Ben Wallace Portrait

Ben Wallace

Conservative - Former Member for Wyre and Preston North

First elected: 5th May 2005

Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)


Ben Wallace is not a member of any APPGs
Secretary of State for Defence
24th Jul 2019 - 31st Aug 2023
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
17th Jul 2016 - 24th Jul 2019
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
8th May 2015 - 17th Jul 2016
Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
15th Jul 2014 - 8th May 2015
Administration Committee
1st Dec 2014 - 30th Mar 2015
Shadow Minister (Scotland)
6th Jul 2007 - 6th May 2010
Scottish Affairs Committee
12th Jul 2005 - 6th May 2010


Division Voting information

Ben Wallace has voted in 2555 divisions, and 24 times against the majority of their Party.

27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 59 Conservative Aye votes vs 200 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 377
27 Mar 2019 - EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship Votes - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 122 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 139 Noes - 422
23 Jan 2018 - Electoral Commission - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 32 Conservative Aye votes vs 40 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 46 Noes - 77
11 Mar 2015 - Ark Pension Schemes - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 103 Conservative No votes vs 122 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 367 Noes - 113
5 Mar 2014 - Judgments - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 83 Conservative No votes vs 123 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 360 Noes - 104
5 Mar 2014 - Registration of Births, deaths and marriages etc - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 81 Conservative No votes vs 124 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 363 Noes - 100
5 Mar 2014 - Registration of births, deaths and marriages etc - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 83 Conservative No votes vs 123 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 366 Noes - 103
5 Mar 2014 - Marriage - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 81 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 367 Noes - 100
5 Mar 2014 - Marriage - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 84 Conservative No votes vs 123 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 365 Noes - 103
5 Mar 2014 - Marriage - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 79 Conservative No votes vs 126 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 368 Noes - 98
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 48 Conservative No votes vs 139 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 391 Noes - 57
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 56 Conservative Aye votes vs 136 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 70 Noes - 375
7 Sep 2011 - Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 94 Conservative Aye votes vs 115 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 368
2 Mar 2009 - Political Parties and Elections Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Conservative No votes vs 65 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 235 Noes - 176
2 Mar 2009 - Political Parties and Elections Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Conservative No votes vs 53 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 158
2 Mar 2009 - Political Parties and Elections Bill - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 14 Conservative No votes vs 43 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 153
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 51 Conservative No votes vs 93 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 215 Noes - 299
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 30 Conservative No votes vs 98 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 149 Noes - 318
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 60 Conservative No votes vs 79 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 163 Noes - 342
5 Jun 2007 - Termination of Pregnancy (Counselling and Miscellaneous Provisions) - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 16 Conservative No votes vs 79 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 107 Noes - 182
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 80 Conservative Aye votes vs 96 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 196 Noes - 375
1 Nov 2006 - Legislative Process - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 33 Conservative Aye votes vs 115 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 172
1 Nov 2006 - Legislative Process - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 55 Conservative No votes vs 69 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 365 Noes - 62
31 Oct 2006 - Termination of Pregnancy - View Vote Context
Ben Wallace voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 19 Conservative No votes vs 82 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 108 Noes - 187
View All Ben Wallace Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour)
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
(102 debate interactions)
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(86 debate interactions)
John Healey (Labour)
Secretary of State for Defence
(74 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Ministry of Defence
(1290 debate contributions)
Home Office
(1020 debate contributions)
Northern Ireland Office
(187 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(35 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Ben Wallace's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Ben Wallace, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Ben Wallace has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Ben Wallace has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

2 Bills introduced by Ben Wallace

Introduced: 26th January 2021

A Bill to continue the Armed Forces Act 2006; to amend that Act and other enactments relating to the armed forces; to make provision about service in the reserve forces; to make provision about pardons for certain abolished service offences; to make provision about war pensions; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 15th December 2021 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 18th March 2020

A Bill to Make provision about legal proceedings and consideration of derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in connection with operations of the armed forces outside the British Islands.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2021 and was enacted into law.

Ben Wallace has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 34 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
16th Oct 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many FTE civil servants have been employed by his Department in each year since 2015.

Please see the Government Annual Civil Service Statistics published online to show how many FTE civil servants have been employed by the Cabinet Office.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-statistics

From 2015 to present day the Cabinet Office has grown to absorb a number of other functions. For example, the whole of the Civil Service Fast Stream headcount now sits in the Cabinet Office although the large majority do not work in the Cabinet Office. The establishment of a Government Digital Service, Government Recruitment Service and functional specialities like the Government Commercial Function have all resulted in an increase to the number of FTE employed by Cabinet Office although value and efficiencies are delivered across the Civil Service.

