SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill
Formal minutes
WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER 2015
Members present:
Oliver Colvile Mr Kevan Jones Judith Cummins Jack Lopresti Byron Davies Kit Malthouse Nusrat Ghani Kirsten Oswald Kevin Hollinrake Mr Gavin Shuker Kris Hopkins Ruth Smeeth John Howell
1. Declaration of interests
Members declared their interests, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992 (see Appendix 1).
2. Election of the Chair
Jack Lopresti was called to the Chair.
3. Committee working methods
The Committee considered this matter.
Ordered, That the public be admitted during the examination of witnesses unless the Committee orders otherwise.
Resolved, That witnesses who submit written evidence to the Committee are authorised to publish it on their own account in accordance with Standing Order No. 135, subject always to the discretion of the Chair or where the Committee orders otherwise.
4. Future Programme
The Committee considered this matter. SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of General Staff, Paula Hothersall, Head People Secretariat, Policy for Service Justice, Service Complaints, Inclusion and Diversity, Humphrey Morrison, Head of Legislation, Ministry of Defence; Phil Salt, Chief Fire Officer, Head of Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation; Heads of Service Discipline from the three forces: Commodore Andrei Spence, Commodore Naval Staff Legal, Brigadier John Donnelly CBE, Director Personal Services, Army, Air Commodore Alan Opie, Assistant Chief of Staff, Personnel Policy, RAF; Liberty; Mark Lancaster MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Personnel and Veterans.
Resolved, That the Committee request written evidence from Armed Forces Pensions Advisory bodies, the Government of Gibraltar, and the Government of the Isle of Man.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 18 November in the morning
WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2015 Members present:
Jack Lopresti, in the Chair
Oliver Colvile John Howell Judith Cummins Mr Kevan Jones Byron Davies Kit Malthouse Nusrat Ghani Kirsten Oswald Kevin Hollinrake Ruth Smeeth Kris Hopkins
1. Written evidence
Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to the Armed Force Bill be reported to the House for publication on the internet:
Professor Paul Johnson David Anderson MP Ministry of Defence Isle of Man Government Peace Pledge Union Liberty Fire Brigade Union Brigadier (Rtd) Tony Paphiti Child Soldier ForcesWatch
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
2. Forward programme
The Committee considered this matter.
3. Armed Forces Bill
Paula Hothersall, Head People Secretariat, Humphrey Morrison, Head of Legislation, MoD Legal Services, MoD, Commodore Andrei Spence, Commodore Naval Staff Legal, Brigadier John Donnelly CBE, Director Personal Services, Army, Group Captain Mark Heffron, Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel, RAF; Andrew Cayley, Director of Service Prosecutions; Phil Salt, Chief Fire Officer, Head of Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation; Sara Ogilvie, Policy Officer, Liberty; Mark Lancaster MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Personnel and Veterans and General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Tuesday 24 November at 10:00 am
TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2015
Members present:
Jack Lopresti, in the Chair
Oliver Colvile John Howell Judith Cummins Mr Kevan Jones Byron Davies Kit Malthouse Nusrat Ghani Kirsten Oswald Kate Hollern Gavin Shuker Kevin Hollinrake Ruth Smeeth Kris Hopkins
1. Declaration of interests
Kate Hollern declared her interests, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992 (see Appendix).
2. Written evidence
Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to the Armed Force Bill be reported to the House for publication on the internet:
At Ease Ministry of Defence
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
3. Forward programme
The Committee considered this matter.
4. Armed Forces Bill
Ordered, That the Bill be reported to the House.
[The Committee Adjourned.
