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Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Thursday 6th January 2022

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of applications to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy made under Category 4 since the scheme was established as of 14 December 2021 have been (a) considered eligible and (b) considered eligible and called forward to the airport and (c) considered eligible, called forward to the airport and resettled in the UK.

Answered by James Heappey

The ARAP Scheme has been one of the most generous in the world, under which over 99,000 applications have been received and circa.1,300 Locally Employed Staff (LES) have been relocated to the UK since April.

Those Afghans who were called forward to the Airport have had both their eligibility for ARAP confirmed and successfully undergone the Home Office visa process. However, there is not a separate Category 4 application process, all applicants must apply through the ARAP Scheme application form and a dedicated caseworker will confirm which category applies to the applicant upon deciding eligibility. As such, the information cannot be provided in the format requested.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Wednesday 5th January 2022

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of applications to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy received since that scheme was established had, as at 16 December 2021, received an individual follow up email to indicate that (a) they were eligible, (b) that their case was being further investigated to assess eligibility, (c) that they were not considered eligible to apply, (d) that their application was incomplete or (e) that it was a duplicate application which would not be further considered.

Answered by James Heappey

The ARAP Scheme has been one of the most generous in the world, under which circa.1,300 Locally Employed Staff (LES) have been relocated to the UK since April; and Casework continues seven days a week to process circa. 99,000 applications.

All applications receive an email confirming receipt; and further correspondence, including the issuing of an application reference number is triggered once the team begin initial triaging of an application. Where applications are found to be incomplete, applicants are contacted by caseworkers; however, this is an ongoing dialogue with applicants for which instances are not tracked. A large number of applications are sifted out at an early stage of the process, for example because they are duplicates or incomplete. Therefore, the Department does not keep records of every application that is ruled out.


Written Question
Capita Fire and Rescue: Vacancies
Monday 29th November 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of vacant positions there were at Capita Fire and Rescue as at 24 November 2021; and what comparative assessment he has made of how that vacancy rate compared with the level under his Department's Defence Fire and Rescue Service prior to the transfer of that contract.

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

Capita Fire and Rescue (CFR) provides suitably qualified personnel to meet the operational requirements at designated MOD sites. The MOD closely monitors CFR's ability to maintain operational outputs, but current vacancy levels at Capita is a matter for the company.


Written Question
Capita Fire and Rescue
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether all stations included in his Department's contract with Capita received (a) new firefighting vehicles, (b) PPE, (c) training facilities and (d) any other contractual delivery requirements prior to the reduction of staff at certain Capita stations.

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

The Minstry of Defence (MOD) closely monitors Capita’s delivery against its contractual obligations through a rigorous performance management regime; any changes to crewing levels follow a rigorous assessment of the fire risks at the site, and must be approved by the MOD.

All resilience staff working at HMNB Clyde have the appropriate clearance, but any agreements between Capita Fire and Rescue (CFR) and its sub-contractors on equipment or terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the company. The MOD continues to monitor the situation closely and will take any measures we think are necessary, while also providing CFR and their employees the space to resolve differences.


Written Question
Capita Fire and Rescue: Working Hours
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Capita has reduced the working hours of the staff across the civilian element of Capita Fire and Rescue; and what the total average weekly hours worked by operational staff (a) is as at 23 November 2011 and (b) was prior to transfer.

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

The Minstry of Defence (MOD) closely monitors Capita’s delivery against its contractual obligations through a rigorous performance management regime; any changes to crewing levels follow a rigorous assessment of the fire risks at the site, and must be approved by the MOD.

All resilience staff working at HMNB Clyde have the appropriate clearance, but any agreements between Capita Fire and Rescue (CFR) and its sub-contractors on equipment or terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the company. The MOD continues to monitor the situation closely and will take any measures we think are necessary, while also providing CFR and their employees the space to resolve differences.


Written Question
Clyde Naval Base: Working Hours
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the compliance between duties of resilience staff at HMNB Clyde with (a) the Working Time Directive and (b) other rest requirements set out in law.

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

The Minstry of Defence (MOD) closely monitors Capita’s delivery against its contractual obligations through a rigorous performance management regime; any changes to crewing levels follow a rigorous assessment of the fire risks at the site, and must be approved by the MOD.

All resilience staff working at HMNB Clyde have the appropriate clearance, but any agreements between Capita Fire and Rescue (CFR) and its sub-contractors on equipment or terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the company. The MOD continues to monitor the situation closely and will take any measures we think are necessary, while also providing CFR and their employees the space to resolve differences.


Written Question
Clyde Naval Base: Security
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what level of security clearance the resilience workers have that are working at HMNB Clyde during the industrial action; and whether that security clearance is at the level required at that naval base.

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

The Minstry of Defence (MOD) closely monitors Capita’s delivery against its contractual obligations through a rigorous performance management regime; any changes to crewing levels follow a rigorous assessment of the fire risks at the site, and must be approved by the MOD.

All resilience staff working at HMNB Clyde have the appropriate clearance, but any agreements between Capita Fire and Rescue (CFR) and its sub-contractors on equipment or terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the company. The MOD continues to monitor the situation closely and will take any measures we think are necessary, while also providing CFR and their employees the space to resolve differences.


Written Question
Clyde Naval Base: Contracts
Friday 26th November 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which (a) company or (b) sub-contractors are providing workers to HMNB Clyde during the industrial action at that naval base; and which (a) official or (b) Minister in his Department was responsible for agreeing that contract.

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

The Minstry of Defence (MOD) closely monitors Capita’s delivery against its contractual obligations through a rigorous performance management regime; any changes to crewing levels follow a rigorous assessment of the fire risks at the site, and must be approved by the MOD.

All resilience staff working at HMNB Clyde have the appropriate clearance, but any agreements between Capita Fire and Rescue (CFR) and its sub-contractors on equipment or terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the company. The MOD continues to monitor the situation closely and will take any measures we think are necessary, while also providing CFR and their employees the space to resolve differences.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Buildings
Monday 8th November 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what checks were carried out on all new building projects on his estate, including at HMNB Clyde, following the fire at Grenfell in 2017, to ascertain if combustible cladding was being used on those new buildings.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The Grenfell Tower fire occurred on 14 June 2017. In response to the concerns about building cladding and following Government advice the MOD surveyed the defence estate to establish if any MOD-owned sleeping accommodation blocks over six storeys were clad with Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) during July-August 2017. This found that MOD had no buildings above six storeys clad with ACM.

In December 2018, the then MHCLG issued an updated Advice Note which meant that all buildings at a height in excess of six storeys with any external cladding and containing residential accommodation had to be assessed to ascertain the type of cladding used.

All buildings on the Defence Estate were re-surveyed (surveys completed in July 2019), which identified 28 buildings (subsequently reduced to 27) which had external wall systems requiring further investigation.

Work continues to confirm the remediation required, if necessary on the high rise buildings identified at HMNB Clyde.

All currently occupied high-rise buildings on the defence estate identified as having combustible external wall systems have a current Fire Risk Assessment in place and remain legally compliant for continued occupation.


Written Question
Clyde Naval Base: High Rise Flats
Monday 8th November 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of removing combustible cladding from the 22 multi-storey accommodation blocks and any other buildings at HMNB Clyde; and whether the contractors who constructed the accommodation blocks or his Department will pay for the cost of that work.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

At Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, investigative works are ongoing to assess the extent and type of combustible external wall systems on the accommodation blocks so that remediation plans (if required) and associated costs may be established.