Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to invest in family accommodation for service personnel at (a) Leuchars and (b) elsewhere in North East Fife.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
In Financial Year 2017-2018 investment to improve the quality of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in Leuchars is programmed to include:
There is currently no work programmed for SFA elsewhere in North East Fife.
The Ministry of Defence has recently introduced a new Combined Accommodation Assessment System (CAAS) which will offer a fairer, more transparent, simplified and modern approach. It will still consider a property's condition, size and location but will use modern, objective assessments.
We have committed that the receipts generated by CAAS will be reinvested to improve the accommodation we offer to Service personnel and their families.
The Future Accommodation Model is intended to offer more choice and flexibility to Service personnel, helping the military live in private accommodation and meet their wider aspirations for home ownership. The policy and associated implementation plans are still at an early stage of development and no decisions have been taken at this time.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to which budget the revenue received from civil aviation visits to Leuchars in 2016-17 has been allocated.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The majority of revenue received from civil aviation visiting Leuchars is allocated to the RAF's Air Command budget which administers the airfield at the former RAF station. However, a small element of the revenue for each visit is allocated to the Ministry of Defence's Head Office budget to offset the Department's third party aviation liability insurance policy.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to implement the Future Accommodation Model at Leuchars.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Future Accommodation Model is intended to offer more choice and flexibility to Service personnel, helping the military live in private accommodation and meet their wider aspirations for home ownership. The policy and associated implementation plans are still at an early stage of development and no decisions have been taken at this time.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure families maintain networks of support when other family members are away on active service.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that the families of those who serve, play a vital role in the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces.
The UK Armed Forces Families Strategy published in January 2016 and its associated Action Plan recognises the unique challenges that Service families face including during periods of separation for operational reasons, often at short notice. The Strategy's vision is to create resilient and self-sufficient families, and to do this places Service personnel and their families at the centre of our welfare commitment and future policy formulation.
Welfare is the responsibility of the Chain of Command and is delivered in the first instance by the Commanding Officer, supported by the Unit Welfare Officer who makes sure that families know who they can contact for support. Further advice and networks are available through the single Services Community and Development Officers, Regimental Associations, Charities, and the Armed Forces Families Federations.
The Families Welfare Grant is used to enhance communication and engagement with families during deployments. It funds activities including distribution of welfare information such as leaflets, web pages and by the promotion of community activities. Also Social media (Facebook/Twitter) groups are used regularly by the Services, information support centres (HIVES) and Service families to communicate and as a peer support network.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much revenue his Department has received from private aircraft landing at the RAF base at Leuchars.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
For financial year 2016-17 to date, landing fees and associated charges to the value of some £14,000 have been raised from civil aviation visiting the airfield at Leuchars Station.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements have been made to accommodate private aircraft at the Leuchars military base.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The airfield at Leuchars Station does not routinely receive private aircraft. However, visiting aircraft can be parked, including overnight, on the aircraft servicing platforms by the side of the runway. This does not impede any military flying.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to exempt people in receipt of war pensions or armed forces compensation payments from health reassessments.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Veterans UK do not routinely conduct health re-assessments once awards have been made. There are provisions under both schemes for recipients to seek a review of the level of compensation being paid.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish details of the £8 million investment at the RAF base in Leuchars.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
On 5 March 2013 (Official Report, column 845) my right hon. Friend the then Defence Secretary, (Philip Hammond), set out the Department's Army Basing Plans. As part of this larger package of investment the plan contains a commitment to invest around £8million in the infrastructure and facilities at Leuchars. The investment is being spent on improvements to existing facilities including the upgrade of buildings, existing single living accommodation and sports facilities.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department or other bodies provide to help veterans experiencing mental health difficulties as a result of military service.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
| I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 June 2016 to Question 40418 to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger). http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-06-13/40418/ | ||||||
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to source steel for the construction of new nuclear submarines.
Answered by Philip Dunne
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 April 2016 to Question 33828 to the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry).