Dave Doogan

The public consultation ended on 25 February and we are currently analysing all the responses we received; we will be publishing the Government response in due course.

There is a constant engagement between Defra officials and our counterparts in the EU to discuss issues regarding agri-food goods at the borders as they are reported. Through these channels, and through our regular meetings with industry representatives, we’re closely monitoring live issues and working to resolve them. Officials also hold regular technical meetings with experts from the UK and Member States to ensure that border issues are quickly resolved, including multiple engagements between the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer and their counterparts in EU Member States to further develop mutual understanding on controls and checks that are necessary at borders. The Secretary of State will also continue to engage directly with his counterparts in the EU and beyond.

At the end of the EU Exit Transition Period, all extant EU maximum residue levels (MRLs) were carried over into the pesticides regulatory regime in place in Great Britain. These have not changed since and there is currently no difference between the EU and GB MRL for potatoes for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN). The 1,4-DMN MRL therefore applies to both domestic produce and produce imported from the EU. The key difference is in which pesticides are authorised for use in each country.

As of 1 January 2021, there is an autonomous pesticides regime in Great Britain. This means that the UK Government and the devolved administrations take our own decisions about which pesticides to authorise for use, based on scientific assessment of the risks. We may therefore sometimes take different decisions to countries in the EU or elsewhere. Last year, our regulator, the Health and Safety Executive, passed concerns arising from their risk assessment for 1,4-DMN to the EU for them to take into account.

In the meantime, emergency authorisations have been granted by all four UK administrations allowing limited and controlled use of a 1,4-DMN product.

We aim to establish a formal MRL review programme in the next few years and we are able to review MRLs when necessary, for example, to protect public health.

Before a pesticide can be used, its active substance must be approved and the pesticide itself must be authorised. Decisions on approval and authorisation are based on an assessment of the risks posed to people and to the environment. Such decisions are devolved and so are taken by the relevant government or by the Health and Safety Executive on its behalf. Decisions on the authorisation of pesticides for use in Scotland are not, therefore, taken by the UK Government.

The active substance 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN) is approved but at present there is no authorised product. All four UK governments have granted an emergency authorisation allowing the limited and controlled use until 31 May of a 1,4-DMN product to prevent sprouting of harvested potatoes. This emergency authorisation is granted in recognition of the need for sprout suppression and the lack, in certain circumstances, of alternative means of control.

Potatoes treated with 1,4-DMN are only permitted to be imported from the EU or elsewhere if the level of the chemical is below a statutory Maximum Residue Level of 15 mg/kg.

I apologise for the further delay in responding. A reply was issued to the hon. Member for Angus on 23 February 2021.

Defra ministers agreed a policy proposed by Defra officials and cleared with Devolved Administration (DA) colleagues to accept EU seed potatoes for 6 months beyond the end of the transition period, until 30 June. This policy was a change from an original policy to block EU seed potatoes entirely, to protect Scotland's specialist industry. The policy options regarding the import of seed potatoes from the EU were discussed between officials of all four administrations and industry organisations. In the absence of a reciprocal agreement with the EU, the original preference was to block EU seed potatoes immediately after the transition period. However, the coordinated request from three organisations representing interests across the potato industry, and the UK Government’s concern that entirely blocking EU potatoes, could prove detrimental to a reciprocal agreement in the longer term, led us to revisit the policy. The industry organisations expressed concerns that although the UK is broadly self-sufficient in the total quantity of seed potato production, it does not currently produce the range of varieties required by the UK market. They also explained that the transitional provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement for goods on the market were unhelpful for seed potatoes because of the need for specialist storage. To address both issues, their request was to allow EU seed potatoes to be imported for planting in spring 2021 to provide a further period of adaptation. This led to the final proposal to accept EU seed potatoes in England and Wales until June 2021, supporting the industry as it adapts.

Defra officials and the DAs re-visited the policy following a joint letter from industry organisations representing both seed and ware potato growers. They proposed a compromise policy to accept EU seed potatoes for a limited time to ensure supply for the Spring growing season. This policy was discussed and agreed with the DAs and a sixth month period of grace was proposed, in line with other 'standstill' policies.

