First elected: 6th May 2010
Left House: 30th March 2015 (Defeated)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
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).
These initiatives were driven by Thomas Docherty, 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.
Thomas Docherty has not been granted any Urgent Questions
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to provide that certain offences committed towards members of the armed forces shall be treated as aggravated; to prohibit discrimination against individuals in terms of provision of goods and services on the grounds that they are members of the armed forces; and for connected purposes.
A bill to provide that certain offences committed towards members of the armed forces shall be treated as aggravated; and for connected purposes
A bill to establish a public register of organisations and individuals that carry out lobbying of Parliament, the Government and local authorities for financial gain; to introduce a code of conduct for those on the register; to introduce sanctions for non-registration and non-compliance with the code of conduct; and for connected purposes
A Bill to make provision in relation to the reserve forces of the Crown; to provide that certain offences committed towards members of the armed forces and their families shall be treated as aggravated; to prohibit discrimination against members of the armed forces and their families in terms of provision of goods, services and employment; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to amend the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 to allow the Office for Budget Responsibility to scrutinise and certificate the policy costings of political parties represented in the House of Commons.
A Bill to prohibit the charging to tenants by letting agents of annual tenancy renewal fees; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to create a new planning use class for retail premises used to provide high cost credit services, which would require the granting of planning permission; to provide that local planning authorities assess demand for retail premises used to provide high cost credit services when considering applications for premises in that planning use class and place a cap on the number of such shops for which planning permission may be granted in any area; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to create a new planning use class for betting shops with fixed odds betting terminals, which would require the granting of planning permission; to provide that local planning authorities assess demand for fixed odds betting terminal betting shops when considering applications for premises in that planning use class and place a cap on the number of such shops for which planning permission may be granted in any area; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to prohibit the granting of licences for firearms and shotguns to persons who have been convicted of domestic violence crimes; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to repeal the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision about the meeting by the United Kingdom of the target for official development assistance (ODA) to constitute 0.7 per cent of gross national income; to make provision for independent verification that ODA is spent efficiently and effectively; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require train companies to offer customers the cheapest available fare as a first option; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to amend the Representation of the People Act 1981 to amend the period of imprisonment which disqualifies a person from membership of the House of Commons; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to establish a public register of organisations and individuals that carry out lobbying of Parliament, the Government and local authorities for financial gain; to introduce a code of conduct for those on the register; to introduce sanctions for non-registration and non-compliance with the code of conduct; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require the Secretary of State to undertake a programme of research into a scheme designed to provide guaranteed employment for those aged 18 to 24 and those aged 25 and over who have been in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance for 1 year or for 2 years; to require the Secretary of State to report the results of the research to the House of Commons within six months of completion; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require that companies’ remuneration committees have employee representation; to require that companies hold an annual binding shareholder vote on executive remuneration; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require water companies to provide social tariffs for low income families; and for connected purposes
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require water companies to provide the cheapest available tariff to customers aged 75 or over; and for connected purposes
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require train companies to offer customers the cheapest available fare as a first option; and for connected purposes
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to make provision for the inclusion of financial literacy in the national curriculum; and for connected purposes
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require that companies’ remuneration committees have employee representation; to require that companies hold an annual binding shareholder vote on executive remuneration; and for connected purposes
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A bill to require energy companies to provide the cheapest available tariff to customers aged 75 or over; and for connected purposes.
A bill to require that mortgage interest rates paid by homeowners change by at least the same percentage as mortgage interest base rates; and for connected purposes
A Bill to give statutory effect to certain aspects of Armed Forces personnel’s and veterans’ welfare provision; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to introduce a minimum age for holding a shotgun licence of 14 years.
