Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make provisions to allow military personnel who have served in Northern Ireland as part of Operation Helvetic to receive operational service medals, where merited.
Answered by Mike Penning
There are currently in excess of 4,000 UK Service personnel deployed on operations throughout the world. Each of these operations is kept under constant review and when appropriate, a recommendation for medallic recognition is made to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals for their consideration.
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to protect members of the armed services who served in Operation Banner from persistent legal claims.
Answered by Mike Penning
Members of the Armed Forces, including veterans, who face legal action as a result of their service in Northern Ireland during Operation BANNER are offered and helped with legal and pastoral support, by the Ministry of Defence and the chain of command.
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is offering to (a) former members of the Armed Forces who are under investigation for incidents that occurred during Operation Banner and (b) the families of those former members.
Answered by Mike Penning
Where veterans are being interviewed as potential suspects in connection with incidents that arose as part of their service, taxpayer-funded legal support (including counsel where appropriate) will be provided for as long as is necessary, regardless of how long ago the incident took place, or the length of the veterans' service. The Department will also support any application for anonymity and/or screening that the individual chooses to make in relation to any court appearances that may be necessary. In addition, pastoral care is provided through Regimental Associations, directly by the Ministry of Defence - through Veterans UK - and in partnership with charities who support ex-service personnel, according to each individual's needs and circumstances. This support is provided direct to the veterans themselves; there is no separate programme of support for families in these circumstances, although we would be willing to consider help in individual cases.
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department received any bid from steel companies with plants in the UK to supply plate steel for the Successor class of nuclear submarines.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The management of the steel procurement process for the Successor Programme is the responsibility of the Prime Contractor, BAE Systems. The Ministry of Defence's involvement with suppliers was limited to conducting a technical assessment during the tendering process to ensure bids met specifications.
The tendering process was progressed and concluded by the Prime Contractor, no viable UK bid was received for this part of the Successor submarine manufacture. Other stages of construction will include grades of steel manufactured by British suppliers and I encourage them to take the opportunity to bid.
Overall, 85% of BAE System's supply chain for the new submarines is based in the UK.
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of steel production to the resources of the armed forces.
Answered by Philip Dunne
In the main, defence requirements for steel are sourced by our prime contractors taking into account cost, time and quality. The Ministry of Defence complies with Cabinet Office guidance on steel procurement and works closely with contractors to ensure supply of steel products.
While defence steel requirements are relatively small, UK suppliers have already provided significant quantities of steel for our biggest defence procurement programmes. We are also positively encouraging bids from British companies to make sure they are in the best possible position to win future contracts.
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will answer Question 201291, tabled by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland on 18 June 2014.
Answered by Anna Soubry
I responded to the hon. Member on 2 July 2014, (Official Report, columns 678-679W).
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each English region have joined the (i) Army Reserves, (ii) Royal Naval Reserves and (iii) Royal Air Force Reserves in each year since 2010.
Answered by Anna Soubry
This information is not held in the format requested. Statistical data on recruitment to the Reserve Forces can be found in the Defence Statistics Quarterly Personnel Report at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-armed-forces-quarterly-personnel-report-2014