Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the causes of the damage to a Royal Air Force C-130J in operations against Daesh in Syria in August 2017; and whether any British service personnel were harmed in that operation.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Director General Defence Safety Authority has convened a Service Inquiry into the causes of the damage to an RAF Hercules C-130J. This is routine when aircraft are damaged beyond economic repair and it would be inappropriate to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing. I can however, confirm that no Service personnel were seriously injured.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received on the work of SSAFA, the armed forces charity.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence has excellent relations with SSAFA and maintains regular contact with them; including through the Service Charities Partnership Board, which I will be attending on 18 October.
I have received SSAFA’s recent report on Veterans welfare and I am considering the recommendations provided.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether officers in gliding schools who are over 65 years of age and have A2* training qualifications or above will be allowed to undertake staff continuation training in the same way as similarly qualified staff aged 65 years old or younger.
Answered by Julian Brazier
In accordance with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulations, pilots over the age of 65 may not operate an aircraft, except with strict restrictions. Therefore, A2* category Gliding Instructors aged 65 or over cannot undertake staff continuation training in the same way as similarly qualified staff below the age of 65.
The relevant MAA regulation (Regulatory Article 2135(3)) states that:
Pilots shall not operate an aircraft once they attain the age of 65 unless the aircraft is fitted with dual controls and is operated with a second pilot who has not yet attained the age of 65. Furthermore, the second pilot shall hold an appropriate qualification and MES (Medical Employment Standard) entitling him to act as pilot in command.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's Written Statement of 10 March 2016, HCWS605, on Air Cadet Aviation Re-launch, whether a decision has been taken to close MDP Wethersfield airfield; and if he will make an assessment of the potential contribution of that facility to supporting 614 Volunteer Gliding Squadron operations in the future.
Answered by Julian Brazier
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Mark Lancaster) on 24 March (Official Report, column 75WS) which confirmed the release of MOD Wethersfield. It is intended that the site will close before this Parliament ends in 2020.
All units based at the site, including 614 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, will be provided for elsewhere.
Work to identify the potential future location for these units will be completed later this year.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department (a) spent in each of the last 10 years and (b) plans to spend in each of the next three years on maintaining war graves; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anna Soubry
As the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War approaches, it is right that we acknowledge the important work undertaken by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to commemorate those who gave their lives during both World Wars.
The CWGC receives financial contributions from its member nations based on the number of graves it maintains on behalf of each nation. Accordingly the UK Government contributes 78.43% to the total CWGC funding.
Financial records are retained for seven years. Information held by the Ministry of Defence indicates that over the last seven financial years the UK Government has made the following payments to CWGC for the maintenance of graves of those who died during the First and Second World Wars. The figures include UK VAT:
2007-08 – £34,799,000
2008-09 – £35,153,000
2009-10 – £46,545,000
2010-11 – £43,341,000
2011-12 – £46,288,000
2012-13 – £44,636,487
2013-14 – £47,318,041
With regard to future funding, the UK will continue to meet its obligation to pay the appropriate percentage (currently 78.43%) of the total CWGC funding.
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport is discussing with the CWGC the scope for enhancing information and interpretation at burial sites as part of the centenary commemorations.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department (a) has given in each of the last 10 years and (b) plans to give in the next three years to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to (i) mark and (ii) maintain the graves of those who died during the World Wars; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anna Soubry
As the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War approaches, it is right that we acknowledge the important work undertaken by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to commemorate those who gave their lives during both World Wars.
The CWGC receives financial contributions from its member nations based on the number of graves it maintains on behalf of each nation. Accordingly the UK Government contributes 78.43% to the total CWGC funding.
Financial records are retained for seven years. Information held by the Ministry of Defence indicates that over the last seven financial years the UK Government has made the following payments to CWGC for the maintenance of graves of those who died during the First and Second World Wars. The figures include UK VAT:
2007-08 – £34,799,000
2008-09 – £35,153,000
2009-10 – £46,545,000
2010-11 – £43,341,000
2011-12 – £46,288,000
2012-13 – £44,636,487
2013-14 – £47,318,041
With regard to future funding, the UK will continue to meet its obligation to pay the appropriate percentage (currently 78.43%) of the total CWGC funding.
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport is discussing with the CWGC the scope for enhancing information and interpretation at burial sites as part of the centenary commemorations.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide funding to refurbish war graves and war memorials (a) in the UK and (b) overseas as part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focusing in more detail across Government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. I expect an announcement to be made later in the year.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with which countries his Department has (a) held discussions and (b) plans to hold discussions on (i) joint events and (ii) a UK presence at overseas events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War; when any such discussions (A) took place and (B) are due to take place; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focusing in more detail across Government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. I expect an announcement to be made later in the year.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been allocated for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focusing in more detail across Government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. I expect an announcement to be made later in the year.
Asked by: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many officials in his Department are engaged (a) full-time and (b) part-time in preparations to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focusing in more detail across Government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. I expect an announcement to be made later in the year.