I apologise for the delay in responding. Defra is currently dealing with high volumes of correspondence due to Covid-19. A reply to the hon. Member is being prepared and will be issued very shortly.

Over the past two years, Defra has put in place new veterinary export health certificates to facilitate the export of processed animal proteins from terrestrial animals to Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria and Pakistan. We do not currently know the value of these new markets but the gross value of the annual trade to all non-EU markets is approximately £40million. There are now 23 veterinary export health certificates available to support this trade to countries outside the EU.

Defra is aware that UK renderers wish to export even further afield and that many of the authorities in those destination countries require consignments to be accompanied by a veterinary export health certificate and meet stringent import conditions. Defra continues to work with UK rendering companies to maintain and expand its range of veterinary export health certificates supporting the export of processed animal protein to their priority destination countries.

Defra is in regular discussions with businesses on the Export Health Certificate (EHC) requirements for products sent to Northern Ireland and the EU which contain processed animal protein (PAP).

Mammalian PAP must have been processed in a region which is, under the international rules, in the negligible risk category for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). It must have been processed by pressure sterilisation (known as ‘Method 1’). This means mammalian PAP products from Great Britain cannot be certified for export to Northern Ireland or the EU.

This issue was raised in our discussions with the EU last year and we continue to look at options to negotiate a position on trade.

We continue to hold discussions regularly with the rendering industry. We have worked with other countries to obtain additional export health certificates for PAP, meaning we were able to open markets for these products elsewhere.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement delivers on the Government's promise to take the UK out of the EU's customs territory and to regain control of our borders. We have always been clear that this means there will be new customs processes on goods being moved from GB into the EU and vice versa. The Agreement will help to manage the burden of non-tariff barriers for businesses by supporting efficient customs arrangements covering all trade in goods, while ensuring that we will be free to regulate our own market as we see fit. In addition, the agreement enables both sides to further reduce costs in the longer term. For example, we have agreed to explore the possibility of sharing import and export declaration data, including by setting up pilot programmes, where appropriate, with a view to reducing administrative burdens on business.

Importantly, this Agreement ensures there will be zero tariffs or quotas on trade between the UK and the EU, where goods meet the relevant rules of origin, and includes provisions to facilitate trade and address non-tariff barriers for UK exports to the EU and vice versa. It will therefore provide Scottish businesses with exceptional access to the EU's market and help them continue to trade smoothly: it is the first time the EU has ever agreed a zero tariff, zero quota deal.

We have already struck deals with more than 58 countries around the world, worth £198 billion a year - including with Canada, Japan and Singapore, with many more to come. This will benefit Scottish businesses, and create new markets for Scotland's exporters. It allows us to continue to have a close relationship with our European friends and neighbours, while we take our place in the world with an independent trade policy, acting as a global force for good.

Defra works closely with industry bodies and leaders, regularly speaking with recruiters, growers, unions and associations, and making use of all available information and evidence to understand the labour supply picture for the agri-food supply chain.

Industry reports that supply of seasonal labour has been sufficient across the main horticultural sectors so far this year. Through the ‘Pick for Britain’ campaign, Defra has collaborated with industry to raise the profile of seasonal work on farms. The Pick for Britain website has received nearly 2 million unique page views since its launch but Defra does not hold any information about specific vacancies, interviews or people in jobs as that information is held by individual companies.

The horticultural sector will continue to be able to rely on EU nationals living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status. Around 3.7 million EU citizens and their families have been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and the application deadline is not until 30 June 2021. EU nationals who have settled status can continue to travel to the UK to do seasonal work in 2021.

On 19 February, the Government announced that the annual quota for this second year of the?Seasonal Workers Pilot scheme would increase from 2,500 to 10,000 places. The Pilot has provided thousands of non-EU workers to farms across the UK this year to undertake seasonal employment in the edible horticulture sector.

Defra will continue to work closely with the Home Office on seasonal agricultural workers and the needs of the sector.

A reply to the hon. Member’s correspondence is being prepared and will be sent out very shortly.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon Member. Defra is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. A reply to the hon. Member’s correspondence is being prepared and will be sent out very shortly.

