theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) medical assessors are in post; and how many assessors have left since the roll-out of the VDPS to covid-19 vaccinations. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many legal cases brought against the NHS by mesh-damaged women have been settled (a) in and (b) out of court in each of the past ten years. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GPs have been employed under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Gill Furniss:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) reduce the sex and gender gap in participants for (i) healthcare research and (ii) clinical trials and (b) ensure that sex and gender dimensions are accounted for in the development of medical (A) treatments and (B) interventions. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the current level of Government funding is for all British activity in Antarctica. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK's investment for British activity in Antarctica comprises a) British Antarctic Survey activity (BAS) which is funded by DSIT; b) deployment of HMS Protector which is funded by the MOD. Across the past three financial years, Navy Command has spent an average of £17.871million to operate Protector in Antarctic (or nearby) waters; c) small grant funding from the FCDO to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and British Antarctic Territory which this year amounted to £150,000.

Additionally, the Government has invested significantly into the UK's infrastructure in Antarctica over the past decade, the largest package of funding since the 1980s. The Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP) is a multi-year programme to 2031 to upgrade the UK's facilities at Rothera Research Station. Amounting to approximately £48m per year under the current spending framework, the AIMP includes the ongoing construction of the Discovery Building, a new science and operations centre for Rothera. £40m has also been invested in refurbishing the wharf at Rothera, completed in 2020. In 2014, the then Chancellor announced that the Government would provide £200m to build BAS's state of the art vessel, the RRS Sir David Attenborough (the SDA), one of the biggest commercial shipbuilding contracts undertaken in the UK in decades. The SDA departed for her maiden voyage in November 2021 and has already transformed the way UK research is conducted in the polar regions. She is expected to operate for at least 25 years, providing a modern platform for future generations of UK polar researchers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 31747 on Radicalism, tabled on the 13 February 2025. \p Stephen Doughty: I responded to Question 31747 on the 26 February 2025.
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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support the development of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK Government is committed to equality and opportunity for all, with a particular focus on those most likely to be marginalised and discriminated against, including on the grounds of their age. We are open in principle to the idea of a multilateral instrument dedicated to the human rights of older people and will continue to play a constructive role in discussions on this issue at the UN and other relevant fora.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's progress in ratifying the Global Oceans Treaty ahead of the United Nations Oceans Conference in June 2025. \p Catherine West: The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the "High Seas Treaty" or "Global Ocean Treaty"), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Legislation to implement the BBNJ Agreement will be introduced as soon as the legislative timetable allows.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff his Department has seconded from Palantir since July 2024. \p Catherine West: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not seconded any staff from Palantir into the FCDO since July 2024.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of attacks on Christian communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what steps he is taking to help improve the (a) security and (b) humanitarian situation in the east of that country. \p Catherine West: Recent attacks by IS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) are alarming and we are saddened by the loss of life. The ADF has been sanctioned by the UN since 2014. Protection of civilians, promotion of respect between different religious and non-religious groups, and human rights are priorities for the UK. We continue to work through UN bodies to promote and protect these rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The humanitarian situation in eastern DRC is critical because of the current conflict. The UK will continue to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access, and respect for International Humanitarian Law. The UK has announced £79 million in humanitarian support this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the cost effectiveness of foreign aid. \p Catherine West: We work hard to ensure that our development assistance reaches those who need it most, where and when it is most effective, delivering value for money for the British taxpayer.

To support effective programme delivery, the publicly available FCDO Programme Operating Framework sets out the mandatory rules and the principles, controls, roles, and responsibilities for programme teams. We ensure delivery represents value for money by measuring and assessing programmes throughout their lifecycle and will work with the Independent Commission for Aid Impact to apply the highest standard to our Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend, including robust measures of development effectiveness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the Official Development Assistance budget is spent overseas. \p Catherine West: The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring asylum costs fall and has already acted. This includes taking measures to reduce the asylum backlog and end the use of expensive hotel accommodation.