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Appendix 1 Members’ interests declared on 28 October 2015
Colvile, Oliver (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation
Name of donor: Lord Philip Harris of Peckham Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,500 Donor status: individual (Registered 24 February 2015)
Name of donor: United and Cecil Club Address of donor: Beckfield, Crouch Lane, Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 4TN Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Donor status: members' association (Registered 08 June 2015)
Name of donor: Beaconsfield Conservative Association Address of donor: Disraeli House, 12 Aylesbury Road, Beaconsfield HP9 1LN Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000
Donor status: members' association (Registered 16 June 2015)
4. Visits outside the UK
Name of donor: Results UK Address of donor: 31-33 Bondway, London SW8 1SJ Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): accommodation, flights, in-country transport and food, valued at £1,700 in total Destination of visit: Zambia Date of visit: 2 to 7 August 2015 Purpose of visit: Parliamentary delegation to gain insight into how Zambia is addressing major health challenges. (Registered 04 September 2015)
7. (i) Shareholdings: over 15% of issued share capital
Polity Communications Ltd; advises organisations on community consultation relating to regeneration projects within the UK.
8. Miscellaneous
Trustee (unremunerated) of the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC). (Registered 21 May 2014)
PPS Ministry of Defence
Cummins, Judith (Bradford South)
1. Employment and earnings SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Councillor, Leeds City Council, Leeds Civic Hall, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 1UR. Paid £1,244.07 on the 15th of each month, until 18 June 2015. Hours: 10 hrs per week. (Registered 5 June 2015; updated 13 and 20 July 2015)
29 May 2015, received final payment of £318.58 as a member of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority, Bradford Road, Birkenshaw BD11 2DY. Hours: approx. 4 hrs. (Registered 05 June 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
Councillor, Leeds City Council. Since 18 June 2015, I draw no allowances. (Registered 20 July 2015)
Davies, Byron (Gower)
1. Employment and earnings
29 May 2015, payment of £1,164.34 for my duties as an Assembly Member, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF99 1NA. Hours: no hours worked since the Election. (Registered 05 June 2015)
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation
Name of donor: United and Cecil Club Address of donor: Munslows, 2nd Floor, New Penberal House, 283-288 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HP Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,500 Donor status: members' association (Registered 05 June 2015)
4. Visits outside the UK
Name of donor: Conservative Friends of Israel Address of donor: 41 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BY Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): flights and accommodation; £2,000 Destination of visit: Israel and the West Bank Date of visit: 30 August - 4 September 2015 Purpose of visit: fact finding political delegation (Registered 17 September 2015)
6. Land and property: (i) value over £100,000 (ii) rental income of over £10,000 a year
Flat in Cardiff: (i) (Registered 05 June 2015)
House in Ceredigion: (i) (Registered 05 June 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
RAF Volunteer
Reserve Forces in constituency SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
9. Family members employed and paid from parliamentary expenses
I employ my wife, Gillian Davies, as part-time Communications Officer. (Registered 14 July 2015)
Ghani, Nusrat (Wealden)
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation
Name of donor: Guy Davison Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £1,900 Donor status: individual (Registered 05 June 2015)
Name of donor: Lucy Davison Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £1,530 Donor status: individual (Registered 05 June 2015)
Name of donor: Mr M Bennett Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Donor status: individual (Registered 05 June 2015)
3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources
Name of donor: Nick Finegold Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Date received: 12 September 2014 Date accepted: 12 September 2014 Donor status: individual (Registered 05 June 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
Parliamentary Armed Forces Scheme
Hollinrake, Kevin (Thirsk and Malton)
1. Employment and earnings
Director of Hunters Property Plc, Apollo House, Eboracum Way, Heworth Green, York YO31 7RE. I receive salary of £50,000 and a car allowance of £9,000, until further notice. Hours: 192 hrs a year. (Registered 5 June 2015; updated 22 June 2015)
