Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the Next Generation (fixed) Communication Network programme since 31 March 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since March 2024, the programme has been reset to leverage existing infrastructure and deliver some benefits earlier, whilst making progress towards broader programme key milestones. The team has been restructured and additional specialist resources have been brought on board. The programme has achieved an amber status following a further IPA review.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of his Department's budget he plans to allocate to mine action in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are currently considering Official Development Assistance programme allocations for 2025/26 and will publish them in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts in the summer.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) devolved administrations on the potential impact of waiting lists for medical care required in order to pass recruitment standards on the number of candidates dropping out of armed service recruitment processes; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of NHS waiting lists on household income disparities for people awaiting recruitment into the armed services.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In the United Kingdom the provision of healthcare to the general population is devolved; however, the Ministry of Defence (MOD)/UK Departments of Health Partnership Board facilitates joint working across the UK to support recruitment to the Armed Forces and the retention of personnel in Service. Ministers from the MOD and the Department of Health and Social Care have regular discussions on wide range of issues, including those facing the Armed Forces in recruitment.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the Collective Training Transformation Programme since 31 March 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since March 2024, the Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP) has launched its competition for a Strategic Training Partner for British Army collective training. It is now selecting the final two tenderers and remains on track to meet its delivery target of 2026.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the MODnet Evolve programme since 31 March 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Significant progress has been made on the MODNET Evolve programme since 31 March 2024, when the programme was rated Red.
The development of the next generation MODNET Official service is nearing completion, and rollout of the new service to MOD’s 200,000 users worldwide will commence in June 2025.
The new Managed Print Service has been rolled out to over 90% of sites worldwide, with the remainder due for completion this year.
The contract for the MODNET Secret service was awarded in December 2024 with all 17,000 users transitioning to the new service by June 2025.
All contracts deliver considerable cost savings to defence, enhance the quality of service to users, and ensure MOD has a modern ICT infrastructure that aligns to the Department’s need.
In April 2024, the IPA’s formal review of the programme recognised the considerable progress and improved the rating to Amber.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations his Department has received in relation to the potential impact of uncompensated devolved (a) taxes and (b) other charges between (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) other devolved authorities on recent rates of completed recruitment into the armed services.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is not aware of having received representations of the kind described.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has received representations from relevant stakeholders on the potential impact of the (a) STEM curriculum and (b) attainment differences between (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland on recent rates of completed recruitment into the armed services.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is not aware of having received representations of the kind described.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations his Department has received in relation to the potential impact of travel costs on (a) rates of completed recruitment into the armed services in the last 12 months and (b) rates of completed recruitment into the armed services among different social groups.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is not aware of having received representations of the kind described.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the Core Production Capability programme since 31 March 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department is working closely with Rolls-Royce Submarines (RRS) to improve delivery confidence for the Core Production Capability programme. This has included increasing production rates and improving manufacturing resilience. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority has confirmed these ongoing actions are appropriate.
Asked by: Calvin Bailey (Labour - Leyton and Wanstead)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to (a) the police, (b) local authorities and (c) other authorities on removing covers from illicitly-covered licence plates in public spaces to help enforce existing legislation and regulations; and whether she has received representations on the risk of criminal damage complaints if authorities remove coverings.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Disguising a vehicle’s identity is an offence and should be reported to the police to be investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts.
The Home Office has not issued any specific guidance on the removal of covers from licence plates.