The budget for Her Majesty’s Coastguard for each of the last five years is as follows:

Financial Year Budget (£)

2016-17 242,355,780

2017-18 260,745,074

2018-19 248,005,106

2019-20 259,397,741

2020-21 271,058,746

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is now planning to resume driver training and testing in line with the Prime Minister’s road map announcement. In England, this will be no earlier than 12 April 2021, providing the data shows it is safe to move on to this next step.

Dates for Scotland and Wales remain subject to agreement with the devolved administrations.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not hold data on a candidate’s occupation, or reason for taking a test, when they apply for a routine theory or practical test. The DVSA will be making tests available in all licence categories when it is safe to do so.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is now planning to resume driver training and testing in line with the Prime Minister’s road map announcement. In England, this will be no earlier than 12 April 2021, providing the data shows it is safe to move on to this next step.

Dates for Scotland and Wales remain subject to agreement with the devolved administrations.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not hold data on a candidate’s occupation, or reason for taking a test, when they apply for a routine theory or practical test. The DVSA will be making tests available in all licence categories when it is safe to do so.

The department has worked with a wide range of stakeholders, including gateway organisations since the scheme was announced and will continue to do so.

We have recently improved the assessment process to allow us to consider an application in full to make a decision. We have also continued to improve and expand our guidance to make sure employers know what we are looking for when assessing applications. Whilst maintaining a high standard for Kickstart jobs, these changes will mean that more applications are likely to be successful.

We aim to make a decision on an application within four weeks of receiving it, although this can take longer if more information needs to be gathered. Approved Gateways can get in touch with their local or national Kickstart scheme contact for information about how to add job placements or employers to their existing grant agreements.

The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. As a result, all face to face assessments for sickness and disability benefits have remained suspended since March 2020.

We are assessing as many people as we are able to on paper evidence or via telephone assessments. Individuals invited for a telephone assessment are encouraged to inform their assessment provider of any additional requirements they may have, and the provider will endeavour to meet any reasonable requests. This is explained to the individual in the initial invitation letter for all telephone assessments. For example, companions are able to join a telephone assessment, as they could for a face to face assessment.

There will be some claimants for whom unfortunately there is insufficient evidence to make a decision on paper and who are unable to undertake a telephone assessment because of their health condition. We continue to develop and implement ways in which we can safely assess these individuals. For example, we are currently testing ways of supporting claimants with speech and hearing difficulties to safely participate in telephone assessments and continue to test video assessments. Claimants who we are unable to assess by telephone or video because of their health condition, in particular those not entitled to UC, will be prioritised when we are able to safely resume face to face assessments.

The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. As a result, all face to face assessments for sickness and disability benefits have remained suspended since March 2020.

We are assessing as many people as we are able to on paper evidence or via telephone assessments. Individuals invited for a telephone assessment are encouraged to inform their assessment provider of any additional requirements they may have, and the provider will endeavour to meet any reasonable requests. This is explained to the individual in the initial invitation letter for all telephone assessments. For example, companions are able to join a telephone assessment, as they could for a face to face assessment.

There will be some claimants for whom unfortunately there is insufficient evidence to make a decision on paper and who are unable to undertake a telephone assessment because of their health condition. We continue to develop and implement ways in which we can safely assess these individuals. For example, we are currently testing ways of supporting claimants with speech and hearing difficulties to safely participate in telephone assessments and continue to test video assessments. Claimants who we are unable to assess by telephone or video because of their health condition, in particular those not entitled to UC, will be prioritised when we are able to safely resume face to face assessments.

Yes - claimants who were previously in receipt of legacy benefits who migrated to and were awarded Universal Credit can re-apply for Universal Credit if that award has ended. Universal Credit will then be re-awarded if they meet the conditions of entitlement.

The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Treasury responded to the member’s letter on 9 October 2020.

The HMRC Director responsible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, Paul Riley, duly replied to the Honourable Member’s letter on 18 September 2020. HMRC apologise for the delay in responding.

VAT is a broad based tax on consumption and the twenty per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services.

Relief from the standard rate is already available on the sale and installation of certain energy-saving materials such as insulation, draught stripping and solar panels if certain conditions are met.

