment Plan 2019 is due to be published later this year. The latest versions of both publications can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-19

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2018


Written Question
Defence: Expenditure
Monday 30th September 2019

Asked by: Gerald Jones (Labour - Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row AD of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the Cash Release of Provisions Administration Costs.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Ministry of Defence is committed to appropriate transparency of its finances, and we make regular reports to Parliament on our expenditure as well as being subject to regular National Audit Office studies on various aspects of our expenditure. In particular, we produce an account of the Department's actual expenditure every year in the Annual Report and Accounts, and we also publish annually a detailed report on the Equipment Plan, focusing on departmental spending on the procurement and support of military equipment. These reports set out actual expenditure at the end of the relevant financial year. We published the 2018-19 Annual Report before the summer recess and the equipment plan report is due to be published later this year.

The figures concerned are estimates and are subject to variations in expenditure that take place throughout the year as the Department undertakes its business. The definitive record of our expenditure is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts and Equipment Plan. The Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2020 will be published in summer 2020 and the Equipment Plan 2019 is due to be published later this year. The latest versions of both publications can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-19

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2018