First Report - Defence in Scotland: military landscape

Select Committee

Scottish Affairs Committee HC 82 24 June 2022

Report Status Government responded

Conclusions & Recommendations 18 items (11 recs)

Source View on Parliament website

Government Response (AI assessment · 18 of 18 classified)

Accepted 4

Acknowledged 12

Deferred 2

Recommendations

11 results

5 Acknowledged

Para 33

The MOD should, with the assistance of the Scotland Office, initiate a culture change process...

Recommendation

The MOD should, with the assistance of the Scotland Office, initiate a culture change process within its own ranks, and in its prime contractors, that addresses perceptions of engrained hesitancy towards working with SMEs in Scotland, with a view to … Read more

Government Response Summary

The MOD notes the Committee’s recommendation and welcomes further involvement from Scottish SMEs in the Defence supply chain and notes the MOD has a target that 25% of its procurement spend will go directly and indirectly to SMEs by the end of 2022.

Scotland Office

7 Acknowledged

The UK Government should clarify definitively its position on whether current policies potentially allow for...

Recommendation

The UK Government should clarify definitively its position on whether current policies potentially allow for Royal Navy warships (such as destroyers, frigates and fleet solid support ships) to be procured and/or built overseas. If this potential exists—which could have a … Read more

Government Response Summary

The Government acknowledged the committee's concerns about the potential for warships to be procured/built overseas, mentions the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh and investment in UK shipbuilding, and says it will consider the long-term industrial impact of different options.

Scotland Office

9 Acknowledged

Para 61

The formal partnership arrangement between the MOD and Argyll and Bute Council has been a...

Recommendation

The formal partnership arrangement between the MOD and Argyll and Bute Council has been a great success and should be seen as a model for MOD interactions with Scottish local authorities. The MOD and relevant local authorities in Scotland should … Read more

Government Response Summary

The MOD is committed to working with Scottish local authorities including through the use of formal partnership arrangements where appropriate.

Scotland Office

10 Accepted

The MOD should intensify its collaboration efforts with all Scottish local authorities facing base closures...

Recommendation

The MOD should intensify its collaboration efforts with all Scottish local authorities facing base closures or base expansions, and engage with them at earlier stages in those processes. The MOD should also work with Scottish local authorities to jointly produce, … Read more

Government Response Summary

The MOD will continue to work with local authorities to determine the impact of basing decisions on communities and how we release surplus military sites for meaningful future use. MOD already employs dedicated locally based estate leads for all of our sites in Scotland to facilitate regular engagement with local councils.

Scotland Office

12 Acknowledged

Para 74

MOD engagement processes on military basing decisions currently take place predominantly between the MOD and...

Recommendation

MOD engagement processes on military basing decisions currently take place predominantly between the MOD and affected local authorities and health boards. While this approach might work in England, in Scotland an adapted approach is needed in order to recognise the … Read more

Government Response Summary

The MOD acknowledges the need for constructive engagement with the Scottish Government and will seek to prioritise the development of improved knowledge and understanding across Defence where MOD business both impacts, and is impacted by, areas of devolved competence.

Scotland Office

13 Acknowledged

Para 75

The MOD should increase its efforts to collaborate with the Scottish Government on basing decisions.

Recommendation

The MOD should increase its efforts to collaborate with the Scottish Government on basing decisions. This would facilitate improved information sharing, in both directions—for example, in relation to future basing intentions and the likely impact on local communities. Read more

Government Response Summary

The MOD says that basing decisions are based entirely on military requirement, but it is recognised that the impact of site closures will be felt beyond the Defence community and notification of decisions at the earliest possible opportunity is helpful.

Scotland Office

14 Deferred

The Scottish Government must commit to properly funding local authorities and health boards local to...

Recommendation

The Scottish Government must commit to properly funding local authorities and health boards local to military bases to ensure there is sufficient provision in place. This was not the case for dental and maternity services for military families in Moray. … Read more

Government Response Summary

The MOD will share the recommendation regarding funding of local authorities and health boards with their Scottish Government counterparts, as it is outside the locus of the MOD.

Scotland Office

15 Accepted

Para 91

While improvements have been made in this area—for example the Scottish Government’s ‘Welcome to Scotland’...

Recommendation

While improvements have been made in this area—for example the Scottish Government’s ‘Welcome to Scotland’ guide—there is scope for the MOD to be more proactive in the information it routinely shares with Armed Forces personnel and their families when they … Read more

Government Response Summary

The MOD commits to working with the Scottish Government and Service Families Federations to refresh the ‘Welcome to Scotland’ publication annually and signpost it to personnel.

Scotland Office

16 Acknowledged

Para 92

The MOD should conduct a review of the formats and quality of information it proactively...