The Cabinet Office is committed to driving efficiencies as directed by the Chancellor.

16th Oct 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants at the level of director general are employed by his Department as of 16 October 2023.

20 civil servants are working in the Department at the level of director general who are employed by the Cabinet Office as of 30 September 2023.

As of the same date the number of civil servants at the director general level from other Departments working in the Cabinet Office is less than 5 so we are unable to answer this as it would disclose personal data of the civil servants involved.

321 civil servants from other Departments are working in the Cabinet Office and on Cabinet Office payroll, on a Loan or Secondment as of 30 September 2023.

16th Oct 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants from other Departments are working in his Department as of 16 October 2023.

20 civil servants are working in the Department at the level of director general who are employed by the Cabinet Office as of 30 September 2023.

As of the same date the number of civil servants at the director general level from other Departments working in the Cabinet Office is less than 5 so we are unable to answer this as it would disclose personal data of the civil servants involved.

321 civil servants from other Departments are working in the Cabinet Office and on Cabinet Office payroll, on a Loan or Secondment as of 30 September 2023.

16th Oct 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants at the director general level from other Departments are working in the Cabinet Office as of 16 October 2023.

20 civil servants are working in the Department at the level of director general who are employed by the Cabinet Office as of 30 September 2023.

As of the same date the number of civil servants at the director general level from other Departments working in the Cabinet Office is less than 5 so we are unable to answer this as it would disclose personal data of the civil servants involved.

321 civil servants from other Departments are working in the Cabinet Office and on Cabinet Office payroll, on a Loan or Secondment as of 30 September 2023.

16th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of enabling the use of UCAS to (a) search and (b) apply for level (i) 6 and (ii) 7 apprenticeships on take-up of those courses; and if she will make a statement.

UCAS have recently expanded their service so students can easily see the different options open to them, including apprenticeships. Having apprenticeships showcased in this way boosts the profile of apprenticeships to school leavers and is a huge step forward in putting apprenticeships on an equal footing with traditional university degrees. Over 200 degree-level apprenticeship vacancies are currently being advertised on the UCAS website for people to consider.

This month the Department, in partnership with UCAS, will launch a pilot that aims to test different ways to connect even more students to apprenticeship opportunities. The pilot will run in 3 regions throughout the 2023/24 academic year – Lancashire, the North East and Greater London – engaging employers and providing students with access to additional support designed specifically for those interested in exploring and applying for apprenticeships alongside their other options (including undergraduate courses). The pilot will be followed by an evaluation in October 2024, including an assessment of the impact of having apprenticeship vacancies listed on the UCAS student hub. In 2024, students will be able to apply for apprenticeships through UCAS alongside an undergraduate degree application. The assessment of the impact of this will then follow at a later date.

We have seen year-on-year growth of degree-level apprenticeships with over 195,550 starts since their introduction in the 2014/15 academic year. To ensure that the supply of degree apprenticeship opportunities available meets demand, we are allocating an additional £40 million over the next two years, supporting degree apprenticeship providers to expand, on top of the £8 million investment in 2022/23.

16th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which free schools have been approved in each local education authority area excluding London since 2010; and which such schools are (a) non-denominational and (b) of each religious denomination.

There are 174 open free schools in England. Published location information for all these schools is available on the Department for Education's website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/309965/List_of_open_free_schools_and_free_schools_opening_in_2014_and_beyond_up....xlsx

37 of those schools have a faith designation, of which 20 are in areas other than London and can be found in the table below, along with their religious designation.

Name of school

Local Authority

Faith Designation

Al-Madinah School

Derby

Muslim

Atherton Community School

Wigan

Christian

Barrow 1618 Church of England School

Shropshire

Christian

Becket Keys Church of England School

Essex

Christian

Grindon Hall Free School

Sunderland

Christian

Khalsa Secondary Academy

Buckinghamshire

Sikh

King's School Hove

Brighton and Hove

Christian

Krishna-Avanti Primary School

Leicester

Hindu

Leeds Jewish Free School

Leeds

Jewish

Niskham Free School

Birmingham

Sikh

Nishkam High School

Birmingham

Sikh

St Michael's Catholic Secondary School

Cornwall

Christian

St Anthony's School

Gloucestershire

Christian

St Mary's Primary School, Dilwyn

Herefordshire

Christian

Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School

Blackburn with Darwen

Muslim

The Olive School, Blackburn

Blackburn with Darwen

Muslim

The Olive Tree Primary School

Bolton

Muslim

Trinity School

Kent

Christian

Tyndale Community School

Oxfordshire

Christian

University Cathedral Free School

Cheshire West and Chester

Christian

26% of mainstream free schools have a faith designation, as opposed to 34% of all state-funded mainstream schools.

