HANSARDCommons24 Mar 20204 contributions

Defence

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RAF Battle Honours: Operation TELIC (Post-war)

The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)
My noble Friend the Minister in the House of Lords (the right hon. Baroness Goldie DL) has made the following written ministerial statement.
On 10 October 2017, the Minister in the House of Lords made a written ministerial statement announcing the award of battle honours to squadrons of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force, for their participation in Operation TELIC post-war consolidation and reconstruction phase during the period 1 May 2003-22 May 2011.
I am today announcing that Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the award of a battle honour to one further squadron of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force for their participation in Operation TELIC post-war consolidation and reconstruction phase during the period 1 May 2003-22 May 2011.
Battle honours may be “awarded to commemorate any notable battle, action or engagement in which aircrew or Royal Air Force regiment personnel played a memorable part”. There are two levels of battle honour within the Royal Air Force. The first is the award of a battle honour which recognises that a squadron played a notable and significant role in the campaign. The second, higher level confers the right to emblazon the battle honour on the standard itself. This ultimate accolade is reserved for those squadrons which are involved in direct confrontation with an enemy and demonstrate gallantry and spirit under fire.
In addition to the 27 battle honours and eight battle honours with the right to emblazon previously approved for squadron’s participation on Operation TELIC, one further operational flying squadron has been approved for the award of a battle honour.
A battle honour is awarded to:
No.78 Squadron RAF
[HCWS181]

RAF Battle Honours: Operations Vulcan and Barras

The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)
My noble Friend the Minister in the House of Lords (the right hon. Baroness Goldie DL) has made the following written ministerial statement.
I am today announcing that Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the award of battle honours to squadrons of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force, for their participation in Operation Vulcan (Bosnia) during the period August to September 1995 and Operation Barras (Sierra Leone) during the period August to September 2000.
Battle honours may be “awarded to commemorate any notable battle, action or engagement in which aircrew or Royal Air Force regiment personnel played a memorable part”. There are two levels of battle honour within the Royal Air Force. The first is the award of a battle honour which recognises that a squadron played a notable and significant role in the campaign. The second, higher level confers the right to emblazon the battle honour on the standard itself. This ultimate accolade of battle honours with emblazonment is reserved for those squadrons which are involved in direct confrontation with an enemy and demonstrate gallantry and spirit under fire.
The highest honour of battle honour with the right to emblazon has been awarded to two squadrons for their participation on Operation Vulcan.
The highest honour of battle honour with the right to emblazon has been awarded to one squadron for their participation on Operation Barras.
A battle honour with the right to emblazon “Bosnia 1995” on their squadron standard is awarded to:
No. IV (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF
No. 6 Squadron RAF
A battle honour with the right to emblazon “Sierra Leone 2000” ontheir squadron standard is awarded to:
No. 7 Squadron RAF
[HCWS180]

RAF Battle Honours for Operations in Afghanistan

The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)
My noble Friend the Minister in the House of Lords (the right hon. Baroness Goldie DL) has made the following written ministerial statement.
I am today announcing that Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the award of battle honours to squadrons of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force for their participation in operations in Afghanistan during the period 7 October 2001 to 31 December 2014.
Battle honours may be “awarded to commemorate any notable battle, action or engagement in which aircrew or Royal Air Force regiment personnel played a memorable part”. There are two levels of battle honour within the Royal Air Force. The first is the award of a battle honour which recognises that a squadron played a notable and significant role in the campaign. The second, higher level confers the right to emblazon the battle honour on the Standard itself. Battle honours with emblazonment are reserved for those squadrons which are involved in direct confrontation with an enemy and demonstrate gallantry and spirit under fire.
Six operational flying squadrons and nine Royal Air Force regiment squadrons were awarded the highest honour of a battle honour with the right to emblazon. Battle honours were approved for 26 operational flying squadrons for their participation in operations in Afghanistan.
A Battle Honour with the right to emblazon “AFGHANISTAN 2001-2014” on their Squadron Standard is awarded to:
No. 7 Squadron RAF
No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF
No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 27 Squadron RAF
No. Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 28 (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF
No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 47 Squadron RAF
No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 78 Squadron RAF
No. 58 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. II Squadron RAF Regiment
A Battle Honour is awarded to:
No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
No. 30 Squadron RAF
No. II (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF
No. 31 Squadron RAF
No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF
No. IV (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF
No. 39 Squadron RAF
No. V (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF
No. 51 Squadron RAF
No. 8 Squadron RAF
No. LXX Squadron RAF
No. IX (Bomber) Squadron RAF
No. 99 Squadron RAF
No. 10 Squadron RAF
No. 101 Squadron RAF
No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron RAF
No. 120 Squadron RAF
No. XIII Squadron RAF
No. 201 Squadron RAF
No. 14 Squadron RAF
No. 206 Squadron RAF
No. 23 Squadron RAF
No. 216 Squadron RAF
No. XXIV Squadron RAF
No. 617 Squadron RAF

