Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the announcement in the Autumn Budget of £2.9 billion additional funding for the Ministry of Defence, how this amount is broken down, and what restrictions will be placed on how it can be spent.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There will be no additional restrictions on the £2.9 billion increase in funding for the next financial year. The allocation of funding for financial year 2025-26 has yet to take place.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of GDP will be spent on defence in each financial year between now and 2030.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
As detailed in Annex A of the Government’s publication “Defending Britain: leading in a more dangerous world”, the UK’s qualifying defence spend as a percentage of GDP up to 2030-31 is below.
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 |
% of GDP | 2.32 | 2.35 | 2.38 | 2.41 | 2.44 | 2.47 | 2.5 |
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of the UK Armed Forces who served as members of the British Commanders’-in-Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany during its years of operation between 1946 and 1990 are still alive; and how many of those individuals received either a commendation, gallantry award or state honour as a result of their service on BRIXMIS.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government for what reasons they decided to institute the Bomber Command Clasp.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Following Sir John Holmes' independent Medal Review in 2012, the Bomber Command Clasp to the 1939-45 Star was introduced for aircrew who served in Bomber Command. Sir John concluded that Bomber Command had been treated inconsistently with those who served in the Battle of Britain, and his recommendation of the award of a clasp to Bomber Command air crew brought them into line with Fighter Command veterans, who were awarded a Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939-45 Star.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government for what reasons they decided to institute the Arctic Convoy Star.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Following Sir John Holmes' independent Medal Review in 2012, the Arctic Star was introduced for veterans of the Arctic Convoys to Russia from 1942-1944. Sir John concluded that a separate Star for the Arctic was warranted on the basis that this comprised a distinct theatre of war in its own right, and his recommendation of the award of a bespoke campaign medal brought Arctic convoy veterans into line with awards for other distinct campaigns, such as the Africa and Italy Stars.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reconsider the decision not to award a clasp to the General Service Medal for service in BRIXMIS.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Cases regarding historic medallic recognition are a matter for the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) to consider.
In 2020, the AMSC considered the issue of awarding a clasp to the General Service Medal for service on the British Commander-in-Chief's Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany (BRIXMIS), and the recommendation of the Sub-Committee was that BRIXMIS did not meet the criteria for medallic recognition. This recommendation was accepted by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals. Any review of this issue would be for the AMSC to consider in the first instance.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to cover the cost of military equipment supplied to Ukraine from central funds; and if so, how this amount will be calculated.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The government remains committed to supporting Ukraine to defend itself in response to Putin’s illegal invasion, providing £2.3 billion in military support to Ukraine in Financial Year 2022-23, as well as additional funding for replenishment of stocks already donated to Ukraine.
Replenishment of granted assets is managed under a standing arrangement between the Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury, with funding provided from Treasury reserves.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the announcement that defence spending will rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, whether they plan to provide a breakdown of estimated defence spending for each financial year from 2022 to 2030 in terms of (1) percentage of GDP, and (2) pounds sterling.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
While the Department does not routinely publish forecast figures for its spending, a further spending review will be required to determine the available budget beyond 2025. This in turn will determine the annual profile for the years the settlement covers.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether regular officers and soldiers serving in (1) the Royal Gibraltar Regiment; (2) the Cayman Islands Regiment, (3) the Turks and Caicos Regiment, (4) the Bermuda Regiment, (5) the Falkland Islands Defence Force, and (6) the Royal Montserrat Defence Force, are entitled to qualify for (a) the Long Service, and (b) the Good Conduct Medal.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Full and part-time members of British Overseas Territories Defence Forces and Regiments were formerly eligible for the same long service and efficiency awards as UK Reserve Forces.
With successive policy changes over the past few decades and particularly following the introduction of the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal in 1999, it is acknowledged there is a need to ensure clarity in relation to the grounds for eligibility.
The basis for continued eligibility to UK awards is currently under review and the outcome will be communicated in due course.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether volunteer reserves serving in (1) the Royal Gibraltar Regiment; (2) the Cayman Islands Regiment, (3) the Turks and Caicos Regiment, (4) the Bermuda Regiment, (5) the Falkland Islands Defence Force, and (6) the Royal Montserrat Defence Force, are entitled to qualify for (a) the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, and (b) the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Full and part-time members of British Overseas Territories Defence Forces and Regiments were formerly eligible for the same long service and efficiency awards as UK Reserve Forces.
With successive policy changes over the past few decades and particularly following the introduction of the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal in 1999, it is acknowledged there is a need to ensure clarity in relation to the grounds for eligibility.
The basis for continued eligibility to UK awards is currently under review and the outcome will be communicated in due course.