Sarah Atherton Portrait

Sarah Atherton

Conservative - Wrexham

First elected: 12th December 2019


Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill
8th Mar 2023 - 15th Mar 2023
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
20th Sep 2022 - 27th Oct 2022
Defence Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 25th Oct 2022
Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
15th Jun 2022 - 11th Oct 2022
Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [HL]
9th Feb 2022 - 10th Feb 2022


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Sarah Atherton has voted in 809 divisions, and 5 times against the majority of their Party.

17 Jun 2020 - Health and Personal Social Services - View Vote Context
Sarah Atherton voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 104 Conservative Aye votes vs 124 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 253 Noes - 136
6 Dec 2021 - Armed Forces Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Atherton voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative No votes vs 300 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 302 Noes - 221
16 Jan 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Atherton voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 57 Conservative Aye votes vs 262 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 58 Noes - 525
16 Jan 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Atherton voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 58 Conservative Aye votes vs 262 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 68 Noes - 529
17 Jan 2024 - Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Atherton voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 59 Conservative Aye votes vs 266 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 536
View All Sarah Atherton Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Boris Johnson (Conservative)
(12 debate interactions)
Andrew Murrison (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
(9 debate interactions)
James Heappey (Conservative)
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
(8 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(74 debate contributions)
Ministry of Defence
(38 debate contributions)
Northern Ireland Office
(11 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(11 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Sarah Atherton's debates

Wrexham Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petition Debates Contributed

Provide a mechanism within existing legislation whereupon a person with parental responsibility (PR) is found guilty of murdering the other parent with PR, has PR automatically suspended throughout the duration of the term of imprisonment of the aforesaid person convicted.

12 kids in the UK are diagnosed with cancer daily. 1 in 5 will die within 5 years, often of the deadliest types like DIPG (brainstem cancer) - fatal on diagnosis & other cancers on relapse. Yet there has been little, or no, funding for research into these cancers and little, or no, progress.


Latest EDMs signed by Sarah Atherton

Sarah Atherton has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Sarah Atherton, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Sarah Atherton has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Sarah Atherton

1 Bill introduced by Sarah Atherton


A Bill to prohibit the sale of miniature mobile phones; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 21st June 2021

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
1st Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits for Wrexham in relation to (a) job creation, (b) investment in the local economy and (c) trading opportunities of the Government's HyNet North West Hydrogen energy project.

Last month, the Government announced that HyNet has been sequenced onto ‘Track-1’ under the CCUS Cluster Sequencing process, for deployment in the mid-2020s. Amongst other things, this decision considered the cluster’s potential to deliver benefits to the regional economy, including through the development of the hydrogen economy in both North Wales – including Wrexham – and the North West of England.

The Government estimates that CCUS could support up to 50,000 green jobs by 2030, along with over 9,000 supported by low carbon hydrogen. These jobs are set to be concentrated in the UK’s industrial heartlands, including in North Wales.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Wylfa Nuclear Power site in North Wales to the Government's (a) net zero strategy and (b) the commitment to source all the UK electricity from clean energy sources by 2035.

The Government is aware of the strong interest and support in North Wales for the development of this site and continues to discuss new projects with viable companies and investors wishing to develop sites including Wylfa Newydd.

The Net Zero Strategy is clear that nuclear is an important part of our plans to achieve net zero. Nuclear power stations provide firm low carbon power, which is required to complement variable renewable generation in order to ensure a low cost, stable, reliable, low carbon system in 2050.

The Government has set out a new £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund towards the development of nuclear projects. More details of the Fund and how it will operate will be released in due course.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of both Government and private investment at the Wylfa Nuclear plant in North Wales on (a) job creation in North Wales, (b) economic investment in North Wales and (c) the Government's commitment to decarbonisation.

New nuclear projects can deliver significant local, regional, and national economic benefits, including high-skilled employment, to the UK. Government would expect to see similar levels of economic impacts to those at Hinkley in the regions where future power stations might be built.

