Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to monitor the potential impact of the introduction of VAT on independent school fees on service families in receipt of the continuity of education allowance.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The single Services will monitor the impact on retention in Service for those claiming Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) following the introduction of VAT on independent school fees. The Pay and Allowances Casework and Complaints Cell will monitor the impact on Service personnel changing Schools and withdrawing from CEA.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to provide additional support through the continuity of education allowance to help service families receiving the allowance with the cost of VAT on independent school fees.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 November 2024 to Question 11946 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many CH-47 Chinook helicopters have been deployed in Operations overseas in 2024.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that we do not routinely disclose details relating to the deployment of the Chinook helicopter in the interests of security and operational effectiveness.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants from his Department are assigned to work directly for the Office for Veterans' Affairs.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As of 28 November 2024, 49 civil servants work in the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the procurement for the Royal Air Force's future fast-jet trainer for the Global Combat Air Programme.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Air Force is undertaking a capability investigation into the replacement of the current advanced jet trainer capability and combat aircrew training requirements for Typhoon, F-35 Lightning and the future Global Combat Air Programme, which is informing the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
The nature of UK combat aircraft operation continues to transform, and future training requirements reflect this. Therefore, the capability investigation includes consideration of a training system that would combine live flying training, including with our air weapons range infrastructure, and networked virtual training through realistic simulation. This will ensure that we can continue to deliver a world class training capability. However, no decisions will be taken until after the SDR is completed.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15669 on Ajax Vehicles, what the planned future operational establishment is for an infantry battalion structured around the Boxer platform.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
On current plans, BOXER will be delivered to four Heavy Mechanised Infantry Battalions and Divisional Enablers. We do not routinely disclose specific details in relation to operational establishments, noting these are in any case subject to the outcomes of the Strategic Defence Review concluding in early 2025.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to equip infantry battalions with the Ares armoured personnel carrier.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Army is currently undergoing a combined programme of work to ensure our Land Forces will have the lethality, protection and mobility to fight and win against any adversary. Whilst the Army’s modernisation will continue over the next decade with a programme of investment worth billions of pounds, future capability development priorities will be guided by the Strategic Defence Review.
The ARES platform is a variant of the Armoured Cavalry Programme (Ajax) and remains on track to deliver Initial Operating Capability by December 2025.
With regards to the current steps being taken to equip infantry battalions, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 November 2024 to Question 14825, which explains that planned future operational establishment will see Infantry Battalions equipped and structured around the Boxer platform.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been allocated from his Department's budget to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for (a) 2023/24, (b) 2024/25 and (c) 2025/26.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
In Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) received a total of £53,670,871 from the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
In FY 2024-25, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is expected to receive a total of £56,545,358 from the MOD.
The MOD’s Defence Business Services pay an additional sum to the CWGC for the upkeep of non-World War One and World War Two Graves. The amounts paid are:
Additionally, FY2023-24 saw a one-off payment of £0.5 million to the CWGC for the maintenance of the British Normandy Memorial (covering the period April 2024 to March 2027).
The amounts to be paid to CWGC in FY2025-26 will be confirmed once the future Defence budget is known.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the new operational establishment is for a heavy mechanised infantry battalion.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Army is currently undergoing a combined programme of work to ensure our Land Forces will have the lethality, protection and mobility to fight and win against any adversary. The outcome of the Strategic Defence Review in early 2025 will also guide future capability development priorities.
Planned future operational establishment will see the British Army have four Heavy Mechanised Infantry Battalions across two Armoured Brigades. These Battalions will be equipped and structured around the Boxer platform, with the first Battalion due to reach Initial Operating Capability in 2025.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how he determined the level of funding to be provided to the Reducing Veterans Homelessness Programme in 2026.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The £3.5 million announced by the Prime Minister will fund an additional round of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme and Op FORTITUDE, ensuring that support will be there into 2026 for veterans at risk of homelessness.
The funding has been allocated in line with previous successful programme levels.