Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether there has been any change to the 2028 Out of Service Date (OSD) of RFA Fort Victoria.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Royal Navy constantly explore options to ensure optimal availability of the fleet. However, in order to preserve the Operational Security of the Fleet, individual out of service dates are no longer released.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many operational personnel of the British Army are currently based in (1) England, (2) Wales, (3) Scotland, (4) Northern Ireland, and (5) overseas.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the Noble Lord to the below table which shows the number of Trade Trained Regular Army Personnel by Stationed Location, as of 1 January 2024.

Notes/Caveats:

1. The figures are for the Trade Trained Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP.
2. Figures include all Trade Trained Regular Army personnel, regardless of whether they are currently deployed on operation. This also includes personnel regardless of their Medical Deployability Status.
3. Figures include both Officers and Soldiers.
4. The figures are based on service personnel’s stationed location and not their area of residence – where personnel work isn’t necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location.
5. There are approximately 20 personnel with an unallocated location as recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration System (JPA).
6. Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes; numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
7. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be a sum of their parts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by The Earl of Minto on 11 March (HL Deb col 1805), how will the 138 F35B Lightning aircraft be allocated to squadrons.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Lightning Force is configured to be flexible and interchangeable as individual aircraft cycle between the Forward Fleet and periods of maintenance. Squadrons will gain aircraft from the available Forward Fleet in line with their readiness cycle, expeditionary deployment requirements, and associated training and exercises. The size of Air Groups for every Carrier deployment are tailored based on the overall balance of Defence requirements at that time.

Specific airframes are not allocated to specific Squadrons on a permanent basis. As is normal across all aircraft fleets, as part of the readiness cycle and routine fleet management across the Front-Line Squadrons and Operational Conversion Unit, the exact number of airframes operated by individual units varies day-to-day. A Squadron held at Very High Readiness will require a full complement of airframes, while a Squadron on lower readiness or undertaking post Operational deployment leave will require fewer airframes for day-to-day pilot currency and competency requirements.

Our plan remains to procure 138 aircraft through the life of the programme. This procurement is phased; our first acquisition phase of 48 aircraft is underway at present, with the second phase consisting of a further 27 aircraft now progressing through the approvals process, which will form the basis of our third Front-line Lightning Squadron with deliveries expected to continue into 2033. The Ministry of Defence will seek approval for further acquisition phases at the appropriate time.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the varied needs of the families of those serving in the armed forces; what steps they have taken to increase support available to those families; and to what extent they have addressed the recommendations outlined in the report commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, Living in our shoes: understanding the needs of UK Armed Forces Families published in June 2020.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Defence recognises the important role that families play in supporting our Armed Forces, which is why in 2022 we published our UK Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022 – 2032. There is much crossover between the Living in Our Shoes report and the Families Strategy Action Plan, with two authors of the report holding Defence to account via our Families Strategy Steering Group and progress being reported biannually to Ministers and being placed on record in the annual Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Report.

The needs of families are constantly evolving, which is why Defence undertakes an annual Tri-Service Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FAMCAS). FAMCAS captures the key issues impacting our families which we then work to relieve. This may be achieved through direct intervention, for example via the Defence-funded Wraparound Childcare scheme, or by collaborating closely with other stakeholders or Government Departments, such as with the Office for Students to ensure that Service children are recognised within its Equality of Opportunity Risk Register.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on multi-mission aircraft in each financial year since 2019-20.

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

The DE&S Multi-Mission Aircraft Delivery Team total spend on equipment by financial year (FY) is as follows:

The Multi-Mission Aircraft delivery team total spend on operating costs by financial year is as follows:

The Multi-Mission Aircraft Delivery Team is a specific project team in DE&S and the figures above represent the total spend of that team. The figure does not represent the total spend on all multi-mission aircraft projects across Defence which would not be held centrally and would not be answerable without a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the PULSAR project in each financial year since 2019.

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

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 2 April 2024 to Question 19791.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were employed in the Remotely-Piloted Air Systems Team at Defence Equipment and Support on average in each year from 2019 to 2024 as of 20 March.

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

The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employed within the Typhoon delivery, Lightning II delivery, Military Flying Training Systems and Remotely Piloted Air Systems teams in each Financial Year (FY) since 2019 as at 31 March, is detailed in the table below. The figures include civilian and military employees and workforce substitutes.

Figures for 2023-24 will not be available until the end of the FY.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were employed in the UK Military Flying Training Systems Team at Defence Equipment and Support on average in each year from 2019 to 2024 as of 20 March 2024.

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

The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employed within the Typhoon delivery, Lightning II delivery, Military Flying Training Systems and Remotely Piloted Air Systems teams in each Financial Year (FY) since 2019 as at 31 March, is detailed in the table below. The figures include civilian and military employees and workforce substitutes.

Figures for 2023-24 will not be available until the end of the FY.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were employed in the Typhoon delivery team at Defence Equipment and Support in each year since 2019.

