Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of recruits to the armed forces in 2019 were female.
Answered by James Heappey
The requested information can be found in the ‘Female Intake’ and ‘Gender’ sections of the published 2020 and 2019 Biannual Diversity Statistics:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/943009/Biannual_Diversity_Statistics_Publication_Oct20.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/851974/UK_Armed_Forces_Biannual_Diversity_Statistics_-_1_October_2019.pdf
Defence remains dedicated to achieving a more diverse workforce and is undertaking a wide range of activities to increase the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and female recruits into the Armed Forces. In 2015 we set ourselves ambitious targets to increase the diversity of personnel joining the Armed Forces by 2020; for female personnel, this was set at 15 per cent. Although progress has been made and the proportion of women joining increased during this period, we fell just under three per cent short of our target and thus recognise that there is still more to do.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel are stationed at Muharraq air base in Bahrain; which units those personnel belong to; what the cost of those personnel was in financial year 2019-20; and what roles those personnel are fulfilling.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK has eight Armed Forces personnel based between Muharraq Air Base and Headquarters Maritime Component Commander in Bahrain. These personnel form the UK Joint Support Detachment and belong to the UK Maritime Component Commander and the UK Air Component Commander. They fulfil a variety of roles to facilitate the entry and departure of UK personnel and stores from Bahrain under Operation KIPION, including postal services and logistics movements. The cost of supporting these personnel in Bahrain was approximately £270,000 during financial year 2019-20
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to counter resurgence of Islamic State in northern Iraq.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Since Prime Minister Abadi announced the defeat of Daesh's so-called Caliphate in Iraq on 9 December 2017, Iraqi Security Forces continue to conduct operations to consolidate their gains. The UK, as part of the Global Coalition, recognises the ongoing threat posed by Daesh, and we have pledged to work to counter its re-emergence, working alongside the Iraqi Government. As a demonstration of our commitment, the Prime Minister announced during her visit to Iraq in November 2017 that the UK will invest £10 million to build Iraq's counter-terrorist capability. We have generated plans to continue to assist Iraq by training its security forces and enhancing their ability to respond to the threat.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times he has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.
Answered by Michael Fallon
I have visited Scotland six times in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
This Government is the first to introduce a compulsory Living Wage. All employers will be required to comply with the new national Living Wage of £7.20 per hour for those aged 25 and above, as set out in the budget statement.