Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which facilities at UK training establishments have been closed (a) temporarily and (b) permanently as a result of non-use in each of the last 36 months.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) investigations and (b) prosecutions of armed forces personnel for membership of proscribed or prohibited organisations there have been by service in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is aware that four members of the Army were recently arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000; namely on suspicion of being a member of a proscribed organisation (National Action) contrary to Section 11 of the Terrorism Act.
Investigations into alleged acts of terrorism are normally dealt with by the Home Office Police Forces.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed forces personnel are currently involved in training operations in support of aerial targeting procedures used by the airforces of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There are currently around 125 Armed Forces personnel based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, delivering the breadth of UK defence engagement with Saudi Arabia. Amongst their many tasks, these personnel deliver training, which we assess helps develop the Saudi-led Coalition's targeting processes and supports their compliance with International Humanitarian Law. During courses, additional personnel either deploy to Saudi Arabia, or provide training in the UK.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the (a) total number of available regular training places and (b) number of such places that have been filled at (i) ITC Catterick, (ii) ATC Pirbright, (iii) ATC Winchester, (iv) ATC Harrogate and (v) RMAS in each of the last 24 months, broken down by course.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The intake for Sandhurst Officer Commissioning Courses (CC) over the last 24 months is shown below.
Financial Year of Start | Regular CC | Start of Course | UK Officer Cadets Starting |
2015-16 | CC153 | September 2015 | 215 |
2015-16 | CC161 | January 2016 | 160 |
2016-17 | CC162 | May 2016 | 170 |
2016-17 | CC163 | September 2016 | 210 |
2016-17 | CC171 | January 2017 | 195 |
2017-18 | CC172 | May 2017 | 210 |
The maximum capacity of a single Commissioning Course is 270. This figure relates only to course capacity and does not represent the Army’s intake requirement for Officers.
Data in the table above have been taken from management information and are single service estimates, not official defence statistics.
For Other Ranks further time is required to collate and validate course data. I will write once work is complete and place a copy in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Department remains committed to maintain (a) the Royal Welsh (1st and 3rd battalions), (b) the Welsh Guards and (c) the Queen's Dragoon Guards at their current levels of personnel and resource beyond 2020.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Under current Army plans there is no intent to significantly change the personnel and resource level of the units in question.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what number of army personnel are serving as (a) regulars and (b) reserves as of today's date.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Regular and Reserve Army personnel figures are published as official statistics on a monthly basis. The latest publication of 'United Kingdom Armed Forces Monthly Service Personnel Statistics' can be found on the gov.uk website, at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/618747/20170501_-_SPS.pdf
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers and officers have been recruited to the (a) army and (b) reserve forces in the last two years, broken down by regiment.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The number of soldiers and officers who have joined the Regular Army and Army Reserves in the last two financial years (FY), broken down by Regiment/Corps is shown in the attached tables.
The figures are for total (trained and untrained) intake to the Regular Army and Army Future Reserves 2020 (FR20), excluding Gurkhas and Non-FR20 Reserve populations.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the number of Army personnel, by rank, who were listed as (a) regulars and (b) reservists in each of the last 24 months.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The number of Army personnel, by rank, who were listed as regulars and reservists in each of the last 24 months are shown in the attached tables.
The figures are for the total Regular Army and Army Future Reserves 2020, trained and untrained personnel. They exclude Gurkhas and Non-FR20 Reserve populations.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what regulations and sanctions there are related to the false wearing of (a) uniform, (b) rank and (c) tactical recognition flashes or insignia by non armed forces personnel.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There is no sanction regarding anyone claiming to have a particular military rank or post-nominals, unless in the commission of fraud. The wearing of uniforms by persons not entitled is an offence under the Uniforms Act of 1894. The wearing of any rank badge or unit insignia/tactical recognition flash by anyone not in uniform would be meaningless. Any act of impersonating military personnel in pursuit of financial or other material gain would fall under the provisions of the Fraud Act. Falsely obtaining access to Departmental property, by no matter what means, might be prosecutable under the Official Secrets Act 1911; Bylaws passed under the Military Lands Acts 1892; or Section 128 or 129 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
There is at present no sanction for anyone pretending to military rank in order to enhance their social standing.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what regulations and sanctions there are related to the impersonation of armed forces personnel (a) for financial gain, (b) to compromise security or gain access to his Department's property, (c) for other material gain and (d) for enhanced social standing.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There is no sanction regarding anyone claiming to have a particular military rank or post-nominals, unless in the commission of fraud. The wearing of uniforms by persons not entitled is an offence under the Uniforms Act of 1894. The wearing of any rank badge or unit insignia/tactical recognition flash by anyone not in uniform would be meaningless. Any act of impersonating military personnel in pursuit of financial or other material gain would fall under the provisions of the Fraud Act. Falsely obtaining access to Departmental property, by no matter what means, might be prosecutable under the Official Secrets Act 1911; Bylaws passed under the Military Lands Acts 1892; or Section 128 or 129 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
There is at present no sanction for anyone pretending to military rank in order to enhance their social standing.