The construction of Hinkley Point C has to-date seen EDF spend £3.5 billion in the south-west and it is estimated that a large-scale nuclear plant would support around 10,000 jobs at peak of construction.

The recently published Net Zero Strategy confirms that Government recognises the key role Nuclear will play in helping the UK to deliver on Net Zero. We are likely to need new nuclear capacity in order to meet our carbon reduction commitments, so we continue to engage with credible developers and investors on their proposals for future projects including Wylfa. The government has set out a new £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund towards the development of nuclear projects. More details of the Fund and how it will operate will be released in due course.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has been made on securing private investment to help take over the Wylfa Nuclear Power site, following Hitachi's withdrawal.

The Wylfa Newydd site remains a candidate for new nuclear power. The Government is aware of the strong interest and support in North Wales for the development of this site continues to discuss proposals for at Wylfa Newydd with a range of viable companies and investors.

The Government has set out a new £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund towards the development of nuclear projects. More details of the Fund and how it will operate will be released in due course.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
9th Feb 2021
What steps his Department is taking to tackle late payments to small businesses.

We recently strengthened the Prompt Payment Code and have consulted on new powers for the Small Business Commissioner. The Commissioner is very active in highlighting these issues and to date has intervened to recover £7.8 million for small businesses experiencing payment issues.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
12th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support charities during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government has provided a multi-billion-pound package of Covid-19 support which charities and civil society organisations have been able to access to help them continue their vital work.

Charities are benefiting from the extension of unprecedented cross-economy support including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans and £4.6 billion in lockdown grants for closed premises.

In addition, charities, social enterprises and other voluntary sector organisations have received a £750 million targeted support package and £150 million unlocked from dormant bank and building society accounts.

27th Apr 2020
What progress his Department has made on delivering the Shared Rural Network.

The Government announced on 9 March that it had agreed a £1 billion deal with the mobile network operators to deliver the Shared Rural Network. This will see operators collectively increase mobile phone coverage throughout the UK to 95% by end-2025, underpinned by legally binding coverage commitments. The site deployment plans will be managed by the operators themselves to best deliver the agreed coverage outcomes by the licence obligation enforcement date.

15th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools currently use or provide breakfast clubs in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Scotland.

Decisions around school funding and the provision of school food including breakfast clubs are a matter for the devolved administrations.


Data is not held on the number of schools operating breakfast clubs. However, schools have the freedom to run before school childcare and breakfast clubs.

The government is committed to continuing support for breakfast clubs in England in schools in disadvantaged areas. A further £24 million has been invested to continue our national programme for the next two years. This funding will support around 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas in England, including Opportunity Areas. This will mean that thousands of children from low income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment, wellbeing and readiness to learn.

The department is investing up to £220 million in the Holiday Activities and Food programme in 2021. Taking place in schools and community venues across England, delivery began at Easter, ran across the summer and will run in the Christmas holidays. The programme supports disadvantaged children, and their families, by providing them with healthy food and enriching activities during the school holidays.

15th Oct 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to ensure children have access to breakfast clubs in the school holidays during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Decisions around school funding and the provision of school food including breakfast clubs are a matter for the devolved administrations.


Data is not held on the number of schools operating breakfast clubs. However, schools have the freedom to run before school childcare and breakfast clubs.

The government is committed to continuing support for breakfast clubs in England in schools in disadvantaged areas. A further £24 million has been invested to continue our national programme for the next two years. This funding will support around 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas in England, including Opportunity Areas. This will mean that thousands of children from low income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment, wellbeing and readiness to learn.

The department is investing up to £220 million in the Holiday Activities and Food programme in 2021. Taking place in schools and community venues across England, delivery began at Easter, ran across the summer and will run in the Christmas holidays. The programme supports disadvantaged children, and their families, by providing them with healthy food and enriching activities during the school holidays.

9th Jan 2020
What recent discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on arrangements for the UK leaving the EU.

The UK Government remains committed to working closely with the devolved administrations on EU Exit. Our most recent discussions with the devolved administrations took place last Thursday at the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations.

29th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ensure that potential future trade agreements with (a) Canada and (b) Australia make provision for British nationals living in those Commonwealth countries to have their state pensions uprated in line with inflation.

There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State for International Trade and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on this point, as state pensions are not in scope for our trade agreement negotiations with Australia and Canada.

4th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase testing capacity for heavy goods vehicle drivers in Wales.

The number of available HGV driving tests across Great Britain has increased by 90% compared to pre-pandemic levels and currently stands at 3,200 tests per week. This includes increases in availability at driving test centres in Wales and Welsh drivers can also book test slots in England or Wales. Test capacity now exceeds demand and the provision of vocational tests is not a barrier to people becoming HGV drivers.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has appointed customer account managers to help trainers access vocational driving tests where and when they need them.

1st Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department will use to assess the electric scooter pilot projects; and if the pilot is successful whether privately owned electric scooters will be legally allowed on UK roads.

The Department is preparing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan to gather evidence from the trials. This will assess the safety risks presented by e-scooters, the mode shift to e-scooters from other forms of transport, public perceptions around their use?and identify other impacts that should be considered for any?potential?future legalisation of e-scooters.

From the evidence gathered during trials, the responses to the Future of Transport regulatory review call for evidence and other research, the Government will consider whether to legalise both rental and privately-owned e-scooters.

14th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on identifying people who are veterans in an application for claiming benefits.

With Universal Credit claimants will have an initial interview with their Work Coach as part of the application process. This discussion will cover their career history and skills and qualifications etc, which identifies veterans.

The Department is also continuing to look at what other opportunities might be available to better identify and record data on veterans on the Universal Credit system and has regular conversations with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). This is part of a much wider piece of work involving a number of Departments, including the MOD and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, to improve the collection and use of data relating to veterans.

DWP is proud to provide vital and significant support to veterans which recognises their particular needs and circumstances, including through Armed Forces Champions in each Jobcentre Plus District. For example, early voluntary entry to the Work and Health Programme, and using Service Medical Board evidence where we can so a severely disabled person does not have to undergo additional examinations for Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit purposes. We are also able to signpost veterans to other organisations for further support where appropriate.

The department is a supporter of the Armed Forces Covenant which helps ensure members of the armed forces community have access to government support in a number of areas, including:

  • Starting a new career
  • Access to healthcare
  • Education and family well-being
  • Having a home
  • Financial assistance
  • Discounted services, including travel
6th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of uprating in line with inflation the state pensions of British nationals living in (a) Commonwealth countries and (b) other countries.

The policy on the up-rating of UK State Pensions paid to recipients living outside of the UK is clear and is a long-standing policy of successive post-war Governments that has been in place for over 70 years. The UK State Pension is payable worldwide and the annual index-linked increases are paid to UK State Pension recipients where there is a legal requirement to do so. For example, where UK State Pension recipients are living in countries where there is a reciprocal agreement that provides for the uprating of the UK State Pension. The Government has no plans to change this policy.

Guy Opperman
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of splitting the reported data on covid-19 deaths within 28 days of a positive test by people who are (a) fully vaccinated, (b) single vaccinated and (c) not vaccinated.

Public Health England assessed that it would be in the public interest to publish data on COVID-19 deaths within 28 days of a positive test by vaccination status. This data is published in the weekly vaccine surveillance report, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccine-surveillance-report

19th Jul 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to publish details on the awarding of health contracts during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Department publishes information on all the contracts it awards, including those relating to goods and service procured in response to COVID- 19, through Contract Award Notices in the Official Journal of the European Union, Find a Tender awarded opportunity notices for each contract are also published on Contracts Finder.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
21st Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing inconsistencies in the way that the nutrient profiling model scores breakfast cereal products, whereby some are scored as consumed and others are scored on a dry weight basis.

Public Health England has not undertaken an assessment. The current nutrient profile score for breakfast cereals developed by the Food Standards Agency in 2004 is calculated on 100 grams of the product as sold, on a dry weight basis.