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

The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employed within the Typhoon delivery, Lightning II delivery, Military Flying Training Systems and Remotely Piloted Air Systems teams in each Financial Year (FY) since 2019 as at 31 March, is detailed in the table below. The figures include civilian and military employees and workforce substitutes.

Figures for 2023-24 will not be available until the end of the FY.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people worked on the Lightning II Team at Defence Equipment and Support in each year since 2019.

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

The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employed within the Typhoon delivery, Lightning II delivery, Military Flying Training Systems and Remotely Piloted Air Systems teams in each Financial Year (FY) since 2019 as at 31 March, is detailed in the table below. The figures include civilian and military employees and workforce substitutes.

Figures for 2023-24 will not be available until the end of the FY.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Capability boost for UK's global military operations as contract confirmed for new Chinooks, published on 14 March 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the foreign exchange rate on the value of the contract for new Chinook helicopters.

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

The Foreign Military Sales agreement with the US Government is denominated in US dollars in common with all such cases. The forecasted cost of the programme is based on the most up to date exchange rate predictions from Defence Economics. The risk of future foreign exchange exposure will be mitigated by the Department’s use of forward purchasing arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which hazardous military waste materials are prohibited from being put into landfill as of 21 March 2024.

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

There are no derogations, exemptions or disapplications for defence activities within waste legislation. Therefore, hazardous military waste is dealt with in the same way as non-military hazardous waste. Hazardous waste prohibited from landfill, of relevance to Ministry of Defence activities, includes liquid waste and waste that would be explosive, corrosive, oxidising, flammable or highly flammable.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse was of spending on (a) chemical, (b) biological and (c) radiological defence in each financial year since 2019-20.

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

A number of areas within Defence, including DE&S, the Front Line Commands and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) conduct work or incur costs in these areas and financial information is not held centrally. Accordingly a departmental response can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Capability boost for UK's global military operations as contract confirmed for new Chinooks, published on 14 March 2024, what is the Initial Operating Capability of the new Chinook helicopters; and when this will be achieved.

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

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 15 February 2024 to Question 12919.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2024 to Question 10351 on Armed Forces: Housing, if he will provide a regional breakdown of those figures.

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

The table below provides a breakdown per region of the number of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) which have been treated for damp and mould, loss of heating, loss of hot water, loss of water supply, electrical faults, and pest infestation since 1 April 2022.

As previously advised, the damp and mould figures are provided from February 2023 and issues relating to the loss of heating and hot water are not recorded separately as boiler faults often affect both.

The 1,674 SFA properties which had been treated for damp and mould was reported as at 10:00 hours on 18 January 2024 from the live reporting system. The end of day final figure recorded for 18 January 2024 was 1,679, as shown in the table below.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on air systems (a) equipment and (b) training in each financial year since 2019-20.

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

The DE&S Air Systems Equipment and Training delivery team total spend on equipment by financial year (FY) is as follows:

The DE&S Air Systems Equipment and Training delivery team total spend on operating costs by financial year is as follows. This is not split out into separate Equipment and Training costs:

Air Systems is a specific project team in DE&S and the figures above represent the total spend of that team. The figure does not represent the total spend on all air system project equipment and training across Defence which would not be held centrally and would not be answerable without a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 22 of his Department's UK Armed Forces Defence Accommodation Strategy, published in October 2022, for what reason the target of no more than 10% of service family accommodation properties being vacant by September 2023 was not met; and whether he has set a new vacancy rate target.

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

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) 10% void rate remains a valid target, however, a revised achievement date of 1 November 2026 was agreed with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in June 2023.

The Modernised Accommodation Offer (MAO) will significantly increase eligibility and demand for Service Family Accommodation (SFA), which will be satisfied through the use of void SFA. This has changed the planning assumptions on which the original target was set and to dispose of void SFA ahead of MAO would increase reliance on the Private Rental Sector (PRS), creating additional, avoidable long-term costs to the MOD.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on land combat vehicles in each financial year since 2019-20.

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

The Land Combat Vehicle (LCV) delivery team total spend on equipment and support by financial year is as follows:

The LCV total spend on operating costs by financial year is as follows:

LCV is a specific project team in DE&S and the figures above represent the total spend of that team. The figures do not represent the total spend on all land combat vehicles across the Department which would not be held centrally and would not be answerable without a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on space integrated battlespace in each financial year since 2019-20.

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

The Space total spend on equipment costs by financial year is as follows:

The Space delivery team total spend on operating costs by financial year is as follows:

The Space team, which was stood up in March 2021, is a specific project team in DE&S and the figures above represent the total spend of that team. The figure does not represent the total spend on all space projects across Defence.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December to Question 5174 on Defence Equipment, when he plans to send the response letter to the Rt hon. Member for Garston and Halewood.

