Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding has been spent by the Ministry of Defence to implement the Armed Forces Families' Strategy in (1) 2016, (2) 2017, (3) 2018, (4) 2019, and (5) 2020 to date.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Although it is not possible to provide the figures requested, the UK Armed Forces Families Strategy remains one of our priorities, setting the principles against which the Ministry of Defence (MOD) formulates policy; this acknowledges the challenges which mobility and separation present to family life, alongside the numerous positive aspects of Service life. Success is measured in satisfaction levels and improved outcomes for families, rather than in financial expenditure. In adhering to the principles of the strategy MOD has introduced flexible working, the Future Accommodation Model and is working across government, in the devolved administrations and the charitable sector to mitigate disadvantage in access to education and healthcare through the Armed Forces Covenant. £317 million has been provided by MOD to circa 21,000 families under the Forces Help to Buy Scheme - the current tranche of the scheme runs until December 2022 and we will actively look to extend this. This Government has committed to funding wrap around childcare for Armed Forces families, and recently announced the launch of a pilot programme beginning in September.
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many reports of domestic abuse (1) the Royal Military Police, (2) the Royal Air Force Police, and (3) the Royal Navy Police, dealt with in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017, (d) 2018, (e) 2019, and (f) 2020 to date.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
There is no statutory offence of ‘domestic abuse’ and actions amounting to it could be recorded under a number of offences such as Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), Actual Bodily Harm (ABH), Common Assault or sexual offences. Furthermore, within military police crime-recording systems, the categorisation of whether an incident involves ‘domestic violence’ or not, is not a mandatory field, meaning that the figures provided are indicative only.
The first document provided gives figures for the number of reported offences for each Service for the years 2015-2020 to date where the incident has been categorised as involving domestic violence. The second document provided gives figures for each Service for the years 2015-2020 to date, for the number of GBH, ABH, and Common Assault offences. The noble Lord should note that in both of the documents, the figures given are for reported offences – that is, to say an allegation has been made. These figures do not relate to charges brought or court convictions.
An average time cannot be given regarding the Chain of Command (CoC) reporting such incidents to the Service Police. Every case would require examination to determine when it was reported to the Service Police and not every investigation file may contain the date when an incident was originally reported to the CoC. Therefore, we would not be able to provide a complete answer and what we could provide could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However where reported to the CoC, any incident of domestic abuse must be reported to the Service Police no later than 24 hours after the incident has occurred. Further to this, a referral to the Welfare Service must be made in any situation involving domestic abuse or similar allegations.
Whilst there are no houses on the defence estate dedicated specifically for survivors of domestic abuse, support is provided through a suite of policies which seek to provide housing options for families in times of estrangement.
Short term accommodation for welfare or compassionate reasons is administered by Service welfare associations. Tri-Service accommodation policy requires the provision of welfare houses at each designated establishment, scaled to reflect density of Service population. Unit welfare staff, in conjunction with civilian police and local authorities assess whether utilisation of such are in the best interests of safeguarding abuse survivors, and may provide alternative accommodation (through local authority or charitable provision) if distance between perpetrator and survivor is required.
The MOD is currently reviewing the tri-service policy on domestic abuse with the help of leading charity Hestia, who sit alongside MOD on the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse. It is intended that this policy apply to the whole force – civilians, contractors and the single Services. The review will also focus on the availability of accommodation for survivors, taking advice from the domestic abuse charity Standing Together. MOD intends to refresh and re-launch the policy towards the end of 2020.
The MOD continually monitors whole force data on domestic abuse for prevalence and risk factors – this has been of particular focus during the Covid-19 pandemic. This data is disseminated and discussed within the MOD Domestic Abuse Stakeholder Forum the Domestic Abuse Working Group (DAWG), which meets quarterly. The DAWG seeks advice and guidance from national domestic abuse charities like Hestia, Aurora New Dawn and the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse, resulting in continual policy improvement.
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice the Ministry of Defence has provided to other Government departments on the military capability of the OneWeb satellite system.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The investment in OneWeb is not a Defence matter. The SKYNET satellite programme will provide for global military communications and no formal assessment has been made of the military use of OneWeb.
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment the Ministry of Defence has made of the military capability of the OneWeb satellite system.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The investment in OneWeb is not a Defence matter. The SKYNET satellite programme will provide for global military communications and no formal assessment has been made of the military use of OneWeb.
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many employees at the Ministry for Defence have lost their jobs due to (1) discriminatory, and (2) racist, behaviour towards other employees since 2010. [T]
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I can assure the Noble Lord that the Ministry of Defence and the UK Armed Forces are committed to taking action to eradicate any discriminatory and racist behaviour towards other employees and have a zero-tolerance approach. All allegations of illegal or unacceptable behaviour are taken extremely seriously and investigated thoroughly.
I also refer the Noble Lord to the answer given in the House of Commons on 18 June 2020 by the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans to the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Jamie Stone MP, to Question 61568.
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much annual funding the International Biological Security Programme received in (1) 2016, (2) 2017, (3) 2018, (4) 2019, and (5) 2020. [T]
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence has provided annual funding for the International Biological Security Programme in these Financial Years as follows:
2016-17 - £300,000
2017-18 - £300,000
2018-19 - £200,000
2019-20 - £200,000
2020-21 - £200,000
During this period the International Biological Security Programme has received the following additional funding from cross-Government funds:
2018-19 - £140,000
2019-20 - £585,000
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what timescale they have set for the review of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence has launched a Climate Change and Sustainability Review to develop the Department's response to the Government's commitment to bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The Review is currently at the scoping stage; setting the ambition, refreshing the baseline and establishing our route to net zero. The Review aims to have a clear Plan in place and be driving implementation from the end of 2020.
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be a public consultation as part of the review of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
As part of the Ministry of Defence's Climate Change and Sustainability Review, and subject to security constraints, the review will seek input and advice from the wide range of sources both within and external to the Department.
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the review of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 will relate to the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Tackling climate change is a national priority and one of the most pressing issues the world faces. It will influence many areas covered by the Integrated Review. The Ministry of Defence's internal review of our contribution to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 aims to clarify our sustainability priorities, as well as inform decision-making throughout the Integrated Review.
Asked by: Lord Tunnicliffe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total amount of carbon emissions for the Ministry of Defence each year.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence 2018-19 carbon emissions from the defence estate and domestic business travel was 0.82 million tonnes of CO2e. Further details are available in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-19