Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been paid to recruitment agencies by (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies in each year since 2010.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The Ministry of Defence has made payments to recruitment agencies since 2010 as follows:
Calendar Year | Total Payments |
2010 | £120,905 |
2011 | £143,785 |
2012 | £283,725 |
2013 | £372,937 |
2014 | £583,086 |
This expenditure relates to recruitment to the permanent Senior Civil Service across the MOD, including the Trading Funds (the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Defence Support Group and the UK Hydrographic Office). It represents the costs of searches, advertisements, response handling, assessment and support to selection panels. The figures do not include expenditure on Contingent Labour, the process used to engage temporary staff through recruitment agency contracts.
Recruitment to the MOD for all grades below the Senior Civil Service is carried out by Defence Business Services who do not make use of external recruitment agencies.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which five recruitment agencies have received the largest total amount of money from (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies since 2010.
Answered by Anna Soubry
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel, dependents and civilian staff from his Department are based in Germany.
Answered by Mark Francois
As at 31 January 2015, there were around 10,600 Armed Forces personnel serving in Germany. There were also around 11,300 dependants, 700 civilian staff and 2,500 locally employed civilians.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on the planned withdrawal from Germany under the Army Basing Plan to date; and what progress has been made on that withdrawal to date.
Answered by Anna Soubry
Since the Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010 and Ministerial announcement in March 2013, there has been significant progress taking forward the Army Basing Plan.
To date more than 30 moves have been completed, largely in the UK, with 14 force elements planned and preparing to move from Germany in 2015, and an additional two also moving this year under Project Borona.
To date some £82 million has been spent on the withdrawal of troops from Germany under the Army Basing Plan.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to confirm future arrangements for Ministry of Defence Police pensions.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The review conducted by the Department on the likely effect of section 10 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 on the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and the Ministry of Defence Police which was laid before Parliament in December 2013 included an assessment of the impact of a higher normal pension age (a key change brought about by the Public Service Pension Act 2013) on Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) personnel.
Defence Ministers are consulting colleagues about the issues raised by the review. The proposals put forward by the Defence Police Federation in respect of MDP pensions have been fully assessed and reflected in these consultations.
We hope to be able to confirm the future arrangements for MDP pensions shortly.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the suitability of the new Civil Service Pensions Scheme for Ministry of Defence Police officers.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The review conducted by the Department on the likely effect of section 10 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 on the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and the Ministry of Defence Police which was laid before Parliament in December 2013 included an assessment of the impact of a higher normal pension age (a key change brought about by the Public Service Pension Act 2013) on Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) personnel.
Defence Ministers are consulting colleagues about the issues raised by the review. The proposals put forward by the Defence Police Federation in respect of MDP pensions have been fully assessed and reflected in these consultations.
We hope to be able to confirm the future arrangements for MDP pensions shortly.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the proposals of the Defence Police Federation on Ministry of Defence Police pensions.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The review conducted by the Department on the likely effect of section 10 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 on the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and the Ministry of Defence Police which was laid before Parliament in December 2013 included an assessment of the impact of a higher normal pension age (a key change brought about by the Public Service Pension Act 2013) on Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) personnel.
Defence Ministers are consulting colleagues about the issues raised by the review. The proposals put forward by the Defence Police Federation in respect of MDP pensions have been fully assessed and reflected in these consultations.
We hope to be able to confirm the future arrangements for MDP pensions shortly.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new claims for armed forces independence payment have been made since April 2013.
Answered by Julian Brazier
As at 18 July 2014, a total of 766 claims have been received and granted for the Armed Forces Independence Payment. Four claims are currently being considered.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people are currently in receipt of the armed forces independence payment.
Answered by Philip Dunne
There are currently 762 people in receipt of the Armed Forces Independence Payment.
Asked by: Gemma Doyle (Labour (Co-op) - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the additional costs of restarting the recruitment process for the post of Service Complaints Commissioner.
Answered by Anna Soubry
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.