Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Defence Readiness Bill on balancing fefence mobilisation requirements with current and future industrial demand for specialist personnel working in (a) private sector industries critical to an effective national response to emergencies and (b) critical national infrastructure.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review set out the need for Defence Readiness legislation this Parliament to give the Government more robust or additional powers to make the UK safe. This could include measures to improve the preparedness of key industries including nuclear, to better protect our Critical National Infrastructure and to support the mobilisation of wider Defence, including industry reserves. As this Government set out to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy on 30 June, a Defence Readiness Bill is potentially a legislative vehicle for the wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape our key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This will lay the groundwork to introduce legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to standardise the criteria for reservist call-out liability across the Armed Forces services.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Under the forthcoming Armed Forces Bill, we will standardise some of the criteria governing this liability, for those personnel who will form the Strategic Reserve (personnel who leave Service and retain a liability to be called back into permanent Service). Call-out liability for personnel on leaving Regular Service is determined by individual circumstances. These include the Service they were part of, the individual commitment or contract that governed their Service, their age, and other specific terms of their discharge such as if for medical or disciplinary reasons.
The policies and processes that underpin call-out liability are under constant review, to ensure that they remain fit for purpose in the current geopolitical environment and beyond.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has conducted a recent audit of the skills and health readiness of ex-Regular personnel who may be called upon during national emergencies.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In support of the Strategic Defence Review recommendation to step-up engagement with the Strategic Reserve, the Military Strategic Headquarters, in partnership with the Military Commands, is leading work to gather and assure the relevant information to ex Regular Service personnel who still hold a Strategic Reserve liability. This includes gathering updated contact details and employer information. We are improving our assurance of this information, such as through the UK exercise programme in coming years.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the accuracy of data on the (a) location, (b) contact details, (c) health and (d) readiness of ex-Regulars held within the strategic reserve.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In support of the Strategic Defence Review recommendation to step-up engagement with the Strategic Reserve, the Military Strategic Headquarters, in partnership with the Military Commands, is leading work to gather and assure the relevant information to ex Regular Service personnel who still hold a Strategic Reserve liability. This includes gathering updated contact details and employer information. We are improving our assurance of this information, such as through the UK exercise programme in coming years.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether applicants from outside the UK who hold Commonwealth citizenship and are under the age of 18 at the time of joining are eligible to join the Army.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Commonwealth citizens, residing outside the UK, must be at least 18 years of age before being eligible to apply to join the Army.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Ministry of Defence's Sex Offending Strategy, published in July 2022, whether he plans to review the current rules on the reporting of sexual offences within the Armed Forces; and whether he plans to change policy to allow certain categories of sexual offences to be reported to civilian police forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Since 2009, the Civilian and Service police have shared jurisdiction for dealing with allegations of criminal offending by Service personnel in the UK. A Service person therefore has the choice to report any crime, including sexual offences, to the Civilian or Service Police.
The establishment of the Defence Serious Crime Command in 2022 created a an independent tri-Service investigative capability, and placed victims at the centre of a more streamlined and effective service. Where a report of sexual offending, or any serious crime, is made to the Service Police, the Defence Serious Crime Unit carries out an independent investigation and the Victim and Witness Care Unit provides support and advice from the point a crime is reported.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on replacing enhanced combat body armour for frontline troops.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The safety of personnel remains the Ministry of Defence’s top priority and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our forces and maintain operational readiness. Where it is appropriate, alternative body armour plates have been issued to those on high-threat deployments.
Work continues, at pace, to test and ensure the safety of sufficient Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) plates. To date 30% of the required number of ECBA plates have been scanned and are in the process of being distributed back to units. This is being prioritised based on operational requirements. It is anticipated that the most impacted users will receive tested ECBA plates by the end of this month.
The Tactical Ballistic Plate programme, which will replace both Osprey body armour and ECBA plates, is expected to deliver from 2027.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on waiving visa fees for (a) non UK nationality veterans who have served for four or more years and (b) dependents of those veterans; and whether he plans to introduce such waivers prior to the planned extension of the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to further authorities.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This Government is committed to scrapping visa fees for non-UK veterans who have served our country for four or more years, and their dependents.
The Ministry of Defence is actively working with the Home Office to take this forward.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the Next Generation (fixed) Communication Network programme since 31 March 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle
Since March 2024, the programme has been reset to leverage existing infrastructure and deliver some benefits earlier, whilst making progress towards broader programme key milestones. The team has been restructured and additional specialist resources have been brought on board. The programme has achieved an amber status following a further IPA review.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) devolved administrations on the potential impact of waiting lists for medical care required in order to pass recruitment standards on the number of candidates dropping out of armed service recruitment processes; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of NHS waiting lists on household income disparities for people awaiting recruitment into the armed services.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In the United Kingdom the provision of healthcare to the general population is devolved; however, the Ministry of Defence (MOD)/UK Departments of Health Partnership Board facilitates joint working across the UK to support recruitment to the Armed Forces and the retention of personnel in Service. Ministers from the MOD and the Department of Health and Social Care have regular discussions on wide range of issues, including those facing the Armed Forces in recruitment.