To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Gurkhas: Pay and Workplace Pensions
Thursday 4th December 2025

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to review Gurkha pay and pensions in accordance with the 1947 Tripartite Agreement.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Government holds the Gurkhas in the highest regard and deeply values their unique and enduring contribution to the United Kingdom. Their bravery, loyalty, and dedication have been an integral part of the British Armed Forces for over two centuries. The Government remains fully committed to recognising their service and ensuring they are treated with fairness and respect.

Gurkha terms and conditions of service were originally established under the 1947 Tripartite Agreement and have been adapted over time to reflect changes in the Brigade’s circumstances. Since 2007, Gurkhas have served under the same terms as the rest of the British Army, with certain provisions retained to preserve the unique identity of the Brigade of Gurkhas.

The Defence Secretary has not engaged in discussions with Cabinet colleagues regarding the uprating of legacy Gurkha pensions, as retrospective changes or enhancements are generally not applied to public service pension schemes. This principle is consistently upheld across the public sector.

Written Question
Germany: Armed Forces
Friday 25th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence personnel were based in Germany on 16 October 2024, broken down by location.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The number of Ministry of Defence (MOD) Personnel, by location, as at 1 July 2024 can be found below.

Total MOD Personnel

1,230

by region:

North Rheine - Westphalia

410

Bavaria

70

Elsewhere/Unspecified

750

  1. MOD Personnel includes UK Armed Forces Regulars, MOD Civil Servants and Locally Engaged Civilians.
  2. The figures are based on service personnel’s stationed location and not their location of residence. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the country containing the home port of their ship.
  3. Figures by location can only be provided as at 1 July 2024, rather than 16 October 2024, in line with published statistics.
  4. Elsewhere/ Unspecified includes all regions where there are a small number of personnel to prevent inadvertent disclosure and personnel where their exact location is unspecified. This also includes Locally Engaged Civilians, as location data below country level is not available for this cohort.

The numbers of MOD Personnel stationed in Germany, 1 April 2007 - 1 April 2024 can be found below.

Date

MOD Personnel

01 April 2007

30,380

01 April 2008

29,490

01 April 2009

26,550

01 April 2010

26,130

01 April 2011

24,710

01 April 2012

22,790

01 April 2013

20,140

01 April 2014

17,200

01 April 2015

12,870

01 April 2016

7,240

01 April 2017

5,580

01 April 2018

5,240

01 April 2019

4,410

01 April 2020

1,250

01 April 2021

1,130

01 April 2022

1,150

01 April 2023

1,180

01 April 2024

1,200

Notes/caveats

  1. MOD Personnel includes UK Armed Forces Regulars, MOD Civil Servants and Locally Engaged Civilians.
  2. The figures are based on service personnel’s stationed location and not their location of residence. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the country containing the home port of their ship.
  3. Data prior to 1 April 2007 is not held.

Written Question
Germany: Armed Forces
Friday 25th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence personnel were based in Germany in each year since 2000.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The number of Ministry of Defence (MOD) Personnel, by location, as at 1 July 2024 can be found below.

Total MOD Personnel

1,230

by region:

North Rheine - Westphalia

410

Bavaria

70

Elsewhere/Unspecified

750

  1. MOD Personnel includes UK Armed Forces Regulars, MOD Civil Servants and Locally Engaged Civilians.
  2. The figures are based on service personnel’s stationed location and not their location of residence. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the country containing the home port of their ship.
  3. Figures by location can only be provided as at 1 July 2024, rather than 16 October 2024, in line with published statistics.
  4. Elsewhere/ Unspecified includes all regions where there are a small number of personnel to prevent inadvertent disclosure and personnel where their exact location is unspecified. This also includes Locally Engaged Civilians, as location data below country level is not available for this cohort.

The numbers of MOD Personnel stationed in Germany, 1 April 2007 - 1 April 2024 can be found below.

Date

MOD Personnel

01 April 2007

30,380

01 April 2008

29,490

01 April 2009

26,550

01 April 2010

26,130

01 April 2011

24,710

01 April 2012

22,790

01 April 2013

20,140

01 April 2014

17,200

01 April 2015

12,870

01 April 2016

7,240

01 April 2017

5,580

01 April 2018

5,240

01 April 2019

4,410

01 April 2020

1,250

01 April 2021

1,130

01 April 2022

1,150

01 April 2023

1,180

01 April 2024

1,200

Notes/caveats

  1. MOD Personnel includes UK Armed Forces Regulars, MOD Civil Servants and Locally Engaged Civilians.
  2. The figures are based on service personnel’s stationed location and not their location of residence. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the country containing the home port of their ship.
  3. Data prior to 1 April 2007 is not held.

Written Question
Germany: Armed Forces
Thursday 24th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the withdrawal of UK military presence in Germany cost which was completed in 2019.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

From the start of withdrawal in 2010 to date, it has cost approximately £2.15 billion to remove the British Army footprint from Germany.

Written Question
Germany: Military Bases
Thursday 24th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list all sites (a) owned and (b) operated by his Department in Germany.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The following sites are currently owned by the Ministry of Defence in Germany.

Site

City/Town

AYRSHIRE BARRACKS

MONCHEGLADBACH

ATHLONE BARRACKS

PADERBORN

NORMANDY BARRACKS

SENNELAGER Included as part of Normandy Barracks group:

  • Antwerp Barracks
  • Talbot Barracks
  • Cavalry Barracks
  • Polish Barracks
  • Depot 90
  • Sennelager NAAFI

BRITISH ALPINE CENTRE GERMANY

WITTENBERG

The British Army also uses the Wulfen site in Dorsten for ammunition storage, however this site is German owned.

Written Question
Middle East: Air Force
Thursday 24th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many planes operated by the Royal Air Force have landed in (a) Lebanon, (b) Egypt, (c) Jordan and (d) Syria since 7 October 2023.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The RAF undertakes regular flights to the Middle East region as part of our routine engagement and to support regional partners. For operational security considerations I will not comment further.

Written Question
Israel: Air Force
Thursday 24th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, , how many Royal Air Force operated aircraft have flown to Israel since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As of 7 October 2024, eight Royal Air Force operated aircraft have flown to Israel since 5 July 2024.

Written Question
Israel: Air Force
Thursday 24th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Air Force operated aircraft flew to Israel from 9 May to 4 July 2024.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Four Royal Air Force operated aircraft flew to Israel from 9 May to 4 July 2024.

Written Question
Aviation: Israel
Thursday 24th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications for approval or exemption to overfly the UK when carrying munitions of war for which the final destination is Israel have been (a) received and (b) approved since 7 October 2023.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

For operational security reasons and as a matter of policy, the Ministry of Defence will neither confirm, deny, nor comment on any foreign nations' military aircraft movement or operations within UK airspace.

Written Question
USA: Military Bases
Monday 14th October 2024

Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the US air force has used UK military bases (a) in Britain and (b) elsewhere for the transport of (i) military equipment and (ii) munitions to Israel since 7 October 2023.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

For operational security reasons and as a matter of policy, the Ministry of Defence will neither confirm, deny, nor comment on any foreign nations’ military aircraft movement or operations within UK airspace or UK overseas bases.