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation
Name of donor: Vencomatic Poultry UK Ltd Address of donor: Avian House, Thirsk Industrial Park, Thirsk YO7 3BX Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £6,000 Donor status: company, registration 07803669 (Registered 05 June 2015)
Name of donor: Northminster Holdings Ltd Address of donor: 3 Holly Tree House, Harwood Road, Upper Appleton, York YO26 6QU Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Donor status: company, registration 07606576 (Registered 05 June 2015) SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Name of donor: Mr Andrew Megson Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000 Donor status: individual (Registered 05 June 2015)
Name of donor: Stonegrave Properties Ltd Address of donor: Lea House, Bransby, York YO61 4RW Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Donor status: company, registration 04229941 (Registered 05 June 2015)
Name of donor: Kenelm Storey Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £8,000 in hosting two fundraisers Donor status: individual (Registered 05 June 2015)
6. Land and property: (i) value over £100,000 (ii) rental income of over £10,000 a year
A third share in 12 residential properties in York: (i) and (ii) (Registered 05 June 2015)
7. (i) Shareholdings: over 15% of issued share capital
Until 16 June 2015, Realcube Technology Ltd; software. (Registered 5 June 2015; updated 22 June 2015)
Shoptility; search engine (see category 8 below). (Registered 05 June 2015)
7. (ii) Other shareholdings, valued at more than £70,000
Hunters Property plc: estate agents. (Registered 05 June 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
I am a director of Shoptility Ltd and am entitled to remuneration of £48,000 per annum but have waived this. (Registered 05 June 2015)
Hopkins, Kris (Keighley)
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation
Name of donor: United and Cecil Club Address of donor: 18 Thorney Lane North, Iver SL0 9JY Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000 Donor status: members’ association (Registered 13 October 2014)
Name of donor: United and Cecil Club Address of donor: 18 Thorney Lane North, Iver SL0 9JY Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000 Donor status: members’ association (Registered 05 January 2015)
Howell, John (Henley)
1. Employment and earnings SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Non-executive director of Local Dialogue, of Tradescant Court, 77a Tradescant Road, London SW8 1XJ, a company which delivers consultation programmes. From 31 July 2015 I receive £14,000 a year, in monthly payments of £1,167, for an expected monthly commitment of around half a day. (Registered 04 August 2015)
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation
Name of donor: Aubrey Adams Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000 Donor status: individual (Registered 10 March 2015)
Name of donor: Winetown Ltd Address of donor: 229 Hyde End Road, Spencers Wood, Reading RG7 1BU Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £15,000 Donor status: company, registration 07023010 (Registered 04 June 2015)
4. Visits outside the UK
Name of donor: Conservative Friends of Israel Address of donor: 41 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2BY Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): Airfares, local travel, accommodation and food for myself, and local travel, accommodation and food for my wife, total value £2,900 Destination of visit: Israel and the West Bank Date of visit: 26 July to 31 July 2015
Purpose of visit: Fact finding political delegation to Israel and the West Bank (Registered 12 August 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
Land Army Headquarters in his constituency
9. Family members employed and paid from parliamentary expenses
I employ my daughter, Lucy Howell, as part-time Caseworker.
Jones, Kevan (North Durham)
1. Employment and earnings
Payments from ComRes, 4 Millbank, London, SW1P 3JA:
Payment of £75 for participation in July 2014 Parliamentary Panel Survey. Hours: 30 mins. (Registered 09 October 2014)
12 February, 2015, payment of £75 for participation in November 2014 Parliamentary Panel Survey. Hours: 30 mins. (Registered 19 February 2015)
Payment of £75, for participation in January 2015 Parliamentary Panel Survey. Hours: 30 mins. (Registered 26 May 2015) SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Payment from Ipsos Mori, 3 Thomas More Square, London E1W 1YW (Updated 18 September 2015):
Payment of £80 for participation in survey. Hours: 30 mins. (Registered 09 October 2014)
Payment of £200 for participation in Winter 2014 Survey. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 06 January 2015)