Thomas Docherty has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
The Improved Access to Services Project Board agreed the high-level schedule for the migration of parliamentary emailboxes to Microsoft 365. The more detailed decision on which days to migrate the emailboxes of hon. Members and hon. Members' staff was taken by the project team, overseen by the Director of Parliamentary ICT, taking into account factors such as: mailbox access rights (so that users accessing a particular mailbox are migrated at the same time); staff who work for more than one Member; and trying to balance the number of emailboxes accessed by BlackBerry devices across the migration days.
In the period 22 June to 16 July, 3,482 mailboxes assigned to hon. Members and their staff had been migrated. In that period, PICT logged 766 cases from hon. Members and their staff – either by phone or at PICT Local – directly related to issues resulting from the migration of their mailboxes. Parliamentary ICT (PICT) acknowledges that the implementation has not been as simple and straightforward as was hoped, and is aware that it has caused problems for some hon. Members.
Since the answer to the hon. Member on 8 July, three hon. Members have given PICT written feedback on the migration of their mailbox. One was complimenting the PICT team on making it a smooth process. One was questioning the process and the distinction between the upgrade to Office 2013 and the migration of a mailbox to Microsoft 365. One had a problem with the limit on the number of people who can be added to a single email distribution list in Microsoft 365.
Two further hon. Members have given positive oral feedback and asked to join the pilot of the wider suite of tools within Microsoft 365. Oral feedback from the teams of House staff who are also piloting the use of this wider suite of tools continues to be positive.
The Director of PICT would be delighted to meet the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife, or any other interested Member, to discuss the feedback in more detail.
(a) Parliamentary ICT (PICT) estimates that, following the migration of a user’s mailbox to Microsoft 365, it takes the user’s computer (laptop or PC) an average of five minutes to reconfigure Outlook.
It can take a user an average of approximately five minutes to reconfigure a mobile device – other than a BlackBerry – that uses ActiveSync to connect to parliamentary email. Following that reconfiguration, it can take up to a maximum of 60 minutes for the device automatically to re-connect to parliamentary email.
BlackBerry devices need to be physically reconfigured by PICT, and this process can take over an hour – the length of time is linked to the age and model of the device. Furthermore, it takes longer to reconfigure a personal BlackBerry device than a BlackBerry issued by PICT. PICT has issued 92 BlackBerry devices for use by hon. Members and their staff to access parliamentary email.
(b) It is not possible to provide a figure for the aggregate time taken to reconfigure the above devices because more than one device can be reconfigured at the same time.
The House Service does not collect the information requested. As part of the House Service's policy of making the work of the House better known to the public, the Clerk encourages members of the Management Board to speak about their work, and they do so frequently, for example at outreach events.
The Clerk of the House is the line manager of the other executive members of the Management Board. As part of the House Service's policy of making the work of the House better known to the public, the Clerk encourages members of the Management Board to speak about their work, while of course observing necessary requirements of impartiality and confidentiality, and avoiding any conflicts of interest. Accordingly, within those guidelines, he has given discretion to members of the Board to accept invitations to speak as they see fit and does not require them to seek authorisation for the contents of their remarks or for lines to take.
The Clerk of the House is the line manager of the other executive members of the Management Board. As part of the House Service's policy of making the work of the House better known to the public, the Clerk encourages members of the Management Board to speak about their work, while of course observing necessary requirements of impartiality and confidentiality, and avoiding any conflicts of interest. Accordingly, within those guidelines, he has given discretion to members of the Board to accept invitations to speak as they see fit.
PICT hold records of all contractors who have left PICT since April 2012. Since contractors are not employees – but employed via an agency or their own Limited Company – any records kept are brief. It is not usual practice to provide references and as a result, reasons for their departure are not recorded.
The number of contractors whose contracts ended during this period has been follows:
2012/13 – 29
2013/14 – 48
2014/15 (to 30 June) – 57
The Clerk of the House is responsible for data security for the House of Commons Service. As Data Controller, the Clerk is obliged by law to process personal data fairly, lawfully and in accordance with the data protection principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.