11th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what economic assessment he has made on the effect on tourism jobs in seaside areas and seaside economies of deregulating school holidays.

The Government is giving more schools greater flexibility to adapt the shape of the school year in the interests of their pupils' education.

Whilst this will extend an existing flexibility to a greater number of schools, our advice will continue to include a clear expectation of schools working with each other and the local authority to coordinate dates to avoid unnecessary disruption to parents and their employers.

The Department has consulted with representatives of the tourist industry. Where schools choose to change their holiday dates, following discussion locally with parents and local businesses, there may well be a positive impact on seaside economies. In areas of high-seasonal employment, for example, small variations to term-dates agreed locally may help parents to holiday outside of peak periods.

11th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assistance his Department makes available to schools to survey for and remove asbestos.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 set out the standards and duties to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises including schools. This includes the need to assess and manage the risks through the formulation of a site-specific asbestos management plan.

On 24 January I announced the 2014-15 maintenance allocations, which are released as a non-ringfenced capital grant. The priorities for its use are decided locally and this can include supporting schools with asbestos issues.

10th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional funding his Department makes available to schools to commission extra-curricular activities and projects.

The two main grants to schools to fund their day-to-day activities are the Dedicated Schools Grant and the Education Services Grant. The Education Services Grant is given to local authorities to provide education services for pupils in maintained schools, and is given directly to academies. When a school receives either of these grants, the funding is not ring-fenced: the school can spend it as it chooses. Schools are therefore free to decide how much of this funding they want to spend on extra-curricular activities and projects.

The Department for Education also provides specific ring-fenced funding, through the primary PE and sport premium, for the improvement of PE and sport in primary schools. Headteachers are free to use this funding, an investment of over £150 million a year to 2015/16, to provide extra-curricular clubs for activity and sport, and for sport-related projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will add economics, English literature and computing to the list of facilitating subjects for Key Stage 5 performance tables.

The facilitating subjects are identified by the Russell Group of universities as A level subjects that are required more often than others by universities. The list includes English literature along with mathematics, further mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and languages (classical and modern).

The Russell Group is an independent organisation; it recently reviewed the list of facilitating subjects and confirmed no change was needed. The Department for Education publishes a measure in the key stage 5 performance tables of the percentage of students achieving AAB grades at A level, including in at least two facilitating subjects.

13th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on the New Hospital Programme in Preston and Lancaster; and if he will make a statement.

The New Hospital Programme (NHP) scheme for Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary is at the early stages of development and the trusts are currently exploring options for sites, including investment at Furness General Hospital. This will include a public consultation, expected in 2024. The trusts have received an overall indicative funding allocation for their scheme to support planning, and up to the end of the 2022/23 financial year, the trusts have received £11.36 million in fees and funding for the development of their scheme.

We are working closely with Preston and Lancaster on how our national standardised approach, Hospital 2.0, can support their plans using standardised designs to streamline approvals and speed up construction. This will deliver improvements for patients and staff whilst driving cost reduction and decreasing overall development timescales.

10th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure the UK complies with the undertakings agreed to in the Geneva Agreements with Iran on the sale of civil aerospace parts to Iran.

The UK, as part of the E3+3, has fully met its obligations under the Joint Plan of Action agreed with Iran in Geneva, including in the area of sanctions relief. The supply of civil aerospace parts to Iran was permitted under EU sanctions prior to the Joint Plan of Action and remains so (subject to the usual export control procedures).

11th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the extension of the lease for Diego Garcia Airbase.

We welcome the US presence on Diego Garcia, and we have said we want to see it continue. The current agreement does not conclude until December 2016, and we have not yet held substantive discussions with the US about this subject. I expect my officials to begin doing so later this year.

16th Apr 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by how much (a) Resource Departmental Expenditure Limits and (b) Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits will be reduced following the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2 in each affected Department; and if he will publish in which Departments these savings will be made.

