Download or read book Sir Bob Russell written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee on Standards and Privileges and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2012-09-10 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report is into the investigation by the Palriamentary Commissioner for Administration of a complaint that Sir Bob Russell, the Member for Colchester, made claims against parliamentary allowances for the rental of his constituency office from 2002-03 to 2009-2010 when that accommodation was owned by company in which he and a family member held shares. The Commissioner did find that Sir Bob Russell was in breach of the rules, that there was a misreading and misunderstanding of the rules. However the seriousness of the breach was strongly mitigated by findings in relation to disclosure. The Committee agrees with those conclusions and has recorded the breach. No further action is recommended.

Download or read book House of Commons Defence Committee The Defence Implications of Possible Independence Volume I HC 198 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-09-27 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this report the Defence Committee says the information published so far by the Scottish Government on the defence and security implications of Scottish independence falls far short of requirements. The Committee also cannot currently judge the likely running costs of the proposed Scottish defence force, given the limited information it has so far received. The Committee is, however, unconvinced that the proposed budget of £2.5bn can support both the proposed Scottish defence force and the purchase of new equipment including fast jets and submarines. The report seeks answers to the following questions: how would a sovereign Scottish Government ensure the defence and security of an independent Scotland? For what purposes would Scottish armed forces be used? How would Scottish armed forces be structured and trained, and where would they be based? How much would it cost to equip, support and train an independent Scotland's armed forces and how much of this could be procured and delivered domestically? And how many jobs in the defence sector would be placed at risk? The Committee also raises detailed questions about the proposed Scottish defence force: the numbers and types of aircraft and naval vessels which would be needed and how they would be procured and maintained; the numbers of combat troops the Scottish Government envisages (including its plan to re-instate historic Scottish regiments); and the availability of training facilities to maintain the appropriate professional standards. In the event of independence, the defence industry in Scotland would face a difficult future.

Download or read book The Armed Forces Covenant in Action Part 2 Accommodation written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2012-06-26 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Evidence given to the Committee showed that Armed Forces personnel and their families valued accommodation very highly and saw it as part of their terms and conditions of employment and as promoting unit cohesion and support for families when personnel were deployed on operations. The provision of accommodation was particularly important for those who were required to be mobile; it was the only option allowing families to live together. It is also clear that for many personnel, Service Families Accommodation is the only affordable housing solution. Indeed, the Families Federation said that inquiries and complaints about accommodation account for more than half of the regular communications they receive. So when the Committee considered the MoD's decision to halt upgrade work on accommodation for the next three years, they saw it as damaging to the Covenant and recommended that the MoD look again urgently at the stoppage, which, in any case, could well be a false economy. In early 2012, the MoD began work on the New Employment Model, looking at how Armed Forces personnel are employed. One element of this is the Future Accommodation. The Committee recommends that this project should be sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of the three individual Services by allowing sufficient variation to meet their differing needs. They should also take account of the needs of personnel at different stages in their lives and careers. Given the fragility of morale we recommend that the MoD should use a more effective communications strategy to keep Service families in the picture

Download or read book The Armed Forces Covenant in action written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-07-18 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A series of Ofsted inspections on Army Apprenticeships conducted in 2013 rated the overall effectiveness as good. This was an improvement over the last inspection in 2009, rated as satisfactory (now called 'requires improvement'). Some 28 per cent of Army recruits were less than 18 years of age. Further information is needed on why the Army is so dependent on recruiting personnel under the age of 18 years compared to the other two Services, and whether steps are being taken to reduce this dependency. Of those recruited in 2012, 3.5 per cent of the Army were rated at entry level 2 for literacy (that of a 7 to 8 year old) and 39 per cent had a literacy level of an eleven year old. If as the MoD states, it has to recruit personnel at whatever level of attainment is available, then it should boost remedial action when recruitment entry standards are particularly low. In light of changes brought about by Future Force 2020, it may be that recruiting personnel with higher levels of attainment would better meet the future needs of the Armed Forces. Whilst the Committee recognises that some recruits may not be eager to take further academic exams, the MoD should encourage more recruits to undertake English and Maths GCSEs which would stand them in good stead for future employment. The MoD has carried out some useful pilot projects with paramedic training and should identify more potential projects to ensure that vital skills paid for by the MoD are not lost to the country

Download or read book Immigration Control written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Home Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-07-23 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Immigration Control : Fifth report of session 2005-06, Vol. 3: Oral and written Evidence

Download or read book Rehabilitation of Prisoners written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Home Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005 with total page 350 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Incorporating HCP 1245-i-iii, session 2002-03 and HCP 66-i-iii, session 2003-04

Download or read book House of Commons Defence Committee Towards the Next Defence and Security Review Part One HC 197 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2014-01-07 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this report the Defence Committee argues that the capabilities of HM Forces should be determined not by budgetary constraints but by a fully-developed strategy which defines the position in the world that the UK wants to adopt. The report urges the government to produce a comprehensive national security strategy in the first place and let that document, along with the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), direct the next Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). The allocation of resources will be based on national spending priorities set to meet the nation's security needs. There is a danger of defence becoming a matter of discretionary spending. Decisions about the expeditionary capability that the UK retains must be based on proper strategic decision making about the UK's place in the world and not simply flow from the "horse-trading" that surrounds the CSR process. The report points to a lack of understanding amongst the public of why we have Armed Forces. General sympathy and support for the Armed Forces must not obscure a hard-headed understanding of what they are for. The process of producing the next Defence and Security Review is the opportunity to engage the public in understanding the future of the Armed Forces. The Committee has very real concerns about the focus that will be given to the number of asymmetric security threats to the UK, such as from terrorism or cyber attack. The Government must think more strategically about the resilience of the country's critical infrastructure and recovery following an attack.

Download or read book Future Maritime Surveillance written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2012-09-19 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee has serious concerns following the decision in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) to cancel the Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) programme. Although the MoD's own capability investigations have concluded that a MPA is the solution to the UK's maritime surveillance requirements over the next 20 years, the MoD has postponed any decision on a further MPA until at least the next SDSR in 2015. The MoD has acknowledged that the resultant capability gap cannot be completely covered by an existing single asset or collection of assets. The Committee is concerned that the MoD is sending mixed messages in respect of the need for a maritime patrol aircraft. On one hand it says that there is no requirement for such an aircraft and that it is not funded or in the programme but on the other hand it acknowledges that its absence is a risk and something may need to be done. The Committee is also concerned about the withdrawal of other maritime surveillance assets. However the report acknowledges the work the MoD has undertaken to explore the potential options for maritime surveillance in the longer term, such as unmanned systems, lighter-than-air vehicles and space technology. The report welcomes the establishment of the Maritime Security Oversight Group and the National Maritime Information Centre as first steps towards a more strategic and co-ordinated output and as a way of mitigating some of the capability gaps

Download or read book Policing in the 21st Century written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Home Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Policing in the 21st Century : Seventh report of session 2007-08, Vol. 2: Oral and written Evidence

Download or read book Securing the Future of Afghanistan written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-04-10 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee's report focuses on the planned withdrawal of combat troops at the end of 2014 and the transfer of responsibility for security to the Afghan National Security Forces. It also examines the progress towards a secure and stable Afghanistan within the wider region, including Pakistan, and the plans by the UK, NATO and other allies for a smooth transition of responsibility for security to the Afghan Government and the ANSF. Securing the future of Afghanistan requires the concerted efforts of all the Afghan people; regional neighbours, in particular Pakistan; the USA; NATO and other coalition partners. In the process of establishing a peaceful and functioning Afghanistan, the Committee calls for evidence of: (i) At least the start of an Afghan-led peace settlement with the insurgency; (ii) Open and free elections; (iii) An appropriately trained and equipped ANSF with continuing financial support; (iii) A strong judicial system which protects the human rights of all Afghans; (iv) Economic development aid to continue in support of the well being and safety of all sections of society; (v) Effective measures to tackle corruption, drug production and the drug trade. The MoD needs to work with international partners and the ANSF to identify ways of meeting significant gaps in necessary capabilities such as helicopters and close air support and medical care from 2015. The Defence Committee concludes that at the end of UK operations the best the UK will be able to do is to withdraw in good order and engage with external partners to improve Afghanistan's future prospects.

Download or read book Cleaning Up the Mess written by Ian Kennedy and published by Biteback Publishing. This book was released on 2019-06-11 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2009, news broke that MPs had been claiming taxpayers money to pay for such excesses as a floating duck-house, moat-cleaning services and 550 sacks of manure. The revelations shook Westminster and compromised the voters trust. Urgent action had to be taken. Cue the establishment of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), a regulator designed to scrutinise every claim and hold MPs to account. Created from scratch and operating in a world of rattled politicians accustomed to old habits, IPSA came up against a series of obstacles, ranging from MPs who had never used a computer to vicious online abuse. Ian Kennedy was the chairman of IPSA for its first seven years, and was responsible for developing it into an effective and transparent organisation. Ten years on, he discusses his struggle to ensure the public s money was put to good use, all the while being hounded by the press for not doing what they wanted, and by MPs themselves for doing what they'd voted for but didn't really intend. Cleaning Up the Mess describes the bullying, bitterness and occasional kindness Kennedy encountered, and how a thick skin and conviction in IPSA's purpose helped to restore trust in politics and politicians.

Download or read book Defence Acquisition written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-02-05 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Defence Committee accepts that there are deep-rooted problems with the present acquisition system, and draws attention to the example of the decision in 2010 to change to the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, a decision which later had to be reversed. The Committee agrees with the Government that the current arrangements for acquisition, constrained by public sector employment rules, are unsatisfactory. But the proposal to entrust acquisition to a Government owned, Contractor operated company is not universally accepted as the best way forward, and there are particular concerns about how the MoD's overall responsibility for acquisition could be maintained within a GoCo. The Committee considers that problems might arise if a non-UK company were given responsibility for UK defence acquisition. It further considers it vital that consultations are satisfactorily concluded with allies, to ensure that there is no adverse impact on co-operation, before any proposals are implemented.

Download or read book The Home Office s response to terrorist attacks written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Home Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-02-03 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Incorporating HC 1007-i & ii, session 2008-09

Download or read book Riots Civil and Criminal Disorders written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Government Operations. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and published by . This book was released on 1967 with total page 1282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Hearings written by United States. Congress Senate and published by . This book was released on 1967 with total page 2218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Hearings Reports and Prints of the Senate Committee on Government Operations written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Government Operations and published by . This book was released on 1967 with total page 1252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Armed Forces Bill written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-05-09 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Armed Forces Bill : Special report of session 2005-06, Vol. 2: Oral and written evidence and official Report