7 September 2015, £200 for participation in Summer 2015 Survey. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 18 September 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
I am an unremunerated director of the Prince Bishop Community Bank, a non-profit making credit union. I spend about an hour per month attending Board meetings. (Registered 05 October 2012)
Lopresti, Jack (Filton and Bradley Stoke)
4. Visits outside the UK
Name of donor: HM Government of Gibraltar Address of donor: 150 Strand, London, WC2R 1JA Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): airfare and accommodation for two people, with a total value of £1,370 Destination of visit: Gibraltar Date of visit: 7-11 September 2014 Purpose of visit: as part of the All-Party Group on Gibraltar, to attend National Day celebrations. (Registered 10 October 2014)
Name of donor: Ubertas Group Address of donor: Suite 836, Level 8, 1 Queens Road, Melbourne 3004, VIC, Australia Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): travel and accommodation, £2,000 Destination of visit: Israel Date of visit: 25-29 July 2014 Purpose of visit: to attend tripartite Australia-Israel-UK Leadership Dialogue conference. (Registered 21 October 2014)
Name of donor: MBDA Systems Address of donor: Six Hills Way, Stevenage SG1 2DA Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): train fare and ticket for Le Bourget Airshow for two people, with a total value of £410. Destination of visit: Paris Date of visit: 18 June 2015 Purpose of visit: meeting with constituency employers. (Registered 07 September 2015)
Name of donor: HM Government of Gibraltar Address of donor: 150 Strand, London, WC2R 1JA Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): Air fare and accommodation with a total value of £588 Destination of visit: Gibraltar Date of visit: 9-11 September 2015 Purpose of visit: as Chair of the All-Party Group on Gibraltar, to attend National Day celebrations. (Registered 12 October 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
Chair of the Conservative Back Bench Defence Committee SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gibraltar
Malthouse, Kit (North West Hampshire)
1. Employment and earnings
I receive £40,000 p.a. until further notice as Chairman and founder of County Finance Group Ltd, and its associated companies of which I am also a director: County Asset Finance Ltd, County Plant and Equipment Sales Ltd and County Business Finance Ltd, all of Midland Court, Central Park, Lutterworth LE17 4PN. My remuneration is paid on behalf of the Group by County Asset Finance Ltd which also provides me with approximately £10,000 of taxable benefits. Hours: between 10 hrs and 35 hrs a month. (Registered 02 June 2015)
Until May 2016, as a London Assembly Member I receive an abated allowance of £18,387 a year, paid monthly, from the Greater London Authority, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA. Hours: expected to be between 10 hrs and 25 hrs a month. (Registered 02 June 2015)
7. (i) Shareholdings: over 15% of issued share capital
County Finance Group Ltd; provision of equipment finance. (Registered 02 June 2015)
County Business Finance Ltd; provision of equipment finance. (Registered 02 June 2015)
Until July 2015, Grasmere Homes Ltd; provision of housing to vulnerable adults. (Registered 2 June 2015; updated 11 August 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
10 February 2015, as parliamentary candidate for North West Hampshire, the Conservative Party provided tickets for me and my wife to attend its Black and White Fundraiser; total value £1,000. At the request of Mrs and Mrs H du Val de Beaulieu, we were the guests at the table they had purchased. (Registered 02 June 2015)
Oswald, Kirsten (East Renfrewshire)
1. Employment and earnings
Payments from ComRes, Coveham House, Downside Bridge Road, Cobham , Surrey KT11 3EP. All payments were donated to charity:
20 July, 2015, payment of £75 for participation in July 2015 Parliamentary Panel Survey. Hours: I hr. (Registered 27 October 2015)
9 September, 2015, payment of £75 for participation in September 2015 Parliamentary Panel Survey. Hours: I hr. (Registered 27 October 2015) SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
24 October, 2015, payment of £75 for participation in October 2015 Parliamentary Panel Survey. Hours: I hr. (Registered 27 October 2015)
Payments from Dods, 21 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H 9BP 9BP, for speaking at Westminster Explained events. All payments were donated to charity:
20 July, 2015, payment of £50 for event in July 2015. Hours: 30 mins. (Registered 27 October 2015)
Payments from Populus, Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0AT, for opinion surveys. All payments were donated to charity:
2 September, 2015, payment of £50 received for completing opinion surveys. Hours: 30 mins. (Registered 27 October 2015)