Although there are no plans to extend the scope of the relief already in place, the Government keeps all taxes under review.

A temporary zero-rate of VAT applies to sales of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for protection from infection from 1 May 2020 until 31 July 2020. The temporary relief has been introduced as an urgent response to the coronavirus emergency. Its main objective is to relieve businesses, particularly in the healthcare and residential care sectors, of the burden of tax on essential infection protection equipment needed to deal with the emergency.

All taxes are kept under review and Government will reassess the situation in the future.

HM Treasury has received unprecedented amounts of correspondence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, and apologises for the delay in responding to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member’s correspondence is receiving attention and will be replied to as soon as possible.

The Government has committed to continue the Seasonal Workers Pilot and in our election manifesto we set out plans to increase the scheme to 10,000 places following the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Details will be set out in due course.

The new fleet of Challenger 3 Main Battle Tanks will be predominantly based with the armoured regiments in Tidworth. Some of the fleet will be held in other Defence sites to support training.

Trade Trained Regular Army Strength and UK proportion of Paid Rank Colonel and above stationed in Scotland as at 1 January 2021

Notes/Caveats:

1. The figures are for the Trade Trained Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP.
2. The proportion refers to Colonels and above stationed in Scotland as a percentage of all Colonels and above in the UK. The percentage calculation excludes Colonels and above stationed overseas.
3. The information is based on an individual’s stationed location. Where personnel are deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location, the information above reflects their stationed location prior to this deployment. The same applies to those personnel who are administered by APC as a part of the Resilience Margin, but are not physically located in Scotland.

Regular Trade Trained Strength of Paid Rank of Colonel stationed in Scotland as at 1 January 2021

Notes/Caveats:

1. The figures are for the Trade Trained Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP.

As at 1 January 2021 there were no officers of Paid Rank Colonel and above in the Royal Regiment of Scotland, as those serving in the General Staff are no longer counted towards their previous Regiments. However, those whose previous Regiment was the Royal Regiment of Scotland total 30.

Notes/Caveats:

• Figures provided by Defence Statistics (Army).
• Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes.
• Figures are for Trade Trained Regulars only.
• Those serving in the General Staff are no longer counted towards their previous Regiments, however, data shows those personnel in the General Staff whose previous Regiment was the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The tail numbers and corresponding airframe hours accrued for the UK's C-130 Hercules fleet are given in the table below:

1. Rounded to the nearest 10

As at 1 January 2020, there were 1,970 Army personnel in the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Notes/Caveats:

1. Figures provided by Defence Statistics (Army).
2. Figures are for Trade Trained Regulars only.
3. The above figures are for Infantry only.
4. The above figures include all members within the Regiment regardless of whether they are serving at Regimental Duty.
5. All Officers of Paid Rank Colonel and above are included in Staff regardless of late Arm/Corps and therefore have been excluded from the figures.
6. Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes.

As at 1 January 2021, there were 2,060 Army personnel in the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Notes/Caveats:

• Figures provided by Defence Statistics (Army).
• Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes.
• Figures are for Trade Trained Regulars only.
• The above figures are for Infantry only.
• The above figures include all members within the Regiment regardless of whether they are serving at Regimental Duty.
• All Officers of Paid Rank Colonel and above are included in Staff regardless of late Arm/Corps and therefore have been excluded from the figures.

Boeing provides aircraft maintenance and support services for the Royal Air Force P-8A Poseidon fleet under an Interim Aircraft Support contract. The P-8A Strategic Facility at RAF Lossiemouth is owned and operated by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and currently there are some 385 staff working from the building, of which around 80% are military personnel. While the final cost for the construction of the facility is still to be determined, the cost to the MOD is likely to be in the region of £100 million (ex-VAT).

The Ministry of Defence currently operates 29 Airbus H135 helicopters (in service as the Juno HT Mk1) for Rotary Wing training.

The following table provides details of the numbers of each mark of the Chinook Helicopter fleet and their average airframe hours:

The Gazelle helicopter fleet consists of 23 aircraft in a multi-purpose, lightweight utility role and operates in both the UK and Canada. The scheduled out of service date is 31 March 2025.

