Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people have (a) applied for and (b) received a Veterans' ID Card in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The HM Armed Forces Veteran Card has had a two-phase rollout.
Phase 1 is complete; all Service leavers since December 2018 automatically receive a Veteran Card from MOD as part of their discharge process.
Phase 2 extended access to the Veteran Card to those who left before December 2018. The new digital application and verification service launched at 00:01 on 28 January 2024 allowing pre-2018 veterans to apply for the card.
Under Phase 2, for South Holland and the Deepings, as at 17 July 2024, 127 applications have been received and 122 cards posted.
Under Phase 2, for Lincolnshire, as at 17 July 2024, 3,683 applications have been received and 3,637 cards posted.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people have (a) applied for and (b) received a Veterans' ID Card in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in his Department in each of the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of (a) cars and (b) other vehicles used by his Department were made in Britain.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the procurement of (a) food and (b) drinks produced in Britain for use in its canteens and restaurants.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Defence food purchasing contracts incorporate the requirements of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering (GBSF) Services. The GBSF has a focus on animal welfare, the quality and origin of food as well as nutrition advice, and these requirements are embedded within Defence Catering contracts. These contracts permit for local provision of food and/or drink where it is considered appropriate.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to his Department was of (a) events, (b) activities, (c) merchandise and (d) other costs relating to Pride Month 2023.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Ministry of Defence spent £12,496 on events during Pride Month on behalf of the Department and Armed Forces. There were no costs for activities and merchandise.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Royal Air Force has spent on diversity and inclusion personnel since 2019.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Royal Air Force has spent £3,072,249.93 on salaries for people employed in dedicated Diversity and Inclusion roles from 2019 to 2023.
The Royal Air Force has a number of individuals whose roles encompass Diversity and Inclusion. However, all Regular RAF personnel are first and foremost aviators and are paid as such. There are a small number of Civil Servants and Full Time Reserve Service personnel within the team who applied specifically for D&I roles. In February 2024, the Secretary of State for Defence ordered a root and branch review of ethnicity, diversity and inclusivity policies in Defence which is ongoing.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Royal Navy has spent on diversity and inclusion personnel since 2019.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Royal Navy has spent £2,445,980.00 on salaries for people employed in dedicated Diversity and Inclusion policy roles from 2019 to 2023.
The Royal Navy has a number of individuals whose roles encompass Diversity and Inclusion. Service Personnel rotate through postings which can include Diversity and Inclusion roles. Their work is supported by a small number of Civil Servants. Each of these individuals are paid commensurate to their rank and training. In February 2024, the Secretary of State for Defence ordered a root and branch review of ethnicity, diversity and inclusivity policies in Defence which is ongoing.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the British Army has spent on diversity and inclusion personnel since 2019.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The British Army has spent £2,569,393.89 on salaries for people employed in dedicated Diversity and Inclusion roles from 2019 to 2023. Individuals in the roles described are paid at a commensurate rate to their rank. In February, the Secretary of State for Defence ordered a root and branch review of ethnicity, diversity and inclusivity policies in Defence which is ongoing.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2024 to Question 12234 on Army: Equality, what proportion of the personnel employed by the British Army are in roles in relation to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
As at 1 October 2023, there are 73,515 personnel in the Full Time Trade Trained strength of the British Army, and 7,901 Civil Servants employed in the Army Top Level Budget. Of these, there are currently eight people employed in dedicated Diversity and Inclusion roles in the Army Headquarters. This reflects a reduction since 31 January 2024, at which point the Army employed 13 people in roles dedicated to Diversity and Inclusion. The five roles in Army formations have subsequently been disbanded.