Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the equipment his Department has provided to Ukraine to help counter chemical threats included (a) gas detection and (b) chemical protective equipment for use by (i) civilians and (ii) armed forces.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to assess and monitor the evolving threat picture in Ukraine, including Russian use of chemicals as a method of warfare. The MOD has been at the forefront of international support and assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and has provided respirators, detectors, decontamination kits, as well as other protective measures to enhance the Armed Forces of Ukraine's protective capabilities against chemical weapons.
Our commitment to Ukraine is unwavering, we continue to work closely with our international partners to coordinate counter-CBRN support and assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence Review will conclude in its entirety before the next Spending Review commences.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The reviewers will report regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Defence and will make their final report to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Defence Secretary - with recommendations - in the first half of 2025.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the scale of innovation in the UK’s defence and security sector, in the light of the success of non-legacy defence contractors in recent US procurement rounds.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of engaging with non-traditional defence suppliers and is working closely with UK Industry and Academia to identify and invest in innovative technologies that address our most pressing capability challenges.
This includes initiatives such as the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), which is designed to find and fund innovative solutions to defence and security challenges, for example through Regional Defence and Security Clusters (RDSCs)
This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy, working closely with industry to support UK resilience and innovation.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to bring pensions for Gurkha soldiers who retired before 1997 in line with the standard British Army pension.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government greatly values the service of all members of the Armed Forces, including the Gurkhas, who have a long and distinguished history of Service to the UK, both here and overseas. The Government takes its responsibilities to our Gurkha veterans very seriously and is committed to providing Gurkha veterans with a fair pension.
The 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme is different to other Armed Forces Pension Schemes, but these differences are objectively and reasonably justified. The legal basis for Gurkha pensions has been upheld by three Judicial Reviews since 2003, including a case that went to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The Government maintains that the 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme continues to provide a good income for our Gurkha veterans living in Nepal, in accordance with the original scheme design.
As a Minister new to the Gurkha Pension issue, I look forward to meeting with the Ambassador of Nepal and the Gurkha veteran representatives in due course.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many licences have been issued for trail hunting on his Department's land in 2024-2025; and whether he plans to revoke any of these licences.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
No licences have yet been issued for trail hunting on the Ministry of Defence Estate for the 2024–2025 season.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will take steps to end the granting of licenses for hunting on its land.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
No licences have yet been issued for trail hunting on the Ministry of Defence Estate for the 2024–2025 season.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to reduce the training budget for (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy in the current financial year.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Chancellor has confirmed a challenging in year deficit across all Departments. A spending review process is underway. Departmental spending plans will be set out in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) armed forces, and (2) diplomatic families, currently receive support via the Continuity of Education Allowance; and what were the numbers supported each year since 2019.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence currently has 2,666* Armed Forces personnel receiving MOD’s Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) The number supported since 2019 is as follows:
Academic Year | Number of Armed Forces Personnel |
2019-20 | 2,908 |
2020-21 | 2,843 |
2021-22 | 2,826 |
2022-23 | 2,759 |
*as at Academic Year 2023-24
(2) The FCDO currently have 328 diplomatic families claiming Continuity of Education Allowance. The number supported since 2019 is as follows:
Academic Year | Number of FCDO Civil Servants |
2019-20 | 281 |
2020-21 | 315 |
2021-22 | 349 |
2022-23 | 341 |
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NATO allies about the importance of retaining a minimum credible deterrent for as long as global conditions require.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since 1962, the UK has committed its nuclear deterrent to the defence of our NATO allies. The nuclear deterrent deters the most extreme threats to our national security, keeping the UK and our NATO allies safe.
As was made clear in the NATO Washington Summit declaration, nuclear deterrence is the cornerstone of Alliance security. NATO and NATO Allies will continue to take actions to enhance our deterrence and defence against all threats and challenges and across all domains. As the Prime Minister has set out, this Government has an unshakeable commitment to NATO and our nuclear deterrent.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many combat arms earplugs his Department purchased from 3M; and what the cost was.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Combat Arms Ear Plugs, specifically the 3M Combat Ear Plugs Generation 4.1, were purchased by the Ministry of Defence from 3M as part of the Tactical Hearing Protection – Basic User capability via a NATO Support and Procurement Agency contract.
A total of 152,850 units were purchased from 3M at an overall cost of £0.699 million between May 2015 and September 2023.