Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether training flights have been conducted from RAF Valley since 23 March 2020.
Answered by James Heappey
Yes. Following the Prime Minister's announcement on 23 March there was a short pause in flying training to assess the impact of COVID-19. Essential flying training at RAF Valley on the Hawk aircraft recommenced on 31 March and on the Texan aircraft on 14 April. The delivery of all training will remain under constant review as the situation changes.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the use of army heavy goods vehicles to transport essential medical equipment across the UK.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence continues to work across Government, including with the Department for Health and Social Care, to ensure that Defence is prepared to provide support to other Government Departments, civil authorities and devolved partners where requested and appropriate to do so.
Currently there are two Immediate Replenishment Groups, based in Aldershot and Salford, who can be tasked by the 'National Supply Disruption Response' crisis hotline, and are on three hours notice to move. These are comprised of 27 military vehicles and 66 military personnel. Other logistic assets are being held at varying states of readiness, which include approximately 139 vehicles and 518 personnel. In most circumstances, commercial options will be the most appropriate. Of course, the military stand by whenever required.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on understanding the scrutiny and legislative roles of the UK Parliament; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
All civil servants have access to the central learning offer provided through Civil Service Learning. There are one-day workshops on Understanding Parliament, which are delivered at Foundation (introduction) and Practitioner (advanced) levels. Both workshops cover Parliament’s scrutiny and legislative roles. Dedicated training sessions covering specific topics are also available. These include Introduction to Parliament, Select Committees, Debates and Voting, Pre and Post Legislative Scrutiny, Parliamentary Questions, Delegated Legislation, and Primary Legislation. A half-day workshop is available on producing effective explanatory memoranda to accompany secondary legislation. The Cabinet Office’s Parliamentary Business and Legislation Team provide training to Bill Teams. The Government Legal Department and Parliamentary Counsel run a course on Dealing with Parliamentary Bills for Lawyers, which covers Parliamentary stages and handling. Stand-alone events are also run, for example during Parliament Week. Bespoke sessions for Government Departments are available on request.
It is well established that people need just-in-time training and resources to help them while on the job, so Civil Service Learning provides on-line resources, such as weblinks, guides and videos. There is an e-learning course on Understanding Parliament, and access to two ‘Massive Open On-Line Courses’ (on Understanding Parliament and Select Committees) which have been produced in partnership between the House of Commons and Future Learn, a digital education platform owned by the Open University.
Fast Stream
Fast Stream civil servants receive a Parliament workshop during their induction, covering the role of Parliament in scrutinising Government policy. For Policy Professionals, a Fast Stream Base Camp includes an optional workshop which focuses on the legislative process in both Houses, typical timetables and roles of Ministers, Bill Teams and civil servants in delivering legislation.
Senior Civil Servants
For Senior Civil Servants (SCS), a tailored a one-day workshop, ‘Leading in Parliament’, is available, which covers Parliament’s role, powers and relationship with Government, the day-to day work of MPs and Peers. A workshop delivered jointly between Civil Service Learning and HM Treasury is provided for Accounting Officers. Civil Service Learning provides a workshop specifically for Senior Responsible Officers with responsibility for secondary legislation. Every Department has an SCS Parliamentary Champion. There is also a buddy system in place between Parliamentary Champions and senior House staff.
Information on the number of courses which have taken place and of Ministry of Defence civil servants who have participated in each training opportunity is not held by the Department.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on devolution and inter-governmental relations; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Civil Service Learning provides a range of central learning opportunities, including online and face-to-face training, for all civil servants on Devolution and Intergovernmental Working.
Devolution is integral to a number of Ministry of Defence (MOD) training and awareness opportunities available to both MOD civil servants and military personnel to ensure Defence is delivered and understood in a devolved context.
In addition, we work with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to host secondments and interchanges to increase knowledge and understanding of Devolution issues.
Details of these opportunities and training courses are not held centrally by the MOD.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what translation arrangements his Department has put in place to enable efficient and accurate handling of Welsh language correspondence from (a) MPs and (b) the general public.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) commitment to dealing with written Welsh language correspondence is set out in its Welsh Language Scheme - paragraphs 4.1 to 4.8 inclusive. People are welcome to correspond with the MOD in English or in Welsh. Correspondence received in Welsh will receive a written reply in Welsh (where one is required) within twenty working days of receipt.
The MOD Welsh Language Scheme is available on the gov.uk website at:www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence/ about/Welsh-language-scheme.
MOD translation work is carried out under an arrangement with HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which that funding has been assigned.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
How much the Ministry of Defence plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU over the next five years is still being decided.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the aerospace industry in North Wales.
Answered by Guto Bebb
The Ministry of Defence is working closely with defence industry and other Government Departments to understand the implications and opportunities presented by the UK's departure from the European Union.
The European defence sector is closely integrated and leading companies have a presence right across Europe including North Wales.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many aerospace jobs in North Wales are sustained by contracts with his Department.
Answered by Guto Bebb
North Wales remains a cornerstone in the UK's aerospace industry. RAF Valley is a significant employer in the region, providing advanced fast jet training for the RAF. Components for hundreds of European-based F-35 aircraft will also be serviced and maintained at the Defence Electronics and Components Agency in North Wales; work which will sustain hundreds of highly-skilled jobs in the region.
The Ministry of Defence routinely publishes information about regional expenditure with UK industry and supported employment. The latest available statistics can be found on gov.uk at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-regional-expenditure-with-uk-industry-and-supported-employment-201516.
The data shows that around 5,250 jobs in Wales are supported by defence expenditure.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the contracts that his Department holds with BAE Systems in North Wales.
Answered by Guto Bebb
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has five open contracts with BAE Systems in North Wales. Four of these are in support of the Hawk training aircraft and one is for support to Tornado-related equipment.
In addition, the MOD has one contract with MBDA, which is part-owned by BAE Systems, for Sea Skua missile system support. Work on this contract is also undertaken in North Wales.
It should be noted that this analysis is based on contracts which accrued expenditure in 2016-17, where records indicate that some work is undertaken in North Wales. It is possible that further contracts in scope have been awarded since then, but this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect on the aerospace industry in North Wales of potential restrictions on the free movement of people after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Guto Bebb
The Ministry of Defence is working closely with defence industry and other Government Departments to understand the implications and opportunities presented by the UK's departure from the European Union.
We assess that UK defence industry has relatively low exposure to the EU labour market, compared to the wider economy.
Through our future partnership with the European Union, we want to explore how best to ensure that our industries can continue working together to deliver the capabilities that we need to protect the UK and its allies and partners.