The government has committed to re-invest every penny that is saved from the cancelled phases of HS2 into alternative transport projects through Network North.

This means that every penny of the £19.8 billion committed to the Northern leg of HS2 will be reinvested in the North; every penny of the £9.6 billion committed to the Midlands leg will be reinvested in the Midlands; and the full £6.5 billion saved through our rescoped approach at Euston will be spread across every other region in the country.

Departmental Expenditure Limits in 2024-25 are published at the relevant Estimates in the usual way. Departmental budgets beyond 2024-25 will be set as part of the next Spending Review.

Laura Trott
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
13th May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether an annual budget cycle took place for the financial year (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25.

The department runs an Annual Budget Cycle (ABC) every year.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
13th May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 May 2024 to Question 24424 on Armed Forces: Defence Equipment, for what reason his Department has linked the annual budget cycle in 2024 to the announcement for future funding in the 2025-26 financial year, in the context of the annual budget cycle being for in-year spending adjustments.

The Department runs an Annual Budget Cycle (ABC) every year. However, this is not solely for in year spending adjustments, it is a financial planning exercise to review the Department's ten-year forecast.

The most recent ABC conducted in 2023 reviewed the ten-year forecast from 2023-24 to 2032-33 and the current ABC process underway is reviewing the ten-year forecast from 2024-25 to 2033-34. This will reflect the recent announcement of our planned trajectory to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
1st May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the Anglo-French Future Cruise-Anti-Ship Weapon programme.

The Future Cruise / Anti-Ship weapon programme is in the third year of the assessment phase and joint Anglo-France work is designing novel technological advances in missile capability. Significant progress has been made on suitable candidate weapon systems to fulfil the Naval and Air requirements. At this stage of the programme, work is focused on reducing technical and schedule risk, prior to the potential Demonstration and Manufacturing phases, and preparations are underway to prepare towards Full Business Case. Additionally, progress is also being made to explore bringing Italy on board as a partner nation, with a Letter of Intent signed in June 2023.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
1st May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what equipment programmes within the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army, (b) Strategic Command and (d) Royal Air Force were deleted following the most recent annual budget cycle round.

The Department is reviewing its forward spending plans following the Government's announcement that defence spending will reach 2.5% of GDP in 2030.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
1st May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the funding to Ukraine announced by the Prime Minister on 23 April 2024, what proportion of that funding will be spent on equipment to be donated to the Ukrainian Government and forces.

The £500 million additional funding for Ukraine, announced on 23 April 2024 will be used to rapidly deliver urgently-needed ammunition, air defence, drones and engineering support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The drones will be procured in the UK and the funds will support a scale-up in domestic defence supply chains.

1st May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his latest estimate is of the (a) cost and (b) delivery timetable for the E& aircraft.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answers I gave on 30 April 2024 to the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois), to Question 23416; and on 29 April 2024 to the right hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle), to Question 23108.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
1st May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which equipment programs within (a) the Army, (b) Strategic Command, (c) the Royal Air Force and (d) the Royal Navy have been deferred as part of the latest annual budget cycle round.

The Department is reviewing its forward spending plans following the Government's announcement that defence spending will reach 2.5% of GDP in 2030.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
1st May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on establishing the National Cyber Force headquarters at Salmesbury.

The National Cyber Force (NCF) headquarters in Samlesbury is currently undergoing construction, with progress remaining on track to open in 2025. NCF is planning for several hundred personnel to be based there within the first 12 months.

1st May 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to procure F35A aircraft.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey) on 16 June 2023 to Question 188192.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
29th Apr 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his German counterpart on ensuring that collaboration on the Boxer 155mm platform will not be subject to an export veto by the German (a) federal government and (b) parliament.

I have closely engaged with my German counterpart on the Boxer 155mm project, including consideration of future export prospects. The Prime Minister also discussed the project and the position on exports with Chancellor Scholz ahead of announcing the joint way ahead in Berlin on 24 April. Following the announcement, I also met with Secretary Zimmer in the Ministerial Equipment and Capability Cooperation(MECC) format on 8 May during which we discussed our plans to progress to the next stage of the programme.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
16th Apr 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former members of the regular Army have regular reserve recall liability in the event of a national emergency as of 1 April 2024.

As at 1 January 2024 there were 22,676 Army Regular Reservists with recall liability under Section 22 of the Reserve Forces Act (RFA) 96.

