Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
What steps is he taking to improve British defence capacity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Answered by James Heappey
We have increased our military presence in the Indo-Pacific, expanding our exercising and training to build capacity of UK and partner forces. We have deployed two Offshore Patrol Vessels and uplifted our Defence Network, whilst maintaining a permanent presence in Singapore, Brunei and the British Indian Ocean Territory. We have also signed a new treaty with Japan to enable increased access to the region.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral contribution of 22 March 2021, Official Report, column 639, if he will publish further details of the Army's restructuring.
Answered by Leo Docherty
In relation to the comments the hon. Member refers to, I would refer him to the further statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, on 25 November 2021, in which he announced details of Future Soldier, laying out the new structure of the Army.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army personnel are currently enrolled on an apprenticeship scheme.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The Army currently employs around 15,000 apprentices, with over 20,000 personnel successfully completing an apprenticeship from April 2018 to March 2022.
The Army has recently been recognised as the best apprenticeship employer in the country for 2022, which showcases the scale, reach, diversity, and quality of the apprenticeship programme, whilst reinforcing the variety of employment, available trades, and development opportunities for those seeking to join.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of phasing out the use of real bear-skin hats for the Queen’s Guard and replacing them with a faux bear-skin hat.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the Member to the answers I provided to Questions 118592 on 10 February 2022 and 87697 on 14 December 2021 respectively.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to prevent outbreaks of covid-19 in the armed forces.
Answered by James Heappey
The Armed Forces have adopted a multi-layered approach to reducing the likelihood of COVID-19 outbreaks by following national recommendations and guidelines throughout the pandemic. This has included encouraging vaccination and booster uptake, social distancing, the wearing of face coverings, workplace testing, and proactive efforts to trace and contain COVID-19 whenever it has arisen.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that veterans are (a) supported in obtaining their military pension and (b) provided with adequate support where difficulties arise.
Answered by Leo Docherty
Although it is the member's responsibility to claim their Armed Forces pension when it is due, the MOD actively traces members if the deferred pension has not been claimed and the age at which the pension is payable has passed.
The Armed Forces Pension Schemes (AFPS) have a wide range of easy to understand booklets and videos on the pension schemes which can be accessed on the gov.uk website and YouTube. Scheme booklets are also provided to members when they join, which provide advice on their AFPS pension and the steps they must take to make a claim for their deferred pension.Additionally, pension briefs and training are offered in service.
For serving personnel or veterans who need support or are experiencing difficulties, the Veterans Welfare Service provides free and confidential advice on a wide range of issues. Welfare Managers can provide welfare support and engage with the Joint Personnel Administration Centre (JPAC) or the Armed Forces Pension Scheme team on the individual's behalf. All members also have access to the JPAC Enquiry Centre who can provide personal pension information and can offer support where necessary.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
What plans he has to increase the number of people applying to join the armed forces.
Answered by James Heappey
Interest in the Armed Forces has been strong over the last recruiting year with 2019-20 seeing intake increase by 31%.
Recruitment campaigns and the advertising that accompanies them continues as planned. There is a Covid-related reduction in basic training capacity but all three Services are looking to work around this. Most notably, we’ve seen sailors passing out alongside their officers at BRNC Dartmouth last month.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to commemorate those who gave their lives in Aden.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Armed Forces Memorial, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Shropshire, is a nationally significant focus for Remembrance. It honours those members of the Armed Forces (Regular and Reserve) who were killed on duty while performing functions attributable to the special circumstances and requirements of the Armed Forces, or as a result of terrorist action, and those who died while deployed on designated operations. This includes those who lost their lives in the Aden Emergency.
All those brave Service personnel who gave their lives in conflict were commemorated by the Ministry of Defence on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph; the Department has no current plans to specifically commemorate those who gave their lives during the Aden Emergency of 1963-67.