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Written Question
Armed Forces: Housing
Tuesday 21st November 2023

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has issued guidance to (a) serving members of the armed forces and (b) family members of serving members of the armed forces on giving evidence to the Defence Select Committee inquiry into military housing.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Department issued guidance for Serving personnel and civil servants to submit written evidence about their personal experiences to the House of Commons Defence Sub-Committee Inquiry into Service Accommodation, on the Defence Intranet.

The Department has not yet issued any specific guidance to family members of Serving personnel.


Written Question
Gurkhas: Military Alliances
Thursday 23rd March 2023

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of replacing the tripartite agreement governing Gurkha terms of service with a bilateral agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Tri-Partite Agreement 1947 has not been replaced but continues to provide the formal basis for the employment of the Brigade of Gurkhas (BoG) within the British Army. Since 2007 Gurkhas have served on the same basis as the remainder of the British Army apart from specific requirements to maintain the unique position of the BoG.

The UK and Nepal share an exceptionally long and unique partnership. We are committed to deepening our strategic partnership with Nepal and delivering our shared security and prosperity interests.


Written Question
Armed Forces
Monday 13th March 2023

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2023 to Question 156940 on Armed Forces, if his Department will send the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall a copy of JSP 822.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Joint Service Publication (JSP) 822 is available on the gov.uk website and can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-822-governance-and-management-of-defence-individual-training-education-and-skills


Written Question
Armed Forces and Veterans: Education
Tuesday 7th March 2023

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department keeps a list of (a) approved and (b) unapproved (i) courses and (ii) subjects for Standard Learning Credits for (A) serving members of the armed forces and (B) veterans.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Standard Learning Credits (SLC) Scheme provides financial support throughout a Service persons’ career to enhance their educational and vocational achievements in service. It allows for multiple, small-scale learning purposes and courses that have been approved by their Line Manager and discussed with Education Staff as part of a Service persons’ Personal Development Plan. Veterans are not eligible for the SLC scheme unless specific criteria are met, as outlined in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 534 – Tri Service Resettlement and Employment Support Manual.

The Ministry of Defence does not maintain a list of individual courses eligible for SLCs. Instead, Defence has criteria which a course must meet in order to be eligible for a Service person to use SLCs on. This is set out in JSP 882, Section 2.3 Eligibility to Claim: https://www.enhancedlearningcredits.com/uploads/documents/jsp_822_-_vol_9_-_elective_education_-_v5_-_sept_2022.pdf


Written Question
Armed Forces
Tuesday 7th March 2023

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2023 to Question 117547 on Armed Forces, if his Department will send the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall a copy of AGAI 57; and whether this AGAI covers the use of Standard Learning Credits.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The Private Office of the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families sent a hard copy of the document in question on 17 January 2023 and emailed a seperate copy on 6 March. AGAI 57 does not cover the use of Standard Learning Credits. Standard Learning Credits policy is contained in JSP 822. There is no Army specific policy regarding Learning Credits.


Written Question
Ukraine: Challenger Tanks
Tuesday 31st January 2023

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of the donation of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine on defence capability; and how this will be reflected in the Integrated Review.

Answered by James Heappey

The Government is committed to providing whatever support it can to Ukraine. We are ensuring that the UK and our security interests are protected and supporting our many Allies and Partners, especially Ukraine. Sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine represents a step change in our support as a calibrated response to Russia's indiscriminate violence against civilians in Ukraine. There will be no impact on the Challenger 3 programme and the procurement of 148 Challenger 3 for the British Army.

Each day Defence is using lessons learned from ongoing conflicts and events over the last year to adapt its strategic thinking and adapt our approach. Any specific policy changes required related to defence capability will be determined once the update to the Integrated Review and the update to the Defence Command Paper have concluded.


Written Question
Armed Forces
Wednesday 11th January 2023

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish Land Forces Standing Order 3208.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Land Forces Standing Order 3208 was superseded by Army General Administrative Instruction (AGAI) 57, which was last updated in October 2022. This AGAI is an internal document intended for Army personnel which outlines best practices on how to manage Service personnel and as such would not be made routinely available. However, I will arrange for a copy to be sent to you.


Written Question
Challenger Tanks
Friday 9th December 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2022 to Question 97545 on Challenger Tanks, when he expects that review to conclude.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

The disposals plan is reviewed regularly as part of routine capability management. A decision on what will happen to the remaining platforms will be taken once the options have been considered.


Written Question
Challenger Tanks
Thursday 1st December 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his Department's policy to upgrade 148 of the 227 Challenger 2 MBTs to Challenger 3 tanks; what his Department plans to do with any tanks that are not upgraded; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

It remains the Department's policy to upgrade 148 of the Army's existing Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks to the Challenger 3 standard. Initial Operating Capability is expected to be achieved in 2027, with Full Operating Capability expected in 2030. A decision on what will happen to the remaining platforms is currently under review


Written Question
Challenger Tanks
Friday 25th November 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of Challenger 2 main battle tanks due to be upgraded to Challenger 3 in the context of the War in Ukraine; and whether he will make a statement.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey) on 14 March 2022 to Question 135702 to the hon. Member for Stockton South (Matt Vickers).