Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Government's policy is on requiring a debate in the House on a substantive motion prior to any planned deployment of the armed forces.
Answered by Michael Fallon
I refer the hon.Member to the Written Statement I made on 18 April 2016 (HCWS678).
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether specific rules of engagement have been given to UK special forces in Syria on the status in terms of the law of armed conflict of UK nationals whom they encounter who are supporting forces allied to (a) the government of Iraq, (b) Daesh and (c) the Free Syrian Army.
Answered by Mike Penning
It is longstanding policy not to comment on specific UK Rules of Engagement profiles. UK forces operate in accordance with UK law and International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether specific rules of engagement have been given to UK special forces in Iraq on the status in terms of the law of armed conflict of UK nationals whom they encounter who are supporting forces allied to (a) the government of Iraq and (b) Daesh.
Answered by Mike Penning
It is longstanding policy not to comment on specific UK Rules of Engagement profiles. UK forces operate in accordance with UK law and International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what rules of engagement have been given to UK armed forces operating in Iraq on the status in terms of the law of armed conflict of UK nationals whom they encounter who are supporting forces allied to (a) the government of Iraq and (b) Daesh.
Answered by Mike Penning
It is longstanding policy not to comment on specific UK Rules of Engagement profiles. UK forces operate in accordance with UK law and International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what rules of engagement have been given to UK forces in Syria on the status in terms of the law of armed conflict of UK nationals whom they encounter who are supporting forces allied to (a) the government of Syria, (b) Daesh and (c) the Free Syrian Army.
Answered by Mike Penning
It is longstanding policy not to comment on specific UK Rules of Engagement profiles. UK forces operate in accordance with UK law and International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of removing the net pay deduction from the salaries of defence fire service workers in each financial year from 2017-18 to 2020-21.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently considering options for the future delivery of its Fire and Rescue capability. We are consulting the Trades Unions on the recommendation made by the Defence Fire and Rescue Project that future delivery of the MOD's Fire and Rescue capability by an external industry provider is likely to deliver the best value for money to Defence. Acceptance of the recommendation is subject to approval by Defence Ministers, HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office followed by a final round of commercial competition prior to any possible contract award. The impact on the size of the future workforce (and the cost of removing the net pay deduction) could therefore only be identified in the event a contract is awarded.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place the calculations used to determine the net pay deduction of defence fire service workers in the Library .
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Government Actuary's Department (GAD) calculated the abatement level for Defence Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) Fire-fighters on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The calculation for the abatement level is detailed in GAD's report dated 27 November 2014 - "DFRS Fire-fighters - Review of Net Pay Deduction for 2014-15". A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.
I am unable to provide the calculations for the Net Pay Deduction (NPD) for DFRS Fire Officer grades (implemented in 1994) as the rate was negotiated by the Treasury before Pay delegation and no relevant historical documents are held. The MOD has recently reviewed the NPD for Fire Officers and the outcome is currently the subject of negotiation with the Fire Officer's Trade Union. I will place a copy of the findings of the review in the Library of the House when negotiations are complete.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department allows for differences in member pension contribution rates but not member pension benefits in calculating the net pay deduction from the salaries of Ministry of Defence fire fighters and fire officers.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Ministry of Defence (MOD) Fire-fighters and Fire Officers are not eligible to join the Local Authority (LA) Fire Pension Schemes (FPS) and instead are members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). LA Fire-fighters had a contributory pension scheme whereas until 2012 the PCSPS was non-contributory - except for a 1.5% contribution for the widows and orphans scheme. An abatement was therefore applied to the salaries of MOD Fire-fighters and Fire Officers as a fair and consistent method of bringing 'take home' pay into line with their outside comparators in the LA Fire Rescue Service.
The abatement has no relationship with pension entitlement and was negotiated with the appropriate Trade Unions at the time. This arrangement remains in place today although the abatement level has changed over the intervening years to take account of changes to pension contributions introduced in the LA FPS. Changes have also been made for Fire-fighters to take account of Public Sector Pension reform changes introduced from 2012 which have seen increases to the rate of contributions made by public servants (including PCSPS members) to their pension. In 2015 the MOD commissioned the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) to review the level of the Fire Officer NPD and is currently negotiating with the Trades Union on the findings of the 2016 GAD report as part of the review.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Oral Answer by the Leader of the House on 7 December 2016, Q9, Official Report, column 211-2, on how many occasions (a) he and (b) his Ministerial colleagues met with trade unions representatives to discuss the proposed changes to the Atomic Weapons Establishment pension scheme.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
I have remained fully informed of developments regarding the proposed changes to the Atomic Weapons Establishment pension scheme. My predecessor, Phillip Dunne, met with Trades Union representatives, and subsequently instructed officials to have further meetings to clarify the Government's position on a number of issues. There being no material change in those positions, further clarifications have been provided through correspondence.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he (a) has held and (b) plans to hold discussions with the Scottish Medicines Consortium as part of an engagement process on changes to the drugs appraisal process.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not held or plans to hold discussions with the Scottish Medicines Consortium about changes to the drugs appraisal process.
The MOD is aware of Dr Brian Montgomery's review of access to new medicines, requested by the Scottish Government. The MOD has not been invited to contribute to this review.