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Written Question
Armed Forces: Personal Savings
Tuesday 21st November 2023

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of staff working for the armed forces who have (a) no savings, (b) savings of less than £100 and (c) savings equivalent to less than (i) one and (ii) three month’s salary.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The requested information is not collected by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). An individual’s level of savings and personal finances are an entirely private matter.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Trade
Friday 16th December 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department have been allocated to deal with issues related to international trade in (a) each of the past five years and (b) the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

As at 14 December 2022, 28 Civil Servants and military officers are directly engaged in work on international trade. Figures for the past five years are not recorded and there are no forecasts for the next two years.

It should be noted that significant numbers of other officials and military personnel across the Ministry of Defence have roles that contribute to international trade, and a large proportion of this work is channelled through the Department for International Trade's Defence and Security Exports team.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: India
Tuesday 27th September 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department were based permanently in (a) Gujarat, (b) Delhi and (c) other states in India in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Sarah Atherton

The table below details the Military and Civilian staff working in India for the last five years. All MOD Civilian staff working in India are based in New Delhi. The exact geographical location of Military officials working in India is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Fiscal year

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

Civilian FTE total

~

~

~

~

~

Military FTE total

50

50

40

40

40

- Figures reported in fiscal year 01 April to 31 March.

- Rounded figures are to the nearest five, with numbers below five replaced by the tilde symbol (‘~’) and zeros replaced by full stops (‘.’). All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Consultants
Wednesday 19th January 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has held (a) any financial or consultancy contracts and (b) meetings with representatives of (i) Clifford Chance LLP, (ii) FTI Consulting and (iii) Fenchurch Advisory Partners in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

A search has found no contracts awarded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to (i) Clifford Chance LLP, (ii) FTI Consulting and (iii) Fenchurch Advisory Partners in the last ten years (this would not preclude them being engaged by a Prime as a Sub-Contractor). Clifford Chance LLP acts as legal advisor to the MOD owned company, International Military Services Ltd. Officials have met with Clifford Chance LLP in connection with this appointment. Details of any other possible meetings with these companies across the Department are not held centrally.

Information about the contracts that we place with industry is available on gov.uk as part of our MOD Trade, Industry and Contracts statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/defence-trade-and-industry-index.

In addition, MOD contracts worth over £10,000 are published on the Government's Contracts Finder website, which is available on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder.

Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly and can be found on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-in-the-ministry-of-defence.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Financial Services
Thursday 28th October 2021

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans require the Armed Forces to offer training on financial resilience, including (a) planning for retirement and (b) building savings; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The Ministry of Defence is working to raise financial awareness among Service personnel. We provide our personnel with briefings from the Royal British Legion MoneyForce initiative which aim to assist all Service personnel, their partners, families and dependants, to be better equipped to manage their money and financial affairs.

All three Services provide links on their welfare sites to several financial advisory sites including MoneyForce, Joining Forces Credit Union (JFCU) and the Services Insurance and Investment Advisory Panel. The Ministry of Defence makes it possible for Service personnel who are members of JFCU to save with a contribution directly from their salary into their savings account.

In addition, the British Forces Broadcasting Service have run financial awareness campaigns with the Money and Pensions Service and with JFCU to highlight everything from savings/loans to pensions.


Written Question
Queens Flight
Wednesday 17th March 2021

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the future of the Royal Flight; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

No 32 (The Royal) Squadron is an honorary title bestowed for service. The Squadron has a wider military Command Support Air Transport role. Royal and VVIP transport is now provided through a number of assets which conduct a range of activities, most notably Voyager. The RAF will always consult with appropriate stakeholders in making arrangements for Royal and VVIP transport.


Written Question
Queens Flight
Tuesday 16th March 2021

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the sale of the four BAe 146 passenger jets flown by 32 Squadron (Royal Flight); and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The BAe 146 aircraft have been in service with the Royal Air Force since 1983 and are due to be withdrawn from service in 2022, when the current support contract also ends.

Disposal of the BAe 146 aircraft, operated by 32 Squadron (Royal Flight), will be managed by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) maximising the revenue-generating potential. DESA disposal also provides opportunities for British industry as part of the Government's Prosperity Agenda.


Written Question
Queens Flight
Monday 15th March 2021

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the future use of RAF Northolt by 32 Squadron (Royal Flight); and if he will make a statement.

Answered by James Heappey

RAF Northolt aerodrome is a core military establishment, delivering a breadth of important day-to-day outputs for Defence in addition to providing valuable contingency options, as demonstrated during the Olympics. RAF Northolt is not just an aerodrome, but a vibrant Defence establishment, with over 1,300 personnel based across 34 diverse units, from all three Services and wider Government. Alongside 32 (The Royal) Squadron undertaking operational command support and VIP flying, there are many other major units at the station in a variety of roles: An Army bomb disposal squadron; the British Forces Post Office; the Service Prosecution Authority; an aeronautical publication and mapping centre; two RAF bands; and a very high readiness RAF Regiment unit, which also undertakes ceremonial duties as The Queen's Colour Squadron.


Written Question
Queens Flight
Monday 15th March 2021

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the future of 32 Squadron (Royal Flight); and if he will make a statement.

Answered by James Heappey

RAF Northolt aerodrome is a core military establishment, delivering a breadth of important day-to-day outputs for Defence in addition to providing valuable contingency options, as demonstrated during the Olympics. RAF Northolt is not just an aerodrome, but a vibrant Defence establishment, with over 1,300 personnel based across 34 diverse units, from all three Services and wider Government. Alongside 32 (The Royal) Squadron undertaking operational command support and VIP flying, there are many other major units at the station in a variety of roles: An Army bomb disposal squadron; the British Forces Post Office; the Service Prosecution Authority; an aeronautical publication and mapping centre; two RAF bands; and a very high readiness RAF Regiment unit, which also undertakes ceremonial duties as The Queen's Colour Squadron.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Credit Unions
Monday 30th November 2020

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to require his Department and its agencies to provide a payroll deduction service to allow staff to save more easily with a credit union; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

Credit Union (CU) facilities for members of the Armed Forces have been in place since November 2015 and for veterans in receipt of an Armed Forces pension since March 2016. These CU facilities are also now open to the Ministry of Defence's civilian employees.

A facility is available for UK Regular Armed Forces personnel to access CU services via payroll deductions. For civilian employees, access to CU services is via direct debit. Three chosen CUs work together collectively under the banner 'Joining Forces' to provide access to dependable savings facilities and safe, affordable, loans. Further details are available from their website:

http://joiningforcescu.co.uk/