Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 27 July (HL6983), whether any military training establishments, specifically (1) Britannia Royal Naval School Dartmouth, (2) Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and (3) Royal Air Force College Cranwell, have confined all trainees to barracks due to concerns about COVID-19.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Britannia Royal Naval School Dartmouth has implemented COVID-19 control measures, including the operation of a restricted leave policy throughout COVID-19, to protect the Royal Navy's training output in line with its Defence commitments and above all, ensure a safe and secure COVID-19 training environment for its staff and trainees, following as far as practicable, PHE guidance at all times.
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) - All Army recruits, including Officer Cadets at RMAS, have been confined to Army barracks at some stage during the HMG directed Covid-19 restricted movement period. Trainees and staff were released to travel home only for emergencies or in exceptional circumstances.
RAF College Cranwell - there have been no instances where all personnel at RAFC (Royal Air Force College) Cranwell have been confined to their personal accommodation due to concerns about COVID-19. During the peak of ‘lockdown’ all personnel accommodated at RAFC Cranwell were required to stay at the station, unless there were extenuating circumstances requiring weekend leave. The right to weekend leave was decided on an individual basis.
As lockdown restrictions have now eased, personnel are able to visit family and local community facilities, provided that the extant COVID-19 regulations are adhered to.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many serving personnel in the Armed Forces aged (1) 18–24, (2) 25–29, (3) 30–34, (4) 35–39, (5) 40 or more, years old have (a) contracted, and (b) died as a result of, COVID-19.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
As at 17 July 2020 (inclusive), 406 UK Armed Forces personnel had a positive COVID-19 infection test result entered into their medical record. Of which:
Two of these UK Armed Forces personnel with a positive COVID-19 infection test result subsequently died; both personnel were aged 40+ years.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is their policy that Armed Forces personnel be confined to barracks during the COVID-19 pandemic; and if so, whether any such policy has applied to (1) personnel undergoing training at depots, schools, bases and officer training establishments, (2) directing staff at such training establishments, and (3) all trained personnel of whatever rank.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
It is not Defence policy that Armed Forces personnel be confined to barracks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The only occasions on which personnel may be confined to their accommodation are if they are self- or household-isolating, or if they are required to isolate for a short period prior to deployment.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many medical examinations an applicant for the army is required to attend, broken down by (1) officers, and (2) other ranks; how long those examinations remain valid if passed; on how many occasions applicants have been required to attend (a) one, and (b) more than one, extra examination in the last three years; and what estimate they have made of the cost to the army of any extra examinations, including the issue of travel warrants to applicants.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
There is one physical medical examination for both officers and other ranks, Regular and Reserve (the Pre-Service Medical Assessment (PSMA)), the results of which remain valid for one year.
Over the last three full financial years, some 1,163 specialist opinions in addition to the PSMA have been sought. Of these, 23 have required another further appointment.
If an applicant is found to be medically unsuitable for service, they may appeal. As part of providing evidence for their appeal, they may wish to seek further medical advice. This would be at the personal cost of the applicant.
The Army estimates that around £156,000 has been spent over the last three full financial years on additional medical referrals, including travel.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) the Service Delivery Wrap, and (2) the Global Interconnect Network, still form part of the Skynet acquisition and tender process.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
It is confirmed that both the Service Delivery Wrap and the Global Interconnect Network form part of the ongoing SKYNET 6 Acquisition Programme.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding has been allocated to each of the Spearhead programmes of (1) land command and control (C2), (2) joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and (3) anti-submarine warfare; and how this will change the way the MoD purchases systems and services.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Her Majesty's Government has approved a one-year Approved Budgetary Limit of £34.8 million to the Spearhead programmes: £8.9 million for Land Command and Control (C2), £9.6 million for joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and £16.3 million for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). The total planned spend over the seven-year portfolio is £544.1 million to the Spearhead programmes: £73.9 million for C2, £74.2 million for ISR, and £395.9 million for ASW.
This initiative does not obviate the need for an Equipment Programme of major units, procured in the traditional manner, in order to deliver defence tasks. What it seeks to do is to address known risks and issues with the current force, leveraging emerging technology and innovation in order to enable us to remain ahead of our adversaries.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the Air Support to Defence Operational Training programme.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Tender submissions for the contracted service provision element of the Air Support to Defence Operational Training programme have been received and are currently being assessed.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many panel display screens have been purchased for army vehicles in the last five years; and at what cost.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total cost of the extension to the Sentry Whole Life Support Programme, awarded in October 2016.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The cost of the Sentry Whole Life Support Programme (WLSP) contract extension, which was awarded to Northrop Grumman in October 2016, is £309 million.
The WLSP programme will provide technical and maintenance services to the Sentry E-3D airborne early warning aircraft until 2025. The extension takes the total cost of the programme to £1 billion.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 3 April (HL6359), what was the average cost per flying hour for the C130 fleet for each year since 2005–06; and what was the total cost of running the C130 fleet for each of those years.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.