Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what events he plans to attend to commemorate the centenary of the signing of the Armistice.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
It was my very great privilege to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening and the Cenotaph Service and special Westminster Abbey Service on Sunday. These events were especially poignant for falling on the exact centenary of the Armistice and were a chance to honour all those who served their country.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many serving Armed Forces personnel have committed suicide in the last (a) month, (b) two months, (c) six months, (d) year and (e) two years; and in which service branches those suicides occurred.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence publishes annual statistics on the rates of suicide amongst Serving personnel annually and the rates for the period 1 January 1984 to 31 December 2107, published on 27 March 2018, can be found at the following address:
The following provides a breakdown of coroner confirmed suicide and open verdict deaths (in line with the definition used by the Office for National Statistics) by month and Service from 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2018 (the last full month available) as requested. It should be noted that the numbers presented may change when outstanding coroner verdicts are returned on deaths that have occurred since 1 October 2016.
In September 2018 (the last full month available) there were no coroner confirmed suicide or open verdict deaths.
In August and September 2018 (the last full two months available) there were no coroner confirmed suicide or open verdict deaths.
From 1 April 2018 to 30 September 2018 (the last full six months available) there were no coroner confirmed suicide or open verdict deaths.
From 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018 (the last full 12 months available) there were four coroner confirmed suicide or open verdict deaths. Three personnel were from the Army and one from the RAF.
From 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2018 (the last full 24 months available) there were 13 coroner confirmed suicide or open verdict deaths. Three personnel were from the Naval Service[1], nine from the Army and one from the RAF.
Suicide among members of the Armed Forces remains extremely rare and is generally lower than comparative rates in the civilian population.
[1] Royal Navy and Royal Marines
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces veterans who have served in the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) (LANCS) have received treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in the last five years.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Information on the number of veterans who have served in the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border) (LANCS) and received treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the last five years is not held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
The NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations are responsible for the provision of healthcare, including mental healthcare, for veterans. Veterans in England, Scotland and Wales receive priority access to NHS secondary care for Service related conditions, subject to the clinical need of all patients. The MOD also provides support through its Departments of Community Mental Health, and the Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme.
In England, veterans and Service personnel approaching discharge benefit from the NHS England Veterans Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (VMH TILs) which increases access to appropriate and timely mental health services. In April 2018 NHS England launched the Veterans Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (VMH CTS) which provides an enhanced service for veterans who have military-attributable complex mental health problems, including PTSD, that have not been resolved earlier in the care/support pathway. Access to the VMH CTS is via a single point of referral from the VMH TILS.
Veterans can also access support services via:
www.gov.uk/mental-health-support-for-the-uk-armed-forces or call the MOD's Veterans UK helpline on 0808 1914 2 18, Combat Stress 24-hour veterans' mental health helpline on 0800 138 1619 or the Veterans Gateway:
https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on maintaining Fulwood Barracks in the last five years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Maintenance costs for Fulwood Barracks amounted to £4.25 million over the last five years.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proposals his Department has considered relating to Fulwood Barracks after its closure in 2022; and what assessment has been made of potential uses for that site.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Since there is no defence requirement for the site at Fulwood Barracks beyond 2022, Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials will work closely with the Local Authority and other interested parties to consider the best possible future use for the site, including for housing or commercial use. Closing Defence establishments can often provide new opportunities for local re-use and development.
The MOD recognises the historical significance of this particular site and will work with any new owners to find a long-term sustainable solution for preserving the heritage associated with the site.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision was made to move the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment from Fulwood, Preston.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
"Better Defence Estates" is a military-led plan as part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.
The sites for disposal announced by my right hon. Friend, the Defence Secretary on 7 November 2016 as part of the Better Defence Estate Strategy, were approved by the respective single Service Chiefs before the strategy was agreed by the Defence Board on 30 September.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what valuations have been made of the Fulwood Barracks site in the last five years; and what surveys have been made of that site during that period.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
In developing the Better Defence Estate Strategy, the Department undertook a high-level analysis of site valuations, including Fulwood Barracks. These valuations are commercially sensitive and will continue to be refined as we develop specific disposal opportunities as laid out in the Better Defence Estate Strategy.
The market value of Ministry of Defence (MOD) property is normally only assessed when it comes up for disposal, and valuations are not released as to do so could prejudice the market.
Any necessary surveys will be carried out once a site has been identified for disposal in accordance with the Department’s standard disposal procedures.
No decisions have yet been made relating to the Lancaster Infantry Museum. The MOD’s future role with respect to the museum and its contents will be determined as part of the disposal process for the site.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proposals had been agreed on or before 29 November 2016 relating to the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, Lancashire Infantry Museum, Fulwood Barracks, Preston and its contents after the closure of the barracks.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
In developing the Better Defence Estate Strategy, the Department undertook a high-level analysis of site valuations, including Fulwood Barracks. These valuations are commercially sensitive and will continue to be refined as we develop specific disposal opportunities as laid out in the Better Defence Estate Strategy.
The market value of Ministry of Defence (MOD) property is normally only assessed when it comes up for disposal, and valuations are not released as to do so could prejudice the market.
Any necessary surveys will be carried out once a site has been identified for disposal in accordance with the Department’s standard disposal procedures.
No decisions have yet been made relating to the Lancaster Infantry Museum. The MOD’s future role with respect to the museum and its contents will be determined as part of the disposal process for the site.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any Minister in his Department plans to attend celebrations of the tercentenary of the Battle of Preston in November 2015.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There are no plans for any Minister from the Ministry of Defence to attend the tercentenary of the Battle of Preston. Any representation from the Armed Forces is likely to be at a local level.