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Written Question
Gurkhas: Pensions
Tuesday 17th September 2024

Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to bring pensions for Gurkha soldiers who retired before 1997 in line with the standard British Army pension.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Government greatly values the service of all members of the Armed Forces, including the Gurkhas, who have a long and distinguished history of Service to the UK, both here and overseas. The Government takes its responsibilities to our Gurkha veterans very seriously and is committed to providing Gurkha veterans with a fair pension.

The 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme is different to other Armed Forces Pension Schemes, but these differences are objectively and reasonably justified. The legal basis for Gurkha pensions has been upheld by three Judicial Reviews since 2003, including a case that went to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The Government maintains that the 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme continues to provide a good income for our Gurkha veterans living in Nepal, in accordance with the original scheme design.

As a Minister new to the Gurkha Pension issue, I look forward to meeting with the Ambassador of Nepal and the Gurkha veteran representatives in due course.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Land
Tuesday 17th September 2024

Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will take steps to end the granting of licenses for hunting on its land.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

No licences have yet been issued for trail hunting on the Ministry of Defence Estate for the 2024–2025 season.


Written Question
Electronic Warfare
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of UK capabilities in electronic warfare; and what steps they are taking to improve such capability.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK has a number of excellent electromagnetic warfare capabilities; given the highly competitive nature of electromagnetic warfare, the Ministry of Defence will consider how best to keep pace with this challenge as part of the Strategic Defence Review.


Written Question
Defence: Expenditure
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date he expects UK defence spending to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk on 22 July to Question 117.


Written Question
Defence: Expenditure
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his proposed timetable is for UK defence spending reaching 2.5% of GDP.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk on 22 July to Question 117.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Land
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will prohibit trail hunting across the Defence estate.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

No licences have yet been issued for trail hunting on the Ministry of Defence Estate for the 2024–2025 season.


Written Question
Armed Forces and Diplomatic Service: Education
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) armed forces, and (2) diplomatic families, currently receive support via the Continuity of Education Allowance; and what were the numbers supported each year since 2019.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence currently has 2,666* Armed Forces personnel receiving MOD’s Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) The number supported since 2019 is as follows:

Academic Year

Number of Armed Forces Personnel

2019-20

2,908

2020-21

2,843

2021-22

2,826

2022-23

2,759

*as at Academic Year 2023-24

(2) The FCDO currently have 328 diplomatic families claiming Continuity of Education Allowance. The number supported since 2019 is as follows:

Academic Year

Number of FCDO Civil Servants

2019-20

281

2020-21

315

2021-22

349

2022-23

341


Written Question
Nuclear Weapons
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NATO allies about the importance of retaining a minimum credible deterrent for as long as global conditions require.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Since 1962, the UK has committed its nuclear deterrent to the defence of our NATO allies. The nuclear deterrent deters the most extreme threats to our national security, keeping the UK and our NATO allies safe.

As was made clear in the NATO Washington Summit declaration, nuclear deterrence is the cornerstone of Alliance security. NATO and NATO Allies will continue to take actions to enhance our deterrence and defence against all threats and challenges and across all domains. As the Prime Minister has set out, this Government has an unshakeable commitment to NATO and our nuclear deterrent.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Protective Clothing
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many combat arms earplugs his Department purchased from 3M; and what the cost was.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Combat Arms Ear Plugs, specifically the 3M Combat Ear Plugs Generation 4.1, were purchased by the Ministry of Defence from 3M as part of the Tactical Hearing Protection – Basic User capability via a NATO Support and Procurement Agency contract.

A total of 152,850 units were purchased from 3M at an overall cost of £0.699 million between May 2015 and September 2023.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Protective Clothing
Monday 16th September 2024

Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department purchased combat arms earplugs from 3M.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Combat Arms Ear Plugs, specifically the 3M Combat Ear Plugs Generation 4.1, were purchased by the Ministry of Defence from 3M as part of the Tactical Hearing Protection – Basic User capability via a NATO Support and Procurement Agency contract.

A total of 152,850 units were purchased from 3M at an overall cost of £0.699 million between May 2015 and September 2023.