Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support armed forces personnel who are unable to be deployed due to musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
There are a range of programmes available, with specifically tailored support provided to personnel at increased risk of MSKI. Commanding Officers are also provided with specific guidance and education to reduce the occurrence of MSKI.
Innovative solutions are being piloted through the Human Performance Optimisation programme, which has assessed Vitamin D supplementation and revised ration packs to increase protein content. Additionally, personnel may have their medical employment standard amended to protect them from activities that might exacerbate their condition.
Personnel who are unable to be deployed due to musculoskeletal disorders and injuries are managed clinically by Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC). DPHC provides rehabilitation services across the UK delivered through Primary Care Rehabilitation Facilities and Regional Rehabilitation Units, with Personnel being able to access physiotherapy and exercise rehabilitation quickly and throughout their service. For more complex cases, Personnel receive dedicated support at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre; a world leader in specialist rehabilitation care.
Where Personnel require surgical intervention, DPHC commissions private healthcare treatment for Service personnel which falls outside NHS policy and provision. Bespoke private-sector healthcare pathways are also offered for some Service personnel in priority trade groups who are on NHS waiting lists for longer than 18 weeks. Additionally, the Regional Rehabilitation Unit Fast Track Scheme, in contract with a private-sector healthcare provider, delivers rapid access to high quality musculoskeletal diagnostic imaging, high quality orthopaedic specialist surgical intervention and access to an accelerated spinal care pathway.
Defence is committed to ensuring that Service Personnel receive the care and treatment required to ensure they can get back to fitness.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to prevent armed forces personnel from developing musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
There are a range of programmes available, with specifically tailored support provided to personnel at increased risk of MSKI. Commanding Officers are also provided with specific guidance and education to reduce the occurrence of MSKI.
Innovative solutions are being piloted through the Human Performance Optimisation programme, which has assessed Vitamin D supplementation and revised ration packs to increase protein content. Additionally, personnel may have their medical employment standard amended to protect them from activities that might exacerbate their condition.
Personnel who are unable to be deployed due to musculoskeletal disorders and injuries are managed clinically by Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC). DPHC provides rehabilitation services across the UK delivered through Primary Care Rehabilitation Facilities and Regional Rehabilitation Units, with Personnel being able to access physiotherapy and exercise rehabilitation quickly and throughout their service. For more complex cases, Personnel receive dedicated support at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre; a world leader in specialist rehabilitation care.
Where Personnel require surgical intervention, DPHC commissions private healthcare treatment for Service personnel which falls outside NHS policy and provision. Bespoke private-sector healthcare pathways are also offered for some Service personnel in priority trade groups who are on NHS waiting lists for longer than 18 weeks. Additionally, the Regional Rehabilitation Unit Fast Track Scheme, in contract with a private-sector healthcare provider, delivers rapid access to high quality musculoskeletal diagnostic imaging, high quality orthopaedic specialist surgical intervention and access to an accelerated spinal care pathway.
Defence is committed to ensuring that Service Personnel receive the care and treatment required to ensure they can get back to fitness.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with international counterparts on levels of civilian harm caused by military practice in international conflicts.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Protection of civilians is directed through Joint Service Publication (JSP) 985, Human Security in Defence. It is at the heart of Defence’s human-centric approach to operations and is reflected in all relevant policies and operating procedures. The department engages regularly with international colleagues regarding this topic, including at ministerial level.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to seek participation in future EU space projects.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Strategic Defence Review identifies space as a critical domain for national security and Defence, emphasising the importance of international collaboration to achieve the United Kingdom's (UK) defence space aspirations. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to exploring opportunities for cooperation in space that align with Defence and security commitments, working closely with cross-government partners to ensure coherence with broader UK interests and priorities.
The MOD assesses participation in specific space projects on a case-by-case basis. Any decision to participate in EU space projects will be made considering strategic benefits, value for money, and alignment with national security objectives.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding his Department is providing for strategic national space capabilities in each of the next three years.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence is committed to developing the Defence Space Portfolio and wider space requirements to harness space for national and military advantage. The recent publication of the Strategic Defence Review served to reinforce the importance of the space domain and the need to invest appropriately. The level of investment will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve the UK’s space funding model.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence is committed to developing the Defence Space Portfolio and wider space requirements to harness space for national and military advantage. The recent publication of the Strategic Defence Review served to reinforce the importance of the domain and the need to invest appropriately. The level of investment is being tested and confirmed against current and future requirements through the development of the Defence Investment Plan which will provide the strategic capability direction for the next decade.
Defence and other Government Departments will ascertain space synergies, create a common demand signal with which to develop investment options for both the military and national advantage. Aligned to the Own, Collaborate, Access framework, the most effective mix of sovereign owned, collaboration with allies, and access though existing and new partnerships will be determined with which to deliver Defence and wider UK needs.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent injuries and deaths among children caused by explosive weapons in conflict.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Protecting civilians is at the heart of defence’s approach to human security where we work through multiple channels to promote human security and - within this - the protection of civilians.
The UK is the co-chair of the International Contact Group on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response and regularly delivers training on human security to other nations; is a signatory of the Political Declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA); has endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration which outlines a set of commitments to strengthen the protection of education from attack and restrict use of schools and universities for military purposes, and; is a state party to Protocol V of the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons which requires states to focus on prevention and clearance of unexploded ordinance.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to coordinate work on space between government, industry and universities.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence actively coordinates space activity across Government, industry, and academia to sustain the UK’s leadership in space innovation and capability. Through the Defence Industrial Strategy, and in collaboration with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and other government departments, we advance the National and Defence Space Strategies with a particular focus on Space Domain Awareness, delivered through the National Space Operations Centre. We work with universities through initiatives such as the Defence Universities Alliance and the Space Academy to address skills gaps, foster innovation, and support research in dual-use technologies.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is offering to people affected by alleged sexual abuse relating to medical checks carried out between the 1970s and 2016 British Army recruitment processes.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
There is no place in Defence for sexual abuse or misconduct, and we are fully supporting Wiltshire Police’s investigation. I urge anyone who has more information to contact Wiltshire Police as soon as possible, we will stand with the survivors.
For those personnel still serving, every unit has a comprehensive welfare system, ready to support them. . The network of agencies includes Unit Welfare Officers, Welfare Services, chaplains, Equality and Diversity Advisers, and Women’s Royal Voluntary Service. Personnel also have access to the Army confidential helpline, SpeakOut, and the Samaritans helpline, Combat Stress 24-hour mental health helpline (0800 138 1619) for serving personnel and veterans.
For veterans, the MOD provides an MOD Veterans Service, which offers bespoke advice and assistance following a holistic assessment of needs tailored to each individual's specific circumstances. Welfare Managers provide free and confidential advice and work closely with voluntary organisations, local authorities and all areas of the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure veterans and their families are offered the best possible help and advice. Further information on this service can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/veterans-welfare-service
Victims and survivors of sexual assault can access information and support via the Government’s site https://sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to learn from the Ministry of Defence’s handling of the Chinook ZD576 crash.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
One of the primary purposes of each of the investigations and inquiries following the tragic loss of life in the Chinook ZD576 crash, was to ascertain what went wrong and why, in order to prevent a recurrence. This is the aim of all Service Inquiries and consequently the process of learning and applying lessons is a constantly evolving one. My noble friend Lord Coaker has written to the Chinook Justice Campaign inviting family members to meet with him before the end of the year.