The complexity of the international supply chain means that it is not possible to account for all the components used in the Typhoon aircraft that are manufactured in Scotland or to assess their overall value. However, the Leonardo MW facility in Edinburgh is the lead radar equipment supplier for Royal Air Force Typhoons.

In July 2020, the Ministry of Defence awarded a two-year contract worth £317 million to continue development of an electronically scanned Radar, known as the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk 2. This contract placed £140 million of work into Leonardo MW based in Edinburgh and represents the latest commitment to a development project which was first initiated in 2010.

The complexity of the international supply chain means that it is not possible to account for all the components used in the Typhoon aircraft that are manufactured in Scotland or to assess their overall value. However, the Leonardo MW facility in Edinburgh is the lead radar equipment supplier for Royal Air Force Typhoons.

In July 2020, the Ministry of Defence awarded a two-year contract worth £317 million to continue development of an electronically scanned Radar, known as the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk 2. This contract placed £140 million of work into Leonardo MW based in Edinburgh and represents the latest commitment to a development project which was first initiated in 2010.

If details of costs per flying hour were to be released it could prejudice the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence when dealing with manufacturers that may wish to use its military aircraft, for example for training purposes or as part of sales demonstrators.

The hon. Member can find a list of the Army bases and establishments in Scotland listed in the tables below. This list does not include sites that are specifically for Cadet activities.

List of Army Bases and Establishments in Scotland, as at 26 February 2021.

The Royal Navy shore-based establishments currently in use are listed below:

The hon. Member can find a list of the Royal Air Force bases and establishments in Scotland in the attached document. This list does not include sites that are specifically for Cadet activities.

I am withholding the information requested as its release would prejudice commercial interests.

All publicly announced planned disposals are extracted from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation internal management system and can be found on the Defence Disposals Database which is publicly available at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report

Of the 110 establishments previously given in Question 134567, 83 are operational establishments, defined as having personnel permanently and routinely stationed at the establishment providing military capability.

These are listed in the attachment.

As at 1 February 2021 RAF Coningsby had 47 aircraft in the forward fleet, RAF Akrotiri had seven whilst British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Mount Pleasant had four.

The number of Typhoon aircraft in the forward fleet at any base can vary over time.

The forward fleet comprises serviceable and short-term unserviceable aircraft. Typically, short-term unserviceable aircraft are undergoing minor works, forward maintenance or any other unforeseen rectification or technical inspection that can arise on a day to day basis.

The operating and support costs for Typhoon aircraft are spread over a number of business areas within the Department and therefore the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The operating and support costs for Typhoon aircraft are spread over a number of business areas within the Department and therefore the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The operating and support costs for Typhoon aircraft are spread over a number of business areas within the Department and therefore the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence is committed to making best use of its estate to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. Much of this work is being delivered by the Defence Estate Optimisation Portfolio, which is a 25-year portfolio announced in November 2016 of construction activity, unit and personnel moves, and site disposals that will deliver a better structured, more economical and modern estate that more effectively supports military capability.

As part of the optimisation process, defence will dispose of sites it no longer requires. These sites create opportunities for alternative use, resulting in regeneration, housing or business growth and job creation within the local area. Full details of the sites identified for disposal, subject to assessment, can be found on the regularly updated Defence Disposals Database:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report

Whilst the time required to search legacy systems prevents this question being answered in full the hon. Member will be aware of the following major disposals in Scotland in the last 20 years:

RAF Pitreavie Castle

RAF Edzell

RAF Stornoway

RAF Machrihanish

Ministry of Defence present and future disposals can be found on the Defence Disposals Database at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report

Whilst the time required to search legacy systems prevents this question being answered in full the hon. Member will be aware of the following major disposals in Scotland in the last 20 years:

RAF Pitreavie Castle

RAF Edzell

RAF Stornoway

RAF Machrihanish

Ministry of Defence present and future disposals can be found on the Defence Disposals Database at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report

Whilst the time required to search legacy systems prevents this question being answered in full the hon. Member will be aware of the following major disposals in Scotland in the last 20 years:

RAF Pitreavie Castle

RAF Edzell

RAF Stornoway

RAF Machrihanish

Ministry of Defence present and future disposals can be found on the Defence Disposals Database at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report

Whilst the time required to search legacy systems prevents this question being answered in full the hon. Member will be aware of the following major disposals in Scotland in the last 20 years:

RAF Pitreavie Castle

RAF Edzell

RAF Stornoway

RAF Machrihanish

Ministry of Defence present and future disposals can be found on the Defence Disposals Database at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report

As at 1 February 2021 RAF Lossiemouth had 41 aircraft in the forward fleet. This comprised serviceable and short-term unserviceable aircraft.

