Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how veterans can obtain replacement medals when originals have been (a) lost and (b) stolen in cases where ill health has delayed the submission of (i) police and (ii) insurance reports.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains a long-established policy whereby, upon receipt of proof of loss, due to fire or flood (a successful insurance claim), or theft (a police report), our Medal Office will provide replacement medals.
The requirement for documented proof of loss is applied without exception to all applications, even when illness or other circumstances prevent the individual from expediting their claim. This is to protect the integrity of medallic recognition, and the wider UK Honours system by ensuring, as far as possible, that duplicate copies of medals are not in circulation and to reinforce the intrinsic value of the medals themselves.
The policy and procedure for replacement medals is to be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-medal-or-veterans-badge/replace-a-medal-or-badge
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in (i) his Department and (ii) military bases is made by a British manufacturer.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the rate of remuneration for (a) cleaners, (b) security guards and (c) catering staff in his Department in (i) Greater London and (ii) outside Greater London.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I am interpreting your request as referring to civilian staff. Cleaning and catering services within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are provided through a number of facilities management contracts. Information on the rates of remuneration for cleaners and caterers is held by facilities management contractors and not by the Department.
MOD guards have the same terms and conditions and pay scales as the wider MOD Civil Service. The MOD Guard Service comprises approximately 1,800 E2 grades and 200 E1 grades. The rate of remuneration is shown per annum in the table below:
Grade | Current National Pay Scales: | London Pay Scales: |
E1 | £19,911 to £21,155 | £21,309 to £22,637 |
E2 | £17,476 to £17,992 | £18,700 to £19,251 |
In addition to pay scales, dependent on location, guards may also receive additional locational allowances.
Remuneration rates for guards that are provided through commercial contracts are not held by the Department.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the award of the Defence Fire and Rescue Project contract to Capita and previous contracts with that company withdrawn or ended by the Government early, what assessment his Department has made of the ability of Capita to deliver (a) that service and (b) value for money in the delivery of that service.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Defence Fire and Rescue Project will deliver improvements in the safety of firefighter personnel through greater investment in improved firefighting technology, training and equipment whilst ensuring the Ministry of Defence continues to receive the global fire and rescue capability it needs.
Bidder proposals for the project were evaluated by subject matter experts against criteria which included technical deliverability, commercial and financial aspects. The proposals have also been subject to a rigorous scrutiny, assurance and approvals process undertaken by Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Office and HM Treasury staff.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contingency plans his Department has in place in the event that Capita is unable to complete the Defence Fire and Rescue Project contract.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Capita's proposal has been subjected to the fullest range of testing and scrutiny across Government to ensure that the services will be delivered in a sustainable and resilient manner.
Maintaining contingency plans is Defence's routine approach when outsourcing and this includes the Defence Fire and Rescue project in the event of a change in circumstances with Capita. The contingency plans ensure that if the contract was to fail there would be minimal disruption to the delivery of appropriate fire risk management services to Defence.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces compensation scheme claims were turned down due to the claimant exceeding the seven year time limit before submitting a claim in (a) 2014, (b) 2015 and (c) 2016.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The number of applications recorded on the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme computer system as being turned down due to the claim exceeding the seven year time limit are as follows:
2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
23 | 34 | 73 |