Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans that the Multi National Headquarters for the command of EU military operations will remain at Northwood.
Answered by Mike Penning
The European Union (EU) Staff employed at Northwood within the EU Operational Headquarters (OHQ) and the NATO Maritime Commander (MARCOM)'s Headquarters provide vital support to Operation ATALANTA (a Counter-Piracy mission off the Horn of Africa) and broader NATO Maritime Operations.
The requirement for the OHQ, its location, and its EU Staff depend on a continuing mandate (expected to be extended until December 2018) and decisions of the EU; and the UK supports continued NATO - EU cooperation including that through MARCOM.
There are are no current plans to relocate the OHQ or EU staff from Northwood.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to require that EU staff employed at Northwood relocate to another country after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Mike Penning
The European Union (EU) Staff employed at Northwood within the EU Operational Headquarters (OHQ) and the NATO Maritime Commander (MARCOM)'s Headquarters provide vital support to Operation ATALANTA (a Counter-Piracy mission off the Horn of Africa) and broader NATO Maritime Operations.
The requirement for the OHQ, its location, and its EU Staff depend on a continuing mandate (expected to be extended until December 2018) and decisions of the EU; and the UK supports continued NATO - EU cooperation including that through MARCOM.
There are are no current plans to relocate the OHQ or EU staff from Northwood.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent guidelines he has issued to members of the armed forces on registering with a doctor.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Primary healthcare for serving Armed Forces personnel is provided by the Defence Medical Services (DMS).
Leaflet 1-3-4 of Joint Service Publication 950 (the Defence medical policy document) explains the healthcare transition arrangements for personnel leaving the Services and DMS care. This includes information on registering with an NHS General Practitioner.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget is of the Mk4A upgrade programme.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The UK currently fields the Trident Mk4 warhead as part of the Trident Strategic Weapons System. In order to ensure continuity of the Mk4-based capability, the Mk4A Arming, Fuzing and Firing system is a non-nuclear component being introduced into the UK Trident warhead to replace a similar component. The Mk4A programme will not increase the destructive power of the warhead.
Approval to procure the new Arming, Firing and Fuzing mechanisms, to manage obsolescence in Mk4 and to adopt a Mk4A component was given in January 2006. I am withholding further details of the date of the Mk4A component's entry into service, the cost of the Mk4A programme and the extension in operational life expected for the purposes of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the goal is of the Mk4A upgrade programme.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The UK currently fields the Trident Mk4 warhead as part of the Trident Strategic Weapons System. In order to ensure continuity of the Mk4-based capability, the Mk4A Arming, Fuzing and Firing system is a non-nuclear component being introduced into the UK Trident warhead to replace a similar component. The Mk4A programme will not increase the destructive power of the warhead.
Approval to procure the new Arming, Firing and Fuzing mechanisms, to manage obsolescence in Mk4 and to adopt a Mk4A component was given in January 2006. I am withholding further details of the date of the Mk4A component's entry into service, the cost of the Mk4A programme and the extension in operational life expected for the purposes of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Mk4A upgrade is expected to increase the yield of the warhead.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The UK currently fields the Trident Mk4 warhead as part of the Trident Strategic Weapons System. In order to ensure continuity of the Mk4-based capability, the Mk4A Arming, Fuzing and Firing system is a non-nuclear component being introduced into the UK Trident warhead to replace a similar component. The Mk4A programme will not increase the destructive power of the warhead.
Approval to procure the new Arming, Firing and Fuzing mechanisms, to manage obsolescence in Mk4 and to adopt a Mk4A component was given in January 2006. I am withholding further details of the date of the Mk4A component's entry into service, the cost of the Mk4A programme and the extension in operational life expected for the purposes of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when work on the Mk4A upgrade programme began.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The UK currently fields the Trident Mk4 warhead as part of the Trident Strategic Weapons System. In order to ensure continuity of the Mk4-based capability, the Mk4A Arming, Fuzing and Firing system is a non-nuclear component being introduced into the UK Trident warhead to replace a similar component. The Mk4A programme will not increase the destructive power of the warhead.
Approval to procure the new Arming, Firing and Fuzing mechanisms, to manage obsolescence in Mk4 and to adopt a Mk4A component was given in January 2006. I am withholding further details of the date of the Mk4A component's entry into service, the cost of the Mk4A programme and the extension in operational life expected for the purposes of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Mk4A upgrade is planned to come into service.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The UK currently fields the Trident Mk4 warhead as part of the Trident Strategic Weapons System. In order to ensure continuity of the Mk4-based capability, the Mk4A Arming, Fuzing and Firing system is a non-nuclear component being introduced into the UK Trident warhead to replace a similar component. The Mk4A programme will not increase the destructive power of the warhead.
Approval to procure the new Arming, Firing and Fuzing mechanisms, to manage obsolescence in Mk4 and to adopt a Mk4A component was given in January 2006. I am withholding further details of the date of the Mk4A component's entry into service, the cost of the Mk4A programme and the extension in operational life expected for the purposes of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what forecast he has made of by how long the Mk4A upgrade programme will extend the operational life of the current warhead.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The UK currently fields the Trident Mk4 warhead as part of the Trident Strategic Weapons System. In order to ensure continuity of the Mk4-based capability, the Mk4A Arming, Fuzing and Firing system is a non-nuclear component being introduced into the UK Trident warhead to replace a similar component. The Mk4A programme will not increase the destructive power of the warhead.
Approval to procure the new Arming, Firing and Fuzing mechanisms, to manage obsolescence in Mk4 and to adopt a Mk4A component was given in January 2006. I am withholding further details of the date of the Mk4A component's entry into service, the cost of the Mk4A programme and the extension in operational life expected for the purposes of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Steven Paterson (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) army, (b) navy and (c) RAF personnel have registered with a doctor in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The following table provides the number of UK Armed Forces personnel with a Defence Medical Services registration at a Ministry of Defence (MOD) medical practice in Scotland at various points in time since 1 July 2013:
As at | Naval Service | Army | RAF | Total |
1 July 2013 | 4,170 | 3,840 | 3,080 | 11,080 |
1 July 2014 | 4,190 | 3,790 | 2,580 | 10,560 |
1 July 2015 | 4,260 | 3,410 | 1,190 | 9,650 |
1 April 2016 | 4,820 | 3,890 | 1,920 | 10,640 |
|
It should be noted that due to rounding, subtotals by Service will not always add up to the total.
The MOD does not hold records of all Armed Forces personnel and Veterans who are registered with an NHS medical practice in Scotland.