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

I responded to the right hon. Member on 3 April 2024. A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to address the challenges of integrating advanced technologies into the UK's defence capabilities, to maintain a cutting-edge military in 2024 and beyond.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence has set out plans to integrate advanced technologies into the UK's defence capabilities, details of which can be found in the Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCPR), published on 18 July 2023.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the use of RAF planes to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The Secretary of State for Defence has frequent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on issues affecting their Departments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK's defence spending aligns with the current strategic threat landscape, particularly in the light of emerging hybrid and cyber warfare tactics.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCPR23) recognises the range and complexity of threats globally, including cyberspace, means we must foster a truly integrated approach to deterrence and defence by enhancing integration across all services and domains, across Government, as well as across regions, and the spectrum of conflict.

To support this, the Department has set out our longer-term aspiration to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as the fiscal and economic circumstances allow. The Chancellor reaffirmed this commitment at the Spring Budget 2024 and the Prime Minister has indicated that the path towards 2.5% will be set out at the next Spending Review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support is available for military veterans transitioning back into civilian life.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) supports serving personnel, veterans, the military bereaved, and their families, who have an enduring welfare need or need help to access DWP benefits or injury, bereavement and compensation schemes.

Defence Transition Services (DTS) helps Service leavers and their families, who face challenges as they leave the military and adjust to civilian life.

The support from these two services is available from two years before discharge, through into civilian life and regardless of time served or reason for discharge.

Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans (IPC4V) supports Armed Forces personnel who are leaving the services and are suffering from complex and enduring physical, neurological and mental health issues resulting from an injury that is attributable to Service.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure transparency and cost-effectiveness in the procurement of defence equipment, given the increasing complexity and expense of modern military hardware.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is implementing a new Integrated Procurement Model to drive pace in delivery of military capability to UK forces on the front line, so that we stay ahead of our adversaries in a fast changing strategic environment.

A key feature will be a Defence-wide portfolio to prioritise requirements at the departmental level to ensure we achieve greater effect from the available budget.

Spiral development, the delivery of a minimum deployable capability quickly which is then iterated in the light of experience and advances in technology throughout its in-service life, will be supported by new commercial pathways to increase speed and value for money.

As part of a new alliance with industry we will be more transparent about Defence's future acquisition pipeline to help shape markets, focus R&D efforts and build resilience into our industrial base.

In addition, the Procurement Act 2023 will deliver a step change in transparency and openness, with notices mandated for direct awards and publication requirements extended from planning to termination, including contract performance. A single central platform for contract data will give everyone access to certain procurement information, although there will be occasions when information will be withheld from publication on national security grounds.

Finally, we have reformed the Single Source Contract Regulations which provide regulatory assurance on value for money where we procure in the absence of competition. These reforms, which come into effect on 1 April, introduce simplifications and flexibilities to ensure the Regulations continue to adapt to changes in what we buy and how we buy it.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), when the 150 documents related to the nuclear test veterans were declassified; and who authorised their declassification.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Minister for Defence People and Families personally examined all 150 records at the Atomic Weapons Establishment on 18 March 2024 and will update the House on plans for their release in due course. The documents consist of around 4,000 pages and were declassified following a review by officials at AWE and the Ministry of Defence which was completed in March this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), whether they will place a copy of the declassified documents concerning the nuclear test veterans in the Library of the House.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Minister for Defence People and Families personally examined all 150 records at the Atomic Weapons Establishment on 18 March 2024 and will update the House on plans for their release in due course. The documents consist of around 4,000 pages and were declassified following a review by officials at AWE and the Ministry of Defence which was completed in March this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), how many total pages are contained within the 150 declassified documents related to the nuclear test veterans.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Minister for Defence People and Families personally examined all 150 records at the Atomic Weapons Establishment on 18 March 2024 and will update the House on plans for their release in due course. The documents consist of around 4,000 pages and were declassified following a review by officials at AWE and the Ministry of Defence which was completed in March this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to streamline the transition of medical care from military services to the NHS for service leavers.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for medical care, the Defence Medical Services (DMS) works in partnership with the NHS in each of the four nations. Wherever they live in the UK, all veterans are able to receive veteran specific health care support if they need it. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Ministry of Defence (MOD) Departments of Community Mental Health for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.

DMS facilitates the transfer of healthcare information for all service personnel when they leave the Armed Forces. Programme CORTISONE will provide the ability to transfer a service person’s healthcare record in electronic form to a GP practice at the end of their service.

The Defence Recovery Capability is a MOD-owned capability designed to deliver programmed, command-led and coordinated support to wounded, injured and sick serving personnel. Each person who comes under the Defence Recovery Capability will get a tailored Individual Recovery Plan which enables them to focus on either their return to duty or transition to civilian life.

The Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Service deliver additional support to service leavers and their families who are most likely to face challenges as they leave the Armed Forces, including facilitating access to NHS services.

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