Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers were recruited to the Army Reserve between 2011 and 2015.
Answered by Julian Brazier
The available data on recruitment to the Territorial Army (TA) for Financial Year (FY) 2011-12 was provided in an answer given by the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Andrew Robathan) to the hon. Member for Shipley, (Phillip Davies) on 21 May 2012 (Official Report, column 442-443W). The number of recruits to the TA in FY 2011-12 (excluding the Officer Training Corps) was 4,240.
Figures for intake to the Army Reserve have been captured since FY 2012-13 and were 3,960 in 2012-13 and 2,960 in 2013-14.
The year end total for FY 2014-15 will be released in the Quarterly Personnel Report which will be published in May 2015. The intake to the Army Reserve for the first three quarters of FY 2014-15 was 3,600.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for further reductions to the headcount of the Army.
Answered by Mark Francois - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Army Command Review was initiated by the Chief of the General Staff with the knowledge of Ministers. There is no intention to change the principles of Army 2020, or to reduce the overall size of the Army.
The purpose of the review was to improve higher command culture and structures and create a clearer distinction between the development of strategy and the delivery of operational capability. To this end, the Army Headquarters in Andover will be streamlined, with posts transferred into one of two new subordinate commands: Field Army and a support command. There will be an amended board and staff structure in the Army Headquarters. A number of cultural improvements will also be made to make the Army more agile, responsive and efficient, and attractive to the widest range of talent.
There are no manpower or financial targets for this initiative, but the Army will look for opportunities during implementation of the review to reduce senior and middle management posts where that will contribute to greater simplicity and transparency and better align responsibility, authority and accountability. The aim is to re-invest any savings in the front line.
The review was conducted over four months by a team of four led by a brigadier. Although the team drew on information from a number of sources, as an internal review there was no formal consultation with other bodies. A slightly expanded team, led by a two-star civil servant, will conduct the more detailed implementation. No additional costs were incurred by conducting the review.
The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have undertaken Command Reviews both to ensure consistency with the principles of Lord Levene's Defence Reform Report and to reflect the nature of command responsibilities for each Service and the contribution they make, like the Army, to Joint and Central Defence leadership.
Reserves were considered as an integral part of each review, reflecting the integrated nature of regulars and reserves in the 'Whole Force' concept.
The Army will report its detailed plans for implementation to the Secretary of State for Defence in May 2015.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence Police were tasked in support of border controls for the UK Border Agency in northern France during 2013.
Answered by Anna Soubry
A total of 98 Ministry of Defence Police officers were deployed to Northern France at various times during 2013 in support of border controls for the UK Border Force.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress the Ministry Defence Police has made on establishing a strength of 2,400 officers by April 2016.
Answered by Philip Dunne
As at January 2015, the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) strength is 2,490 officers. Since recruitment recommenced in autumn 2013, 166 officers have joined the Force. Recruitment into the MDP will continue throughout 2015 and beyond.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the Ministry of Defence Police are currently undergoing disciplinary proceedings; and how many such staff underwent such proceedings between 2005 and 2013.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The information requested is as follows:
Financial Year | Number of Officers Who Underwent Disciplinary Proceedings |
2005-06 | 42 |
2006-07 | 40 |
2007-08 | 45 |
2008-09 | 33 |
2009-10 | 9 * |
2010-11 | 17 |
2011-12 | 17 |
2012-13 | 29 |
2013-14 | 25 |
2014 - to date | 23 |
One officer is currently undergoing disciplinary proceedings which have not yet been concluded.
All Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) officers are expected to perform their duties to the highest standard at all times. Any failure in such standards is taken very seriously.
Note: These figures represent disciplinary proceedings that concluded in either a Misconduct Meeting (* post 2009) or a Misconduct Hearing. The figures do not include officers who resigned prior to proceedings commencing nor those who have not yet had proceedings commenced against them.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his estimate is of the cost of the F-35B aircraft procured for the Fleet Air Arm.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The Department does not release details of financial estimates as to do so would undermine its commercial position.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes have been made in the planned capability of the F-35 joint strike fighter because of the time taken to introduce the aircraft.
Answered by Anna Soubry
In line with approvals, the F-35 Lightning programme is on track to enter UK service in 2018 at the planned capability standard.