Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to the letter of 21 June 2018 of the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich on Woolwich Barracks.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I responded to the hon. Member on 19 July 2018.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the additional funding required by his Department over the next two years to prepare effectively for the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
As announced at the Autumn Budget 2017, HM Treasury is making £3 billion of additional funding available over the next two years - £1.5 billion in both 2018-19 and 2019-20 - so that Departments and the Devolved Administrations can continue to prepare effectively for Brexit.
We are currently working with HM Treasury and the Department for Exiting the EU to establish what we need to prepare effectively, and what additional funding should be supplied - HM Treasury will aim to agree 2018-19 allocations in early 2018. Funding requirements for 2019-20 will be affected by progress in negotiations with the EU and will therefore be decided at a later date.
Additional funding received from the Reserve will be set out at Supplementary Estimates in the usual way.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the activities of its military partners in the counter-Daesh offensive in Syria are consistent with international laws aimed at protecting civilians in armed conflicts.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Through the Coalition, we impress on all local partner forces in the fight against Daesh the importance of respect for the Law of Armed Conflict and International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what forms of military support the UK has given to the Syrian Democratic Forces who are taking part in the ground assault against Daesh in Raqqa.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The RAF provides close air support in the form of airstrikes on Daesh targets, which assist the Syrian Democratic Forces on the ground in taking the fight to Daesh in places such as Raqqah.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Estate Development Plan 2009, what the total cost was of the Woolwich Development Project.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Department holds no records of expenditure on Woolwich Barracks prior to 2009. Since 2009 a total of £83.8 million has been invested in Woolwich Barracks. Of this total providing the purpose-built equestrian training facility and accommodation centre has cost £19.5 million, the cost of the Woolwich Development project was £49 million.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost to the public was of providing the purpose-built equestrian training facility and accommodation centre at Woolwich Garrison for the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Department holds no records of expenditure on Woolwich Barracks prior to 2009. Since 2009 a total of £83.8 million has been invested in Woolwich Barracks. Of this total providing the purpose-built equestrian training facility and accommodation centre has cost £19.5 million, the cost of the Woolwich Development project was £49 million.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total amount of investment in Woolwich barracks has been since 2007.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Department holds no records of expenditure on Woolwich Barracks prior to 2009. Since 2009 a total of £83.8 million has been invested in Woolwich Barracks. Of this total providing the purpose-built equestrian training facility and accommodation centre has cost £19.5 million, the cost of the Woolwich Development project was £49 million.
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that retired Gurkhas and their families settled in the UK have access to adequate welfare support and advice.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is determined to ensure that veterans who require help are provided with appropriate support including through the Veterans UK helpline.
In addition to the support offered to all former personnel and their families by Veterans UK, former Gurkhas and their families can utilise the support offered by the Gurkha Welfare Advice Centres based in Salisbury and Aldershot. The purpose of the centres is to assist in the coordination of benevolence and welfare for retired Gurkhas in the UK by working closely with Government Departments, Service charities and other agencies in order to support those in need. More detail can be found at:
http://www.army.mod.uk/gurkhas/27785.aspx
As announced in January 2015, the Government awarded £960,000 through the Armed Forces Covenant Veterans' Accommodation Fund to Gurkha Homes Limited to provide 32 homes for Gurkha veterans.