The possible implications of applying the nutrient profiling model from per 100 gram basis to per portion basis was considered as part of the 2007 review of the effectiveness of the nutrient profiling model to reduce the exposure of children to unhealthy advertising during children’s television programming. It was recommended to retain the 100 gram base to avoid unnecessary complexity as there are few United Kingdom dietary recommendations on portion sizes and inconsistent portion sizes used on food or drink packs.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
21st Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the consumption of breakfast cereals (a) with and (b) without milk; and how that information is reflected in the nutrient profiling model.

No data is held on the consumption of breakfast cereal with milk. Consumption of breakfast cereals without milk is reported in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). The most recent NDNS report was published in December 2020 and presents findings for 2016/17 to 2018/19. The report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/ndns-results-from-years-9-to-11-2016-to-2017-and-2018-to-2019

The nutrient profiling model is used to identify products that are high in fat, salt or sugar in line with advertising restrictions rather than how the foods are eaten or consumption behaviour.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
21st Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has conducted analysis of consumer (a) understanding of the nutrient profiling model and (b) awareness of categories that are scored as consumed compared with on a dry weight basis.

The United Kingdom nutrient profiling model (UK NPM) is a tool used by regulators, industry and stakeholders and is not consumer facing, therefore no assessment has been made of consumer understanding or awareness of categories scored as consumed compared with on a dry weight basis.

The UK NPM was developed to identify products that are high in fat, salt or sugar in line with advertising restrictions. The model is not intended to reflect how the foods are eaten or consumption behaviour.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing Barnett Consequentials to Wales for the additional payments offered to victims of the contaminated blood scandal under the England Infected Blood Support Scheme announced in April 2019.

There are disparities in financial and non-financial support for those infected and affected by the contaminated blood tragedy across the United Kingdom. The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Cabinet Office, the Treasury and Departments of Health across the UK’s devolved administrations to address these disparities.

25th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that Russia provided Iran with British and U.S. military equipment seized in Ukraine.

The UK condemns Iranian support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has made this clear to Iran including when the Iranian Chargé D'affaires was summoned on 3 October. Iran's supply of drones to Russia violates UN Security Council Resolution 2231. On 20 October, new UK sanctions targeted Iranian individuals and businesses responsible for supplying Russia with drones. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is already sanctioned. We are monitoring reports that Russia is providing Iran with British and U.S. military equipment seized in Ukraine. We will continue to work with international partners to ensure Russia and Iran are held to account.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
13th Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effect on women's income of excluding reusable sanitary underwear from the new zero rate of VAT.

A zero rate of VAT has applied to women’s sanitary products since 1 January 2021. This applies to those products which were previously subject to the reduced rate of 5 per cent, for example, tampons and pads, and to reusable menstrual products, such as keepers.

The relief specifically excludes articles of clothing, such as “period pants”. Such exclusions are designed to ensure that the relief is properly targeted, since difficulties in policing the scope of the relief create the potential for litigation, erosion of the tax base and a reduction in revenue. Under existing rules “period pants” may already qualify for the zero rate, if they have been specifically designed to be worn by a child, meet the sizing criteria, and are held out for sale specifically for use by girls under the age of 14 years old.

Details are provided in VAT Notice 714: zero-rating young children's clothing and footwear: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-notice-714-zero-rating-young-childrens-clothing-and-footwear/vat-notice-714-zero-rating-young-childrens-clothing-and-footwear#items-suitable-only-for-young-children.

The Treasury, along with other relevant departments, carefully considers the impact of its decisions on those sharing protected characteristics, including at Budgets and other fiscal events, in line with both its legal obligations and with its commitment to promoting fairness.

13th Jul 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason there is not a direct debit option on the HMRC online account website to help employers (a) logging and (b) paying employee contributions that remain constant throughout the year.

Employers can pay their PAYE/NIC liability by Direct Debit. However, it is currently only possible to make single Direct Debit payments.