In addition, there are approximately 55,000 ex-Regular personnel as of March 2024 subject to recall under Section 68 of the RFA 96.

Notes/caveats:

  1. The number of Army Regular Reservists with a recall liability can only be provided as at 1 January 2024 in line with Published National Statistics.
  2. The Army Regular Reserve comprises ex-Regular Army personnel who retain a workforce obligation to be called up for service in times of need.
  3. This figure includes the serving component which comprises ex-Regular personnel who have applied to return to Army service on a fixed term Reserve commitment.
  4. The second figure comprises of personnel who have completed their military service and retain a liability to be recalled for service in the event of national danger, great emergency or an actual or suspected attack on the UK.
  5. This figure is a single Service estimate based on management information which is not gathered for statistical purposes or subject to the same level of scrutiny as official statistics produced by Defence Statistics. The data as of March 2024 is the latest available.
  6. The c55,000 includes ex-Regular Officers who retain a recall liability in perpetuity.

16th Apr 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former members of the regular Army have regular reserve call out liability as of 1 April 2024.

As at 1 January 2024 there were 22,676 Army Regular Reservists with recall liability under Section 22 of the Reserve Forces Act (RFA) 96.

In addition, there are approximately 55,000 ex-Regular personnel as of March 2024 subject to recall under Section 68 of the RFA 96.

Notes/caveats:

  1. The number of Army Regular Reservists with a recall liability can only be provided as at 1 January 2024 in line with Published National Statistics.
  2. The Army Regular Reserve comprises ex-Regular Army personnel who retain a workforce obligation to be called up for service in times of need.
  3. This figure includes the serving component which comprises ex-Regular personnel who have applied to return to Army service on a fixed term Reserve commitment.
  4. The second figure comprises of personnel who have completed their military service and retain a liability to be recalled for service in the event of national danger, great emergency or an actual or suspected attack on the UK.
  5. This figure is a single Service estimate based on management information which is not gathered for statistical purposes or subject to the same level of scrutiny as official statistics produced by Defence Statistics. The data as of March 2024 is the latest available.
  6. The c55,000 includes ex-Regular Officers who retain a recall liability in perpetuity.

16th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the assessed spiral development costs and upgrades for the CH47(ER) are.

The Department acknowledge and are working to resolve H47(ER) cost growth. The updated programme costs and schedule, including Spiral Development, will be considered by the Ministry of Defence Investment Approvals Committee upon conclusion of this work and, until this has taken place, it would not be appropriate to disclose the figures.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
16th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost growth is of the CH47(ER) since approval by his Department's Investment Approvals Committee.

The Department acknowledge and are working to resolve H47(ER) cost growth. The updated programme costs and schedule, including Spiral Development, will be considered by the Ministry of Defence Investment Approvals Committee upon conclusion of this work and, until this has taken place, it would not be appropriate to disclose the figures.

James Cartlidge
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
13th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the delivery of the National Cyber Force at Samlesbury; and if he will make a statement.

The National Cyber Force (NCF) headquarters in Samlesbury is currently undergoing construction work. It will open in 2025, and the NCF is planning for several hundred staff to be based there within the first 12 months. By the 2030s this will have increased to up to two thousand people, including those from other partners, working there. We continue to prioritise the NCF workforce growth.

13th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world, published 18 July 2023, what his Department's expected timeline is for publishing its Head Office reform plans.

The key aspects of the reforms to Head Office were included in the Defence Command Paper Refresh, paragraphs 25 to 31 in Chapter 4, published 18 July 2023. Plans for the reform of Head Office will be taken forward as part of Defence Design, a departmental-wide programme to optimise the Defence operating model.

24th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will amend paragraph 98 of the National Planning Policy Framework to require applicants for onshore wind energy developments to demonstrate an overall national need for renewable energy.

Inappropriately sited wind turbines can cause significant harm to the local environment. Hence, last year, we changed planning guidance to strengthen the protection of landscape and heritage in relation to onshore wind.

Looking forward, we are keeping planning policy on renewable energy under review and will consider whether any further steps are appropriate in the light of this monitoring. We are open to representations.

18th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to review the boundaries of the county of Lancashire.

It is not possible to make changes to county areas other than as a consequence of local government structural or boundary changes recommended by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England. We have no intention of seeking such change. We are however keen to recognise and acknowledge the continuing role of England's traditional counties in the public and cultural life of the nation and the Government has sought to encourage the marking and continued use of traditional county names and areas irrespective of current tiers of local administration.