Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 16 June to Question 10178 on Royal Yacht: Procurement, whether the procurement framework for the new national flagship will provide for its construction using British steel.
Answered by Ben Wallace
Procurement of the National Flagship will be conducted strictly in accordance with Government procurement policy, including that on the procurement of steel as set out in Procurement Policy Note 11/16. Responsibility for sourcing steel for Government procured vessels rests with prime contractors and, in line with Procurement Policy Note 11/16, it will be for the prime contractor to make its steel requirements known to the UK steel industry in order that they may consider bidding.
The joint industry and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Steel Procurement Taskforce was launched in March 2021, with the aim of working with the sector to promote the unique selling points of UK steel and explore how best to support and position the industry for success in forthcoming major public contracts.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2021 to Question 11489, on Royal Yacht: Procurement, when he plans to announce the estimated cost of (a) constructing and (b) operating a new National Flagship.
Answered by Ben Wallace
Estimated costs for the National Flagship will be tested and honed during market engagement. These figures are being withheld as release would prejudice the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2021 to Question 11489 on Royal Yacht: Procurement, if he will list the merits of (a) constructing and (b) operating a National Flagship as identified by cross Government discussions conducted by the Cabinet Office.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The National Flagship will showcase cutting-edge British shipbuilding, engineering and green technology, giving British business a new global platform to promote their products and technology. The National Flagship will have wide utility including supporting trade and investment in the UK.
The construction of the vessel will create jobs and upskilling opportunities, help drive a renaissance in the UK's shipbuilding industry and promote the best of British shipbuilding and ingenuity around the world.
The National Flagship will promote the UK's diplomatic and trading interests. It will provide a unique convening power to British exporters and a secure sovereign hub for diplomatic events. The operation of the vessel will support the UK's soft power capability and provide at sea training capabilities to the Royal Navy.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2021 to Question 11489 on Royal Yacht: Procurement, what assessment his Department made of the potential defence benefits to be delivered (a) economically, (b) effectively and (c) efficiently by the (i) construction and (ii) operation of a National Flagship.
Answered by Ben Wallace
As set out in the Defence Command Plan, Defence plays a unique role in protecting and promoting the three fundamental national interests identified by the Integrated Review: sovereignty, security and prosperity. The National Flagship will support these national interests including by boosting trade and promoting the nation's economic security.
The National Flagship will be built in UK shipyards. It will create jobs and upskilling opportunities; help drive a renaissance in the UK's shipbuilding industry; and showcase the best of British shipbuilding and ingenuity around the world. The Flagship will also complement the vision we will set out in the refresh of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
The operation of the vessel will provide valuable experience for our personnel and promote wider opportunities outside of Defence. It will also support other high-profile Defence Engagement tasking which our ships undertake in support of wider government objectives.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2021 to Question 11489 on Royal Yacht: Procurement, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance used by his Department to evaluate the procurement of the new National Flagship.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Prior Information Notice in relation to this procurement was issued on 2 July 2021. The procurement for the design and subsequent manufacture phases will be the subject of commercial negotiation and evaluation and will follow in due course.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2021 on Royal Yacht Procurement on the use of British steel in the National Flagship, what classes of vessels procured by his Department have not required steel in their construction.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
All classes of ship procured by the Ministry of Defence have required the use of steel in their construction. Small patrol boats and Mine Counter-Measures vessels are principally constructed from glass-reinforced plastic, but steel is used in propulsion and other machinery.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on implementing the recommendations in relation to health from Lord Ashcroft's Veterans' Transition Review published in February 2014.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
All the significant recommendations from Lord Ashcroft’s Veterans’ Transition Review have been implemented and are now routine business for the Ministry of Defence (MOD). In May 2018, Lord Ashcroft stepped down as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Veterans’ Transition. In his letter to the Prime Minister, he said that while work remains to be done, “I am pleased with the many practical changes that have been brought about as a result of the Transition Review, and that the whole issue of veterans’ transition now has a higher profile in government and beyond.” The full text of Lord Ashcroft’s letter to the Prime Minister, along with a copy of the Review, follow-up reports and associated documents can be found at the following address:
http://www.veteranstransition.co.uk/
This Government is not complacent, and we are working to further support our military veterans. In November 2018 the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments published an evidence-based ‘Strategy for our veterans’ which will work to ensure veterans’ issues are considered, coordinated and delivered across the UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategy-for-our-veterans). This builds on existing progress, including in health issues where specific care pathways for veterans have been developed around mental health and prosthetic aftercare.
As part of the Strategy we are also this year introducing a holistic transition policy. Transition support currently provided by the MOD largely focuses on employment support, delivered by the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), which supports Service leavers in their transition from military to civilian life through a range of career and employment support services including skills development workshops, seminars, resettlement training advice, vocational training courses, career consultancy, one-to-one guidance and job finding support. However, transition is far wider than finding employment, and relates to the significant life changing processes which affect both the Service person and their immediate family through the entire time they are within or connected to the Armed Forces, through to discharge and beyond, which need to be appropriately addressed to ensure successful transition into civilian life. This will include transition to civilian health care.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Fourteenth Report of the Defence Committee entitled Mental Health and the Armed Forces, Part Two: The Provision of Care, published on 19 February 2019, what plans his Department has to reform the medical and mental health services provided through the (a) RAF, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Army.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Department is currently considering its formal response to the Report. This will be submitted to the House of Commons Defence Committee in April and will be made public by the Committee in due course.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on mental illness and suicide among ex-servicemen and women.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Ministers from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) meet on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the health and wellbeing of Service personnel and veterans, including mental health and suicide.
The DHSC and MOD examine the provision of veterans' mental health services on a regular basis. Data and progress of NHS England's Veterans Mental Health Transition Intervention and Liaison Service and Complex Treatment Service is presented to the MOD/UK Departments of Health Partnership Board, Joint Commissioning Group and the Cabinet Office led Covenant Reference Group. Both services are also continually assessed by NHS England. In England, as well as these veteran specific services, veterans are able to access mainstream mental health services. The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies dataset reports annually and data indicates that over 20,000 veterans are utilising this avenue with very positive outcomes, often better than the general population.
In England, the National Health Service has announced that an extra £10 million will be invested into a new NHS dedicated crisis service that will expand the current bespoke veteran mental health services and provide intensive support to veterans battling alcohol, drugs and mental health problems, capturing those individuals nearing crisis. The extra funding will also enable a roll out of veteran-friendly general practitioner surgeries and hospitals as part of efforts to make sure those who have served their country get the specialist help they deserve in every part of the health service.
Any suicide is one too many and a tragedy for the individual, and their family and friends. The MOD has commissioned a new study to investigate causes of death, including suicide, amongst all those who served in the UK Armed Forces between 2001 and 2014, covering operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This will include personnel who are still in service, and personnel who have now transitioned into civilian life. Previous studies conducted by MOD have shown that the suicide rates for veterans of the 1982 Falklands Campaign and 1990-91 Gulf Conflict were lower than comparative rates in the civilian population.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what processes on the enforcement of cyber security guidelines were undertaken when he acquired his current smartphone.
Answered by Gavin Williamson
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) regularly reviews its policies in the light of risks and technological developments, and ensures appropriate advice and guidance is in place for personnel at all levels. The MOD ensures all personnel receive standard security guidance on the use of official Portable Electronic Devices. We do not comment on specific aspects of our security posture.