09 Jul 21. Defence Committee publishes Gov’t response to pandemic report. Today, the Defence Committee publishes the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) response to the Committee’s report “Manpower or mindset: Defence’s contribution to the UK’s pandemic response”, which addresses the key recommendations of the report.
The response recognises the key contribution that the Armed Forces made to the pandemic response, but does not confirm plans for a covid-19 (Operation Rescript) medallic recognition or changes to pay.
The MoD states that it is “committed to a frank and rigorous review of its response to the pandemic and has begun a formal lessons identification process to evaluate performance and inform future improvements to its crisis response arrangements” but does not comment on the Defence Committee’s call for a formal public enquiry into the disconnect between the assessment of the threat of an infectious disease outbreak, and the likelihood of this event.
Despite the Defence Committee’s view that the Armed Forces were used to correct deficiencies in the wider Government response to the pandemic, the MoD describes the Military Aid to Civil Authorities (MACA) process as “well-defined”.
09 Jul 21. Defence Sub-Committee on the Treatment of Contracted Staff for the MoD’s Ancillary Services holds its first session.
On Monday 12 July, at 15.00, the Defence Sub-Committee on the Treatment of Contracted Staff for the MoD’s Ancillary Services will hold its first evidence session, hearing from an academic and the unions. The session will likely consider topics such as the effectiveness of the outsourcing, the impact on the terms and conditions for staff and the impact of outsourcing on the wider defence family and link with the local community.
Professor Roger Seifert, Emeritus Professor of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations at the University of Wolverhampton, will provide an academic perspective in the first panel. Before entering academia, Professor Seifert worked as a management consultant. His current research includes focuses on employment issues in the emergency services (fire, police, and ambulance) and the impact of reforms on employment in the Ministry of Justice (prisons and courts).
The second panel will focus on unions, hearing from Unite the Union, Public and Commercial Services Union and the GMB Union. Caren Evans is the National Officer for Unite the Union, Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union, with over 1.3 million members across all sectors of the economy and representing tens of thousands of members working in the UK’s defence sector, including a range of ancillary services for the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Chris Dando is Defence Sector Group President at the Public and Commercial Services Union, which has trade union recognition for 50,000 staff in the MoD. Kevin Brandstatter is a National Officer covering the MoD and MoD contractors at GMB Union, which represents 600,000 public and private sector workers, including MoD civilian staff in both industrial and non-industrial occupation.
Panel 1 (15.00)
- Professor Roger Seifert, Emeritus Professor of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, University of Wolverhampton
Panel 2 (15.30)
- Caren Evans, National Officer, Unite the Union
- Chris Dando, Defence Sector Group President, Public and Commercial Services Union
- Kevin Brandstatter, National Officer, GMB Union
09 Jul 21. Defence Committee speaks to experts on Space Defence for first evidence session. On Tuesday 13 July, at 14.30, the Defence Committee will hold the first evidence session in its inquiry into Space Defence, hearing from two experts. The session will likely include questions on the threat that China and Russia present in the space domain, potential scope for increased international co-operation and “burden sharing” with allies, and delays to the National Space Strategy.
The Committee will speak to two witnesses: Dr Mark Hilborne and Dr Mark Presley. Dr Mark Hilborne is a lecturer at King’s College London in the Defence Studies Department. His research interests and publications concentrate on security, strategic stability and arms control, with a focus on outer space as well as nuclear deterrence and proliferation. Dr Hilborne is also the convenor of the Space Security Research Group at King’s. In addition to publishing on space security issues, Dr Hilborne has been involved with a number of discussions with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and other governmental offices on UK space policy, and has appeared in TV, radio and newspaper media.
Dr Presley is the founder and Director of MAP Analytica, providing independent consultancy on space policy and strategy, with recent clients including the MoD and the UK Space Agency. Dr Presley has over 20 years of experience in space surveillance. He led RAF Fylingdales space surveillance operations, worked closely across the US space community, and in the MoD worked with UK space industry partners in detailing future space surveillance concepts, capability, and structures. In the Cabinet Office, he led the Horizon Scanning Team with a focus on the role of space within the National Security Strategy and contributed to the shaping of national space policy.
14.30, 13 July:
- Dr Mark Hilborne, Lecturer in Defence Studies, King’s College London
- Dr Mark Presley, Consultant on space policy and strategy, MAP Analytica
06 Jul 21. One-off Evidence Session Defence Committee. Defence to hold one-off evidence session on AJAX programme. The Defence Committee has noted recent reports about the AJAX programme and will hold a one-off evidence session with General Dynamics and the Minister for Defence Procurement on Tuesday 20 July at 3.00pm. In advance of the session, the Committee is seeking short submissions on current progress with the AJAX programme and the concerns that have been raised.
The Committee particularly welcomes evidence on the following points:
- What are cost implications for the programme?
- How will the current concerns impact on the delivery of the Army’s force structure envisaged in the Defence White Paper?
- Whether the current concerns mean that the AJAX programme should be ended and alternative options sought?
- What has been the impact of the current concerns on General Dynamics, the connected supply chain and the workforce?
Form of written evidence:
Submissions should be no longer than 2,000 words. The main body of any submission should use numbered paragraphs. Each submission should contain:
- a short summary, perhaps in bullet point form;
- a brief introduction about the person or organisation submitting evidence, for example explaining their area of expertise or experience;
- any factual information from which the Committee might be able to draw conclusions, or which could be put to other witnesses;
- any recommendations for action by the Government or others which the submitter would like the Committee to consider for inclusion in its report to the House.