As the Prime Minister said in the House, as we clear the asylum backlog there are efficiencies that will be made that will mean more of that money is spent overseas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions. \p Catherine West: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has made Microsoft Copilot available to staff as part of a trial. It is therefore possible that officials have used Copilot to assist them when drafting replies to written parliamentary questions. All responses are reviewed by policy officials to ensure accuracy and consistency with government policy, and are signed off by Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reduction of the international development budget on the UK's soft power. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The decision to reduce the UK's international development budget was not taken lightly and is a reflection of the extraordinary security challenge the world currently finds itself facing, specifically on Ukraine. Establishing a Soft Power Council reflects the continuing UK commitment to work more strategically on soft power. The UK has enormous soft power strengths and at this time of extraordinary challenges it is even more important that we bring our hard and soft power together as a force for good, to reinvigorate alliances and forge new partnerships. As the Foreign Secretary has noted, harnessing our soft power more effectively can help to build relationships, deepen trust, enhance our security and drive economic growth.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to strengthen diplomatic relations with the republic of San Marino. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK has a good relationship with San Marino. On 11-12 February, our Ambassador to Italy and San Marino led a senior Embassy delegation to San Marino to launch a new UK-San Marino structured bilateral dialogue with the Sammarinese Foreign Minister and key Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. This dialogue focussed on important areas of co-operation such as foreign and security policy and growth, and built on our existing Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation to further strengthen diplomatic relations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help end the detention of OSCE officials (a) Vadym Golda, (b) Maxim Petrov and (c)  Dmytro Shabanov by the Russian Federation. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK continues to advocate for the immediate release of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) officials Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, including at ministerial level, alongside the OSCE Secretary General and the Chair in Office. We recently raised their cases at the OSCE Permanent Council on 27 February 2025.

In 2024, the UK, along with 44 other countries, invoked the Moscow Mechanism to investigate violations related to the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian Federation. The resulting report highlighted the case of the three OSCE officials and called for their immediate release.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. \p Catherine West: The government defines kinship care as "any situation in which a child is being raised in the care of a friend or family member who is not their parent". The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) offers support to employees who become kinship carers, similar to the support provided to foster carers. The entitlements include:

These provisions ensure that employees who take on the important role of kinship carers have the necessary support and flexibility to manage their responsibilities effectively. Staff also have a statutory right to take unpaid time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to meet the new Chair of the African Union. \p Catherine West: The Foreign Secretary sent congratulations to Mahmoud Ali Youssouf following his election as Chairman of the African Union Commission on 15 February. The Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, was visiting Addis Ababa on 17 February and congratulated Youssouf in person. Chairperson-elect Youssouf will take-up office on 15 March, and we hope there will be an opportunity for the Foreign Secretary to meet with him soon after.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on protecting the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils. \p Catherine West: The UK Government is committed to human rights in Sri Lanka. We have led international efforts over many years to promote accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, including the rights for Tamils. This includes at the UN Human Rights Council, alongside our partners in the Core Group on Sri Lanka. The Foreign Secretary spoke to newly appointed Foreign Minister, Herath, in November 2024 raising human rights concerns. I visited Sri Lanka from 26-28 January and met with a range of stakeholders including the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, civil society organisations, as well as political leaders in the north of Sri Lanka raising human rights, including rights for Tamils.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on the ongoing arrests of Tamil fishermen. \p Catherine West: A long-term solution is needed to resolve the complex issue regarding Indian fisherman from Tamil Nadu in Sri Lankan waters. We welcome recent discussions on fisherman rights between the Sri Lankan President, Dissanayake, and Indian Prime Minister, Modi, during a visit to India in December 2024. The UK Government continues to closely monitor developments.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with Lowick on the proposed new Chinese Embassy. \p Catherine West: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is not aware of any discussions between its staff and Lowick on the proposed new Chinese Embassy.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in China on the treatment of (a) Falun Gong and (b) Shen Yun practitioners outside China. \p Catherine West: Within China, the environment for freedom of religion or belief is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. This government will work to uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief for all abroad, for example through bilateral engagement. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Chancellor all raised human rights recently with their counterparts (President Xi, Foreign Minister Wang and Vice Premier He respectively).

The freedom of speech and other fundamental rights of all people in the UK are protected under UK law, regardless of their nationality.
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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices on global climate action of (a) the US Executive Order entitled Putting America First in International Climate Agreements, dated 20 January 2025 and (b) other polices of the new US Administration on (i) climate finance commitments and (ii) international agreements; and if he will take steps to increase levels of climate adaptation funding for developing countries. \p Catherine West: The UK notes the US Executive Order entitled Putting America First in International Climate Agreements and other climate-related policy steps, these are a matter for the US. The UK will continue to work with all countries and partners to tackle the urgency of the climate and nature crisis and will pursue an energy policy that gets UK household bills down in the long-term. Our next International Climate Finance commitment will be carefully determined through the multi-year Spending Review.
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Mrs Sureena Brackenridge:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support councils to build additional social housing in Wolverhampton. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 31737 on 27 February 2025.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if the Department will make an assessment of the merits of redefining childcare as infrastructure. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning Act 2008, Part 11, provides the legislative framework for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Section 216(1) of the 2008 Act means that CIL must be spent on the provision, improvement, replacement, operation, or maintenance of infrastructure.

