Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what value for money assessments he has conducted on the closure of his Department's barracks and facilities in York.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The investment, and value for money, in providing modern and sustainable facilities for Armed Forces personnel moving from York has been and continues to be, evaluated at each stage of the project since it was announced in 2016. Further work is ongoing to assess requirements to effectively deliver Future Soldier. This work is being done in-line with Treasury and Department policy and guidance, to provide the facilities needed for a more agile Army.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether armed forces personnel will be embedded in public health services in York other than ambulance and vaccine delivery services.
Answered by James Heappey
The Armed Forces are currently providing Service personnel to support the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and vaccinator support to the York area. Requests for further support in other roles will be considered through the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) process in the normal way.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what opportunities there will be to relocate parts of the armed forces to York after 2028.
Answered by James Heappey
As part of delivering future Army capability and optimising the Defence Estate, the hon. Member will be aware that Regular Army units, including Headquarters 1 (UK) Division, will relocate to Catterick Garrison by 2029.
The Department remains committed to keeping an Army Reserve presence in the city.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to help ensure the presence of the Army in York after 2028.
Answered by James Heappey
As part of delivering future Army capability and optimising the Defence Estate, the hon. Member will be aware that Regular Army units, including Headquarters 1 (UK) Division, will relocate to Catterick Garrison by 2029.
The Department remains committed to keeping an Army Reserve presence in the city.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel are embedded with Yorkshire Ambulance Service since 18 January 2022; and whether that number is set to increase.
Answered by James Heappey
Defence has provided 112 Armed Forces personnel through the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) system to support the Yorkshire Ambulance Service since 17 January 2022. This support is expected to end on 31 March 2022. Any changes to the number of personnel deployed will be considered through the MACA process in the normal way.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the embedding of armed forces personnel within Yorkshire Ambulance Service to conclude.
Answered by James Heappey
Defence has provided support through the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) system to the Yorkshire Ambulance Service since 17 January 2022. This support is expected to end on 31 March 2022.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many homes his Department has provided to people arriving under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the Home Office to identify where we can best support those under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy.
Around 550 Service Family Accomodation properties have been made available, however this is not intended as a long-term or settled housing solution and the standard is a 12-month lease. There may be options for extensions on a case-by-case basis in discussion with the relevant Local Authority based on Service need.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many units of empty property his Department directly holds that can be used or repurposed for residential accommodation.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) leases 37,620 properties in England and Wales that are owned by Annington Homes Ltd (AHL). Of these, 7,230 are vacant. No properties are leased from AHL in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In the UK, there are a total of 9,230 vacant Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties. A total of 4,629 are required by the MOD. The remaining 4,601 have either been identified for disposal or are in process for modernisation.
The MOD is required to retain an overall management margin of short-term, empty, properties to ensure their availability for when Service Personnel (SP) apply for accommodation, and to also allow for intrusive major improvement works to be carried out.
Information on other units of vacant property that could be repurposed for residential accommodation is not held.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many empty homes does Annington holds on behalf of his Department.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) leases 37,620 properties in England and Wales that are owned by Annington Homes Ltd (AHL). Of these, 7,230 are vacant. No properties are leased from AHL in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In the UK, there are a total of 9,230 vacant Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties. A total of 4,629 are required by the MOD. The remaining 4,601 have either been identified for disposal or are in process for modernisation.
The MOD is required to retain an overall management margin of short-term, empty, properties to ensure their availability for when Service Personnel (SP) apply for accommodation, and to also allow for intrusive major improvement works to be carried out.
Information on other units of vacant property that could be repurposed for residential accommodation is not held.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to bring empty homes in Linton-on-Ouse into use for resettlement purposes.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) currently has 76 houses located outside the security fence at Linton-on-Ouse. All are on lease from Annington Homes Ltd (AHL). MOD made a contractual commitment on 6 August 2021 to hand back 56 houses with vacant possession to AHL on 9 February 2022, after which they will no longer be controlled by the Department. This is part of an ongoing contractual requirement to hand back MOD houses to AHL on an annual basis. The remaining 20 houses need to be retained for use by the Department. Houses inside the security fence are not available for use other than by military families.