This is because the amount owed can include elements which do not have to be reported to HMRC until too close to the payment deadline to allow HMRC to automatically collect tax due by Direct Debit. Even the most straightforward employer schemes may have variances in the amount due to HMRC throughout the year meaning a continuing Direct Debit for a set amount would not be appropriate.

HMRC do recognise the benefits of enabling employers to pay this way and are looking at how they can overcome these issues in order to allow employers to set up a recurring Direct Debit.

20th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he provides guidance to police forces on the prioritisation of day-to-day duties over responding to medical emergencies.

  • The National Police Chiefs’ Council has produced comprehensive guidance for forces on introducing Right Care, Right Person, or RCRP, under which the right agencies should respond to medical emergencies. This often means a health response.
  • It is for Chief Constables to determine how they deploy their resource but every English and Welsh force is working to adopt an RCRP approach.
Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
1st Jul 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of collecting data on the number of assaults on retail workers in England and Wales by local authority area, separate to the Commercial Victimisation Survey.

The Government conducted a call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff to understand the extent of the issue and how we can work with retailers and police to improve the response to these crimes. The Government’s formal response was published 7 July 2020 and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/violence-and-abuse-toward-shop-staff-call-for-evidence

7th Jun 2021
What steps her Department is taking to increase financial support for the police.

In February, the Government published a total police funding settlement of up to £15.8 billion in 2021/22.

This is an increase of up to £600 million compared to 2020/21 and cements our commitment to give the police the resources they need to keep the public safe.

12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of offering a covid-19 vaccine to police officers who will be working at the G7 Summit.

The roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines is being delivered in line with the guidance of the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). This prioritises those who are most likely to suffer the most serious health outcomes as a result of catching the virus, where age is assessed to be the most significant factor. Police officers will continue to be vaccinated in line with the JCVI-guided prioritisation, and many will have received at least a first dose ahead of the G7 Summit in June.

We recognise the importance of Personal Protective Equipment for all of those on the frontline and continue to work with the police to ensure officers receive the essential equipment they need in order to carry out their jobs safely.

The health and safety of all staff and attendees at the Summit, and local residents in Cornwall, is paramount. Government will take all necessary measures to ensure that the G7 Summit is fully COVID-secure.

7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the adequacy of the delivery of contracts by external providers.

The proactive monitoring, control and management of external providers is undertaken throughout the lifecycle of Defence contracts primarily by the Department’s Commercial and Project Management officials.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence’s Strategic Partnering Programme has built long-term relationships and has increased collaboration with many of our largest suppliers to work together to address any major performance issues.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
10th Jan 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil claims for compensation which included an allegation of sexual assault of any kind have been issued against his Department in a (a) civil court and (b) tribunal in the last five years; and how many such claims were settled without a final hearing.

This Ministry of Defence takes the treatment of women and allegations of sexual assault in the Armed Forces very seriously. In answer to both questions:

(a)150 common law compensation claims which included an allegation of sexual assault/ sexual abuse have been received in the last five years. Of these, 94 have settled out of court with damages paid. 15 have been closed with no damages awarded and 41 cases are continuing.

(b)The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
24th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of reservists are unable to work due to (a) disability and (b) illness as of 24 November 2023.

This information is not held in the specific detail requested.

The status of reserves by medical standard and reserve type as documented on JPA as at 24 November 2023 is detailed in the below table:

Assignment Type

MFD

MLD

MND

No records

Total

Called out Reservist

733

88

20

-

841

Full Time Reservist

3,781

1,470

469

-

5,720

High Readiness Reserve

54

6

-

-

60

Sponsored Reserve

6

1

-

-

7

Volunteer Reserve

27,038

3,051

2,348

-

32,437

Grand Total of Reservists with Medical Standards

31,612

4,616

2,837

-

39,065

Reservist Without Medical Standards (new joiners etc)

-

-

-

-

3,548

Grand total of Reservists

31,612

4,616

2,837

3,548

42,613

MFD – Medically Fully Deployable

MLD – Medically Limited Deployability

MND – Medically Non-Deployable.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
24th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of service personnel have received (a) trauma treatment and (b) orthopedic from a private healthcare provider via the NHS fast-track pathway as of 24 November 2023.

