Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of changes to Northern Ireland Security Guard Service pay structures on the pay grading of employees.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
There have been no changes to the Northern Ireland (NI) Security Guard Service pay structure. The NI Guard Service continue to be paid in accordance with the same pay policies and processes as wider Ministry of Defence Main employees.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will published the allowances available for military personnel travel between the barracks and home during leave; and if he will made an assessment of the adequacy of those allowances to cover the costs of travel to all parts of the UK.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The policy for Armed Forces expenses and allowances is published on the gov.uk website at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tri-service-regulations-for-expenses-and-allowances-jsp-752.
For the purposes of leave, the Ministry of Defence provides travel assistance to newly recruited personnel through the Get You Home (Early Years) scheme. The scheme enables newly recruited members of the Services in the UK to maintain links with their close family/friends and home area while they adjust to Service life. The scheme covers the full cost of the return journey.
Other personnel do not receive specific assistance for leave travel. However, those with a qualifying residence more than 50 miles away from their duty station are provided with a contribution towards returning to their qualifying address through the Get You Home (Travel) scheme.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many part-time UDR personnel were injured on duty; how much (a) compensation and (b) financial benefit was paid to each member; and what the criteria was for deciding on the level of that compensation or financial benefit.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
It is not possible to say how much compensation or financial benefit was paid to each part-time member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) who were injured on duty as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the role is of the lading platform (a) helicopter and (b) dock; and what differences to their operability there are when used (i) within and (ii) outwith an amphibious task group.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Within an Amphibious Task Group, the Landing Platform Helicopter delivers troops ashore by helicopter and landing craft. The Landing Platform Dock provides afloat command and control facilities required to deploy and sustain the Lead Commando Group ashore. Both also fulfill a variety of roles in support of wider Royal Navy operations, from warfighting to humanitarian and disaster relief.
It was stated in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 that a Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier would be enhanced to support our amphibious capability. Together with the existing amphibious ships of the Royal Navy and the Bay Class ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, this will provide the capability to deploy our amphibious forces and support Royal Navy operations.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how his Department plans to increase engagement with universities where no single service unit exists.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Royal Navy regularly reviews its structure to ensure that the Service is optimised to face the demands of the 21st century, while being appropriately balanced to achieve operational requirements, and therefore continues to consider the need to establish new University Royal Navy Units when it is able.
More widely, the Royal Navy also has an on-going engagement plan with UK Universities by the Captain of Naval Recruitment organisation with initiatives such as the Undergraduate Leadership Programme which can provide the opportunity for undergraduates to apply for a six-week placement with the Royal Navy. This forms part of a wider recruitment engagement which aims to increase awareness of the role of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in support of British interests.
The Army has a total of 15 University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) and two Officer Training Regiments (OTRs), which, although geographically named, cover a number of affiliated universities located across the whole UK. All UOTCs and OTRs welcome enquiries from individuals from any university. Additionally, wider engagement is conducted within universities, by mutual agreement, by the Army’s specialist engagement teams.
The Royal Air Force currently has 15 University Air Squadrons (UAS) which incorporate a number of affiliated universities located across a wide catchment area in the UK to ensure maximum visibility and coverage. The RAF welcomes enquiries from individuals or universities wishing to join their local UAS. Additionally, the Royal Air Force is engaged in ongoing focussed engineering recruitment with 37 universities throughout the country to increase awareness of the available opportunities.
