Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps UK Space Command is taking to coordinate with (a) other military and (b) civilian organisations to (i) increase the UK's space capabilities and (ii) help tackle potential threats to national space assets.
Answered by James Heappey
Collaboration with civil and international partners is fundamental to our delivery of the National Space Strategy and Defence Space Strategy (DSS).
Defence is developing new capabilities to support military operations and to protect and defend our national interests. We are investing £1.5 billion over 10 years in a coherent Defence Space Portfolio (DSP). This is in addition to the £5 billion we are investing in the SKYNET satellite communications programme.
In delivering the DSP, we are working with international Allies and partners to maximise interoperability and provide resilience in our joint pursuit of a safe and secure space domain. We are also partnering with commercial providers to deliver the Portfolio and with partners across Government to determine where dual-use capabilities can meet civil and defence needs.
The DSS commits us to broadening and deepening our multinational collaboration. As a founding member of the Combined Space Operations initiative (Five Eyes + France and Germany), we use this forum to align on space policy, capability development and operations. We are also working with NATO to grow the NATO Space Enterprise and we are developing new bilateral relationships.
The UK is showing global leadership on space security. Ministry of Defence is supporting the FCDO-led initiative through the UN on Reducing Space Threats through Norms, Rules and Principles of Responsible Behaviours. This is aimed at reducing the risk of miscalculation in the space domain.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a specialist counter-insurgency force.
Answered by James Heappey
We will continue to develop our force structure and capabilities to allow us to contribute to addressing the full range of potential threats, including those from insurgents, to ensure we can both defend, deter and compete across all domains alongside our allies and partners.
Any specific policy changes or updates to force structure will be determined once the update to the Defence Command Paper has concluded.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the armed forces spent on campaigns aimed at diversifying their recruitment in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In financial year 2021-22, £921,110.93 was spent by the Armed Forces on recruitment marketing targeted to reach under-represented communities across the UK.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to provide additional investment into the facilities at the Blackpool Reserve Centre.
Answered by Alec Shelbrooke
Blackpool Army Reserve Centre is a relatively modern and well used facility. At this stage there is no assessed requirement for any major refurbishment or investment.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his decision to relocate more jobs in Blackpool through the North West Estate Defence Business Services consolidation plans on the local economy of Blackpool.
Answered by James Heappey
The decision to consolidate the Defence Business Services northwest estate was based on qualitative benefits and through life costs of potential sites based on several factors including operational risk, sustainability, and compliance with key user requirements.
A regional economic impact assessment was undertaken during down selection, but did not form part of the decision making criteria. The consolidation into the Blackpool region brings an opportunity to bring circa 700 posts to Blackpool from our other northwest sites, and contributes to the redevelopment at Talbot Gate through the building of the new Government hub.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the socio-economic diversity among people training to become officers in all parts of the armed forces; and what steps he is taking to encourage more applicants from lower socio-economic groups to apply to join the armed forces as an officer.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
The Ministry of Defence does not hold information on the socio-economic backgrounds of Armed Forces personnel which could inform such an assessment. However, the Armed Forces are working in line with the Government's priority to build a fairer society, aiming to attract talent from the widest possible base from across the UK, regardless of socio-economic background, educational status or ethnicity. The education and training provided allows individuals to gain the necessary skills and experience to enable them to progress as far as their aptitude will take them, regardless of their background.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) Israel and (b) Saudi Arabia to help ensure the adequacy of defences against the increased military threat to those countries from Iran.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Following the attacks on Saudi oil production facilities on 14 September 2019, we are working with other international partners and the Saudi Ministry of Defence to consider how best to improve the effectiveness of Saudi air defence systems.
With Israel, the UK undertakes routine Defence Engagement, including joint exercises, exchanges, visits, and training. In this current period of tension between Iran and the US, Israel has not approached the UK for any additional support.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to work his (a) Iraqi and (b) Turkish counterparts to tackle the insurgent threat posed by ISIS.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As part of the Coalition, the UK has provided support to the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces, which has been crucial in the fight against Daesh. We have trained over 114,000 Iraqi Security Forces and Peshmerga personnel to help build their capacity to ensure Daesh's enduring defeat.
Due to current circumstances, we have paused training with Iraqi Security Forces but we continue to train Kurdish forces in the Kurdish Region of Iraq. And we hope to resume counter-Daesh operations and training with the Iraqi Security Forces as quickly as possible, but this will not be at the expense of the right force protection measures for UK troops.
We have been continuously engaged with Turkey as a NATO Ally from the outset in countering the threat from Daesh. Following the incursion into Northeast Syria, we welcome the ceasefire and we hope that this will allow us to continue to protect our mutual counter-terrorism interests.