Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the repatriation of over 125,000 British prisoners of war and the subsequent Long March between January and May 1945.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
There are plans to mark the Long March, and the subsequent repatriation of the Prisoners of War (under Operation EXODUS) on Defence social media channels in 2025. This will form part of the wider VEDay80 and VJDay80 Communications campaigns, aiming to educate younger generations to the sacrifices made by our Second World War veterans. Defence has supported, and will continue to support, the commemoration of key events of 80 years ago that signalled the end of World War Two. This includes the anniversaries of the Battle of Monte Cassino, D-Day, and Operation Market Garden; my Department will also work with others into 2025 to commemorate the significant anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) locations and (b) sizes are of defence bases his Department will have vacated between 2015-2030.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
A list of bases identified for future disposal are detailed on the Ministry of Defence's disposal database, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House and can be accessed online via the following link Disposal database: House of Commons report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Details of bases sold between 2015 and 2022 have also been placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to complete the final assessment and disposal details regarding RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
A target date for the disposal of RAF Linton-on-Ouse is currently being finalised and I will write to the hon. Member in due course to update him on our plans.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the (a) prosperity and (b) economy of local areas in which armed forces are based of spending by (i) his Department and (ii) those armed forces in each year since 2010; and if he will place that information in the Library.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 November 2019 to the hon. Members for Moray (Douglas Ross), Harrow East (Bob Blackman), Havant (Alan Mak), Angus (Kirsten Hair), Chatham and Aylesford (Tracey Crouch), Clacton (Giles Watling), West Worcestershire (Harriett Baldwin), North East Hampshire (Ranil Jayawardena) and Cheadle (Mary Robinson) to Questions 7761, 7715, 7772, 7783, 7723, 7790, 7738, 7794 and 7796.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in advance of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Air Crew Europe Star, in line with the Atlantic Star, to ensure that Bomber Command aircrew who have not received either a 1939-45 Star, nor a Bomber Command clasp, get recognition for their sacrifice and service during World War II.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
We have enormous admiration and respect for the unique contribution and sacrifice made by Bomber Command aircrew which has been recognised in various ways. Bomber Command aircrew serving after 5 June 1944 (the end date for award of the Air Crew Europe Star) were given recognition for their service in the form of the France and Germany Star.
Subsequently, in his independent Medals Review in 2012, Sir John Holmes concluded that Bomber Command had been treated inconsistently with those who served in Fighter Command, and his recommendation of the award of the clasp to Bomber Command air crew was to bring this Command into line with Fighter Command veterans who were awarded a Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939-45 Star, thus reflecting the significant contribution both made to defeating the Nazi threat.
In light of the above, we have no plans to revisit the issue of Medallic recognition for Bomber Command veterans, further to the findings of Sir John Holmes' review. It is a matter for the Advisory Military Sub Committee (AMSC) of the Committee on the Grants of Honours, Decorations and Medals, to whom a case regarding Bomber Command has been submitted, to determine whether they will give the issue further consideration.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
How many organisations have signed up to the armed forces covenant.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
To date over 3,600 organisations have signed the Covenant at an average rate of 30 per week, up from five per month in 2014. In addition, all Local Authorities in Great Britain and four in Northern Ireland have pledged to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant.
Broadening support for the Covenant is a top priority for the Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board and the Armed Forces Covenant annual report outlines the progress we have made.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for completion of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Footprint; and what alternative uses his Department has recently considered suitable for RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The RAF envisages no further use for RAF Linton-on-Ouse following the out of service date of the Tucano aircraft which is anticipated to be October 2019.
Further announcements regarding the rationalisation of the Defence estate will be made later this year.