Submissions should be in malleable format such as MS Word (not PDFs) with no use of colour or logos. Guidance on submitting written evidence and data protection information is available here: Guidance on submitting written evidence.
Deadline for submissions
The Committee is asking for initial written evidence to be submitted through the Committee’s web portal by 1.00 pm on Tuesday 13 July 2021.
It is recommended that all submitters familiarise themselves with the Guidance on giving evidence to a Select Committee of the House of Commons which outlines particulars of word count, format, document size, and content restrictions.
Diversity
We encourage members of underrepresented groups to submit written evidence. We aim to have diverse panels of Select Committee witnesses and ask organisations to bear this in mind when we ask them to choose a representative. We are currently monitoring the diversity of our witnesses.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Royal Yacht: Procurement
UIN 25802, tabled on 1 July 2021
Question
Bridget Phillipson
Labour
Houghton and Sunderland South
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2021 to Question 11489 on Royal Yacht: Procurement, what assessment his Department made of the potential defence benefits to be delivered (a) economically, (b) effectively and (c) efficiently by the (i)…
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This answer is the replacement for a previous holding answer.
Answer
Mr Ben Wallace
Conservative
Wyre and Preston North
Commons
Answered on 7 July 2021
As set out in the Defence Command Plan, Defence plays a unique role in protecting and promoting the three fundamental national interests identified by the Integrated Review: sovereignty, security and prosperity. The National Flagship will support these national interests including by boosting trade and promoting the nation’s economic security.
The National Flagship will be built in UK shipyards. It will create jobs and upskilling opportunities; help drive a renaissance in the UK’s shipbuilding industry; and showcase the best of British shipbuilding and ingenuity around the world. The Flagship will also complement the vision we will set out in the refresh of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
The operation of the vessel will provide valuable experience for our personnel and promote wider opportunities outside of Defence. It will also support other high-profile Defence Engagement tasking which our ships undertake in support of wider government objectives.
Royal Yacht: Procurement
UIN 25801, tabled on 1 July 2021
Question
Bridget Phillipson
Labour
Houghton and Sunderland South
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2021 to Question 11489 on Royal Yacht: Procurement, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance used by his Department to evaluate the procurement of the new National Flagship.
This answer is the replacement for a previous holding answer.
Answer
Mr Ben Wallace
Conservative
Wyre and Preston North
Commons
Answered on 7 July 2021
The Prior Information Notice in relation to this procurement was issued on 2 July 2021. The procurement for the design and subsequent manufacture phases will be the subject of commercial negotiation and evaluation and will follow in due course.
Ministry of Defence: EMCOR UK
UIN 25924, tabled on 1 July 2021
Question
Stephen Morgan
Labour
Portsmouth South
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to review Government contracts with Emcor for surveillance systems across his Department’s sites.
Answer
Jeremy Quin
Conservative
Horsham
Commons
Answered on 6 July 2021
I will write to the hon. Member with the requested information shortly.
Pakistan: Military Exercises
UIN 25762, tabled on 1 July 2021
Question
Daniel Kawczynski
Conservative
Shrewsbury and Atcham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of whether Pakistan’s PNS Zulfiqar frigate’s scheduled exercise, Arabian Monsoon, with the Russian navy in the Baltic Sea after visiting St Petersburg on 22-27 July 2021 represents a potential challenge to NATO.
Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on 6 July 2021
The NATO Alliance remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic defence. This includes ensuring security and stability in the Baltic region. We are mindful of Russia’s persistent hostile actions towards NATO and our Eastern Allies, and are confident in the effectiveness of NATO’s routine deterrence activity in the region, which includes air policing and enhanced Forward Presence deployments of personnel.
The UK continues to value the role that Pakistan has played as a NATO Partner. This includes training and cooperation with the Alliance on areas of mutual interest, including stability and counter extremism in Afghanistan, civil preparedness and disaster response and counter narcotics. The Royal Navy via HMS Montrose also participated in Exercise AMAN 21 (February 2021) in the port of Karachi and off the coast of Southern Pakistan.
PNS ZULFIQAR will visit Portsmouth next week. Baroness Goldie will attend a reception on board and it will then conduct Exercise WHITE STAR with HMS ARGYLL on 14 July.
Russia: Black Sea
UIN 25761, tabled on 1 July 2021
Question
Daniel Kawczynski
Conservative
Shrewsbury and Atcham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of whether Russia’s actions in the Black Sea towards (a) HMS Defender on 23 June 2021 and (b) the Royal Netherlands naval vessel HNMLS Evertsen on 24 June 2021 represent a potential pattern of…
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Answer
James Heappey
Conservative
Wells
Commons
Answered on 6 July 2021
HMS DEFENDER was conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law, taking the most direct route from Odesa to Batumi, En route, she interacted with a number of Russian military vessels and aircraft: at no point was she fired upon nor bombs dropped in her path. It remains essential that all conduct is safe, professional and in line with international law. HNMLS EVERTSON was also taking the most direct route from Odesa to her destination. The UK will continue to demonstrate our commitment to maintaining regional security and freedom of navigation by undertaking periodic deployments, including under NATO, to work with allies and partners in the Black Sea region. We continue to encourage Russia to work co-operatively to reduce the risk of miscalculation.