The Clerk of the House delegates actions relating to data security as follows:
The Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO), the Director General, Human Resources and Change, is the member of the House of Commons Management Board responsible for managing information risk. He oversees information security policy for the House of Commons.
The Director of Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology (D/PICT) has overall Management Board-level responsibility in both Houses for implementing the ICT strategy for Parliament and for providing both Boards with technical security advice. She is responsible for the specification, procurement, operation, security and maintenance of the electronic systems on which the great majority of Parliament's information is communicated, stored and handled and for providing officials and staff with training and support on their use.
The Parliamentary Security Director advises the SIROs in both Houses and gives strategic and policy direction to D/PICT on cyber security.
Members are the data controllers for all personal data that is handled by their offices and they have responsibility for ensuring that this is done in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
In May Parliamentary ICT (PICT) piloted migrating Members' mailboxes to Microsoft 365. In this Members' pilot, PICT migrated 82 mailboxes, including the mailboxes of 10 hon. Members, their staff and 12 members of the House of Lords. One of the hon. Members involved in this pilot is a Member of the Administration Committee. PICT requested feedback on the migrations in an anonymous survey. Four people in the pilot survey reported a problem with the migration of their email. Because the survey was anonymous, it is not possible to say who responded to the survey.
A paper on the implementation of Microsoft 365, which included feedback from the survey, was presented to the Administration Committee for their meeting on 16 June. A member of the Committee expressed serious concern that Office 365 was not well received by users. The Chair of the Committee is also aware of written complaints from three other hon. Members about recent changes.
PICT began the migrations for other hon. Members and their staff on 22 June. By 4 July over 1,800 mailboxes assigned to hon. Members and their staff had been migrated.
The most common cause of a call to the service desk after the mailbox migration has been to request help to follow the process for logging into the new mail box for the first time. The second most common problem relates to mobile devices. Parliamentary email stops working on mobile devices until they are reconfigured to point to the new server after the migration. BlackBerry devices need to be physically reconfigured by PICT, and this process can take over an hour. Furthermore, it takes longer for personal BlackBerry devices than for BlackBerries issued by PICT. In addition, new security features have made it difficult to synchronise some android devices with mailboxes.
For those having a problem with their email, it is of course disruptive, and PICT have dedicated specialists on hand to assist.
Following a pilot, PICT began the migration of the mailboxes of hon. Members and their staff on 22 June. By 4 July over 1,800 mailboxes assigned to hon. Members and their staff had been migrated.
In the period from 22 June to 12:00 on 4 July, PICT logged 128 cases from hon. Members and their staff which were directly related to problems resulting from the migration of their mailboxes to Microsoft 365. 112 of those cases are now closed. During the same period, PICT logged 149 other cases from hon. Members and their staff requesting advice or help which were directly related to other aspects of the migrations to Microsoft 365.
The costs of the Microsoft 365 project to September 2014 are:
2013/14 £355,667
2014/15 £144,333
The net savings made as a result of this project for 2014 to 2020 are:
|
| 14/15 | 15/16 | 16/17 | 17/18 | 18/19 | 19/20 | Total |
Revenue – Staff | 0 | 191 | 191 | 191 | 191 | 191 | 191 | 1,146 |
Revenue – Other | -33 | 22 | 232 | 282 | 293 | 292 | 295 | 1,381 |
Total | -33 | 213 | 423 | 473 | 483 | 483 | 486 | 2,527 |
(a) The negative figure for 2013/14 reflects the start-up cost of the project. | ||||||||
Office 2013 is the latest versions of Word, Excel, and Outlook. Microsoft 365 is Microsoft's cloud hosted version of these tools, together with some new tools accessible once a user's email box has been migrated to Microsoft 365.
The Microsoft 365 project has provided all users with the upgraded version of the Office 2013 suite. 90% of Members and their staff have upgraded their machines to Office 2013. As part of the pilot of Microsoft 365, 12 Members and their staff have had their mailboxes migrated to Microsoft 365. The remaining Members and their staff email boxes will be migrated to Microsoft 365 in June and July 2014. All House staff have completed both of these steps.