Further to the answer I gave on 16 November 2023 to Question 1407 to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Ms Atherton), the number of regular service personnel in England who have received intervention under the Fast Track Surgery Contract, which is currently provided by SPIRE Healthcare, is set out by financial year in the table below:

Financial Year(FY)

Orthopedic and Spinal Patients

Imaging Referrals

FY2020-21

203

2,670

FY2021-22

299

3,341

FY2022-23

472

3,376

FY2023-24 (prediction)

540

3,230

The figures provided include the predicted requirement for the current financial year, should referral criteria and surgical intervention types remain unchanged.

The Department does not hold data on the proportion of service personnel who have received treatment under the Fast Track Surgery Contract.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
10th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) reserve and (b) regular service personnel are on a waiting list for orthopaedic surgery.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is not responsible for reserves healthcare, except when mobilised and does not hold data on how many reserve service personnel are awaiting orthopaedic surgery.

For regular service personnel, the number on a waiting list for the combined trauma and orthopaedic service is 1,447 in England. This figure is provided by NHS England and is the most recent data held by MOD. This figure does not include the number of regular Service personnel who have been referred through the fast-track contract with a private healthcare provider.

The number of regular Service personnel currently on a waiting list for orthopaedic surgery is 18 in Scotland. This includes five on NHS waiting lists and 13 who have been referred through the fast-track contract with a private healthcare provider. In Northern Ireland the number of regular service personnel currently on a waiting list for orthopaedic surgery is six. Wales has a total of seven regular service personnel awaiting orthopaedic surgery or an orthopaedic appointment.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
7th Nov 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many male service personnel (a) joined and (b) left the (i) army, (ii) navy, (iii) air force and (iv) marines since September 2022.

The requested information is published in the UK Armed Forces Biannual Diversity Statistics, available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-april-2023/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-april-2023

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
5th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many trainee pilots in each phase of the military flying training system resigned from the Armed Forces in each year since 2015.

Information required to answer the question is not held in the format requested and will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
5th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of task lines (a) available and (b) utilised per aircraft was in the (i) C-17 Globemaster, (ii) C-130J Hercules and (iii) A400M Atlas fleets in each year since 2017.

This information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
22nd May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for funding the Victim and Witness Care Unit of the Defence Serious Crime Unit from April 2024.

The Ministry of Defence will continue to fund the Defence Serious Crime Command’s Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU) from April 2024.

The VWCU provides a single point of contact to victims and witnesses of serious crimes committed by persons subject to Service law in the UK and overseas. The VWCU is independent of the Chain of Command and provides holistic care and support to victims and witnesses, ensuring that each victim is afforded their rights in accordance with the code of practice for victims of crime.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
27th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many men serving in the (a) Army, (b) Navy, (c) Royal Air Force and (d) Royal Marines (i) made a complaint and (ii) received medical help following alleged sexual violence perpetrated in service in each of the last five years.

The requested information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Defence has made it absolutely clear there is zero tolerance for any form of sexual violence. Should such an incident occur against a Service person support pathways include unit welfare officers, the chain of command, and pastoral support via the chaplaincy. Further assistance is also available via external pathways such as Togetherall, an independent digital mental health support tool operated by the NHS in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, through which Service personnel, veterans, and their family members can anonymously access tailored self-help courses.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
8th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Suicide Action Plan for the armed forces will be implemented.

The latest published statistics show for the latest 20-year period the UK Regular Armed Forces remain at a significantly lower risk of suicide than the UK general population. Statistics on suicides in the Armed Forces, covering the period from 1 January 1984 to 31 December 2021, are available at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-suicides-2021

The Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy (AFSPS) and Action Plan will be published shortly. The APSPS will enhance our efforts to reduce suicide and better support those affected by it. It has been developed by a small group of subject-matter experts across Defence, based on national guidance and using an Armed Forces evidence-base. The Action Plan will enable delivery of the AFSPS, informed by consultation with relevant stakeholders across Defence.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
8th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the concurrent jurisdiction protocol will be published.

