Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which local authorities applied for the (a) Covenant Fund Grant and (b) the Community Covenant Grant Scheme; how much each of those local authorities received from each of those schemes; which local authorities applied for the Covenant Fund in the 2015-16 round; and how much was awarded to each such applicant to that round.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The new Local Authorities grant programme aims to distribute £4 million in Financial Years 2016-17 and 2017-18. The programme supports Local Authorities in their delivery of their commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant. Local Authorities have been able to apply to the Covenant Fund since July 2016. Decisions will be made by the Covenant Fund National Panel on 23 March 2017 as to the first year's funding, and published on the Armed Forces Covenant website. Until the grant awards have been made it would be inappropriate to say which Local Authorities submitted applications. In addition, Local Authorities are also eligible to bid for smaller grants of up to £20,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Local Grants.
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will establish an office within his Department with a focus on assisting UK military veterans in terms of housing, health, employment, pensions and other needs.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
As I stated on 24 March 2016 during a debate in the House (Official Report, columns 1865-74) the concept of such an office, while well-intentioned, would duplicate existing provision. We already have strong cross-Government support for veterans from the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Department for Communities and Local Government as well as other Departments. In addition, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) operates Veterans UK which focuses on the provision of pensions, compensation and welfare support for veterans.
The Armed Forces Covenant is designed to stop the Armed Forces community facing disadvantage and provides an effective mechanism to connect the various stakeholders who have an interest in supporting our community. The Covenant Reference Group brings together all relevant Departments and Devolved Administrations in a way that a single agency or Ministry could not. In addition, the Defence Secretary ensures that the MOD publishes an annual report to Parliament to communicate the delivery of our Covenant commitments.
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's timetable is for the renewal of Trident.
Answered by Michael Fallon
The key elements of the UK Trident nuclear deterrent are the Vanguard-class submarines, the Trident D5 missile and the UK warhead. As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, we expect the first Successor submarine to enter service in the early 2030s. A replacement warhead is not required until the late 2030s, possibly later. Given lead times, however, a decision on replacing the current warhead may be required later in this Parliament or early in the next. While we have no plans to replace the current Trident D5 missile, we are participating with our US partners in a programme to extend its current life to the 2060s.
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on progress in the campaign against Daesh.
Answered by Michael Fallon
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Wythenshawe and Sale East (Mike Kane), Bracknell (Dr Phillip Lee), Faversham and Mid Kent (Helen Whately) and Newark (Robert Jenrick).
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2016 to Question 22430, if his Department will consider new collaborative funding proposals for further research into rehabilitative therapies for veterans with Gulf War illnesses.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
As stated in my answer to Question 22430, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has funded extensive research into Gulf War Illness, including some research into rehabilitative therapies for those veterans with persistent symptoms. There are no plans to fund any further research.
The MOD has no plans to issue guidance on treatment best practice to healthcare professionals or partners in the military charity sector in respect of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict. Neither do we have any plans in January 2016 to communicate the findings of independent research on the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict, published in the UK or overseas, to UK veterans.
There is a wide range of support already available to veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict. This can be accessed through MOD’s Veterans UK website and free help line.
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2016 to Question 22430, what plans his Department has to issue guidance on treatment best practice to (a) healthcare professionals and (b) partners in the military charity sector.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
As stated in my answer to Question 22430, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has funded extensive research into Gulf War Illness, including some research into rehabilitative therapies for those veterans with persistent symptoms. There are no plans to fund any further research.
The MOD has no plans to issue guidance on treatment best practice to healthcare professionals or partners in the military charity sector in respect of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict. Neither do we have any plans in January 2016 to communicate the findings of independent research on the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict, published in the UK or overseas, to UK veterans.
There is a wide range of support already available to veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict. This can be accessed through MOD’s Veterans UK website and free help line.
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2016 to Question 22430, what plans his Department has to communicate those developments in domestic and international research referred to UK Gulf War veterans.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
As stated in my answer to Question 22430, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has funded extensive research into Gulf War Illness, including some research into rehabilitative therapies for those veterans with persistent symptoms. There are no plans to fund any further research.
The MOD has no plans to issue guidance on treatment best practice to healthcare professionals or partners in the military charity sector in respect of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict. Neither do we have any plans in January 2016 to communicate the findings of independent research on the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict, published in the UK or overseas, to UK veterans.
There is a wide range of support already available to veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict. This can be accessed through MOD’s Veterans UK website and free help line.
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the start of combat operations in the First Gulf War.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to honour the contribution of all those who served in the First Gulf War. The MOD will formally commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the end of combat operations (Operation GRANBY), with a service of commemoration in St Paul's Cathedral, where the Gulf War Memorial is situated, on Friday 26 February 2016.
In addition, separate formations in Defence are also planning to mark the anniversary. These include a commemorative service held by the Grenadier Guards at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks; a series of commemorative events hosted by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, a gathering of veterans hosted by the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars Association, and attendance at and support to an event organised at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) on 28 February to dedicate a new memorial to the conflict. The Royal Air Force will conduct an over-flight of the NMA event using a Tornado aircraft.
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to (a) invest in research on rehabilitation, health and social care models to improve the quality of life for ill Gulf War veterans and (b) communicate the results of US research on those issues to Gulf War veterans living in the UK.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Government greatly values the service of all 1990-91 Gulf War veterans, particularly as we reach the 25th anniversary of the start of combat operations. We have long accepted that the ill health of some veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War is associated with their service in the Gulf. In such cases compensation may be claimed under the War Pensions Scheme with appropriate medical care provided by the National Health Service across the UK .
The Department has funded extensive research into Gulf War illness including some research into rehabilitative therapies for those veterans with persistent symptoms.
Our strategy on research topics and studies has been informed and overseen by independent scientific experts nominated by the Medical Research Council taking account of published peer-reviewed international literature and international studies. We have no plans to undertake further research on Gulf War issues. We continue to monitor any Gulf War research that is published round the world including from the United States.
Asked by: David Mackintosh (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the Government monitors feedback on the Armed Forces Community Covenant; and what steps he is taking to strengthen this covenant.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Secretary of State provides an annual report to Parliament on progress delivering the commitments in the Armed Forces Covenant. Importantly this report includes unedited comments from the three Service Family Federations and key representatives of the Armed Forces charity sector (including the Confederation of Service Charities, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA). This independent assessment, in conjunction with the engagement of these organisations with the Cross Government Covenant Reference Group (CRG), and my personal engagement with them as the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, provides an essential strand of continuous feedback on all elements of the Covenant, not just the Community Covenant.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is also able to draw on the results of annual continuous attitude surveys, which provide a comprehensive picture of the views of our personnel on key issues, including the Covenant. We also have a network of personnel deployed regionally with responsibility for engaging with Local Authorities on the Covenant.
The previous Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, the right hon. Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry), wrote to each local authority in Great Britain underlining the importance of the Community Covenant and inviting them to provide details of the actions they have taken since signing the Community Covenant. This information is being used to support a broader body of work aimed at sharing and promoting best practice across Local Authorities. It builds on the three regional Community Covenant Conferences (Bristol, Manchester and Leicester) run by the MOD earlier in the year, as well as the Community Covenant event hosted at the Local Government Association annual conference in June.
Annual funding of £10 million will continue to support all 407 Local Authorities who have signed up to the Community Covenant and made a commitment to support their local Armed Forces community. The Community Covenant remains an essential strand in supporting the Armed Forces and we are committed to its successful implementation. I encourage all colleagues to engage their Local Authority on the actions they are taking to uphold the principles in the Covenant. We all have a shared responsibility for its delivery at a local level.