Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
On 2 October 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) spending in the Civil Service.
The audit will dovetail with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient Government.
The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and improving performance. The findings and actions of the audit will be announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Service Complaints Ombudsman spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
On 2 October 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) spending in the Civil Service.
The audit will dovetail with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient Government.
The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and improving performance. The findings and actions of the audit will be announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Service Prosecuting Authority spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
On 2 October 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) spending in the Civil Service.
The audit will dovetail with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient Government.
The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and improving performance. The findings and actions of the audit will be announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Royal Air Force Museum spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
On 2 October 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) spending in the Civil Service.
The audit will dovetail with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient Government.
The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and improving performance. The findings and actions of the audit will be announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
On 2 October 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) spending in the Civil Service.
The audit will dovetail with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient Government.
The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and improving performance. The findings and actions of the audit will be announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of levels of asbestos on the defence estate.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There is an ongoing asbestos management strategy in place, and this is progressing well. Consequently, in year 588 new Asbestos Management Surveys have been completed and a further 1,147 are contractually committed. The MOD continues to improve its understanding and management of asbestos to meet statutory requirements.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Security Media Advisory DSMA Committee is an independent committee and acts as in an advisory capacity between government departments which have responsibility for national security and the media, therefore this information is not held by the Department. Information on the DSMA and its role and responsibilities can be found here via the following link: https://www.dsma.uk/
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to respond to the correspondence of 11 April 2023 from the hon. Member for Solihull, reference JK29645.
Answered by James Heappey
I responded to the hon. Member regarding this case on 9 May 2023 and, following additional correspondence received on 15 September 2023. I provided a further response on 5 October 2023.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2023 to Question 196630 on Unidentified Flying Objects, for what reason his Department ceased to investigate reports of Unidentified Flying Objects and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in 2009.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence stopped investigating reports of Unidentified Flying Objects and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena as, in over 50 years, no sighting reported to the Department indicated the existence of any military threat to the United Kingdom. Therefore, it was, and is, deemed more valuable to prioritise Defence resources towards other activities.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2023 to Question 196630 on Unidentified Flying Objects, whether his Department holds a register of reported sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence does not hold a register of reported sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena.