Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the (a) level of seafarers pay and (b) number of seafarers on the (i) capacity and (ii) functions of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Navy Command is introducing a number of recruitment and retention initiatives. An independent benchmarking survey has been engaged to ensure levels of pay, leave and assignment length are competitive with industry to ensure the RFA remains at the leading edge of UK shipping operators and employers.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary on the potential impact of trends in the level of pay on (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) training.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Navy Command is introducing a number of recruitment and retention initiatives. An independent benchmarking survey has been engaged to ensure levels of pay, leave and assignment length are competitive with industry to ensure the RFA remains at the leading edge of UK shipping operators and employers.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on (a) the sourcing of bearskin hats from Canada and (b) the method by which those bears are killed.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I can confirm that the Department has received representations from organisations and members of the public concerning the sourcing of bearskin hats, and the methods by which the bears are killed, with which we continue to engage.
Please be assured however that bears are never hunted to order for use by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Bear pelts that are used by the MOD are by-products of legal and licensed hunts authorised by each individual Canadian Province and Territory to manage the wild bear population.
Furs used by Defence are only procured via local Canadian suppliers with a ‘Furmark’ accreditation. This is a global certification and traceability system for natural furs that guarantees animal welfare and environmental standards, and in turn ensures the ethical sourcing and sustainability of the fur.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2023 to Question 200792 on Defence Equipment & Support: Industrial Disputes, what the cost was of moving personnel to the Beith Defence Equipment & Support site during this year’s industrial action.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The cost of bringing qualified Defence Munitions personnel from other Defence Munition sites to continue to support continued operations during the industrial action was c. £32,500.
This cost represents less than 20% of the total reduction in paybill that resulted from the unpaid days from those taking industrial action.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) accidents and (b) near misses involving manual handling equipment have taken place at Defence Equipment and Support in Beith since 11 September 2023.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There have been no accidents involving manual or mechanical handling equipment at Defence Munitions Beith since 11 September 2023.
There have been three near-misses involving mechanical handling equipment reported at Defence Munitions Beith since 11 September.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether alternative labour is being used to carry out the roles of people on strike at Defence Equipment and Support in Beith.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Munitions Continuity Plan was invoked during the strike action which meant fully qualified and competent staff attended Beith from other Defence Munitions sites. This was to ensure the continued safety of operations and to ensure ongoing military capability was not disrupted.
Those personnel undertake the same roles at other Defence Munition sites, hold full Ministry of Defence driving licences and have undertaken the same training as the staff at Beith.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to ensure the adequacy of health and safety arrangements during industrial action at Defence Equipment and Support in Beith.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Munitions Continuity Plan was invoked during the strike action which meant fully qualified and competent staff attended Beith from other DM sites. This was to ensure the continued safety of operations and to ensure ongoing military capability was not disrupted.
Those personnel undertake the same roles at other DM sites, hold full Ministry of Defence driving licences and have undertaken the same training as the staff at Beith.
Risk assessments and method statements for activities at Beith remain extant for all processes undertaken and have been fully complied with.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps with international counterparts to classify wrecks of warships as war graves.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The term “war graves” is one which only applies to the final resting places of fallen troops on land, and locations can only be designated as a war grave by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
However, as a matter of customary international law, all naval warships, state vessels and associated artefacts are afforded protection through the principle of Sovereign Immunity. The UK is of the view that, unless expressly relinquished or abandoned by the Flag State, the Sovereign Immunity of the wreck of any Crown vessel remains in place, regardless of where the wreck in question is located, and those who lost their lives in service of our country should be left in situ and undisturbed.
Some warships are also afforded additional protection under the Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA). Vessels of historical significance, at risk of salvage and that are the last resting place of our service personnel are considered for inclusion.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2023 to Question 187400 on HMS Dasher, if his Department will provide support for the search for grave sites of those servicemen lost in HMS Dasher in 1943 on land, who were not included in official records.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
HMS DASHER tragically sank in March 1943 following an explosion onboard where no enemy action was involved. All those lost on HMS DASHER are commemorated either on a headstone marking their grave, or on a memorial to the missing.
The wreck of HMS DASHER is the last known resting place for 356 servicemen and, in line with Government policy to let war casualties lie undisturbed, the wreck is designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986; this means the site can only be accessed under a licence granted by the Secretary of State for Defence.
In response to concerns that some casualties from this tragedy were buried on land, there has been two surveys. Neither survey has found any evidence of casualties buried on land and there is no intention to conduct further surveys until such time as further evidence is provided.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June too Question 187400 on HMS Dasher, if he will support the search for grave sites on land of those lost in HMS Dasher in 1943 which are not included in official records.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
HMS DASHER tragically sank in March 1943 following an explosion onboard where no enemy action was involved. All those lost on HMS DASHER are commemorated either on a headstone marking their grave, or on a memorial to the missing.
The wreck of HMS DASHER is the last known resting place for 356 servicemen and, in line with Government policy to let war casualties lie undisturbed, the wreck is designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986; this means the site can only be accessed under a licence granted by the Secretary of State for Defence.
In response to concerns that some casualties from this tragedy were buried on land, there has been two surveys. Neither survey has found any evidence of casualties buried on land and there is no intention to conduct further surveys until such time as further evidence is provided.