Asked by: Tracy Brabin (Labour (Co-op) - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the number of new recruits to the Army from each (a) parliamentary constituency, (b) region of the UK and (c) constituent part of the UK in the most recent period for which figures are available.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The information requested will take time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.
Asked by: Tracy Brabin (Labour (Co-op) - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what employee benefits there are for new recruits to the armed forces who are not eligible to join the armed forces childcare vouchers scheme.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Service personnel wishing to benefit from Income Tax and National Insurance savings (who were not claiming before October 2018) are eligible to join the new Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme. This was introduced in September 2017 to replace all salary sacrifice schemes introduced since 1989.
The previous Childcare Voucher scheme closed to new joiners on 4 October 2018. Existing members can continue to use the scheme.
In addition to the universal entitlement to 15 hours (or 30 hours for eligible working parents) of free early education and childcare for children from the term after their third birthday, some English local authorities offer free hours of Ofsted registered childcare targeted to Service personnel with children aged two.
A significant number of nurseries are accommodated on the Defence estate at military bases aimed principally at ensuring nursery provision for Service personnel based at the location concerned. Such nurseries are not operated by Defence but are provided so that personnel have provision close to their place of work and close to their homes when accommodated in Service Families Accommodation. The provision may offer an array of benefits to Service personnel ranging from priority placement to preferential rates.
In those overseas locations where Service personnel and their dependants have no statutory entitlement to access host nation provision, the MOD has committed to mirror as far as is reasonably practicable the statutory provision that would have been available in England. Where MOD-provided overseas childcare facilities have sufficient capacity, three and four-year old children will be provided for free of charge within the UK guidelines. In overseas locations where there are no MOD-provided childcare facilities, or such facilities lack sufficient capacity, the additional entitlement will be provided through the MOD Overseas Nursery Allowance.
Asked by: Tracy Brabin (Labour (Co-op) - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what childcare facilities his Department makes available for staff; how much his Department spent (a) overall and (b) per child on those childcare facilities in the last year; and how many staff members use those childcare facilities.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Child care is primarily the responsibility of local authorities and they have a remit to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the requirements of the parents in their area. However, it is Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy to develop solutions to any evidenced gaps in childcare for all MOD employees, both military and civilian, in the vicinity of its sites and bases. Such schemes are usually managed locally. We are currently reviewing arrangements relating to the provision of childcare for employees.
Asked by: Tracy Brabin (Labour (Co-op) - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff are seconded to his Department; and how many such staff are seconded from which companies and organisations.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
As of 20 April 2017, 160 staff are currently seconded to the Ministry of Defence, from the following companies and organisations:
Private Sector Companies * |
|
Atomic Weapons Establishment | ~ |
BAE Systems | ~ |
KPMG | ~ |
Leonardo | ~ |
Network Rail | ~ |
Rolls Royce | ~ |
Selex Gallileo | ~ |
Total | 15 |
Other Government Departments/Agencies * |
|
Border Force | ~ |
Cabinet Office | 11 |
Civil Service Resourcing | 70 |
Crown Commercial Service | ~ |
Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (Dstl) | 32 |
Department for Education | ~ |
Department for Work and Pensions | ~ |
Department for Transport | ~ |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office | ~ |
GCHQ | ~ |
Government Legal Department | ~ |
German Armed Forces Infrastructure Office | ~ |
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs | 5 |
Her Majesty’s Treasury | ~ |
Home Office | ~ |
Ministry of Justice | ~ |
Norfolk Constabulary | ~ |
The Security Service | ~ |
Total | 145 |
*Due to departmental policy on disclosure, ~ represents a value of 4 or fewer.
Asked by: Tracy Brabin (Labour (Co-op) - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason he is not a member of the Government's European Union Exit and Trade Committee.
Answered by Mike Penning
The list of Cabinet Committees and Implementation Taskforces, and their membership, is published on the GOV.UK website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cabinet-committees-system-and-list-of-cabinet-committees
The Secretary of State for Defence attends the European Union Exit and Trade Committee where the agenda concerns his portfolio.