The general feedback from Members and their staff has been that the new product is similar to Office 2007, with some people liking the new features. We have received some negative feedback about the colour scheme of Outlook 2013 and about the new location of file/print/save buttons in Office 2013; similar feedback was received from House staff. In response PICT have produced guidance for staff on how to darken the colour scheme in Outlook and have been assured by Microsoft that they are working to address the interface issues in future upgrades.
There were some difficulties reported by people upgrading their Office 2013 remotely. This was due to the slow download of security updates for users with poor broadband connections.
The Members and their staff taking part in the pilots of Microsoft 365 have given positive feedback on the communications, support materials and service provided by PICT. As part of the migration Members have to reconnect their mobile devices to the new service and this has caused some difficulty for Blackberry users.
The migration of House staff to Microsoft 365 overlapped with unrelated network failures in January–February 2014, which affected perception of the product. Feedback from those migrated after the network was stabilised was much more positive. We have recently initiated 30 pilots of the wider suite of tools in Microsoft 365, and we have received positive feedback from these pilots, with users requesting to keep the new tools.
So far during the financial year 2014/15 PICT has employed 61 contractors, of whom 15 have been supporting services for Members. Further details cannot be provided without identifying individuals. Many are on short term contracts. None has had a contract terminated early.
Five Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and one Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) have been granted.
The information provided relates to goods or services that have been licensed for export. The licences were granted to international and humanitarian organisations to support and protect staff working in these organisations. The six licences granted authorise export of the following:
SIEL for: components for body armour;
SIEL for: NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) protective/defensive equipment;
SIEL for: body armour, components for body armour, military helmets;
SIEL for: body armour, military helmets;
SIEL for: components for all-wheel drive vehicles with ballistic protection;
OIEL for: cryptographic software; equipment employing cryptography.
The licences were granted to international and humanitarian organisations to support and protect staff working in these organisations.
The Eurofighter Typhoon programme is carried out in partnership with the Governments of Germany, Italy and Spain. This includes cooperation on exports. The Government of Belgium has expressed an interest in Typhoon as well as other competing aircraft as a potential replacement for their F-16 fleet. UK Trade and Investment have been invited, to participate in preliminary discussions at official level on Typhoon. United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) officials are working with colleagues across Government, in the partner nations and with Eurofighter GmbH to coordinate a response.
Within UK Government work on Typhoon export campaigns is led by UKTI, but HMG takes a collaborative approach to defence exports and so all campaigns are a cross departmental effort. Information on staffing numbers is not therefore available centrally.
Ministerial responsibility for UKTI rests with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Livingston of Parkhead). My noble Friend reports to my Rt Hon Friends the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as the two responsible Cabinet Ministers.
Information regarding Ministers' meetings is published by the Department on the internet: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&publication_type=transparency-data
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment discussed Typhoon exports during his meeting with BAES on 18 December 2013. The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has no immediate plans to meet his Belgian counterpart.
The Eurofighter Typhoon programme is carried out in partnership with the Governments of Germany, Italy and Spain. This includes cooperation on exports. The Government of Belgium has expressed an interest in Typhoon as well as other competing aircraft as a potential replacement for their F-16 fleet. UK Trade and Investment have been invited, to participate in preliminary discussions at official level on Typhoon. United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) officials are working with colleagues across Government, in the partner nations and with Eurofighter GmbH to coordinate a response.
Within UK Government work on Typhoon export campaigns is led by UKTI, but HMG takes a collaborative approach to defence exports and so all campaigns are a cross departmental effort. Information on staffing numbers is not therefore available centrally.
Ministerial responsibility for UKTI rests with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Livingston of Parkhead). My noble Friend reports to my Rt Hon Friends the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as the two responsible Cabinet Ministers.
