Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance his Department provides to those participating in military exercises during episodes of high air pollution.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
As set out in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 375, Management of health and safety in Defence, military exercises must be risk assessed to identify and manage potential risks. The accountable person, who may be the commander or manager, must identify hazards and whether reasonable steps are being taken to prevent harm. This process is conducted prior to conducting military exercises and may be further refined during the exercise as part of a dynamic risk assessment.
In incidences where there is a risk of poor air quality, specific information on its prevention and mitigation are provided to all service personnel through Force Health Protection Instructions. In certain situations, deployment restrictions may be implemented for those deemed at greatest risk of poor air quality.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of the report of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development on Safeguarding democracy, rights and the environment in international trade, which was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 27 April 2023.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Council of Europe Resolution 2496 (2023) asks Member States to use their international trade negotiations to achieve wider objectives on human rights, the environment, and democratic norms. The Ministry of Defence is supporting the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Business and Trade that lead on the UK’s international trade policy.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is taking steps to update defence plans following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Ben Wallace
I have always been clear that Defence should be threat led. The Ministry of Defence is always adapting its plans in response to emerging threats and responding to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has been no different. We are sharing these learnings through updates to the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper in the new year.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to provide medium-term military assistance to Ukraine.
Answered by Ben Wallace
Ukraine’s current priority is rightly on the immediate fight. We continue to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine with both lethal and non-lethal aid. On 5 July 2022 I announced a major new training initiative for Ukrainian forces.
The UK continues to liaise closely with Ukraine to understand their medium-term priorities and what support the UK and international community can offer Ukraine, to help them continue to defend their sovereign territory.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on social media advertising in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021 and (d) 2022 up to and including 28 February; and on which platforms that money was spent.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Departmental spend on social media advertising is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Directorate of Defence for Communications (DDC) spend on social media communication for the period requested is shown in the table below. All DDC expenditure was on Facebook and Instagram facilitated through Facebook.
Year | Total DDC Social Media Advertising |
2019 | £11,939.35 |
2020 | £39,858.41 |
2021 | £49,083.90 |
2022 | £9,997.84 |
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on producing social media videos and graphics for use on ministerial social media accounts since January 2020.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Ministers' social media accounts are primarily personal accounts, and will include political or constituency content created by Ministers themselves or their parliamentary offices and political advisers. It is often appropriate however, for content relating to Government policies, guidance and announcements to be posted from these accounts - this includes ministerial statements, content from official visits or government announcements.
Where this is the case, content can be created by civil servants where this helps to inform and explain to the public about the policies overseen by a minister or highlights their work as a government Minister, rather than in any political role.
In addition to the Civil Service Code, the Government Communications Service offers propriety in digital and social media guidance and is available to discuss questions relating to social media when working with ministers.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
What representations he has received from former armed forces personnel on the effect of the Overseas Operations Bill on the limitation period for claims against his Department.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
I receiive regular representations from veterans and from veteran groups, including Regimental Associations, on a wide range of matters of interest to them, including in respect of the Overseas Operations Bill. In 2019, our consultation on proposed legal protections measures, which informed the measures in the Bill, attracted 2,261 responses from those who identified as either a veteran or a relative of a veteran. I am committed to continuing to engage with this important group on these issues.