The four Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme Squadrons are geographically dispersed (Newcastle, Loughborough, Birmingham and Southampton) and partnerships extend to seven further universities.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where each University Service Unit is in the UK.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The requested information is provided below:
Royal Navy
There are 15 University Royal Naval Units:
Birmingham | HMS FORWARD, Birmingham |
Bristol | HMS FLYING FOX, Bristol |
Cambridge | Cambridge |
Devon | HMS VIVID, Plymouth |
Edinburgh | Hepburn House, Edinburgh |
Glasgow | University of Glasgow, Glasgow |
Liverpool | HMS EAGLET, Liverpool |
London | HMS PRESIDENT, London |
Manchester | University Barracks, Manchester |
Northumbrian | HMS Calliope, Gateshead |
Oxford | Falklands House, Oxford |
Southampton | National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton |
Sussex | Brighton University, Brighton |
Wales | HMS CAMBRIA, Sully, South Glamorgan |
Yorkshire | Carlton Barracks, Leeds |
Army
There are 15 University Officer Training Corps (UOTCs) and two Officer Training Regiments (OTRs):
Aberdeen UOTC | Aberdeen UOTC, Aberdeen. |
Queen's UOTC | Queen's UOTC, Belfast |
Birmingham UOTC | Birmingham UOTC, Birmingham |
Bristol UOTC | Bristol UOTC, Bristol |
Cambridge UOTC | Cambridge University Officers' Training Corps, Cambridge |
Cambridge UOTC | UEA Detachment, Norwich |
East Midlands UOTC | East Midlands UOTC, Nottingham |
Edinburgh UOTC | Edinburgh UOTC, Edinburgh |
Exeter UOTC | Exeter UOTC, Exeter |
Glasgow and Strathclyde UOTC | Glasgow and Strathclyde UTOC, Glasgow |
London UOTC | London UOTC, London |
London UOTC | UOTC, Canterbury Detachment, Canterbury |
Northumbrian UOTC | Northumbrian UOTC, Newcastle |
North West OTR | HQ and Manchester Detachment, Manchester |
North West OTR | Liverpool Detachment, Liverpool |
North West OTR | Lancaster Detachment, Lancaster |
Oxford UOTC | Oxford UOTC, Oxford |
Southampton UOTC | Southampton UOTC, Southampton |
Southampton UOTC | Brighton Detachment, Brighton |
Tayforth UOTC | Tayforth UOTC, Tayforth |
Tayforth UOTC | Stirling Detachment, Stirling |
Tayforth UOTC | St Andrews Detachment, St Andrews |
Yorkshire UOTC | HQ and Leeds Detachment, Leeds |
Yorkshire UOTC | York Detachment, York |
Yorkshire UOTC | Sheffield Detachment, Sheffield |
Wales UOTC | HQ and Cardiff Detachment, Cardiff |
Wales UOTC | Aberystwyth Detachment, Aberystwyth |
Wales UOTC | Bangor Detachment, Caernarfon |
Wales UOTC | Swansea Detachment, Swansea |
Wales UOTC | Wrexham Detachment, Wrexham |
Royal Air Force
There are 15 RAF University Air Squadrons (UAS’s):
East of Scotland UAS | Leuchars |
Glasgow and Strathclyde UAS | Glasgow |
Northumbria UAS | RAF Leeming |
Yorkshire UAS | RAF Linton on Ouse |
Bristol UAS | RAF Colerne (currently flying from Boscombe Down) |
Cambridge UAS | Cambridge |
Southampton UAS | RAF Boscombe Down |
Birmingham UAS | RAF Cosford |
London UAS | RAF Northolt |
Wales UAS | RAF St Athan |
East Midlands UAS | Nottingham |
Liverpool UAS | RAF Woodvale |
Oxford UAS | Oxford |
Manchester & Salford UAS | RAF Woodvale |
Northern Ireland UAS | Aldergrove - recently reformed and not yet up to full capability. |
Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS)
In addition to the single Service units listed above, the joint Service Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme consists of four Squadrons based at Birmingham, Loughborough, Newcastle and Southampton.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the budget was for each University Service Unit in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The requested information for the Royal Navy and Army is provided in the attached tables.
