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Written Question
Veterans: Identity Cards
Thursday 3rd November 2022

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the application process for Veteran's ID cards for those who left the armed forces prior to 2018 will be introduced.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 October 2022 to Question 68602 to the hon. Member for Warrington North (Charlotte Nichols).


Written Question
Armed Forces: Rented Housing
Friday 29th October 2021

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 publish an update on the outcome of the Rented Living Accommodation Project tender.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

As the Rented Living Accommodation Project Tender is still an ongoing procurement, we are unable to provide any detail on the possible outcomes or next steps as to do so would prejudice our commercial position.


Written Question
Aircraft Carriers: Contracts
Friday 22nd October 2021

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made of the award of the tender for the Queen Elizabeth Class dry dock contract.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The Ministry of Defence is currently conducting a commercial competition for Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier dry-docking periods, with work ongoing to identify a preferred bidder. This process is expected to conclude in early 2022, with the first dry-docking period planned for 2023.


Written Question
Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement
Monday 17th May 2021

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department is making on the awarding of the contract for the Fleet Solid Support ships.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Warley (John Spellar), on 16 April 2021, in response to Question number 174726.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Uniforms
Monday 15th March 2021

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on (a) items of clothing, (b) uniform and (c) personal protective clothing in each year since 2015.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The Ministry of Defence has a number of contracts for clothing, uniforms and personal protective clothing with a number of suppliers, but also procures items through local procurement arrangements. Details of the spend on items of clothing, uniform and personal protective clothing in each year since 2015 are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Monday 15th March 2021

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 drop-out rates were for applicants to the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answered by James Heappey

Responses from the single Services are as follows:

Naval Service

Application Year

Applications

% Withdrawn

% Rejected

% Entered Service

% of applications still Active

2019-20

28,420

50.3%

29.2%

10.2%

10.3%

Army

Recruiting Year 2019-20

Stream

Total Applications

Total Withdrawn

Withdrawn – Non Productive Enquiry

Withdrawn - Other

Basic Training Started

Regular Officer

10,113

6,051

3,673

2,378

701

Regular Other Rank

89,114

53,320

38,419

14,901

8,905

Royal Air Force

Recruiting Year 2019-20

Career Type

All Applications

Intake

Withdrawn

Rejected

% Entered Service

Regular Officer/SNCO

11,229

416

5,356

5,457

3.7%

Regular Other Rank

19,185

1,875

9,704

7,606

9.7%

Note:

The figures include applications processed via the Defence Recruiting System and all completed applications prior to initial eligibility vetting but do not include in-progress applications. Candidates who have been rejected or withdrawn their applications can reapply.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Monday 15th March 2021

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 average time taken was to process applications to join the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force Reserves in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answered by James Heappey

Responses from the single Services are as follows:

Naval Service

At the end of Recruiting Year 2019-20, applicants to join the Regular Naval Service took a median of 244 days from the point of application to being offered a start date for basic training. For the Maritime Reserve, the median was 256 days.

Army

At the end of Recruiting Year 2019-20, applicants to join the Regular Army took a median of 176 days from the point of application to being offered a start date for basic training. The average for Army Reserves is not measured.

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Recruiting Year 2019-20 (Regulars)

Career Type

Average Days between Application submission to Entrant

Regular Officer

469

Regular Other Rank

315

Regular Senior Non-Commissioned Officers

425

Recruiting Year 2019-20 (Reserves)

The average time taken to process applications to join the Royal Air Force Reserves, in the last recruiting year 2019-20, is shown in the following table:

Average Days between Application submission to Entrant

RAF Reserves Officer

618

RAF Reserves Other Ranks

437

Notes:

Data for Officers and Other Ranks is shown separately as the length of time in the RAF recruitment process differs for Officers and Other Ranks. The Officer data includes sponsorship candidates who can stay in the system for 2-4 years.

The data provided for the RAF spans the time a candidate fully completes their application form to the point that they commence phase one training (rather than the point at which they are offered a start date for basic training). Individuals are not recorded as entrants to the RAF until they have commenced their phase one training and have attested into the RAF. Figures include all application scheme types, except for reactivated applications.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Monday 15th March 2021

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 average time taken was to process applications to join the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answered by James Heappey

Responses from the single Services are as follows:

Naval Service

At the end of Recruiting Year 2019-20, applicants to join the Regular Naval Service took a median of 244 days from the point of application to being offered a start date for basic training. For the Maritime Reserve, the median was 256 days.

Army

At the end of Recruiting Year 2019-20, applicants to join the Regular Army took a median of 176 days from the point of application to being offered a start date for basic training. The average for Army Reserves is not measured.

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Recruiting Year 2019-20 (Regulars)

Career Type

Average Days between Application submission to Entrant

Regular Officer

469

Regular Other Rank

315

Regular Senior Non-Commissioned Officers

425

Recruiting Year 2019-20 (Reserves)

The average time taken to process applications to join the Royal Air Force Reserves, in the last recruiting year 2019-20, is shown in the following table:

Average Days between Application submission to Entrant

RAF Reserves Officer

618

RAF Reserves Other Ranks

437

Notes:

Data for Officers and Other Ranks is shown separately as the length of time in the RAF recruitment process differs for Officers and Other Ranks. The Officer data includes sponsorship candidates who can stay in the system for 2-4 years.

The data provided for the RAF spans the time a candidate fully completes their application form to the point that they commence phase one training (rather than the point at which they are offered a start date for basic training). Individuals are not recorded as entrants to the RAF until they have commenced their phase one training and have attested into the RAF. Figures include all application scheme types, except for reactivated applications.


Written Question
Military Aid: Northern Ireland
Monday 18th January 2021

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2020 to Question 38930, how many Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA) requests were (a) made of and (b) approved by his Department from Northern Ireland up to 12 January 2021.

Answered by James Heappey

Between 27 April 2020 and 12 January 2021, 10 MACA requests related to Northern Ireland were received by Defence, all of which were approved. Of these 10, seven are related to COVID-19 support.


Written Question
Military Bases: Northern Ireland
Monday 18th January 2021

Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the written statement on 17 November 2020 on Estate optimisation HCWS582, what progress his Department has made on the intended disposal of sites in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains committed to the disposal of Kinnegar Logistics Base and the capabilities will be re-provided for in Aldergrove Station.

The MOD has completed a range of technical studies in support of the disposal of the site and officials continue to engage with the Local Authority.