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Written Question
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2024 to Question 11369 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles and with reference to the letter from the Minister of State for Defence Procurement to the hon. Member for Halifax dated 14 March 2024, deposited paper reference DEP2024-0312, who the 18 scimitar combat reconnaissance vehicles were sold externally to.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2023 to Question UIN 6229 to the hon Member for Norwich South (Mr Clive Lewis).


Written Question
National Security
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects the next Annual Threat Update from the Director General of MI5.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

MI5 assesses, investigates and works to disrupt threats to UK national security. The Director General of MI5 makes public statements, including on the changing threat picture, when he judges it necessary to do so.

He last spoke publicly in October 2023, details of which are available on MI5's website (www.mi5.gov.uk). When the Director General next provides public update, the details will also be available on MI5's website.


Written Question
Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Safety
Thursday 8th February 2024

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2024 to Question 10491 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Accidents, how he plans to monitor implementation of the recommendations made by the Defence Safety Authority Service Inquiry into the fatal accident involving a Scimitar Fighting Vehicle on Salisbury Plain Training Area - 15 October 2021, published on 23rd November 2023.

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

The welfare of our personnel is of the utmost importance and all 52 of the recommendations in this report have been accepted and assigned an appropriate Owner within the Department. The Owner will, when appropriate, submit their evidence to the Defence Safety Authority, where the Director General will consider closing the outstanding action.


Written Question
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of all scimitar combat reconnaissance vehicles that are no longer in active service.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

It is taking time to collate the information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.


Written Question
Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Accidents
Tuesday 23rd January 2024

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to issue a response to the Defence Safety Authority's report entitled fatal accident involving a Scimitar Fighting Vehicle on Salisbury Plain Training Area 15 October 2021, published on 23 November 2023.

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

A redacted version of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA) Service Inquiry (SI) report following the death of Private Jethro Watson-Pickering from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, in an accident involving a Scimitar Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) on Salisbury Plain Training Area on 15 Oct 21 was published in Nov 23.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investigation-into-the-fatal-accident-involving-a-scimitar-fighting-vehicle-on-salisbury-plain-training-area-15-october-2021

The welfare of our personnel is of the utmost importance and the Army has accepted all 52 of the recommendations in this report. There are however no plans to issue a formal response.

CVR(T) Scimitar is no longer in service; however, where the recommendations are applicable to other in-service armoured platforms, they will be implemented as soon as possible. The Army will review the Coroner's findings when available, to identify any additional recommendations.


Written Question
Flood Control
Wednesday 6th December 2023

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on strengthening national flooding preparedness.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including future flood preparedness, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. Preparing for flooding in England remains a priority for Defra and the Environment Agency to protect communities.


Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Monday 16th October 2023

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has received the correspondence sent by the hon. Member for Halifax on 6 April 2023 with reference ZA35937.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

I replied to the hon. Member’s correspondence on 13 June.


Written Question
Tunnels: West Yorkshire
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide an update on progress on the feasibility study into the redevelopment of Queensbury Tunnel, West Yorkshire; and whether he has received a final version of the report from Bradford Council.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Department has not yet received a final version of the report from Bradford City Council and will make an announcement on next steps in due course.


Written Question
Tunnels: West Yorkshire
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide an update on the proposed redevelopment of Queensbury Tunnel.

Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The Department has not yet received a final version of the report from Bradford City Council and will make an announcement on next steps in due course.


Written Question
Prison Officers: Pay
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendation by the Prison Service Pay Review Body to offer different paid contracts for Prison Officers on Fair and Sustainable rates and closed rates; and what steps he is taking to address disparities between the two pay structures.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

In 2012, HMPPS introduced of a new common pay and grading structure called Fair & Sustainable (F&S) that applied to all new staff who joined the service after 1 April 2012 and existing staff who would benefit from opting into the modernised pay structures. This was a Workforce Policy decision and therefore not determined by the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB). There are, however, still a group of staff employed pre-2012 who remain on legacy “closed” grade pay structures. The reason for this is that they would not benefit financially from “opting in” to F&S so they have been allowed to remain on legacy terms. This year, because of the Prison Service Pay Review Body recommendations, the majority of closed grade staff will financially benefit from opting into the Fair & Sustainable pay structures and we will encourage them to do so.