25 October, 2015, payment of £50 received for completing opinion surveys. Hours: 30 mins. (Registered 27 October 2015)
Payment from YouGov, 50 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RT for survey. All payments were donated to charity:
17 September, 2015, payment of £50 received for completing research survey. Hours: 1hr. (Registered 27 October 2015)
22 October, 2015, payment of £80 received for completing research survey. Hours: I hr. (Registered 27 October 2015)
26 May 2015, received £888.77 accrued final salary up to 7 May 2015, as Head of Human Resources at South Lanarkshire College, College Way, East Kilbride G75 0NE. Hours: no hours since the Election. (Registered 03 June 2015)
Shuker, Gavin (Luton South)
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation
Name of donor: JFB Management Ltd Address of donor: 10 Orange Street, London WC2H 7DQ Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Donor status: company, registration 07593021 (Registered 09 July 2015)
Name of donor: Jasvinder Nagra Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,200 Donor status: individual (Registered 09 July 2015)
Name of donor: USDAW Address of donor: 188 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6LJ Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £4,000 Donor status: trade union (Registered 09 July 2015) SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Name of donor: Jack Thorne Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000 Donor status: individual (Registered 13 July 2015)
4. Visits outside the UK
Name of donor: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Address of donor: The Living Planet Centre, Rufford House, Brewery Road, Woking GU21 4LL Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): travel and accommodation at a value of £1,818.60 Destination of visit: Pakistan Date of visit: 19-25 October 2014 Purpose of visit: to visit climate change projects in Pakistan. (Registered 19 November 2014)
Name of donor: Medical Aid for Palestinians Address of donor: 33a Islington Park Street, London N1 1QB Amount of donation (or estimate of the probable value): costs of flights, accommodation and transport totaling £1,100 Destination of visit: West Bank and Israel Date of visit: 16-19 January 2015 Purpose of visit: fact finding visit to the West Bank organised by the Council for Arab-British Understanding and Medical Aid for Palestinians. (Registered 04 February 2015)
Smeeth, Ruth (Stoke-on-Trent North)
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation
Name of donor: Sir Trevor Chinn Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,500 Donor status: individual (Registered 05 June 2015)
Name of donor: Unity Address of donor: Hillcrest House, Garth Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 2AB Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000 Donor status: trade union (Registered 05 June 2015)
Name of donor: RMT Address of donor: 39 Charlton Street, London, NW1 1JD Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Donor status: trade union (Registered 05 June 2015)
Name of donor: Tamares Real Estates Investments Ltd Address of donor: 41 Dover Street, London W1S 4NS Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £5,000 Donor status: company, registration 02792424 (Registered 05 June 2015)
8. Miscellaneous
I have been a board member of Hope Not Hate Ltd since 19 May 2015 (Registered 05 June 2015)
Member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme Member of the Defence Committee
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ARMED FORCES BILL
Appendix 2 Members’ interests declared on 24 November 2015
Hollern, Kate (Blackburn)
2. (b) Any other support not included in Category 2(a)
Name of donor: Lord Taylor of Blackburn Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,500 Date received: 22 January 2015 Date accepted: 22 January 2015 Donor status: individual (Registered 04 June 2015)
Name of donor: Select Support Partnerships Ltd Address of donor: Regent House, Regent Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 6BH Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Date received: 9 March 2015 Date accepted: 9 March 2015 Donor status: company, registration 4400659 (Registered 04 June 2015)
Name of donor: Mr Yasran Yaseen Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,500 Date received: 28 February 2015 Date accepted: 9 March 2015
Donor status: individual (Registered 04 June 2015)
Name of donor: Mr Irfan Patel Address of donor: private Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £2,000 Date received: 16 March 2015 Date accepted: 30 March 2015 Donor status: individual (Registered 04 June 2015)
Name of donor: Paperco Ltd Address of donor: Unit 3, Sharples Street, Blackburn Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: 2,000 Date received: 13 April 2015 Date accepted: 13 April 2015 Donor status: company, registration 8454420 (Registered 04 June 2015)