Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Palantir system for managing his Department's data could be unilaterally shut down by Palantir without the Government’s consent.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has put in place extensive data security and protection measures to ensure that UK Defence information is appropriately managed. All UK Defence Data used and developed within Palantir software remains sovereign and under the full control of the MOD. Clear contractual controls are in place to ensure this, including controls over the underlying data systems on which Palantir software operates.
These contractual arrangements mean that Palantir cannot unilaterally shut down the MOD’s use of the system, or alter MOD access to its data, without the explicit consent of the MOD. Any such change would require our agreement.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that data analysed by Palantir is protected from access by foreign governments.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
All data used and developed in Palantir's software deployed across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will remain under the ownership of the MOD. The MOD has put in place extensive data security and protection measures to ensure UK Defence information is appropriately managed. UK Defence Data used and developed in Palantir's software remains sovereign and under the control of the MOD. We have clear contractual controls in place to ensure this as well as control over the data system that Palantir software sits upon. Any change from this cannot be conducted without consent from the MOD. All data will remain sovereign, freely available across the MOD to be exploited wherever it is needed, including the broader supply chain, and technical ecosystem.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there are British armed forces personnel in active service in Venezuela.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
There are no British Armed Forces personnel in active service in Venezuela.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff their Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
No staff have been seconded from Hakluyt into the Ministry of Defence or its Executive Agencies since July 2024.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of their Department's officials have been seconded from (a) the Institute for Economic Affairs, (b) the Policy Exchange, (c) the Adam Smith Institute and (d) Labour Together since July 2024.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
No staff have been seconded from the Institute for Economic Affairs, the Policy Exchange, the Adam Smith Institute nor Labour Together into the Ministry of Defence or its Executive Agencies since July 2024.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff his Department has seconded from Palantir since July 2024.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
No staff have been seconded from Palantir into the Ministry of Defence or its Executive Agencies since July 2024.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to equalise the pension age of Defence Fire and Rescue Service workers with their counterparts in (a) Local Authority and (b) Civil Aviation Authority Fire Services.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The Defence Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) have no plans to equalise the pension age of its personnel with their counterparts in Local Authority and Civil Aviation Authority Fire Services.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide Defence Fire and Rescue Service workers an early pension get out clause at 57.
Answered by Maria Eagle
As Civil Servants, the Defence Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) workforce pension scheme is administered by My Civil Service Pension and in accordance with MOD policy. Each occupation group can only apply the rules, in which Trade Unions have been consulted, associated with their particular pension scheme. Members of the DFRS continue to be subject to a Normal Retirement Age (NRA) of 65 but they may request approval to continue working beyond the NRA.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) occupational health support and (b) other the health and wellbeing measures for Defence Fire and Rescue Services are similar to those provided to (i) Local Authority and (ii) Civil Aviation Authority Fire Services.
Answered by Maria Eagle
Defence Fire and Rescue Service personnel are provided with occupational health support through the Defence Business Services Occupational Health contract. Additional support can be accessed through the Ministry of Defence People Portal and the Civil Service Benevolent Fund. Occupational health support offers vary in Local Authority Fire and Rescue Service areas and the Civil Aviation Authority Fire Service.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ability of Defence Fire and Rescue Service workers aged over 60 to carry out their role.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
All Defence Fire and Rescue Service personnel aged over 60 are required to be in date with their operation fitness assessment which is undertaken annually. These fitness standards are in line with The UK National Fire Fighter Fitness Standards.