Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they propose to take to reduce the approximately 71 per cent of candidates who drop out of the application process for the Armed Forces, and whether the primary cause of such drop outs is the slow process of recruitment.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Recruitment and retention are absolute priorities and we have introduced a range of measures to respond to the current recruitment challenge, which is affecting many other militaries across the world. While it does take time to recruit the right people to our Armed Forces, we have sped up Army recruitment by 9% in the last year, and the majority of regular soldiers join in less than 140 days. There are a multitude of factors which impact on a candidate’s engagement with Armed Forces recruiting systems, and we are actively seeking to address these within our measures.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Army Cadet Forces are still permitted to fire live weapons.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Yes. Army Cadets are still permitted to fire live weapons as part of the Army Cadet syllabus.
The operating of live weapons by the Army Cadets is regulated through the Small Arms School Corps, with input from National Governing Bodies. Army Cadets do not take part in any Live Fire Tactical Training.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans for all Combined Cadet Force units to have representation at its summer camp in 2024.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) delivers a broad and exciting programme to pupils in schools throughout the year. It is recognised that the highlight for many pupils is attendance at a summer training or activity camp, with many of these delivered by the single Service Cadet Teams. There is a limit to the number of cadets that can participate in annual summer camps, and we do not aim to provide every cadet with a place on summer camp every year.
Furthermore, global events in recent years have reduced the availability of the Ministry of Defence’s training estate for all cadet activity, not just the CCF. The single Services work hard to ameliorate this by seeking alternative opportunities where possible, and many thousands of cadets continue to take part in centrally delivered camps and training over the summer, with the Army alone providing up to 12,000 cadet places in their camps annually.
Of note, in 2023, of the 12,000 spaces offered over a three-week period, only approximately 9,500 spaces were taken up. This was partly because schools have limited windows of availability and tend to vie for the same time, which cannot be matched with available real-estate or training team assets. We continue to refine the model by standardising the experience from across the different regions and adopting best practice. For instance, over the next few years we will look to combine Cadet Training Teams and other resources to create a ‘super camp’ concept to deliver activities more efficiently and create more spaces for cadets to participate.
Additionally, CCF Contingents can plan and deliver their own annual camp if they wish to and may be funded to do so. Contingents may receive support via subject matter expert guidance in planning and assuring the activities and may also be supported financially in areas such as transport booking, and in equipment and resources required to deliver the training package. Many school-based Contingents choose to deliver this option annually and provide exciting and challenging activities for their cadets.
Other than centralised camps, there are many other summer camp opportunities for cadets in the CCF including adventurous training through the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training. Music and Cyber camps are also available for CCF cadets to attend if that is where their interest lies.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government why there were not enough places for all Combined Cadet Force units to attend its summer camp in 2023.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) delivers a broad and exciting programme to pupils in schools throughout the year. It is recognised that the highlight for many pupils is attendance at a summer training or activity camp, with many of these delivered by the single Service Cadet Teams. There is a limit to the number of cadets that can participate in annual summer camps, and we do not aim to provide every cadet with a place on summer camp every year.
Furthermore, global events in recent years have reduced the availability of the Ministry of Defence’s training estate for all cadet activity, not just the CCF. The single Services work hard to ameliorate this by seeking alternative opportunities where possible, and many thousands of cadets continue to take part in centrally delivered camps and training over the summer, with the Army alone providing up to 12,000 cadet places in their camps annually.
Of note, in 2023, of the 12,000 spaces offered over a three-week period, only approximately 9,500 spaces were taken up. This was partly because schools have limited windows of availability and tend to vie for the same time, which cannot be matched with available real-estate or training team assets. We continue to refine the model by standardising the experience from across the different regions and adopting best practice. For instance, over the next few years we will look to combine Cadet Training Teams and other resources to create a ‘super camp’ concept to deliver activities more efficiently and create more spaces for cadets to participate.
Additionally, CCF Contingents can plan and deliver their own annual camp if they wish to and may be funded to do so. Contingents may receive support via subject matter expert guidance in planning and assuring the activities and may also be supported financially in areas such as transport booking, and in equipment and resources required to deliver the training package. Many school-based Contingents choose to deliver this option annually and provide exciting and challenging activities for their cadets.