Information on budgets for Royal Air Force University Air Squadrons and for the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme Squadrons could not be collated in the time available. I will write to the hon. Member with details as soon as possible.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many University Service Units there are in the UK by service.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The requested information is provided below:
Royal Navy
There are 15 University Royal Naval Units:
Birmingham | HMS FORWARD, Birmingham |
Bristol | HMS FLYING FOX, Bristol |
Cambridge | Cambridge |
Devon | HMS VIVID, Plymouth |
Edinburgh | Hepburn House, Edinburgh |
Glasgow | University of Glasgow, Glasgow |
Liverpool | HMS EAGLET, Liverpool |
London | HMS PRESIDENT, London |
Manchester | University Barracks, Manchester |
Northumbrian | HMS Calliope, Gateshead |
Oxford | Falklands House, Oxford |
Southampton | National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton |
Sussex | Brighton University, Brighton |
Wales | HMS CAMBRIA, Sully, South Glamorgan |
Yorkshire | Carlton Barracks, Leeds |
Army
There are 15 University Officer Training Corps (UOTCs) and two Officer Training Regiments (OTRs):
Aberdeen UOTC | Aberdeen UOTC, Aberdeen. |
Queen's UOTC | Queen's UOTC, Belfast |
Birmingham UOTC | Birmingham UOTC, Birmingham |
Bristol UOTC | Bristol UOTC, Bristol |
Cambridge UOTC | Cambridge University Officers' Training Corps, Cambridge |
Cambridge UOTC | UEA Detachment, Norwich |
East Midlands UOTC | East Midlands UOTC, Nottingham |
Edinburgh UOTC | Edinburgh UOTC, Edinburgh |
Exeter UOTC | Exeter UOTC, Exeter |
Glasgow and Strathclyde UOTC | Glasgow and Strathclyde UTOC, Glasgow |
London UOTC | London UOTC, London |
London UOTC | UOTC, Canterbury Detachment, Canterbury |
Northumbrian UOTC | Northumbrian UOTC, Newcastle |
North West OTR | HQ and Manchester Detachment, Manchester |
North West OTR | Liverpool Detachment, Liverpool |
North West OTR | Lancaster Detachment, Lancaster |
Oxford UOTC | Oxford UOTC, Oxford |
Southampton UOTC | Southampton UOTC, Southampton |
Southampton UOTC | Brighton Detachment, Brighton |
Tayforth UOTC | Tayforth UOTC, Tayforth |
Tayforth UOTC | Stirling Detachment, Stirling |
Tayforth UOTC | St Andrews Detachment, St Andrews |
Yorkshire UOTC | HQ and Leeds Detachment, Leeds |
Yorkshire UOTC | York Detachment, York |
Yorkshire UOTC | Sheffield Detachment, Sheffield |
Wales UOTC | HQ and Cardiff Detachment, Cardiff |
Wales UOTC | Aberystwyth Detachment, Aberystwyth |
Wales UOTC | Bangor Detachment, Caernarfon |
Wales UOTC | Swansea Detachment, Swansea |
Wales UOTC | Wrexham Detachment, Wrexham |
Royal Air Force
There are 15 RAF University Air Squadrons (UAS’s):
East of Scotland UAS | Leuchars |
Glasgow and Strathclyde UAS | Glasgow |
Northumbria UAS | RAF Leeming |
Yorkshire UAS | RAF Linton on Ouse |
Bristol UAS | RAF Colerne (currently flying from Boscombe Down) |
Cambridge UAS | Cambridge |
Southampton UAS | RAF Boscombe Down |
Birmingham UAS | RAF Cosford |
London UAS | RAF Northolt |
Wales UAS | RAF St Athan |
East Midlands UAS | Nottingham |
Liverpool UAS | RAF Woodvale |
Oxford UAS | Oxford |
Manchester & Salford UAS | RAF Woodvale |
Northern Ireland UAS | Aldergrove - recently reformed and not yet up to full capability. |
Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS)
In addition to the single Service units listed above, the joint Service Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme consists of four Squadrons based at Birmingham, Loughborough, Newcastle and Southampton.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many naval assets have visited Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
From the information held the number of naval assets that have visited Northern Ireland in each of the last five years is shown in the list below.
Year | Number of Naval Assets |
2013 | 9 |
2014 | 16 |
2015 | 12 |
2016 | 14 |
2017 to July | 10 |
Note: An asset may have made more than one visit to Northern Ireland in any year.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the criteria for an EU national applying to join the British Army take account of the applicant's parents having attained UK citizenship.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The eligibility criteria for entry into the British Army do not consider the citizenship status of an individual's parents.