Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the future strength, structure and basing of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.
Answered by Mike Penning
The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment has a regimental headquarters and three battalions, two Regular (1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment) and one Reserve (4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment).
The regimental headquarters is based in Fulwood Barracks, Preston, which is planned for disposal under the Better Defence Estate Strategy in 2022. A future location for the regimental headquarters will be determined following a process of detailed assessment and planning.
The 1st Battalion will remain a Light Infantry battalion. It is currently planned that its regular liability will grow from around 560 to 630 by 2025. On return from Cyprus in 2018, it will be based in Dale Barracks, Chester before, on current plans rotating back to Cyprus in 2022.
As announced by written ministerial statement on 15 December 2016 (HCWS367), The 2nd Battalion will be assigned to the Army's new Specialist Infantry role and joins the Headquarters Specialist Infantry Group in 2019. Under current plans its liability will change from around 560 to 270, with the balance being reinvested in other areas. It will be based in Aldershot, from 2020.
The 4th Battalion will remain a Reserve Light Infantry battalion with its headquarters in Preston and other companies in Liverpool, Blackburn, Carlisle and Manchester. It is currently planned to grow this Reserve liability from around 400 to 500 by 2025.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 428, what progress has been made in ensuring funding from the Armed Forces Covenant (Libor) Fund is distributed across the UK; and which organisations in each region of the UK have benefited from that fund to date.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Further to my answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 428 which detailed the information held centrally by the Ministry of Defence. The final project under the Veterans Accommodation Fund (VAF) was announced on 20 July 2015 and that was for £50,000 to the RAF Benevolent Fund, for replacement windows at Forge House in England. The £40 million VAF and the £35 million LIBOR Fund have now closed.
This year saw the implementation of a permanent commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant through a £10 million per annum Covenant Fund, and will be ring-fenced from the UK Defence Budget. Assessments of the first-round of small grants (up to £20,000) are currently taking place and those selected will be announced around the New Year. The deadline for the second round of applications is 17 December 2015.
The deadline for expressions of interest for the large grant scheme (£20,000 to £500,000) has now closed. Those projects accepted for round two will also be informed by 26 November 2015, the deadline for stage two applications is 13 January 2016 with stage two decisions communicated by 10 March 2016.
Although we welcome applications from across the whole of the UK, these will be selected on the basis of defined criteria. The selection panel is made up of MOD officials, sector experts and representatives from each of the Devolved Administrations.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made with the implementation of the recommendations made in Lord Ashcroft's Veterans' Transition Review, published in February 2014.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) resettlement policy is continuously reviewed and the most recent update was issued in October 2015.
Good progress has been made against the recommendations made in the Veterans' Transition Review. Of the discrete recommendations 29 are fully in place and considered closed; and a number of remaining recommendations are partially in place with further development planned and time-tabled.
The MOD continues to work with a number of charities, and the Government is committed to supporting their work. Actions already delivered include the provision of a 24-hour helpline for veterans, better support for those that leave the Service early so that all Service leavers get the provision they need, financial education for new recruits and better transfer of medical records.
The MOD's own Veterans Welfare Service is on the ground in every part of the UK providing one to one help and support to veterans with housing and any other problems they may have. Further work is under way to create a directory of Service charities so it is easier for veterans to find the support they need, and the contract for career transition support has been re-let to ensure it best meets the needs of veterans looking for jobs and training.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what organisations in each region have benefitted from the Armed Forces Covenant (Libor) Fund; and how much each such organisation has received.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Information held centrally by the Ministry of Defence on the distribution of the £35 million LIBOR Fund and the £40 million Veterans Accommodation Fund is provided in the attached documents. Information on the £35 million LIBOR Fund is collated by country rather than region.