Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has signed any contracts with P&O Ferries since 17 March 2022.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no direct contracts with P&O Ferries. However, I am aware that the Department has made use of P&O Ferries services since 17 March 2022 in support of operational requirements. The MOD will always seek to use alternate providers where this is possible.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy personnel have obtained qualifications to work in the UK merchant navy in each year since 2008-09.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) does not deliver any training at HMS Collingwood. The majority of navigation training and other courses delivered by the Royal Navy at HMS Collingwood, and at other establishments are, however, MCA accredited.
To identify the number of personnel who may have qualifications that are recognised by the Merchant Navy would require individual records to be scrutinised and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his policy to facilitate the training of Royal Navy personnel for employment in the merchant navy.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) does not deliver any training at HMS Collingwood. The majority of navigation training and other courses delivered by the Royal Navy at HMS Collingwood, and at other establishments are, however, MCA accredited.
To identify the number of personnel who may have qualifications that are recognised by the Merchant Navy would require individual records to be scrutinised and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training courses the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has provided to Royal Navy personnel on HMS Collingwood since 2008.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) does not deliver any training at HMS Collingwood. The majority of navigation training and other courses delivered by the Royal Navy at HMS Collingwood, and at other establishments are, however, MCA accredited.
To identify the number of personnel who may have qualifications that are recognised by the Merchant Navy would require individual records to be scrutinised and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the legislative timetable for making sexual assault, voyeurism and exposure schedule 2 offences under the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Armed Forces continue to have policies in place which require all allegations of sexual offences to be referred to the Service Police. Changes to Schedule 2 offences can be effected through secondary legislation, and the Department is looking for an early legislative opportunity to bring forward proposals for sexual assault, voyeurism and exposure to be included.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Government's policy is on members of the Service Police residing in separate living accommodation to other members of the armed forces.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There is no Government policy concerning living accommodation for the Service Police.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to introduce independent oversight of the Service Police.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Service Police are already subject to independent oversight by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabularies and their reports are placed in the public domain. We also remain committed to the introduction of independent oversight of complaints made against the Service Police and work continues in order to identify the most appropriate means of achieving that.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the exclusion of sexual assault, voyeurism, exposure and sexual activity in a public lavatory from the schedule of offences that are subject to the mandatory referrals process on the ability of victims to report such acts.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
A person who believes they have been a victim of crime may report the matter to the Service or civilian Police, or to their chain of command. Commanding Officers are under a statutory duty to ensure that all allegations which indicate that a service offence may have been committed - including the offences of sexual assault, voyeurism, exposure and sexual activity in a public lavatory - are properly investigated. The Ministry of Defence has undertaken to review the existing provisions whereby Commanding Officers can decide how best to investigate those allegations of sexual offences which do not fall to be automatically referred to the Police. We expect the review to be complete by the end of the year.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what data his Department collects on allegations made against service personnel accused of committing (a) sexual assault and (b) rape.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence routinely provides figures about allegations which are handled within each component part of the Service Justice System. This includes cases dealt with by the Service Police, the Service Prosecuting Authority, and the Military Court Service. As we have made very clear during the passage of the Armed Forces Bill 2015-16, we are currently looking at how to improve the way in which we gather and produce such information with the aim of producing an official statistic.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance his Department issues to Commanding Officers dealing with allegations of sexual assault, voyeurism and sexual activity in a public lavatory as set out in Schedule 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Commanding Officers (COs) are under a statutory duty, under the Armed Forces Act 2006, to ensure that allegations of any offences, including those mentioned here which are not on Schedule 2, are investigated appropriately. If a CO becomes aware of an allegation or circumstances which would indicate to a reasonable person that one of these offences has been committed, he must ensure that it is investigated appropriately. The allegation must, therefore, be reported to the Service police if it would be appropriate.
Guidance for COs about their responsibilities in relation to the investigation of offences is set out in The Manual of Service Law at Volume 1, Chapter 6. Paragraph 30A refers to the offences of sexual assault, voyeurism, sexual activity in a public lavatory and exposure, stating that the CO should take legal advice to assist him in making the most appropriate decision as to who should investigate such matters and that there is a presumption that a CO should normally ensure that the Service police are aware of such an allegation. The CO has access to legal advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Guidance in the Manual of Service law does not preclude the Armed Forces from issuing further policy on this issue, if this would best meet the needs of their own Service. The Army and Royal Navy have therefore decided to issue a policy instruction to the effect that any cases with a sexual element should be referred to the Service Police for investigation, and the Royal Air Force is currently considering whether to adopt the same approach.