Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contribution the UK mission to Afghanistan is making to the protection of Hazara civilians.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The UK continues to monitor the number of civilian casualties and displaced persons as a result of the recent violence in Ghazni and Uruzgan. The Afghan Security Forces have been in the lead for the security of the Afghan people since 2015 and owing to the Afghan Security Forces response, the situation in these two provinces is stabilising. The UK is committed to supporting the Afghan Security Forces to ensure their capability continues to improve in order to successfully protect all ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2017 to Question 8867 on Devonport Dockyard, what progress he is making on the construction of a dry dock at Devonport for the Astute class submarine.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Ministry of Defence continues to undertake work to define the future infrastructure requirements to support the Astute Class at Devonport.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what protection the Royal Navy is providing for the protection of (a) coastal waters and (b) fishing stocks off the Horn of Africa.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Royal Navy does not conduct operations specifically for the protection of fishing stocks off the Horn of Africa, but has contributed ships and personnel to the European Union Counter Piracy Mission under Operation Atalanta. The Royal Navy also contributes, alongside 32 other countries, to Combined Maritime Forces, which conduct Maritime Security Operations in the region.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the specification is for the radar in relation to expressions of interest for the Fleet Solid Support Ships.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Expressions of Interest process for the Fleet Solid Support ships did not include any technical specifications. The detailed technical specification requirements will be released to companies that are invited to negotiate for the Design and Manufacture contract.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to increase the pay of civilian physiotherapists employed by his Department in line with the enhanced terms being introduced in the NHS.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Physiotherapists employed in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are paid in accordance with the NHS Agenda for Change (England) pay arrangements. The 2018 pay award to MOD physiotherapists, as with all other Agenda for Change grades, is aligned with the pay agreement implemented in the NHS. The award will be paid in the November pay roll.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
What priority his Department accords to the preservation of UK shipbuilding capacity when awarding contracts to build the fleet solid support ships.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy was clear that for reasons of national security warships must be built in the UK.
Fleet solid support ships do not fall under the National Shipbuilding Strategy definition of a warship. All non-Warships are procured through international competition to secure best value for money.
We have encouraged UK shipyards to participate in the competition and have been pleased with the positive engagement so far.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
What priority his Department accords to the preservation of UK shipbuilding capacity when awarding contracts to build the fleet solid support ships.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy was clear that for reasons of national security warships must be built in the UK.
Fleet solid support ships do not fall under the National Shipbuilding Strategy definition of a warship. All non-Warships are procured through international competition to secure best value for money.
We have encouraged UK shipyards to participate in the competition and have been pleased with the positive engagement so far.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer 25 June 2018 to Question 155681 on United Kingdom Security Vetting, how many of the five applications were refused.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
None. Any information was disclosed lawfully in accordance with data protection legislation, balancing the necessity for the release with the protection of the individual's rights.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what requirement the UK Security Vetting Agency has to hand over vetting material to the police; how many such applications have been received by that agency; and how many such applications have been complied with by that agency in the last two years.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) has an obligation to act in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
UKSV was created on 1 January 2017, since this date there have been five applications for data to be shared with police authorities, all requests have been responded to in accordance with Data Protection Legislation.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has offered British assistance in de-mining Hodeidah port in Yemen and surrounding waters.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
It is essential that the port of al-Hudaydah remains open to commercial and humanitarian shipping. The UK is liaising with international partners to determine the best way to ensure this happens. If de-mining is required the UK has relevant expertise and capabilities that could be brought to bear to facilitate access of humanitarian and commercial shipping.