Section 216(2) of that Act contains an illustrative list of kinds of infrastructure that CIL may be spent on and in subsection (2)(c) express reference is made to schools and other educational facilities.

This allows the levy to be used to fund a broad range of facilities, which may include childcare facilities.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Isle of Wight Council on (a) local government reorganisation and (b) devolution. \p Jim McMahon: At the start of February I was pleased to confirm Hampshire and the Solent’s place on the Devolution Priority Programme. Since then both I and Baroness Taylor have met with leaders from the Isle of Wight Council and their neighbours to discuss both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timescale. The council is also invited to formally respond to the consultation Government is currently running in the area, seeking views on Mayoral devolution. My officials have engaged regularly with their counterparts in local government in the region.

With regards to reorganisation, on 5 February, I invited unitary proposals from all councils in two-tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. All councils in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight have been invited to submit an interim plan by 21 March and any final proposal(s) by 26 September. Departmental officials have recently met with officers from all councils in the area, including the Isle of Wight to discuss to discuss the process for reorganisation set out in the statutory invitation letter and next steps.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of local government reorganisation on the (a) delivery of and (b) funding for (i) leisure and sports services and (ii) culture and arts. \p Jim McMahon: The funding of local cultural services and organisations is a matter for individual councils, but the Government strongly supports their doing so, not least because of the significant economic, social, and wellbeing benefits cultural organisations deliver. As set out in the Government’s guidance on proposals for local government reorganisation, areas should consider issues of local identity and cultural and historic importance in working up plans that are in the best interests of the whole area.

The final Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government in England, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. This above-inflation increase demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting local authorities. The majority of this funding is not ring-fenced, so councils can consider how best to balance their local priorities.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will introduce legislation to regulate political donations made by foreign nationals via companies. \p Rushanara Ali: Effective regulation of political finance is crucial for maintaining public trust in our electoral systems. The Government is committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of elections and, as stated in our manifesto, we intend to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. My department is developing proposals to give effect to these commitments and will share details with Parliament in due course.

Political parties play a vital role in our democracy, and it is important that they are able to fundraise effectively and communicate with the electorate. The law sets out that it is the responsibility of political parties to take reasonable steps to verify the identity of a donor and whether they are permissible. The Government will take any necessary steps to ensure those requirements are tightened and abided by.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what purposes (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have used AI in the last 12 months. \p Alex Norris: Ministers and officials utilise AI for various purposes. This includes automating routine tasks (such as data entry and document processing), supporting research and development initiatives and analysing large datasets to identify trends and inform policy decisions.
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James Asser:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to reform the leasehold system. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
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Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to increase funding for the building of social housing in rural areas. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 25804 on 10 February 2025.
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Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. \p Alex Norris: We do not have a policy which explicitly covers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. Employees are able to take paid time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant, and non-emergency medical appointments. In addition, employees are able to request other unpaid leave to provide or arrange care for a long-term care need, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer-term arrangements.
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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending Building Regulations Approved Document S to require (a) landlords and (b) management agents to install electric vehicle charging stations at existing (i) flats and (ii) multi-dwelling units. \p Alex Norris: The Building Regulation set functional requirements and apply to new building work; they are primarily intended to protect people’s safety, health, and welfare. Building Regulations are not retrospective and thus are not an effective mechanism to encourage action in relation to existing buildings. Building Regulations Schedule 1 Part S sets requirements for infrastructure for charging electric vehicles and applies when new residential buildings are built or if dwellings result from a material change of use; and when residential buildings undergoing major renovation. Government is required to carry out a post implementation review before June 2027 looking at the effectiveness of the Approved Document S as published in 2021, which will assess how the objectives of Part S are working and whether they are still appropriate.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any alternative funding streams are available for parish councils seeking to purchase community assets following the closure of the Community Ownership Fund. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 29854 on 12 February 2025.
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Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff her Department has seconded from Palantir since July 2024. \p Alex Norris: There have been no secondments from Palantir into the Department since 5 July 2024.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on public surveys using vouchers as incentives. \p Alex Norris: The information cannot be provided, as it is not held centrally and collating it would result in a disproportionate cost to the department.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to local government on the number of people standing for election to local councils. \p Jim McMahon: Local government reorganisation, can help strengthen local leadership, improve services, save taxpayers’ money, and improve local accountability.

The department has not made an assessment of the potential impact of reorganisation on the number of people standing for election in local councils. We recognise that Councillors at all levels of local government do a tremendous job in serving their communities day-in and day-out, helping deliver for their local area. All councillors are frontline councillors.

We know people value the role of governance at the community scale and that can be a concern when local government is reorganised. The letter that I sent on 5 February to all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring unitaries inviting proposals for reorganisation set out that “New unitary structures should enable stronger community level governance and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment”.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of reforms to the taxation of  (a) rental income, (b) shareholder dividends and (c) other passive income on the levels of funding for local authorities. \p Jim McMahon: Income tax is the largest source of Government revenue and helps to fund the UK’s schools, hospitals, and other essential services that we all rely on. In 2024-25, the Office for Budget Responsibility expect income tax to raise around £302.7 billion. Taxes can be raised to support the Government’s priorities, but income tax is not formally hypothecated for specific uses, such as for local authorities.

The additional funding announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget and through the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement will provide over £5 billion of new funding for local services over and above local council tax. We are delivering a Settlement that begins to fix the foundations of local government by providing significant investment redirecting funding towards the services and places that need it most. The Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.
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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what financial support the Government is providing for the redevelopment of Manchester United's Old Trafford ground. \p Alex Norris: There is no direct financial support committed for the redevelopment of Old Trafford football ground. Greater Manchester Combined Authority will receive around £630 million per annum through their integrated settlement from the start of the 2025-26 financial year.

This will give the Mayor and Combined Authority much greater freedom and funding flexibility to drive forward the local economy and deliver growth. This may include support for priority regeneration schemes such as the redevelopment of Old Trafford stadium.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

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Laurence Turner:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent progress has been made on the Parliamentary archives relocation programme; and whether that programme is still expected to be completed in 2025. \p Nick Smith: The Archives Relocation Programme is on track to be completed in 2025.

To date 65% of the physical records have been removed from the Victoria Tower with the remaining moves scheduled to be completed by the autumn.

The partnership agreement with The National Archives is expected to be signed within the next six weeks.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_76

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any proportion of the proposed increase in defence spending from 2027 will be spent on providing further military aid to Ukraine. \p Luke Pollard: The Government is committed to providing at least £3 billion a year to Ukraine for as long as it takes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_77

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) SA80 A2 and (b) SA80 A3 rifles are currently held by his Department. \p Maria Eagle: As at 25 February 2025, there are 125,276 L85 (SA80) A2 Rifles and 40,144 L85 A3 Rifles held across the Ministry of Defence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_78

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps are taken against permanent staff at the Army Foundation College who develop (a) sexual and (b) otherwise intimate relationships with recruits. \p Al Carns: Sexual relationships between instructors and trainees are unacceptable. The Army Foundation College Harrogate fully implements the MOD’s Zero Tolerance policy to sexual relationships between instructors and trainees.

Instructors or personnel in a position of authority, who engage in sexual relationships with trainees or recruits at any stage of training, where the sexual relationship took place whilst the trainee or recruit was still in training, are abusing their position of trust, may be committing an offence, and will be discharged from Service.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_79

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) male and (b) female service personnel have been charged with offences relating to sexual assault since 2014. \p Al Carns: A total of 393 male and 11 female Service personnel were charged with sexual assault (Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003) in the period from 2014 to 2024. These figures constitute individuals charged in the Service jurisdiction by the Service Prosecuting Authority, including those charged after they had left their Service. Figures provided do not include Service personnel charged in the civilian jurisdiction.

Defence has zero tolerance for such behaviour. We are committed to making the step changes required to create a safe and inclusive environment for all our Service Personnel, enabling us to deliver our Defence outputs and enhance our operational effectiveness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_80

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential threat to Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia from saboteurs. \p Luke Pollard: We routinely assess the range of potential threats to the operation of the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_81

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the risk posed by foreign state actors’ covert military activity in Antarctica. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence undertakes regular assessments of the risks posed by foreign state actors and works with allies and partners to ensure the commitments to the Antarctic Treaty, including through the deployment of the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship, are upheld.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_82

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in response to the question from the hon. Member for Huntingdon of 24 February 2025, Official Report, column 14, what the full list of qualifying roles are that entitle applicants to be accepted into the Afghan Resettlement Programme. \p Luke Pollard: While the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) draws together existing resettlement routes into a single pipeline, the eligibility criteria of the schemes which make up the ARP remain the same.

The Ministry of Defence does not hold a list of job roles which make an individual eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme. Each application is assessed individually against the eligibility criteria using a case-by-case approach which takes into account the evidence available. The ARAP eligibility criteria are outlined under the Immigration Rules: Appendix ARAP. Further information on the ARAP eligibility criteria can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy/afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy-information-and-guidance#eligibility-under-the-arap
wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_83
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_83

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29418 on NATO: Finance, if he will have discussions with his NATO counterparts on the role of non-NATO countries with land borders with NATO countries in dealing with international threats. \p Luke Pollard: We regularly discuss with Allies efforts to secure peace, security, and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. NATO works with numerous partners in Europe to build up their capabilities, deepen interoperability, and strengthen resilience.

NATO has formal partnerships with 36 countries, many of which share a border with the Alliance. We are committed to stepping up support to partners most at risk from Russian aggression, so they are better able to protect their own sovereignty.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_84

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current estimated IOC date is for the first Type 83 destroyer. \p Maria Eagle: The Type 83 Destroyer will be the core of the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme, which has commenced its concept phase. FADS will replace the UK's present Maritime Air Defence Capability vested in the Type 45 Destroyer Programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_85

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type 31 frigates his Department plans to order from Babcock; and whether this number is still subject to the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review. \p Maria Eagle: The Strategic Defence Review will consider all Defence capability requirements in the context of current and future threats.

The T26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver eight world-class anti-submarine warfare frigates. All ships are expected to enter service between 2028 and 2035.

HMS Venturer will be the first in Class of the Type 31 and is scheduled to be In service and ready for operations by the end of the decade. All five Type 31 ships are planned to be in service by the early 2030s.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_86

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the IOC for the new Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow, remains October 2028. \p Maria Eagle: On current plans the construction of all eight Type 26 frigates is expected to be complete by the mid-2030s. HMS Glasgow's Initial Operating Capability date remains October 2028.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_87

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to sell any of the Type 26 frigates currently on order for the Royal Navy, to Norway. \p Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business and Trade are actively supporting the promotion of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship design to other navies around the world with similar requirements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_88

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the agreement for Navantia UK to acquire Harland and Wolf will result in (a) delays and (b) cost increases for the Fleet Solid Support Ship contract. \p Maria Eagle: The Government has worked closely with Navantia UK on the future of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme and agreed with them the minimum changes to the contract necessary - on commercial terms - to ensure the programme's continued delivery, with a minimum of delay.

The FSS team are working with Navantia UK to complete the contract change and we are unable to comment on the details due to commercial sensitivities. Extensive work is being undertaken to understand the full impact on the programme including the impact on the in-service dates, which is still being assessed and will be mitigated as far as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_89

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for when the Crowsnest airbone early warning system will achieve Full Operating Capability. \p Maria Eagle: The Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopter, as delivered by the CROWSNEST programme, has been in service since March 2021. The Programme is in the final stages of delivery for Full Operating Capability - expected by 28 March 2025, which is within its approved date.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_90

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to purchase additional E-7 Wedgetail aircrafts. \p Maria Eagle: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 25 July 2024 to Question UIN 432 to the hon. Member for North Durham (Luke Akehurst).

Boeing E-7: Procurement (docx, 14.8KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_91

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what testing of in-service military helicopter exhaust emissions his Department has conducted since January 2021. \p Maria Eagle: Following previous announcements regarding the testing of in-service helicopters, the Ministry of Defence has commenced engine exhaust emission testing of the Puma helicopter and thereafter will commence testing of samples from our other in-service helicopters.

Since January 2021, no other helicopter engine exhaust emission testing has been conducted.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_92

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with (a) the Chief Executive and (b) senior executives of Boeing on the E-7 Wedgetail programme. \p Maria Eagle: Engagement with Boeing senior leadership continues with Ministers and wider Ministry of Defence leadership. The Secretary of State for Defence and I have held several engagements with senior Boeing representatives. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support has regular meetings with his counterpart at Boeing Defence, Space & Security to discuss Wedgetail progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-04 conversation_93

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his policy to implement the Multi-Role Support Ship programme; and what the timeline is for (a) its development and (b) the procurement of vessels. \p Maria Eagle: The Multi-Role Support Ship programme is progressing through the Concept Phase. The Royal Navy and Defence Equipment & Support are conducting detailed work on key user requirements, conceptual designs, affordability, and exportability assessments. Alongside other shipbuilding programmes, they are maintaining engagement with all leading UK shipbuilding entities and the National Shipbuilding Office on the best commercial approach to deliver for the Navy and the Nation. The Outline Business Case is due for submission mid-2025 which will detail the schedule for future contract award milestones.