Information regarding Ministers' meetings is published by the Department on the internet: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&publication_type=transparency-data
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment discussed Typhoon exports during his meeting with BAES on 18 December 2013. The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has no immediate plans to meet his Belgian counterpart.
The Eurofighter Typhoon programme is carried out in partnership with the Governments of Germany, Italy and Spain. This includes cooperation on exports. The Government of Belgium has expressed an interest in Typhoon as well as other competing aircraft as a potential replacement for their F-16 fleet. UK Trade and Investment have been invited, to participate in preliminary discussions at official level on Typhoon. United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) officials are working with colleagues across Government, in the partner nations and with Eurofighter GmbH to coordinate a response.
Within UK Government work on Typhoon export campaigns is led by UKTI, but HMG takes a collaborative approach to defence exports and so all campaigns are a cross departmental effort. Information on staffing numbers is not therefore available centrally.
Ministerial responsibility for UKTI rests with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Livingston of Parkhead). My noble Friend reports to my Rt Hon Friends the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as the two responsible Cabinet Ministers.
Information regarding Ministers' meetings is published by the Department on the internet: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&publication_type=transparency-data
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment discussed Typhoon exports during his meeting with BAES on 18 December 2013. The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has no immediate plans to meet his Belgian counterpart.
The Eurofighter Typhoon programme is carried out in partnership with the Governments of Germany, Italy and Spain. This includes cooperation on exports. The Government of Belgium has expressed an interest in Typhoon as well as other competing aircraft as a potential replacement for their F-16 fleet. UK Trade and Investment have been invited, to participate in preliminary discussions at official level on Typhoon. United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) officials are working with colleagues across Government, in the partner nations and with Eurofighter GmbH to coordinate a response.
Within UK Government work on Typhoon export campaigns is led by UKTI, but HMG takes a collaborative approach to defence exports and so all campaigns are a cross departmental effort. Information on staffing numbers is not therefore available centrally.
Ministerial responsibility for UKTI rests with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Livingston of Parkhead). My noble Friend reports to my Rt Hon Friends the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as the two responsible Cabinet Ministers.
Information regarding Ministers' meetings is published by the Department on the internet: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&publication_type=transparency-data
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment discussed Typhoon exports during his meeting with BAES on 18 December 2013. The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has no immediate plans to meet his Belgian counterpart.
The Eurofighter Typhoon programme is carried out in partnership with the Governments of Germany, Italy and Spain. This includes cooperation on exports. The Government of Belgium has expressed an interest in Typhoon as well as other competing aircraft as a potential replacement for their F-16 fleet. UK Trade and Investment have been invited, to participate in preliminary discussions at official level on Typhoon. United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) officials are working with colleagues across Government, in the partner nations and with Eurofighter GmbH to coordinate a response.
Within UK Government work on Typhoon export campaigns is led by UKTI, but HMG takes a collaborative approach to defence exports and so all campaigns are a cross departmental effort. Information on staffing numbers is not therefore available centrally.
Ministerial responsibility for UKTI rests with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Livingston of Parkhead). My noble Friend reports to my Rt Hon Friends the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as the two responsible Cabinet Ministers.
Information regarding Ministers' meetings is published by the Department on the internet: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&publication_type=transparency-data
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment discussed Typhoon exports during his meeting with BAES on 18 December 2013. The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills has no immediate plans to meet his Belgian counterpart.
Two beehives were installed on the rooftops of Nobel House on 3 November 2014. Honey production is dependent on the season’s weather conditions. Generally a single hive can be expected to produce a minimum of 25 kg of honey per year. As we are entering the winter period, the Nobel House beehives will not produce honey until summer 2015.
The beehives are managed by a skilled bee farmer, who is a member of the Bee Farmers’ Association. He is aided by an apprentice, who is part of the Defra co-funded Beekeeping Apprenticeship scheme.
