Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many combat arms earplugs his Department purchased from 3M; and what the cost was.
Answered by Maria Eagle
Combat Arms Ear Plugs, specifically the 3M Combat Ear Plugs Generation 4.1, were purchased by the Ministry of Defence from 3M as part of the Tactical Hearing Protection – Basic User capability via a NATO Support and Procurement Agency contract.
A total of 152,850 units were purchased from 3M at an overall cost of £0.699 million between May 2015 and September 2023.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department purchased combat arms earplugs from 3M.
Answered by Maria Eagle
Combat Arms Ear Plugs, specifically the 3M Combat Ear Plugs Generation 4.1, were purchased by the Ministry of Defence from 3M as part of the Tactical Hearing Protection – Basic User capability via a NATO Support and Procurement Agency contract.
A total of 152,850 units were purchased from 3M at an overall cost of £0.699 million between May 2015 and September 2023.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential (a) impact of the proposed repeal and replacement of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on veterans and (b) need for support for veterans in the context of potential civil action.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government recognises the dedicated service of veterans and serving personnel who did so much to keep people in Northern Ireland safe during the Troubles. We will engage closely with the veterans community on the way forwards in the Government’s approach to legacy.
We recognise the impact that historical investigations can have on serving and retired Service personnel, including on their mental health. This Government is committed to supporting our veterans by providing welfare and appropriate legal support, at public expense, to those involved in ongoing legal processes. Veterans are offered a range of welfare support, for their individual needs and circumstances.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed repeal and replacement of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government recognises the dedicated service of veterans and serving personnel who did so much to keep people in Northern Ireland safe during the Troubles. We will engage closely with the veterans community on the way forwards in the Government’s approach to legacy.
We recognise the impact that historical investigations can have on serving and retired Service personnel, including on their mental health. This Government is committed to supporting our veterans by providing welfare and appropriate legal support, at public expense, to those involved in ongoing legal processes. Veterans are offered a range of welfare support, for their individual needs and circumstances.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help ensure better provision of mental health support for veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country. I am leading work across Government and with Civil Society to look at the best ways to ensure veterans and their families get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.
NHS England offers Op COURAGE: the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, which provides a broad range of specialist mental health and wellbeing care and support for service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families. More information and contact details on Op COURAGE can be found here:
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists.
As health is devolved, I am also looking forward to working with counterparts in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments on this important issue.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to reduce veteran homelessness.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The level of homelessness, including for our veterans, is too high.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is working across Government to ensure veterans have access to the support they need on housing, as well as mental health, employment and other areas.
The Government will develop a new cross-Government strategy, working with Mayors and Councils across the country, to put Britain back on track to ending homelessness. The MOD will work with other departments to take a long term approach and to tackle the root causes of homelessness.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the salary will be of the Armed Forces Commissioner.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report.
There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the office of Armed Forces Commissioner will be based.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report.
There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to appoint the Armed Forces Commissioner.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman.
The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report.
There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve support for veterans in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who have served our country. I am leading work across Government and with civil society to ensure veterans and their families get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need, across the whole of the United Kingdom.
In Northern Ireland, the Veterans Welfare Service provides information and practical support to veterans and their families, including timely physiotherapy and psychological therapies to eligible veterans. The Defence Medical Welfare Service pilot supports veterans’ health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland and provides insight that will improve our understanding of veterans’ health needs. Veterans in need of housing advice can contact the Government's single housing support pathway, Op FORTITUDE, where a dedicated team of advisers work to assist veterans across the UK.