Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps the Government has taken to (a) improve the complaints process for families living in service family accommodation and (b) ensure that complaints are dealt with (i) quickly and (ii) effectively.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has taken a number of significant steps to improve the complaint process for families living in Service Family Accommodation (SFA), for example;
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce incidences of (a) disrepair, (b) mould and (c) heating issues in service family accommodation.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department’s priority is modernising homes, tackling damp and mould, replacing kitchens and bathrooms, and improving thermal efficiency to maintain/improve Decent Homes standard.
During Financial Year 2022-23, £185 million was invested to improve Service Family Accommodation and prevent them falling into disrepair. This included providing 600 properties with new boilers, 1,200 with new roofs, 1,740 with new doors and windows, and 900 with full external wall insulation.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government will take to use its diplomatic influence to promote the strengthening of protections for civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
Answered by James Heappey
On 18 November 2022, the UK joined 83 nations in adopting the Political Declaration on 'Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA).
The UK will work with allies, partners, and civil society to promote the aims of the Political Declaration. We will continue to use our knowledge and expertise to share good practice, strengthen cooperation with and support the work of international and civil society organisations, and encourage states to have appropriate procedures in place.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will launch an inquiry into diversity and inclusion in the Armed Forces.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There are no plans to establish a dedicated inquiry. Diversity and Inclusion in the Armed Forces has already been subject to recent and extensive independent scrutiny both within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and by Parliament.
The MOD has a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion Directorate driving forward progress in this area. The new Veterans Strategy Action plan underlines the Government's unwavering commitment to making real progress in addressing past wrongs that some members of our Armed Forces community, including women and LGBT personnel, may have faced.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he authorised the evacuation of animals within Pen Farthing's Nowzad Shelter in Afghanistan.
Answered by James Heappey
As stated by the Defence Secretary, at the 25 January session of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC); a plane charted by supporters of Pen Farthing's Nowzad Shelter was given clearance to land and depart with its intended cargo in a landing slot booked by UK military air staff within the Qatar based Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC).
This clearance was given subject to; the animal's evacuation not interfering with military operations, not interfering with the evacuation of people, or requiring that they 'jump the queue'. As such their evacuation took place on 28 August once the civilian evacuation had ended and in parallel with the final stages of the military withdrawal.
The UK was clear with allies and partners, including the US, that our operation would prioritise people over animals at all stages of the evacuation, with any animal evacuation taking place only at the very last stages of military operation.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will include people in Afghanistan who have been previously funded by the Cultural Protection Fund in the selection criteria for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme.
Answered by James Heappey
Under Categories 1-2 of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy only current or former Locally Employed Staff that were employed by Her Majesty's Government (HMG) or who were contracted to provide linguistic services in support of UK Armed Forces would be considered eligible for relocation to the UK.
There is some discretion under Category 4 of the ARAP to consider, on a case-by-case and exceptional basis, those who worked in meaningful enabling roles alongside HMG, in extraordinary and unconventional contexts, and where a responsible HMG unit builds a credible case for consideration under the scheme.
Individuals may also be eligible for the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) when it becomes available. Through the ACRS, the UK will relocate up to 20,000 people at risk, including women and girls and minority groups, so they can rebuild their lives in safety. The scheme is not yet open and remains under development.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will reconsider the Army Air Corps’ minimum height requirement for pilots of 5 feet 4 and a half inches in line with the US Air Force's decision to remove this height requirement last year.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Army Air Corps (AAC) pilot selection is based upon an assessment of the British Army's principal aircraft (Wildcat and Apache). AAC policy is not comparable to that of the US Air Force, whose requirements will be based upon their individual aircraft fleet. The anthropometric standards for AAC pilots will be reviewed in line with any changes to the aircraft fleet to ensure the AAC can continue to recruit from the widest talent base, whilst ensuring pilots can operate the aircraft safely.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have qualified for relocation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme up to 8 September 2021.
Answered by James Heappey
The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) has been one of the most generous in the world, under which approximately 7,000 Afghan nationals who supported the UK Government in Afghanistan have been relocated to the UK since April 2021.
Prior to 8 September, approximately 1,700 individual cases have been approved under the ARAP scheme. That scheme is not time-limited and will endure. As we continue to receive and assess applications we expect to identify more Afghan nationals who are eligible for relocation under ARAP.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have qualified for relocation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme up to 18 August 2021.
Answered by James Heappey
Operation PITTING saw the evacuation of many thousands of people from Afghanistan, beginning on 17 August and concluding on 28 August.
Prior to Operation PITTING, an estimated 2,000 Afghans eligible for relocation under the ARAP scheme were welcomed to the UK since the launch of the scheme in April 2021.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will expand the Afghan Interpreters Scheme to people engaged in UK-linked initiatives and human rights activists at risk of being targeted by the Taliban.
Answered by James Heappey
The Government is strongly committed to fulfilling its responsibilities to current and former locally employed staff in Afghanistan. The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme is not time-limited and will endure, remaining open indefinitely to Afghan allies who were directly employed by Her Majesty's Government.
For those not eligible under the ARAP scheme, including human rights activists and employees of UK-linked initiatives, the Home Office is establishing the details of the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). This scheme will provide protection for those identified as most at risk, such as women and girls. The Government has committed to take around 5,000 refugees in the first year and up to 20,000 over the coming years, making this one of the most comprehensive resettlement schemes the UK has ever established.