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 steps his Department is taking to remove combustible cladding on multi-storey accommodation blocks at HMNB Clyde; and what his planned timescale is for that removal.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Investigations to determine the level of required remediation are underway. Should removal be recommended as part of remedial works, timescales will be determined once investigations are complete.
All high-rise buildings currently occupied on the defence estate which have been identified as having combustible external wall systems have a current Fire Risk Assessment in place and remain legally compliant for continued occupation.
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, when the combustible cladding on 22 multi-storey accommodation blocks at HMNB was last inspected.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The last inspection of accommodation blocks at HMNB Clyde took place in May 2021. This consisted of a check of the external wall systems of a sample of six accommodation blocks, which represent the three different design types of the 22 accommodation blocks.
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, when combustible cladding was first identified as having been used on 22 multi-storey accommodation blocks at HMNB Clyde.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) were informed of combustible external wall systems on 17 of the 22 high rise accommodation blocks at HMNB Clyde in December 2013, when an independent report was commissioned by Head of Establishment Clyde. Following this report substantial fire compartmentation works were carried out by MOD’s contractor mitigating the risk of retaining the external walling system. The subsequent fire risk assessments have confirmed that the buildings remain legally compliant for continued occupation.
The external wall systems on these high rise buildings do not contain Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) used on the external wall system of Grenfell Tower. In 2017, MOD confirmed that it had no high rise residential buildings containing ACM within their external walling systems.
The 22 high rise buildings at the Clyde are primarily of a block and brick construction. The partial cladding is on the top floor and around an inner core. Investigations are ongoing as to what remediation if any is required to these wall systems.
All high rise buildings currently occupied on the defence estate which have been identified as having combustible external wall systems, have a current Fire Risk Assessment in place and remain legally compliant for continued occupation.
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, when combustible cladding was last added to any new or existing building at HMNB Clyde.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The most recent high rise building completed at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde with an external wall system that investigations have revealed to have combustible elements was handed over to the Royal Navy in 2019.
All high rise buildings currently occupied on the Defence estate which have been identified as having combustible external wall systems, have a current Fire Risk Assessment in place and remain legally compliant for continued occupation.
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 building projects on his estate, including at HMNB Clyde, that were found to be using, or were planning to use combustible cladding in the construction were allowed to continue following the fire at Grenfell in 2017.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Following the Grenfell fire new Government regulations were issued on combustible materials. These initially focussed on Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) used on the Grenfell Tower. Investigations confirmed that none of the external wall systems employed in the MOD’s highrise buildings contained ACM nor were any highrise buildings already designed and being delivered to the MOD expected to contain ACM.
Further regulations have since been issued by the relevant authorities.
All new builds on the defence estate are subject to these revised Building Regulations. The consideration of whether combustible external walling systems can be provided on buildings is defined within National Building Standards and is related to building height.
In addition, in 2020 the MOD introduced a policy directive instructing that all new external walling systems should comprise of non-combustible components.
In all highrise buildings currently occupied on the defence estate identified as having combustible external wall systems, a current Fire Risk Assessment is in place and the buildings remain legally compliant for continued occupation.
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 building projects on his estate, including at HMNB Clyde, that were found to be using, or were planning to use combustible cladding in the construction were halted, following the fire at Grenfell in 2017.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Following the Grenfell fire new Government regulations were issued on combustible materials. These initially focussed on Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) used on the Grenfell Tower. Investigations confirmed that none of the external wall systems employed in the MOD’s highrise buildings contained ACM nor were any highrise buildings already designed and being delivered to the MOD expected to contain ACM.
Further regulations have since been issued by the relevant authorities.
All new builds on the defence estate are subject to these revised Building Regulations. The consideration of whether combustible external walling systems can be provided on buildings is defined within National Building Standards and is related to building height.
In addition, in 2020 the MOD introduced a policy directive instructing that all new external walling systems should comprise of non-combustible components.
In all highrise buildings currently occupied on the defence estate identified as having combustible external wall systems, a current Fire Risk Assessment is in place and the buildings remain legally compliant for continued occupation.
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 building projects on his estate, including at HMNB Clyde, following the fire at Grenfell in 2017, were found to be using, or were planning to use combustible cladding in the construction.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Following the Grenfell fire new Government regulations were issued on combustible materials. These initially focussed on Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) used on the Grenfell Tower. Investigations confirmed that none of the external wall systems employed in the MOD’s highrise buildings contained ACM nor were any highrise buildings already designed and being delivered to the MOD expected to contain ACM.
Further regulations have since been issued by the relevant authorities.
All new builds on the defence estate are subject to these revised Building Regulations. The consideration of whether combustible external walling systems can be provided on buildings is defined within National Building Standards and is related to building height.
In addition, in 2020 the MOD introduced a policy directive instructing that all new external walling systems should comprise of non-combustible components.
In all highrise buildings currently occupied on the defence estate identified as having combustible external wall systems, a current Fire Risk Assessment is in place and the buildings remain legally compliant for continued occupation.
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 Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme (a) applications were fully processed, (b) applicants and their families were able to leave for the UK before 14 August 2021 and (c) applicants were processed between 15 August 2021 and 28 August 2021 were (i) called forward to Kabul International airport and (ii) evacuated.
Answered by James Heappey
Under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, prior to the start of OP PITTING on 14 August, 850 applications were accepted, and 1,978 people were relocated to the UK.
During OP PITTING, no new applications were processed, although around 800 additional individuals were approved for the scheme as the eligibility criteria were expanded.
All of those eligible or otherwise approved for the scheme were called forward and around 7,000 were evacuated.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2021 to Question 143011 on Saudi Arabia: Training, for what reason disclosing that information would prejudice relations between the UK and another state; and for what reason disclosing similar information in the Answers of 6 July 2020 to Question 69656 and of 9 July 2020 to Question 69657 on Saudi Arabia: Military Aid was not deemed prejudicial to those relations.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK has an ongoing and wide-ranging defence engagement relationship with Saudi Arabia which is an important partner regionally and in tackling potential security and terrorist threats to both the UK and other countries.
We consider the circumstances for disclosing information related to international training on a case-by-case basis. With regards to the information sought in the hon. Member's question, we have concluded that its release could prejudice international relations.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2020 to Question 106364 on Overseas Aid, how many projects were applied for by his Department under the Integrated Activity Fund; what the titles were of those projects; and how many of those projects were (a) approved and (b) subject to Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessment in each financial year since 2016-17.
Answered by James Heappey
We do not disclose information related to Integrated Activity Fund projects as it would, or would be likely to, prejudice our relations with other States.