We protect the security, independence and interests of our country at home and abroad. We work with our allies and partners whenever possible. Our aim is to ensure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work, and that we keep within budget.
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Jul. 06 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| May. 20 | Urgent Questions | Use of Torture Overseas |
| Feb. 26 | Westminster Hall | Cawdor Barracks |
| May. 21 | Adjournment Debate | Christmas Island Nuclear Testing: Compensation |
| Title | Last Event | Next Event Date | Last Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-21 | 1st reading: House of Commons (no debate) | 19 Mar 2020, 11:48 a.m. | ||
| A Bill to Make provision about legal proceedings and consideration of derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in connection with operations of the armed forces outside the British Islands. | ||||
| Dates | Department | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Laid 9 Mar 2020 In Force 6 Apr 2020 |
Ministry of Defence | Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation | Made negative procedure |
| This Order amends the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983 (“the Scheme”), which makes provision for the payment of pensions and allowances to, or in respect of, civilians who were killed or injured during the 1939-1945 World War. | |||
|
Laid 9 Mar 2020 In Force 6 Apr 2020 |
Ministry of Defence | Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2020 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation | Made negative procedure |
| This Order amends the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/517) (“the 2011 Order”), which provides for benefits to be payable to, or in respect of, a person by reason of injury, illness or death caused wholly or partly, by service in the regular or reserve armed forces. | |||
Ministry of Defence Select Committee Home Page
Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries, and the Select Committee will occasionally publish formal reports of their findings.
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jul. 31 | Allied joint doctrine (AJP-01(E)) | Guidance and Regulation |
| Jul. 31 | MOD Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HS&EP) Functional Strategy | Transparency |
| Jul. 31 | FOI responses released by MOD: week commencing 27 July 2020 | Transparency |
Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.
Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.
| Date | Title | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 2020, 10:51 a.m. | Unmanned Air Vehicles | Baroness Stern |
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Question To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent progress they have made on the Zephyr High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite programme, following the reported mishaps in 2019. Answer (Baroness Goldie) The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is sponsoring a High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) utilising the Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) Zephyr platform to explore the utility of this cutting edge and novel technology.
There are always setbacks when you push the boundaries of technology to explore future concepts. The unfortunate incidents in 2019 led to investigations being carried out by the relevant authorities and ADS have taken the findings and implemented improvements. ADS planned to demonstrate these improvements during the HAPS OCD this summer, but trials have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The MOD continue to work with Airbus to progress the OCD and to identify further opportunities for demonstration in order to fully explore the utility of HAPS. |
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