To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Armed Forces
Monday 4th March 2024

Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to (a) upgrade military equipment and (b) increase recruitment.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Defence Command Paper 21 made several significant announcements around new and upgrading military equipment and we are recapitalising across a range of equipment. Recently announced investments include Jackal 3, Protector Remotely Piloted Air System, Space Control capabilities and Type 31 Frigates. These choices ensure investment in modern warfighting capabilities that will endure and provide relevance well into the next decade.

For the second part of the hon. Member's question, with regards to recruitment, please refer to the answer provided by the right hon. Dr Andrew Murrison on 19 January 2024 to Question 9841.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Labour Turnover
Monday 18th July 2022

Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to improve retention figures across the armed forces.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

We closely monitor where skills shortages impact on the ability to deliver Operational outputs and the impact on specific “Pinch Point” cadres.

These include financial incentives, flexible service, and an improved accommodation offer.

We have also frozen daily food charges, limited accommodation charge increases to 1%, are ensuring council tax rebates reach those in military accommodation and are increasing availability of free wraparound childcare.


Written Question
Teachers: Recruitment
Thursday 12th November 2020

Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his departmental press release of 24 May 2019 on UN peacekeeping operations, what progress he has made in (a) conducting and (b) acting on the results of a study to identify barriers to women joining peacekeeping operations.

Answered by James Heappey

The Department continues to explore ?options for conducting the UK study into the barriers preventing women from deploying on UN Peacekeeping Operations. The UK currently meets or is close to meeting the UN Secretary-General's Gender Parity targets for 2020. We remain committed to acting fully on our policy commitment; the Gender Barrier Study will provide an evidence base for future initiatives as we work to meet the year-on-year increases for the participation of uniformed women peacekeepers set out by the UN.


Written Question
Navy: Pay
Tuesday 1st September 2020

Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward the date of the next Submariner remuneration, which is next planned to be undertaken in 2024, to help improve the retention of Submarine Watch Leaders.

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

The Royal Navy assesses that there is no merit in bringing forward the date of the next Submariner remuneration review.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Monday 13th July 2020

Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to (a) speed up and (b) streamline the recruitment process of military personnel.

Answered by James Heappey

The Armed Forces have recently introduced measures to improve recruiting performance. These include improved candidate relationship management, a review of medical procedures and policies, and prioritisation of recruitment for key areas. Our re-joiner programmes also aim to expedite the return of skilled and experienced personnel. Officer recruitment is healthy in all three Services and the Financial Year 19/20 has seen an improvement on the previous year in Other Ranks intake by 14% for the Naval Service, 77% for the Army and 25% for the RAF. At Single Service level, we are exploring initiatives to streamline and accelerate recruitment from Commonwealth countries.


Written Question
Submarines: Staff
Friday 10th July 2020

Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring back charge pay for Submarine Watch Leaders to help improve retention of those personnel.

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

Recruitment and Retention Pay (Submariner) Level 5, which is sometimes referred to as 'charge pay', is currently paid to suitably qualified officers who meet the qualifying criteria.

The eligibility criteria for the allowance are periodically reviewed and will be part of the Submariner remuneration review which is next planned to be undertaken in 2024.


Written Question
Veterans UK: Remote Working
Wednesday 13th May 2020

Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) systems and (b) processes are required to be introduced to ensure that Veterans UK is able provide its full portfolio of benefit services while staff are working from home.

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

Officials have been working together with the Trades Union to ensure there is a safe system of work in place to enable as many staff as possible who are unable to work remotely to safely to return to the office. Protocols have been agreed and staff that need to be in the workplace are returning to work. These protocols are in accordance with Government guidelines.

Over the next three years, Veterans UK is undergoing a £30 million transformation and modernisation programme to digitise its pension and compensation schemes and to drive innovation and modernisation, including the development of self-serve systems for claimants. This transformation will enable staff to access the required information and work remotely without the need for hard copy files.


Written Question
Veterans: Pensions
Wednesday 13th May 2020

Asked by: Anthony Mangnall (Conservative - Totnes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department provides to veterans that are waiting for pension decisions during the covid-19 outbreak.

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

The Veterans UK website has been recently updated to make it easier and clearer for claimants to seek the help and assistance they require. Welfare Managers continue to provide advice, information and support to their respective client groups, in response to contact and referrals, utilising telephone calls, emails and Skype. Face-to-face visits are organised only where it is absolutely necessary to do so. Welfare Managers are proactively keeping in touch with known vulnerable veterans to offer support and reassurance and are working closely with local and national business partners in the 3rd sector and statutory providers of services, to ensure those in need of additional support are linked into services that they may require.

Where terminally ill veterans or those suffering particular hardship are identified, Veterans UK has in place a small team which is able to safely access the office to take action on urgent cases where the case evidence needed to do so is available.

In addition, the Veterans' Gateway, a 24-hour point of contact for veterans' support, launched a new app enabling any ex-Service personnel in need of support to get help using a smartphone or tablet. The new app, funded by the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund, helps veterans find organisations within their local area to help with issues such as finances, housing, employment, relationship, physical and mental health. The directory, which is intuitive and easy to use, groups all NHS facilities across the country, and over 2,000 charitable organisations, allowing veterans and their families to access local support quickly and easily.