The Service Prosecuting Authority and the civilian prosecuting authorities intend to publish the draft revised Protocols later this month, with the final revised Protocol for each prosecutorial jurisdiction of the UK to be published later this year.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
8th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a Service Police Complaints Commissioner has been appointed.

I am pleased to confirm that His Majesty The King appointed Margaret Obi as the first Service Police Complaints Commissioner.

The role of the Commissioner is to provide independent oversight of the Service Police complaints system; Ms Obi will bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this role.

The Commissioner will have functions similar to those conferred on the Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
8th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people in the (a) army, (b) navy, (c) air force and (d) Royal Marines died as a result of suicide in each of the last five years.

The latest published statistics show for the latest 20-year period the UK Regular Armed Forces remain at a significantly lower risk of suicide than the UK general population. Statistics on suicides in the Armed Forces, covering the period from 1 January 1984 to 31 December 2021, are available at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-suicides-2021

The Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy (AFSPS) and Action Plan will be published shortly. The APSPS will enhance our efforts to reduce suicide and better support those affected by it. It has been developed by a small group of subject-matter experts across Defence, based on national guidance and using an Armed Forces evidence-base. The Action Plan will enable delivery of the AFSPS, informed by consultation with relevant stakeholders across Defence.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
23rd Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of people discharged from the armed forces with personality disorders had previously made (a) formal or (b) informal allegations of sexual assault in each of the last five years; and to breakdown that proportion by gender.

This information is not held. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not routinely record a Veteran's discharge reason to this level of detail.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
5th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) set up and (b) annual running costs of Victim and Witness Care Unit of the Defence Serious Crime Unit are; how many full-time equivalent staff will be allocated to that Unit; and what their salary costs will be.

The Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU), part of the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC), will support the needs of victims and witnesses. Funding has been secured for the establishment of the VWCU and it is expected to be operational in March 2023. The VWCU will ensure access to independent welfare support based on individual needs. It will provide victims and witnesses with direct guidance and support on how the Service Justice System works and services available, ensuring they are well informed throughout the process.

The cost to establish the Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU) is £0.9 million. The annual cost of the VWCU is £0.5 million. The VWCU will report to the Chief of Staff of the DSCC and will include 12 full-time members of staff. Much of the day-to-day operating costs will be captured under the DSCC budget and will take some time to understand fully.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
25th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what will be the main activities of the new Victim and Witness Care Unit of the Defence Serious Crime Unit; and how many full-time employees it will have.

The Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU), part of the Defence Serious Crime Command, will focus on supporting the needs of victims and witnesses. Funding has been secured for the establishment of the VWCU and it is expected to be operational in March 2023. The VWCU will ensure access to independent welfare support based on individual needs. It will provide victims and witnesses with direct guidance and support on how the Service Justice System works and services available, ensuring they are well informed throughout the process.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
25th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral evidence from Air Marshal Richard Knighton to the Defence Committee on 8 November 2022, HC 726, whether the zero tolerance policy for unacceptable sexual behaviour will apply to trainees in phase one military establishments.

The 'Zero tolerance to unacceptable sexual behaviour: A victim / survivor focussed approach' policy sets out a presumption of discharge from the Service for those who are found, after investigation and to the civil standard of proof (balance of probability), to have engaged in unacceptable sexual behaviour. It applies to all Armed Forces personnel, including Phase 1 trainees.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
25th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Fourth Special Report of Session 2021-22 of the Defence Committee entitled Protecting those who protect us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report, what recent progress his Department has made on providing funding for the establishment of the Victim and Witness Care Unit of the Defence Serious Crime Unit.

The Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU), part of the Defence Serious Crime Command, will focus on supporting the needs of victims and witnesses. Funding has been secured for the establishment of the VWCU and it is expected to be operational in March 2023. The VWCU will ensure access to independent welfare support based on individual needs. It will provide victims and witnesses with direct guidance and support on how the Service Justice System works and services available, ensuring they are well informed throughout the process.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)