Recommendation

The MOD should conduct a review of the formats and quality of information it proactively and routinely shares with all Armed Forces personnel and their families when they move to bases in Scotland, and from Scotland. The Scottish Government should … Read more

Government Response Summary

MOD will continue to work with SG and single Service Families Federations to refresh the ‘Welcome to Scotland’ publication annually and signpost it to personnel, including through HIVE information services and will also continue involvement in the SG chaired Scottish Armed Forces Education Strategy Group (SAFESG).

Scotland Office

17 Accepted

Para 93

The UK Government should accelerate work with relevant responsible bodies across the UK to reduce...

Recommendation

The UK Government should accelerate work with relevant responsible bodies across the UK to reduce barriers that military spouses and partners face when attempting to transfer their professional qualifications—for example, teaching qualifications— between UK nations. In line with the Armed … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government states that the Scottish Credits and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQFP), the Training, Education, Skills, Recruitment and Resettlement team (TESRR) of MOD and Skills Development Scotland, have collaborated to simplify the current system for mapping and translating qualifications and that spouses may use the online tool to translate their qualifications.

Scotland Office

18 Deferred

We welcome the MOD’s annual payment to 7,000 Armed Forces personnel in Scotland.

Recommendation

We welcome the MOD’s annual payment to 7,000 Armed Forces personnel in Scotland. However, the Scottish Government should consider an exemption from the extra income tax in Scotland, and for the spouses of Armed Forces personnel. (Paragraph 94) 38 Defence … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government says armed forces personnel should be treated equally across the UK, notes that some service personnel in Scotland are compensated for higher income taxes, and has asked officials to share the recommendation with Scottish Government counterparts.

Scotland Office

Conclusions (7) Observations and findings — click to expand

1 Conclusion Acknowledged

Para 19

Scotland is experiencing a new era of confidence and investment in the defence sector. We welcome the MOD’s clear commitment to Scotland, shown, for example, by making it home to the UK’s submarine service, the new fleets of P8 Maritime Patrol and E-7 Wedgetail aircraft and that Scotland will host …

Government Response Summary

MOD acknowledges the Committee's highlighting the positive role that the MOD and the defence sector play in Scotland and reaffirms its commitment to the future of Defence in Scotland and its continued vital role in maintaining UK security.

2 Conclusion Acknowledged

Para 20

We welcome the increased military capabilities the MOD is gaining in Scotland, especially in light of ongoing increases in Russian aggression, and the importance that Scotland’s military capabilities play in strengthening the UK’s international alliances, such as NATO.

Government Response Summary

The MOD is committed to the future of Defence in Scotland and appreciates the Committee for highlighting its role in maintaining UK security and strengthening international alliances.

3 Conclusion Acknowledged

We note that the 2014 commitment to increase the number of Regular Armed Forces personnel has been superseded by changing strategic priorities. We welcome the 2021 Future Soldier programme to increase the number of battalions in Scotland and that Scotland will host a greater proportion of the Army in the …

Government Response Summary

MOD acknowledges the Committee's highlighting the positive role that the MOD and the defence sector play in Scotland and reaffirms its commitment to the future of Defence in Scotland and its continued vital role in maintaining UK security.

4 Conclusion Accepted

Para 32

We welcome the MOD’s high level of spending with Scottish industry (around 10% of total spending with industry) but are concerned that this spending is very heavily skewed towards major international prime contractors rather than SMEs. This is illustrated by the fact that only 2.5% of the MOD’s spending with …

Government Response Summary

The MOD recognises the skills offered by Scottish SMEs but rejects the view that there is an engrained hesitancy within the defence sector towards working with them, and outlines various initiatives to support SMEs.

6 Conclusion Acknowledged

The military shipbuilding sector provides an important pipeline of highly skilled jobs for Scottish industry. While current Royal Navy Type 26 and Type 31 orders are very welcome, the future of the sector is dependent on favourable UK Government policies and a regular ‘drumbeat’ of orders, which we will explore …

Government Response Summary

The Government acknowledged the committee's highlighting the prosperity benefits that shipbuilding brings to Scotland, and mentions the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh and investment in UK shipbuilding, including opportunities for Scottish shipbuilders.

8 Conclusion Acknowledged

Para 60

MOD base closures, base expansions, speculation on base closures and reversals/ changes in basing decisions can all have major consequences for local communities in Scotland. All of the local authorities we heard from—regardless of whether they were facing MOD increases or decreases—desired greater collaboration with the MOD on basing decisions.

Government Response Summary

The MOD acknowledges the committee's conclusion and states it will continue to work closely with stakeholders on the release of surplus Defence land, as well as the maintenance and development of Defence establishments in Scotland.

11 Conclusion Acknowledged

Para 73

While defence is wholly reserved to the UK Government, MOD decisions on military basing nonetheless have significant implications for areas of devolved competence, such as child education, healthcare and housing.

Government Response Summary

The MOD was proud to launch the revised ten-year UK Armed Forces Families Strategy (2022– 32) in January 2022 and will continue to engage with its stakeholders to ensure fair and equitable treatment of service personnel across the UK.