Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
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, Bute and South Lochaber)
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, Bute and South Lochaber)
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, Bute and South Lochaber)
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.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements have been entered into by his Department in each of the last five years in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in his Department.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Having searched through our records, there is no evidence of non-disclosure agreements being entered into by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in each of the last five years.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of enlisted army recruits aged (a) under and (b) over 18-years old have a background in the care system.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
During the recruiting year 2016-17, approximately one per cent of under 18 year-olds who enlisted to the Army were subject to a Care Order.
For over 18s, from the information held centrally, no enlistees declared that they had been subject to a Care Order*. Thirteen per cent chose not to declare this information.
*For over 18s, information was available for 89% of enlistees.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mandatory education is provided to armed forces personnel aged 16 or 17-years old who are not undertaking an apprenticeship in order to ensure that they complete 280 guided learning hours per year towards accredited qualifications.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
All Armed Forces recruits under the age of 18 are enrolled on an apprenticeship. They also receive education in literacy and numeracy, should they need it. The Armed Forces remain the UK's largest apprenticeship provider, equipping young people with valuable and transferable skills for life. OFSTED regularly inspects our care of newly joined young recruits, and we are very proud of the standards we achieve. All apprenticeships require a minimum of 280 Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) within a 12-month period.
Over 95% of all recruits, no matter what their age or prior qualifications, enrol in an Apprenticeship Programme each year. Apprenticeships ensure that Service personnel will gain a Level 2 qualification in literacy and numeracy, which is the equivalent to GCSE (Grade A-C).
Since September 2012, the Department has adopted Functional Skills qualifications (FS (English) and FS (mathematics)) as the accredited measures of literacy and numeracy skills for all Service personnel accessing in-Service literacy and numeracy provision. Defence FS provision will be a blend of in-house and external provision.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of enlisted soldiers stated on their application form that one or both parents are or were in the armed forces.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
This information is not routinely recorded, or held, as part of the recruiting process.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of soldiers who enlist under 18-years old arrive to train without Level (a) 1 and (b) 2 qualifications in both English and mathematics.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Qualification statistics for candidates who entered the Army Foundation College, Harrogate (AFC(H)) in September 2016 are shown below:
Entered without | Literacy | Numeracy |
Level 2 (A*-C) | 71 % | 79 % |
Level 1 (D-G) | 49 % | 67 % |
All under 18 enlistees attend AFC(H), except a very small number who will turn 18 before completion of Phase 1 training.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to review the safeguards on consent to enlistment in the light of the Committee on the Rights of the Child's finding in 2016 that such safeguards were insufficient.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Ministry of Defence policies on under-18s in the Armed Forces are robust and comply with national and international law. In addition to the comprehensive welfare system that is in place for all Service personnel we remain fully committed to meeting our obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, and have taken steps to bestow special safeguards on young people under the age of 18.
Our recruiting policy is absolutely clear. No one under the age of 18 can join the Armed Forces without formal parental consent, which is checked twice during the application process. In addition, parents and guardians are positively encouraged to be engaged with the recruiting staff during the process. Furthermore all Service personnel have a statutory right to claim discharge up to their 18th birthday, and the right of discharge is made clear to all Service personnel on joining the Armed Forces.