Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to maintain, and (2) to increase volunteer (a) support, and (b) influence, in the work of the Reserve Forces' and Cadets Associations' under the proposed formation of a Non-Departmental Public Body.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The 2019 Review of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) recognised the value that the RFCAs bring to Defence and that a key strength is their extensive volunteer membership and community links. In implementing the Review’s recommendations, the Ministry of Defence will look to both preserve and enhance the volunteer ethos, establishing a diverse and inclusive organisation. This includes interim changes to the Schemes of Association to ensure alignment with Equality and Discrimination legislation and to better enable the RFCAs to attract wider talent that is representative of the communities in which they work.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the cadet forces provide opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
With around 3,500 individual cadet units across the UK, many in less affluent areas, they reflect the communities in which they are located. The increase in the number of cadet units in schools under the Government’s joint Ministry of Defence and Department for Education Cadet Expansion Programme, targeted in less affluent areas, has resulted in more children from disadvantaged backgrounds having access to the benefits of the cadet experience.
All cadets, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, will benefit from the greater opportunities that returning to face-to-face activity offers. Research shows that taking part in the cadet forces develops key attributes in young people. The return to face-to-face activity will also include re-establishing education packages through the Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation, vocational qualifications which we know benefit many from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of service provided by armed forces personnel on Christmas Eve in undertaking mass COVID-19 testing of lorry drivers in Kent to enable those drivers to cross the English Channel; and what plans they have to thank formally those personnel for that service.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Over the Christmas period, 800 service personnel deployed to Kent to provide COVID-19 testing for hauliers crossing the English Channel, including support to food and welfare distribution. To date, over 40,000 tests have been conducted, allowing thousands of freight vehicles to travel to France.
Defence is extremely grateful for the work of all its personnel involved in COVID-19 activity across the UK.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations External Scrutiny Team Report 2020.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
We are very grateful to the External Scrutiny Team for their work, and the Ministry of Defence will publish their 2020 report early in the New Year.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take, if any, in regard to the National Fund.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie - Shadow Minister (Justice)
The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.
On 22 May 2018 my predecessor made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt.
It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.
A hearing of the claim is due to take place in October.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the report of the External Scrutiny Team on the Reserve Forces, provided to the Ministry of Defence on 1 June, will be placed in the Library of the House.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The report, which was received on 1 July 2019, was placed in the Library of the House on 3 September 2019. The Ministry of Defence will respond to the report in due course.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Ofsted recognises the contribution of an in-school cadet movement when reporting on its inspection of a school; and if so, how.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to my noble Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the Defence Recruiting System to be able to process enlistments to the Army Reserve.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Defence Recruiting System (DRS) went live on 13 November and replaced a 20 year old system. It will enable a quicker and easier recruitment process for applicants and the Armed Forces.
As with any new information system defects have been identified post 'Go Live' and we recognise that for a couple of months these created some problems with the application process, including particular issues regarding the enlistment of new Army Reserves.
These issues have been urgently addressed and are either fixed or have temporary mitigations in place to minimise applicant facing issues. With these mitigations DRS is now processing enlistments to the Army Reserve.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government when the United Kingdom Reserve Forces External Scrutiny Team 2017 report was submitted to the Ministry of Defence; and when it will be published.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon) received the External Scrutiny Team's 2017 report on 22 June and it has today been placed in the Library of the House. We are most grateful to the Team for its work and we will provide a full response to the report in due course.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to publish the new Code of Practice for the keeping of equines.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We are currently aiming to lay the updated statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Their Hybrids before Parliament before the end of the year.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Equine Sector Council for their assistance and expertise in updating the code.