Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the document entitled New Decade, New Approach, published on January 2020, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on creation of a Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Johnny Mercer
We have regular discussions about areas of mutual interest with colleagues across Government, including the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The UK Government's commitment in the 'New Decade, New Approach' (NDNA) Agreement to create a Northern Ireland Veterans' Commissioner is an important one. It builds on the UK Government's establishment in 2019 of the Office for Veterans' Affairs to provide lifelong support to ex-military personnel. Officials in Defence, the Office for Veterans Affairs, and the Northern Ireland Office are engaging to ensure effective implementation of the UK Government's commitments relating to veterans within the NDNA, and both I, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, will be monitoring the progress of that work closely.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on disposing of (a) Abercorn barracks and (b) other earmarked sites in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
The decommissioning of Abercorn Barracks was announced in the Better Defence Estate announcement of 7 November 2016 (Official report, column 1286). The site was decommissioned in 2018 however, there is continuing Defence requirement for the adjacent training area (Ballykinler Training Centre).
In February 2019, the Ministry of Defence also confirmed its use of Newtownards Airfield in Northern Ireland had ceased.
The Department's intent remains to dispose of Kinnegar Logistics Base; plans to vacate the site are still being developed.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will announce preferred bidders for (a) Type 31e frigates and (b) fleet solid support ships.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
For the position on the Type 31 Frigate programme, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Frank Field) on 13 May 2019 to Question 251904.
In respect of the Fleet Solid Support ships, subject to normal approvals, we anticipate that a design and build contract will be awarded in 2020. An announcement will be made in due course.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the effect on the cost to the public purse of lengthening the build-time for each Type-26 Frigate; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (the Rt Hon. the Earl Howe), on 12 March 2019 to Question HL 14108 in the House of Lords.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason trainer aircraft were included in the Combat Air Strategy.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Combat Air Strategy does not include trainer aircraft.
Combat Air is defined in the Strategy as "an aircraft, manned or unmanned, whose prime function is to conduct air-to-air and/or air-to-surface combat operations in a hostile and/or contested environment, whilst having the ability to concurrently conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and command and control tasks." Training aircraft therefore do not meet this definition.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the future provision of combat air training.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Following the termination of the Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) competition, we are currently reviewing all options for the future provision of air support to defence operational training, including combat air. Our priority is ensuring the continuity of air support to operational training and that there is no capability gap.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what time limits apply to a claim of compensation arising from an injury sustained while training.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Claims for compensation, irrespective of whether they arise from training or from an injury on duty may be brought by way of a common law claim, an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claim or a War Pension Scheme (WPS) claim. For a common law claim, a claimant must issue court proceedings within three years of the date of the accident or the date of knowledge of the injury. The AFCS provides compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service in the UK Armed Forces on or after 6 April 2005. The time limit in most cases is seven years. The WPS provides no fault compensation to former personnel and their dependants for injuries and death as a result of service before 6 April 2005. Awards are not paid in service and there are no time limits for claiming. Awards can be reviewed at any time and there is a right of appeal to an independent tribunal.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what time limits apply to a claim of compensation arising from an injury on duty.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Claims for compensation, irrespective of whether they arise from training or from an injury on duty may be brought by way of a common law claim, an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claim or a War Pension Scheme (WPS) claim. For a common law claim, a claimant must issue court proceedings within three years of the date of the accident or the date of knowledge of the injury. The AFCS provides compensation for injury, illness or death caused by service in the UK Armed Forces on or after 6 April 2005. The time limit in most cases is seven years. The WPS provides no fault compensation to former personnel and their dependants for injuries and death as a result of service before 6 April 2005. Awards are not paid in service and there are no time limits for claiming. Awards can be reviewed at any time and there is a right of appeal to an independent tribunal.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of changes to Northern Ireland Security Guard Service pay structures on the pay grading of employees.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
There have been no changes to the Northern Ireland (NI) Security Guard Service pay structure. The NI Guard Service continue to be paid in accordance with the same pay policies and processes as wider Ministry of Defence Main employees.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will published the allowances available for military personnel travel between the barracks and home during leave; and if he will made an assessment of the adequacy of those allowances to cover the costs of travel to all parts of the UK.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The policy for Armed Forces expenses and allowances is published on the gov.uk website at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tri-service-regulations-for-expenses-and-allowances-jsp-752.
For the purposes of leave, the Ministry of Defence provides travel assistance to newly recruited personnel through the Get You Home (Early Years) scheme. The scheme enables newly recruited members of the Services in the UK to maintain links with their close family/friends and home area while they adjust to Service life. The scheme covers the full cost of the return journey.
Other personnel do not receive specific assistance for leave travel. However, those with a qualifying residence more than 50 miles away from their duty station are provided with a contribution towards returning to their qualifying address through the Get You Home (Travel) scheme.