Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to announce whether the Forces Help to Buy scheme will continue beyond December 2018.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
As announced by the former Secretary of State for Defence in October 2016, the Forces Help To Buy scheme is due to close at the end of December 2018. Applications can be submitted up to this date. Work is ongoing to consider how to take this policy principle forward and details will be confirmed later this year.
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to ensure all tyres for military vehicles are capable of being remanufactured.
Answered by Guto Bebb
Tyres procured for use on Ministry of Defence vehicles must comply with UK legislation and National Industry Standards; as such, they must be suitable for 'remanufacture'.
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has discussed with the Secretary of State for International Development the continued in-service use of HMS Ocean as a disaster relief vessel.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
HMS OCEAN is primarily a landing platform for Helicopters. Its use for disaster relief in the Caribbean was intended to supplement the capability of RFA MOUNTS BAY, which was prepositioned in the Caribbean for hurricane season and is better suited to Humanitarian and Disaster Relief operations and responded to the situation in Anguilla less than 24 hours after Hurricane Irma struck. Plans for the use of Defence assets for future disaster relief operations remain under constant reviews across Government. Any decisions to adjust plans will be informed by the cross-Government lessons learned process from the UK's immediate response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, as well as the ongoing National Security Capability Review.
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what deployments have been made of the armed forces to (a) other EU member states, (b) other non-EU EEA member states and (c) states which are applying for membership of the EU since 2010.
Answered by Mike Penning
The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The security and stability of the UK has long depended on our strong partnerships in the Euro-Atlantic area, including NATO. Indeed, NATO remains the cornerstone of UK defence. Our European neighbours represent some of our closest friends and NATO allies, and our defence engagement with them reflects this as routine business. We exercise with them regularly to bolster our interoperability. For example, the Defence Secretary was in Tallinn last week for the opening ceremony of Estonia's NATO enhanced Forward Presence deployment, for which UK is framework nation.
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his Department's policy that all submarines being constructed for the Royal Navy meet shock standard BR3021 as a minimum in respect of hydroplane bolts.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Hydroplane bolts are externally located equipment, whereas the BR Standard referred to, albeit superseded, sets standards for internal equipment. The Department is satisfied that appropriate standards are met for this equipment in accordance with our existing guidance.
Asked by: Jeremy Lefroy (Conservative - Stafford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether discussions between his Department and the Cabinet Office on Ministry of Defence Police pension arrangements have concluded; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Discussions between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Cabinet Office in respect of MOD Police pension arrangements concluded earlier this year. In the light of these discussions the Government offered officers an effective pension age which was a maximum of three years below State pension age as part of a package of revised terms and conditions of service. This offer has been rejected by the Defence Police Federation (DPF) following a ballot of members.
Further discussions are now in progress between officials and the DPF.