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Written Question
Fleet Solid Support Ships: Contracts
Monday 30th January 2023

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate with Cabinet colleagues of how many jobs will be created in Spain as a result of the UK's Fleet Solid Support ship contract.

Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 November 2022 to Question number 88812 to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey).


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Liverpool
Monday 19th July 2021

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department from Liverpool to Blackpool.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

In line with "A better Defence Estate", the Department announced in 2016 that it intends to consolidate its three Defence Business Services (DBS) establishments in the North West at one location to make the most efficient and cost-effective use of its property. A formal decision has not yet been reached, but I anticipate being able to announce a preferred location in the Autumn, at which point I will write to Honourable and Right Honourable Members in whose constituencies these sites are located.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Procurement
Thursday 27th June 2019

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps she is taking increase the proportion of her Department's procurement with SMEs.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is taking a number of positive actions to make it easier for smaller companies to do business with defence, for example launching sub-contract advertising on our online portal and engaging more regularly with smaller businesses to help understand the challenges they face. We are also introducing new measures to ensure prime contractors' pay promptly and working to improve the pipeline information that we publish.

The MOD Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Action Plan 2019-2022 was published in March 2019 and this sets out the actions we are taking in more detail. It is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-small-and-medium-sized-enterprise-action-plan-2019-2022


Written Question
European Fighter Aircraft: Exports
Wednesday 22nd November 2017

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2017 to Question 111545, on European fighter aircraft: exports, what representations he has received from (a) business organisations and (b) trade unions on support for the sale of Typhoon aircraft.

Answered by Harriett Baldwin

I meet regularly with representatives of UK defence industry to discuss the Government's continued support for securing future exports of the Eurofighter Typhoon, I have also met recently with the Unite union to discuss the importance of future exports of Eurofighter Typhoon to the sustainment of the UK defence aerospace industry.


Written Question
Military Aircraft: Procurement
Wednesday 22nd November 2017

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2017 to Question 111413, on military aircraft: procurement, what representations he has received from business organisations on the content of Defence Industrial policy.

Answered by Harriett Baldwin

We have consulted industry closely in our work to refresh defence industrial policy. This included a workshop with representatives from a cross-section of industrial and academic organisations, an online consultation through Gov.UK, and discussions hosted by defence trade associations, the Defence Growth Partnership and at meetings of the Defence Suppliers Forum. We have also received individual representations from companies and business organisations. We attach great importance to this consultation in developing effective and relevant policy, and will seek similarly close and constructive dialogue with business organisations in its implementation.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Sign Language
Friday 15th September 2017

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department takes to provide (a) information on its services in British Sign Language (BSL) and (b) correspondence in BSL to people whose principal language is BSL.

Answered by Tobias Ellwood

The Ministry of Defence engages the support of British Sign Language interpreters as required. Arrangements are made at a local level.


Written Question
Employment Agencies
Tuesday 3rd February 2015

Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department were recruited through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

Answered by Anna Soubry

The table below lists the number of manpower substitution staff recruited through centrally-contracted employment or recruitment agencies in the years 2010 to 2014.

Year

Total Appointments

2010

521

2011

2,901

2012

2,762

2013

2,209

2014

1,582

There are likely to have been smaller numbers of staff recruited directly into business areas, or from off-contract suppliers. However, this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.