Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role the Ministry of Defence Fire Services undertook during firefighting operations near Saddleworth Moor between June 2018 and July 2018; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Defence provided approximately 100 soldiers from 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, to support the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service operation responding to the Saddleworth Moor fires between June and July 2018. The Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO) oversaw the training and equipment requirements for the Defence personnel involved.
Asked by: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative - The Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what time period was his Department's tender validity on the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation contract extended; and when he plans to announce the winning tender.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Defence Fire and Rescue project remains subject to an on-going approvals process. Bidders have accepted extensions to the bid validity period to accommodate this; these extensions are confidential between the bidders and the Department. An announcement on the outcome of the project will be made in due course.
Asked by: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative - The Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what time period was his Department's tender validity on the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation contract extended; and when he plans to announce the winning tender.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Defence Fire and Rescue project remains subject to an on-going approvals process. Bidders have accepted extensions to the bid validity period to accommodate this; these extensions are confidential between the bidders and the Department. An announcement on the outcome of the project will be made in due course.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to use current pension rights as a baseline for the new arrangements following the privatisation of the Sovereign Base Area's Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation, or to apply the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations to the Sovereign Base Area as they apply in the UK.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO) is not being privatised. Elements of the Defence Fire and Rescue capability are already delivered by contractors at a number of Defence's fire stations. The Defence Fire and Rescue Project is examining the provision of this capability worldwide to assess whether there are alternative ways to deliver the capability at improved value for money, including the extension of contractor involvement, whilst ensuring continued protection of key military activities. The process is currently at the stage where final approvals to award a contract are being sought.
Details of the Bidders' proposals for Cyprus are commercially sensitive but all employees' rights and employer responsibilities, including pension provision for the DFRMO Locally Employed Civilians in Cyprus, have been considered throughout the competition. Members of the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and their trade union representatives have been consulted at all stages of the project.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the pension rights of those employed at the Sovereign Base Area's Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation of the proposed privatisation of that organisation; and whether there are any precedents for the proposed privatisation.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO) is not being privatised. Elements of the Defence Fire and Rescue capability are already delivered by contractors at a number of Defence's fire stations. The Defence Fire and Rescue Project is examining the provision of this capability worldwide to assess whether there are alternative ways to deliver the capability at improved value for money, including the extension of contractor involvement, whilst ensuring continued protection of key military activities. The process is currently at the stage where final approvals to award a contract are being sought.
Details of the Bidders' proposals for Cyprus are commercially sensitive but all employees' rights and employer responsibilities, including pension provision for the DFRMO Locally Employed Civilians in Cyprus, have been considered throughout the competition. Members of the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and their trade union representatives have been consulted at all stages of the project.
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people have been recruited into civilian posts in the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation in each of the last five years.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The number of personnel recruited into civilian posts in the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation in the last five years is given below:
Year | Total |
2017-18 | 47 |
2016-17 | 34 |
2015-16 | 20 |
2014-15 | 0 |
2013-14 | 9 |
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) military and (b) civil service staff the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation employs at which locations.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation employs 575 military firefighters and 778 Civil Service firefighters and support staff. These are broken down by location below:
Military Firefighters |
|
Location | Strength |
Army HQ Andover | 5 |
Brunei Garrison | 7 |
Manston | 20 |
Mount Pleasant Airfield | 32 |
HQ Joint Forces Command | 1 |
Portsmouth (HQ & training) | 17 |
RAF Akrotiri | 52 |
RAF Benson | 31 |
RAF Brize-Norton | 80 |
RAF Coningsby | 35 |
RAF Halton | 1 |
RAF High Wycombe | 2 |
RAF Honnington | 4 |
RAF Marham | 39 |
RAF Northolt | 34 |
RAF Odiham | 38 |
RAF Lossiemouth | 31 |
RAF Waddington | 58 |
RAF Wittering | 4 |
RNAS Culdrose | 36 |
RNAS Yeovilton | 42 |
RNAS Culdrose & Yeovilton | 6 |
Total | 575 |
Civil Servant firefighters & support staff | |
Location | Strength |
Aldergrove Flying Station | 25 |
DFTDC Manston | 38 |
Defence Munitions Longtown | 24 |
HMNB Clyde | 61 |
Leuchars Station | 28 |
Middle Wallop Airfield | 39 |
MOD Biecester | 27 |
MOD Corsham | 33 |
MOD Credenhill | 22 |
MOD Donnington | 30 |
MOD Kineton | 23 |
RAF Alconbury | 35 |
RAF Boulmer | 22 |
RAF Croughton | 16 |
RAF Cosford | 13 |
RAF Fairford | 19 |
RAF Fylingdales | 22 |
RAF Lakenheath | 19 |
RAF Leeming | 29 |
RAF Linton-on-Ouse | 26 |
RAF Lossiemouth | 29 |
RAF Menwith Hill | 37 |
RAF Mildenhall | 18 |
RAF Shawbury | 28 |
RAF Spadeadam | 10 |
Wattisham Airfield | 28 |
HQ & Safety cells | 77 |
Total | 778 |
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation staff have been deployed in support of local authority fire services in each of the last five years.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation personnel and assets deployed to support local authority fire services within the UK on the following number of occasions in the last five years:
Year | Total |
2017 | 27 |
2016 | 30 |
2015 | 24 |
2014 | 36 |
2013 | 43 |
Any future contract will retain similar provision to support local authority fire services.
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to postpone the award of the contract for the management of the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation as a result of the profits warning issued by Capita.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The process for awarding the contract for the management of the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation is subject to the standard Departmental, Treasury and Cabinet Office rules. This process is ongoing.
Asked by: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative - The Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for awarding the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation contract; and when the successful bidder of that contract will commence mobilisation.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The final bids in respect of the Defence Fire and Rescue Project were received on 19 September 2017. These bids are now being assessed and, subject to receiving the necessary approvals, the contract is expected to be awarded in 2018.