Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to increase the number of hours of training for armed forces personnel on the security risks of using private social media.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Ministry of Defence does not have any plans to update military law regarding the use of social media by Armed Forces personnel.
Policy and guidance on the use of social media is set out in the MOD’s Acceptable Use Policy (JSP 740), which is available to all armed forces personnel. The MOD recognises the importance of educating personnel on the security risks of social media and runs both security awareness campaigns and online learning programs. The MOD has recently introduced new cyber security training for all personnel that includes a module on social media and will continue to use different communication means to reinforce the message.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he will take steps to update military law to ensure the secure use of social media by armed forces personnel.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Ministry of Defence does not have any plans to update military law regarding the use of social media by Armed Forces personnel.
Policy and guidance on the use of social media is set out in the MOD’s Acceptable Use Policy (JSP 740), which is available to all armed forces personnel. The MOD recognises the importance of educating personnel on the security risks of social media and runs both security awareness campaigns and online learning programs. The MOD has recently introduced new cyber security training for all personnel that includes a module on social media and will continue to use different communication means to reinforce the message.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on implementing phase 2 of the roll-out of veterans' identity cards.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr Doogan) to Question 193995 on 18 July 2023.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to counter the potential threat from surveillance balloons over (a) the UK and (b) UK military bases.
Answered by James Heappey
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Deane to Questions 140020 and 140021 on 14 February 2023.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will hold discussions with the NATO Secretary General on ending the export of defence equipment to Russia by NATO members.
Answered by James Heappey
We are not aware of any NATO Allies exporting defence equipment to Russia. The Secretary of State for Defence routinely engages with his NATO counterparts and the NATO Secretary General regarding NATO's posture towards Russia.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial support his Department provides for the maintenance and care of war graves in Shropshire; and how his Department coordinates that maintenance with the Church of England.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The care and maintenance of the graves of those personnel who lost their lives in the two World Wars throughout the UK is undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The Department provides an annual Grant-in-Aid contribution to the Commission to fund the enduring work and in doing so provides the largest element of the Commission’s funding. In taking this work forward the Commission and the MOD engage with the relevant authorities as required, including the Church of the England.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will revise the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy to reflect trends in the level of nuclear threats to the UK.
Answered by Alex Chalk
The Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (DSIS) has reinforced the need to consider industry as a capability in its own right, and ensure closer and earlier dialogue with industry. DSIS set out in detail where there is a strategic imperative for industrial capabilities to reside in the UK, including those capabilities relating to nuclear warheads and submarines, and the Government has already committed to a once-in-two-generations programme to modernise our nuclear forces.
We will review the DSIS alongside the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper refresh and will decide as part of that process whether a new publication is warranted.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to publicise the continuing obligations of discharged service personnel under the Official Secrets Act.
Answered by James Heappey
Obligations to the Official Secret Acts is lifelong and Personnel are reminded of this upon their departure from Defence. Ministry of Defence (MOD) works with Defence Industry to ensure that these reminders continue for those personnel that seek future employment in the private sector.
In relation to the recent threat alert regarding the threat alert on RAF pilots being recruited to train Chinese fighter pilots, we have no evidence that anyone has breached the high threshold of the OSA, but if any evidence were to be forthcoming, we would not hesitate to bring criminal charges. The Department takes this matter extremely seriously and are actively taking measures to deter future recruitment. We are engaging with the individuals already involved to ensure they are fully aware of the risk of prosecution under the Officials Secrets Act.
In cases where the MOD has identified personnel who may be tempted by the offer, we have undertaken a range of measures to remind them of their obligations under the Official Secrets Act, as well as taking action to mitigate any potential damage. By going public, we want to encourage increased reporting of any approaches and to deter anyone who may be considering an offer. Current serving personnel are also being given unequivocal advice about the unacceptability of such activity.
Additionally, we have issued an alert to the UK Defence Industry to make them aware, requesting that they communicate the threat to their personnel, to ensure that the alert is as widely disseminated as possible to any potential recruitment targets.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will issue guidance to service personnel on discharge concerning their continuing obligations under the Official Secrets Act.
Answered by James Heappey
We have procedures that ensure staff are regularly reminded of their obligations while in Service. Personnel are then reminded of their ongoing obligations under the Official Secrets Act upon their departure from Defence. If there is any evidence that personnel breach the Official Secrets Act we would not hesitate to bring criminal charges.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help provide mental health support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Answered by James Heappey
We continue to tailor the training we are providing to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to meet their needs. Following a recent reassessment of critical AFU training requirements, UK-based training for Ukrainian soldiers has been expanded and increased in duration. To date, mental health programmes have not been formally or specifically requested by the AFU within their requirement for rehabilitation or military training.