Other than centralised camps, there are many other summer camp opportunities for cadets in the CCF including adventurous training through the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training. Music and Cyber camps are also available for CCF cadets to attend if that is where their interest lies.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether funding for the Army Cadet Forces has been reduced; and if so, why.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
To enable the Army to continue to deliver within its financial control total, there has been a small reduction in the funding allocated to the Army Cadet Force.
I can assure the Noble Lord that the Army continues to deliver a challenging and rewarding Cadet experience which benefits our young people, the Army and the wider Nation.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Royal Air Force Regiment was not deployed to support the evacuation operation in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence deploys the appropriate unit to each operation dependent on a number of factors. These include readiness, capability and the required task, as well taking into account current commitments. Consequently, elements from the RAF Regiment were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation PITTING.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which Royal Navy ship will undertake future tasks of the type that HMS Ocean undertook in the relief efforts following Hurricane Irene.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Depending on the nature of the disaster relief efforts required, the Government can call on the versatile and highly capable ships of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. These ships can deliver life-saving assistance and supplies in response to natural or man-made disasters around the world.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when relief aircraft at RAF Brize Norton were ordered to be loaded up to fly to the disaster zone affected by Hurricane Irma.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
On 6 September 2017 RAF Brize Norton was notified of the potential requirement to provide humanitarian relief flights and on 7 September the station was tasked to prepare those flights.
Having identified and prioritised the relief stores required and established which runways remained open following Hurricane Irma's impact, the first aircraft were loaded and dispatched from RAF Brize Norton on 8 September, reaching the Caribbean that night.
The Ministry of Defence is providing significant support to the relief efforts in the Caribbean following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) MOUNTS BAY was pre-positioned in the region and loaded with aid precisely so we could respond to hurricane damage. So far 60 tonnes of much needed humanitarian aid has been distributed across the region by air. HMS OCEAN arrived in the British Virgin Islands on Friday 22 September with a further 60 tonnes of aid and is helping to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and engineering tasks.
UK military personnel will continue to provide immediate support after Hurricane Maria has passed. Defence activity will remain under constant review and we will continue to work with local authorities to establish what is required.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when RAF Brize Norton was informed of the impact of Hurricane Irma and of the need for relief flights.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
On 6 September 2017 RAF Brize Norton was notified of the potential requirement to provide humanitarian relief flights and on 7 September the station was tasked to prepare those flights.
Having identified and prioritised the relief stores required and established which runways remained open following Hurricane Irma's impact, the first aircraft were loaded and dispatched from RAF Brize Norton on 8 September, reaching the Caribbean that night.
The Ministry of Defence is providing significant support to the relief efforts in the Caribbean following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) MOUNTS BAY was pre-positioned in the region and loaded with aid precisely so we could respond to hurricane damage. So far 60 tonnes of much needed humanitarian aid has been distributed across the region by air. HMS OCEAN arrived in the British Virgin Islands on Friday 22 September with a further 60 tonnes of aid and is helping to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and engineering tasks.
UK military personnel will continue to provide immediate support after Hurricane Maria has passed. Defence activity will remain under constant review and we will continue to work with local authorities to establish what is required.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the complement of disaster relief equipment carried by Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mount Bay; and in particular, how many (1) helicopters, (2) tractors, (3) bulldozers, (4) other vehicles, and (5) items of heavy lifting equipment are being carried.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) MOUNTS BAY is currently carrying the following equipment while conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the Caribbean:
1 Wildcat helicopter
1 Mexflote raft
1 Combat support boat
2 Pacific 24 rigid inflatable boats
2 Inflatable raiding crafts
2 Medium wheeled tractors
2 Support Vehicles (15 tonne)
1 Rough terrain forklift
1 Light wheeled tractor
2 Quad bikes with trailers
2 Pinzgauer soft top all-terrain vehicles
1 Self loading dump truck
2 Bandvagn 206D flatbeds
1 Support Vehicle (six tonne)
1 Land Rover & trailer
1 King Trailer
This amounts to one helicopter, four tractors, zero bulldozers, 15 other vehicles and three items of heavy lifting equipment.
HMS OCEAN is also due to arrive in the region by 23 September with three Wildcat, four Merlin and two Chinook helicopters and 60 tonnes of Department for International Development supplies onboard to assist with the longer-term recovery effort. HMS OCEAN will be deployed according to need once Hurricane Maria has passed.