Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to further support Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK continues to step up its assistance, spending £4.5 billion on military support for Ukraine this year - more than ever before. This includes £2.26 billion of interest from frozen Russian assets which the UK will use to source essential military capabilities for Ukraine.
We also recently agreed a £1.6 billion export finance deal which will supply Ukraine with more than 5,000 air defence missiles. The deal marks a historic step for industrial relations between the UK and Ukraine, building on the 100 Year Partnership signed recently by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
Furthermore, we also announced the biggest package of sanctions in over two years to continue to bear down on Russia's economy.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential economic and social effect on the local community and local businesses of the proposed closure of Invicta Park Barracks; and what plans he has for a formal consultation on that proposed closure.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
"A Better Defence Estate" is a military-led review.
The decision to dispose of Invicta Park Barracks in 2027 was taken in consultation with Front Line Commands and the Chief of Defence People to optimise Defence infrastructure to support the delivery of military capability.
Advance notice was provided to enable Local Authorities to develop their plans to maximise opportunities from moves into or out of their areas. The Ministry of Defence has already held initial discussions with both Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council to inform them of our plans and will work with them to ensure the best possible outcome for the local community when the barracks close.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what safety assessment his Department has carried out on the Invicta Park Barracks site to determine whether the land is suitable for house building; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Department's intention to close Invicta Barracks in 2027 forms part of a strategy to optimise the Defence estate to better support our Armed Forces.
The relevant safety assessments will be carried out at Invicta Park Barracks as part of the Department's standard disposals process.
The closure of the site may also contribute to future Government housing targets. Any future uses of the site will be determined by the local authority and the future owner.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with (a) Kent County Council and (b) Maidstone Borough Council on the proposed closure of Invicta Park Barracks.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is due to dispose of Invicta Park Barracks in 2027. The MOD has held initial discussions with both Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council to inform them of our plans, and we will continue to engage with them as our plans to dispose of the site mature.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether an Equality Impact Assessment will be published on the proposal to close Invicta Park Barracks.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
"A Better Defence Estate" is a military-led review.
The Department's intent to close Invicta Barracks in 2027 forms part of a strategy to optimise the defence estate to better support our Armed Forces.
Equality impact assessments are carried out to ensure suitable and appropriate reprovisions are made when sites are actually closed. Therefore, the equality impact assessment will not be undertaken until much later in the disposals process.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish his Department's cost-benefit analysis on the sale of the Invicta Park Barracks site prior to that site's selection for closure as part of his Department's Better defence estate strategy.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
"A Better Defence Estate" is a military-led review.
The planned disposal date for Invicta Park Barracks is 2027. Following the sale of the site, the value of any receipt will be published as part of the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) annual accounts.
The MOD cannot publish the cost-benefit analysis on the sale of the Invicta Park Barracks, as to release the information would prejudice the Department's commercial interests. All decisions to dispose of sites were subject to analysis, to ensure they provided the best value for money.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Oral Statement of 7 November 2016, Official Report, column 1288, on the Defence Estate, what the content was of the military advice that his Department received on its proposal to close Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The "A Better Defence Estate" strategy was developed with Military advice from the Front Line Commands and was agreed by the single Service Chiefs and the Defence Board. Civilian HR representatives were also involved regarding impact for civilian staff. Initial discussions on the announcement were also held with Local Authorities immediately following the announcement and this will be followed up with more detailed discussions particularly concerning local planning issues.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consultation his Department undertook prior to the decision to close Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The "A Better Defence Estate" strategy was developed with Military advice from the Front Line Commands and was agreed by the single Service Chiefs and the Defence Board. Civilian HR representatives were also involved regarding impact for civilian staff. Initial discussions on the announcement were also held with Local Authorities immediately following the announcement and this will be followed up with more detailed discussions particularly concerning local planning issues.