Two beehives were installed on the rooftops of Nobel House on 3 November 2014. Honey production is dependent on the season’s weather conditions. Generally a single hive can be expected to produce a minimum of 25 kg of honey per year. As we are entering the winter period, the Nobel House beehives will not produce honey until summer 2015.
The beehives are managed by a skilled bee farmer, who is a member of the Bee Farmers’ Association. He is aided by an apprentice, who is part of the Defra co-funded Beekeeping Apprenticeship scheme.
Two beehives were installed on the rooftops of Nobel House on 3 November 2014. Honey production is dependent on the season’s weather conditions. Generally a single hive can be expected to produce a minimum of 25 kg of honey per year. As we are entering the winter period, the Nobel House beehives will not produce honey until summer 2015.
The beehives are managed by a skilled bee farmer, who is a member of the Bee Farmers’ Association. He is aided by an apprentice, who is part of the Defra co-funded Beekeeping Apprenticeship scheme.
I have already visited 24 Member States to discuss EU reform with my counterparts, most recently, Warsaw on 6 March. Leaders across Europe agree that the EU needs to change. We are setting out the case for Britain’s view of the reforms required to make the EU fit for purpose in the 21st Century. We have already made progress: the June European Council agreed that EU reform was necessary and that the UK’s concerns should be addressed.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials have been in contact with the Home Office to remind them of the appropriate terminology for the Falkland Islands. All Government departments and agencies should refer to ‘the Falkland Islands' in all instances. There is no evidence that incorrect terminology has been used other than in the isolated cases which the Honourable Member highlights. Therefore no cross-Departmental guidance has been issued.
There will be no changes to the programme of the Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) as a result of changes announced to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's management at Sellafield.
The assessment of each shortlisted site for the interim storage of Intermediate Level radioactive Waste arising from the SDP will take account of the site operator's ability to meet and deliver the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) requirement. The site assessment work is at an early stage; no decision has been made as to the final interim storage location.
The MOD will continue to work closely with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on the SDP.
The Department continues to work with the Department for International Development to refine the estimate for costs for the Ebola operation, this work is still ongoing.
The estimated cost of the Early Service Leavers enhanced support under the current Career Transition Partnership (CTP) contract from October 2013 to 30 September 2015 is £1 million.
The estimated cost of continuing this provision and the employment support to spouses (a new requirement) in the CTP contract beyond 1 October 2015 is not yet available as the bidders have yet to submit their tenders.
The provision of mental health services for veterans is a matter for the Department of Health and therefore no such estimate has been undertaken.
You will be aware of the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 8 October 2014, announcing new waiting time standards from April 2015 for the treatment of mental health conditions by NHS England. I also understand that the Scottish Government has set a target for the NHS in Scotland to deliver a maximum 18 week wait from referral to treatment for Psychological therapies from December 2014.
We have not undertaken any formal estimates on uprating the military compensation of injured veterans by whichever is the higher of earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent. Our approach, increasing awards with reference to the Consumer Price Index, is in line with other public sector schemes, and consistent with the measure of inflation used by the Bank of England.
We have decided to change both the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 75 (AFPS75) and the War Pension Scheme (WPS). The changes we have made will ensure that from 1 April 2015, widows, widowers and surviving civil partners of all members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme will now retain their pensions for life, fulfilling the Government's ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
From 1 April 2015 the spouse or civil partner of all members of AFPS75 and any WPS widows will retain their pension for life if they have not already surrendered it due to remarriage or cohabitation.
For those who have already surrendered their pension due to remarriage or cohabitation, should that relationship end they can apply to have their pension restored for life.
The Department for International Development will be funding the net additional cost of deploying RFA ARGUS.
The UK remains committed to the Joint Strike Fighter programme, and the next Main Gate investment decision will be made in due course. The UK has already taken delivery of three F-35B aircraft and has one aircraft currently in production. It remains on track to enter service in 2018.