Typically, short-term unserviceable aircraft are undergoing minor works, forward maintenance or any other unforeseen rectification or technical inspection that can arise on a day to day basis.

The current number of Civil Servants based at RAF Lossiemouth is 255 and the number of Service personnel is 2,115.

*In accordance with the Data Protection Act and our obligations in relation to the protection of confidentiality when handling personal data, the data has been rounded to the nearest 5.

RAF Typhoon aircraft are based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby in the UK with a detachment permanently deployed to the Falkland Islands at British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Mount Pleasant.

Additionally, a detachment of Typhoons are currently operationally deployed to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Detachments also routinely deploy in support of NATO Air Policing in the Baltic and Black Sea regions.

The current strength of service personnel who operate and provide support to Typhoon aircraft across a range of roles and functions is approximately 1,670 and the number of Civil Servants is approximately 215.

.

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

At the end of 2020 the Ministry of Defence operated 110 establishments in Scotland.

Historic information on the number of establishments operated could be provided only at disproportionate cost. This is because individual ‘establishments’ can range from small individual structures to large bases and past data records would require individual searches.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has produced personnel statistics by region since 2010 but not by individual establishments. UK Service Personnel and MOD Civilians stationed in Scotland for 2015 and 2020 can be found in Table 5.1a of the MS Excel Annual Location Statistics publication published 1 April 2020 at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/location-of-uk-regular-service-and-civilian-personnel-annual-statistics-2020

UK Service Personnel and MOD Civilians stationed in Scotland for 2010 can be found in Table 5.1a of the MS Excel Annual Location Statistics index, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/location-of-all-uk-regular-service-and-civilian-personnel-quarterly-statistics-index

The Ministry of Defence publishes annually the regional expenditure with UK industry and supported employment publication, available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-regional-expenditure-with-uk-industry-and-supported-employment-index

In the 2014-15 financial year £1,505 million[1] was spent with Scottish industry The figures for 2019-20 are due to be published on 21 January 2021.

The Ministry of Defence previously provided estimates on both regional expenditure and employment within the UK Defence Statistics (UKDS) publication. However, within the UKDS bulletins, the inclusion of the regional breakdowns were not given in every year's release. Where they are present, due to differing methodologies used before and now, historic figures are also not directly comparable to more recent published figures.

In addition, Scotland is home for the Royal Navy’s entire submarine service, a significant RAF presence including the P8 maritime patrol aircraft at Lossiemouth where in due course they will be joined by our incoming E7 fleet. Half of the UK’s Typhoon’s are based in Scotland. A strong Army presence contributes to around 10,000 regular personnel based in Scotland.

[1] This figure is in constant 2018-19 prices and has been adjusted for inflation using GDP deflators from HM Treasury (September 2019).

The information requested is provided in the following table:

The Net Cash Requirement (NCR) has been provided to give a consistent time series. Due to accounting processes changing overtime, the NCR is the most accurate way to give these figures allowing for comparison over time.

[1] These figures are in current prices and have not been adjusted for inflation.

The gross expenditure figure relating to the maintenance and support of the UK’s nuclear deterrent at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde for the years in question are not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost, as they are made up of many components covered by different contracts from funding across several business units, and not held centrally.

The data for civilian employees with a permanent duty station within Scotland as at 31 December 1989 is not held.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) worked closely with King's College London on a study (funded by the US Department of Defense) into the use of a screening tool for mental health issues. The results of the study were published in 'The Lancet' in 2017[1] and found that screening was not effective in reducing symptoms of mental health disorders or encouraging personnel to seek help, compared to the general mental health advice which is the standard of care in the UK military.

The single Services have long standing welfare structures in place for supporting personnel. Personnel can use, and Commanders can call on, this wide range of resources as and when required. These resources are diverse and for example include welfare officers, padres and support provided by charities such as SSAFA. Both SSAFA and MOD's Veterans UK have general helplines, however, when required they will signpost individuals to the Combat Stress 24hour mental health helpline.

For those personnel requiring medical intervention, MOD has its own well-established mental health service. Our mental health services are configured to provide community-based mental health care in line with national best practice. We do this primarily through our 11 military Departments of Community Mental Health across the UK, which provide out-patient mental healthcare. A wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments are available, including medication, evidence-based talking therapies, and environmental adjustment where appropria

[1] Rona, R et al (2017) Post-deployment screening for mental health disorders and tailored advice about help-seeking in the UK military: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Domestic abuse is a very important issue and we treat allegations of domestic abuse very seriously. In July 2018, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) launched its first strategy to tackle domestic abuse within the Armed Forces and defence civilian communities. The strategy builds on existing work by the Armed Forces in this area, such as providing specialist training to welfare staff, and included the launch of a campaign to raise awareness of the issue. The MOD is a member of the cross-Government Violence against Women and Girls working group.

In the UK, the Service Justice System does not normally have jurisdiction for investigating, or prosecuting cases of domestic abuse, as that is normally the responsibility of the domestic Criminal Justice System, and as such the data held by the MOD is limited. Additionally, the MOD does not hold centralised records of reported cases of domestic abuse which did not result in a prosecution or which may involve minor violence in a domestic setting which were dealt with at a Summary Hearing.

The following table provides details of the number of Service personnel prosecuted for domestic abuse by the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) at a Court Martial:

Notes:

Information before 2005 is not held.

2005 to 2008 – these years were prior to the creation of the SPA and the data held on the SPA’s case database was derived from the unique case management systems of the Army, Navy and RAF Prosecuting Authorities. These systems held varying levels of data and detail on the individual cases. Therefore, these figures should be regarded as estimated.

2007 – one case has yet to go to Court Martial – accused Absent Without Official Leave.

2009 – This was the year that the SPA came into being and was also the year that a new cases management system entitled “AXXIA DNA” was trialled in SPA. This new system wasn’t compatible with the UK “AXXIA” system and data has been lost as a result. Figures should, therefore, be regarded as an estimate.

2018 – one case has yet to go to Court Martial.

2019 – five cases have yet to go to Court Martial.

In the period 1 January 2000 to 11 March 2020, 545 UK Armed Forces personnel have died as a result of hostile action.

The Government takes the welfare of Service personnel and veterans very seriously. As in society as a whole, the Armed Forces will never be able to eradicate the incidence of suicide, however we are not complacent; any suicide is one too many and a tragedy for the individual.

Defence Statistics (Health) produce an annual National Statistic on suicide in the UK Armed Forces which is released at the end of March every year and is available at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-suicide-and-open-verdict-deaths-index. Between 1999 and 2018 there have been 310 suicides among UK Regular Armed Forces personnel: 292 among males, and 18 among females. There were five coroner-confirmed suicides in 2018 with an additional 16 awaiting verdicts that may result in a suicide verdict once coroner inquests are held.

Suicide data for all veterans of the UK Armed Forces is not captured by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). However, the MOD has commissioned a new study to investigate causes of death, including suicide, among all those who served in the UK Armed Forces from 2001, including those that deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The study will include personnel who are still in service and veterans, including recent Service leavers, and will be updated on an ongoing basis and will compare findings with the general population during the same period: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-study-into-iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-launched

The MOD also publishes studies on the causes of death, including suicide, of veterans from the 1982 Falklands Campaign (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/causes-of-deaths-among-the-uk-armed-forces-veterans-of-the-1982-falklands-campaign) and from the 1990/91 Gulf Conflict (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/causes-of-deaths-that-occurred-among-the-uk-veterans-of-the-199091-gulf-conflict). To date, both studies show that the suicide rates among veterans were lower than comparative rates in the general population when matched for age and gender.