Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) Marine 11 and (b) Marine 12 have been used for ministerial travel by any Department since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) assets, which are responsible for transferring the President and Vice President for the United States, have not been used to transport UK Ministers during the period in question.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the defence industrial joint council to first meet.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
On 2 December 2024, as part of the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, it was announced by the Secretary of State that the Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) will be replaced by a new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC). At this point the Defence Suppliers Forum was disbanded, but strategic engagement with Industry and the Defence Sector has continued via the Defence Industrial Strategy Consultation and at Official level to continue delivering relevant work managed under the DSF. The inaugural DIJC meeting is planned to take place in June 2025.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Suppliers Forum has been disbanded.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
On 2 December 2024, as part of the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, it was announced by the Secretary of State that the Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) will be replaced by a new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC). At this point the Defence Suppliers Forum was disbanded, but strategic engagement with Industry and the Defence Sector has continued via the Defence Industrial Strategy Consultation and at Official level to continue delivering relevant work managed under the DSF. The inaugural DIJC meeting is planned to take place in June 2025.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the requirements are for membership of the defence industrial joint council.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) incorporates representation from the breadth of the defence sector, including defence primes, Small and Medium Enterprises, mid-tiers, investors, academia, trade unions and trade associations. The membership composition of the DIJC includes subject matter experts that reflect the diversity of the defence sector. An announcement of the initial membership composition for the Top Level Council will be provided in due course.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the membership is of the defence industrial joint council.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) incorporates representation from the breadth of the defence sector, including defence primes, Small and Medium Enterprises, mid-tiers, investors, academia, trade unions and trade associations. The membership composition of the DIJC includes subject matter experts that reflect the diversity of the defence sector. An announcement of the initial membership composition for the Top Level Council will be provided in due course.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025 on Veterans Support: A New Approach HCWS619, how much of the £50milllion funding for new support system for veterans will be allocated to the devolved institutions.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I repeat the lines that my Ministerial colleague, the Minister for Veterans and People gave that VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. The detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course. on 12 May to Questions 50185, 50186, 50187, 50189, 50190, and 50191 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge), and Question 50424 to the Gallant and hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr Jopp).
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the defence suppliers forum main meeting last took place.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) has been replaced by the new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC). The DSF Main last met on 15 November 2023 and the DSF Executive Group on 25 September 2024.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the defence suppliers forum executive group last met.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) has been replaced by the new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC). The DSF Main last met on 15 November 2023 and the DSF Executive Group on 25 September 2024.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Defence Gardens Scheme for veterans.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We recognise the work of the Defence Gardens Scheme, along with so many others working hard to support our Armed Forces community and make a difference to the wellbeing of veterans. The Minister for Veterans and People saw first hand the Defence Gardens Scheme on a visit earlier this year to Northern Ireland.
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs works closely with many Armed Forces charities and organisations who play a vital part of the wider support system for veterans, and the Minister for Veterans and People is actively exploring ways of simplifying and cohering access to Government support, working in partnership with the charity sector, via VALOUR, which was announced on 5 May 2025.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a VALOUR-recognised support centre will be located in Leeds.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I repeat the lines that my mMnisterial colleague, the Minister for Veterans and People gave: that VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. The detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course. on 12 May to Questions 50185, 50186, 50187, 50189, 50190, and 50191 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge), and Question 50424 to the Gallant and hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr Jopp).