Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2020 to Question 6112, whether his Department is consulting with trade unions representing staff of his Department on the Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Integrated Defence, Security and Foreign Policy review, announced by the Prime Minister in December, promises to be the deepest review of Britain's security, defence and foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. As such, we intend to consult with all necessary stakeholders throughout the process, including with Trade Unions where appropriate.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of morale in the armed forces.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence places great importance on the morale of our Armed Forces and we are taking steps to enhance the positive aspects and experiences of Service life. Issues previously identified in the survey have already informed the development of a range of programmes under way across Defence and the single Services including Flexible Service and the Future Accommodation Model.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to pause the issuing of a formal contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union for the outsourcing of Defence Business Services in light of the implications of the EU referendum result.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS' current operations will be outsourced. Timescales will be confirmed in the event of a decision to outsource.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to announce the contract award date for the Defence Business Services corporate services integration and innovation provider contract; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS' current operations will be outsourced. Timescales will be confirmed in the event of a decision to outsource.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what functions undertaken by Defence Business Services are being considered for inclusion in the Corporate Services Integration and Innovation Provider contract.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS current operations will be outsourced. The scope of any potential Corporate Services Integration and Innovation Provider (CSIIP) contract will be confirmed in the event that a decision to outsource is taken.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to postpone issuing a formal contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union for the outsourcing of Defence Business Services as a result of the potential implications of the outcome of the EU referendum on the tendering process for that contract.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme (FDBS). No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS' current operations will be outsourced. In the event of a decision to outsource, the competition will be advertised in accordance with regulations prevailing at the time.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to announce the award date for the Defence Business Services corporate services integration and innovation provider contract; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS' current operations will be outsourced. Timescales will be confirmed in the event of a decision to outsource. If deemed necessary a statement will be made at the appropriate time.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what medical assistance the UK provides to the Peshmerga in the Kurdistan region.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The package of training that the Military training teams are providing to the Peshmerga includes medical instruction equivalent to the mandatory annual training for battlefield casualties that is delivered to UK troops.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the reasons are for the time taken to supply the Kurdistan Regional Government with new rounds for British machine guns.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
We have previously provided some 50 tonnes of non-lethal support, 40 heavy machine guns and nearly half a million rounds of ammunition to the Kurdish Peshmerga. The Kurdish Regional Government has made a number of recent requests to Her Majesty's Government for further assistance, including for ammunition. These requests are currently under consideration to see whether we can assist, taking into account the UK's own requirements and stocks, and notifying Parliament in the normal way on assistance provided.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make representations to his counterpart in the federal government in Iraq on allowing inspections of aid and arms shipments to be made by their officials in the international airports of the Kurdistan region in Iraq.
Answered by Mark Francois
The Government of Iraq inspects consignments of UK-delivered weapons, ammunition and other military equipment and supplies arriving into the country from abroad in Baghdad prior to their onward internal movement to the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Ministry of Defence does not have any plans to make representations to the Government of Iraq on the matter.