Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of developing regulations to safeguard against the mis-use of DNA synthetic screening by the (a) armed forces and (b) defence industry.
Answered by Ben Wallace
Defence has committed to adopting new technologies in a responsible way and responsible science was a key theme of the 2018 UK Biological Security Strategy. UKRI continues to promote this with UK industry through a responsible innovation campaign.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse is of the repainting of the RAF Voyager plane used by senior members of the Government.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The total forecast cost for completing the repaint of the RAF Voyager VIP aircraft (including related costs) is approximately £900,000. The project will be carried out by Marshall Aerospace Defence Group (MADG) in Cambridge.
The decision to repaint the VIP Voyager - and approval of a design that best projected Global Britain - was taken on a cross-Government basis, to be funded by the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to give veterans affected by mesothelioma the choice between receiving a traditional War Pension or a lump sum payment that is comparable to the awards given to civilians under the Government's Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Mesothelioma is a devastating disease affecting not only the individual diagnosed, but their family and loved ones. It is important to ensure we offer the right support for those veterans affected.
As I announced on 16 December 2015, veterans who were diagnosed on or after that date with diffuse mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos during their military service prior to 6 April 2015 would have the option of receiving a lump sum of £140,000 under the War Pension Scheme. For those who elect to receive the lump sum, this will take the place of the current arrangements of payment of a regular War Pension, any Supplementary Allowances and dependant's benefits.
The necessary legislative changes need time to be brought into effect. Subject to the agreement of the Privy Council, these changes will be made on 11 April 2016.
Those diagnosed on or after 16 December 2016, who elect to receive the lump sum before legislation has been introduced, will in the interim be able to receive the War Disablement Pension and any Supplementary Allowances until the lump sum is paid. Any such payments would then be deducted from the lump sum which will be paid following the introduction of the legislation on 11 April 2016.
The Veterans Welfare Service is on hand to help claimants and their families understand the details of the options available.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants filed and subsequently withdrew HR Form 034 in each of the last four financial years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
HR Form 034 is for Ministry of Defence Civil Servants only. It is not possible to provide the information requested because records of resignation withdrawals are not held on the Ministry of Defence's Human Resources Management System. If a resignation was entered on to the system using HR Form 034, but then withdrawn, it is deleted.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants have filed and subsequently withdrawn HR Form 034 since 27 October 2014.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
HR Form 034 is for Ministry of Defence Civil Servants only. It is not possible to provide the information requested because records of resignation withdrawals are not held on the Ministry of Defence's Human Resources Management System. If a resignation was entered on to the system using HR Form 034, but then withdrawn, it is deleted.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he is making to the French government on awarding the Legion d'Honneur to D-Day veterans.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Following President Hollande's extremely generous offer in respect of awarding the Legion d'Honneur to veterans of the campaigns to liberate France, UK officials, both in London and at the Embassy in Paris, are engaging closely with their French colleagues in order that the process may be operated as quickly and as smoothly as possible.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to publish his Department's report, undertaken in December 2014, on the training of Libyan soldiers at Bassingbourn Barracks and subsequent attacks in Cambridge.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 June 2015 to Question 3199 to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon).