27 Mar 20. UK Defence Committee extends policy review evidence deadline. The UK Defence Select Committee has extended the deadline for industry leaders to submit written evidence to its Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy Review. The decision to extend the deadline was made as a result of the disruption to parliamentary working routines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organisations are now expected to provide written evidence before 5pm on 10 April. Any findings from the inquiry will be used in phase II of the review which will aim to build a future strategy for UK defence. Transcripts from the last two oral sessions of evidence gathering have been made available by the select committee online. (Source: Shephard)
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Asked on: 23 March 2020
Ministry of Defence
Armed Forces: Coronavirus
HL2827
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to use Armed Forces personnel, and in particular any such personnel with specialist medical training, to help address the COVID-19 pandemic.
A
Answered by: Baroness Goldie
Answered on: 01 April 2020
Defence has a number of existing contingency plans in place to provide support to civil authorities, including to the NHS. Our personnel are already providing assistance in a number of capacities and this includes those with specialist medical training. Considering the likely additional call on military assistance to mitigate COVID-19 related staff absences in civil authorities, and the increasing volume of patients requiring treatment by the NHS, Defence is constantly monitoring and enhancing its plans, training and readiness in order to support additional requests.