Reserve Forces’ and Cadet Forces’ Associations: Annual Report

The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)
I am today publishing the report of the review of the reserve forces and cadets associations 2019.
The review’s purpose was to assess and challenge the continuing requirement, efficiency and good governance of the 13 RFCAs and, their joint committee, the council of RFCAs. The review was undertaken by the MOD, and an independent challenge panel was appointed to assure its robustness and impartiality. The review was conducted with the full participation of the RFCA community, and gathered evidence from a wide range of stakeholders across Government, Defence and the RFCAs’ customers at the national and regional levels. I would like to thank all those who contributed to the review.
The review concluded that the functions of the RFCAs remain valued and necessary and the RFCAs should continue in their role of key partner to Defence—a point made clear by the wide range of beneficiaries of the RFCAs’ work. The review makes a number of recommendations to strengthen the relationship between Defence and the RFCAs, ensuring the RFCAs are on a stable, sustainable footing to continue to deliver advocacy and support for reserves and cadets across the UK.
Defence is currently working with other Government Departments and the RFCAs to understand how best to implement the recommendations. This will be announced in due course.
The report will be placed in the Library of the House.
[HCWS178]

RAF Battle Honours: Operation TELIC (Post-war)

The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)

My noble Friend the Minister in the House of Lords (the right hon. Baroness Goldie DL) has made the following written ministerial statement.

On 10 October 2017, the Minister in the House of Lords made a written ministerial statement announcing the award of battle honours to squadrons of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force, for their participation in Operation TELIC post-war consolidation and reconstruction phase during the period 1 May 2003-22 May 2011.

I am today announcing that Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the award of a battle honour to one further squadron of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force for their participation in Operation TELIC post-war consolidation and reconstruction phase during the period 1 May 2003-22 May 2011.

Battle honours may be “awarded to commemorate any notable battle, action or engagement in which aircrew or Royal Air Force regiment personnel played a memorable part”. There are two levels of battle honour within the Royal Air Force. The first is the award of a battle honour which recognises that a squadron played a notable and significant role in the campaign. The second, higher level confers the right to emblazon the battle honour on the standard itself. This ultimate accolade is reserved for those squadrons which are involved in direct confrontation with an enemy and demonstrate gallantry and spirit under fire.

In addition to the 27 battle honours and eight battle honours with the right to emblazon previously approved for squadron’s participation on Operation TELIC, one further operational flying squadron has been approved for the award of a battle honour.

A battle honour is awarded to:

No.78 Squadron RAF

[HCWS181]

RAF Battle Honours: Operations Vulcan and Barras

The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)

My noble Friend the Minister in the House of Lords (the right hon. Baroness Goldie DL) has made the following written ministerial statement.

I am today announcing that Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the award of battle honours to squadrons of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force, for their participation in Operation Vulcan (Bosnia) during the period August to September 1995 and Operation Barras (Sierra Leone) during the period August to September 2000.

Battle honours may be “awarded to commemorate any notable battle, action or engagement in which aircrew or Royal Air Force regiment personnel played a memorable part”. There are two levels of battle honour within the Royal Air Force. The first is the award of a battle honour which recognises that a squadron played a notable and significant role in the campaign. The second, higher level confers the right to emblazon the battle honour on the standard itself. This ultimate accolade of battle honours with emblazonment is reserved for those squadrons which are involved in direct confrontation with an enemy and demonstrate gallantry and spirit under fire.

The highest honour of battle honour with the right to emblazon has been awarded to two squadrons for their participation on Operation Vulcan.

The highest honour of battle honour with the right to emblazon has been awarded to one squadron for their participation on Operation Barras.

A battle honour with the right to emblazon “Bosnia 1995” on their squadron standard is awarded to:

No. IV (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF

No. 6 Squadron RAF

A battle honour with the right to emblazon “Sierra Leone 2000” ontheir squadron standard is awarded to:

No. 7 Squadron RAF

[HCWS180]

RAF Battle Honours for Operations in Afghanistan

The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)

My noble Friend the Minister in the House of Lords (the right hon. Baroness Goldie DL) has made the following written ministerial statement.

I am today announcing that Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the award of battle honours to squadrons of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force for their participation in operations in Afghanistan during the period 7 October 2001 to 31 December 2014.

Battle honours may be “awarded to commemorate any notable battle, action or engagement in which aircrew or Royal Air Force regiment personnel played a memorable part”. There are two levels of battle honour within the Royal Air Force. The first is the award of a battle honour which recognises that a squadron played a notable and significant role in the campaign. The second, higher level confers the right to emblazon the battle honour on the Standard itself. Battle honours with emblazonment are reserved for those squadrons which are involved in direct confrontation with an enemy and demonstrate gallantry and spirit under fire.

Six operational flying squadrons and nine Royal Air Force regiment squadrons were awarded the highest honour of a battle honour with the right to emblazon. Battle honours were approved for 26 operational flying squadrons for their participation in operations in Afghanistan.

A Battle Honour with the right to emblazon “AFGHANISTAN 2001-2014” on their Squadron Standard is awarded to:

No. 7 Squadron RAF

No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment

No. 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF

No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment

No. 27 Squadron RAF

No. Squadron RAF Regiment

No. 28 (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF

No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment

No. 47 Squadron RAF

No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment

No. 78 Squadron RAF

No. 58 Squadron RAF Regiment

No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment

No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment

No. II Squadron RAF Regiment

A Battle Honour is awarded to:

No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron RAF

No. 30 Squadron RAF

No. II (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF

No. 31 Squadron RAF

No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron RAF

No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF

No. IV (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF

No. 39 Squadron RAF

No. V (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF

No. 51 Squadron RAF

No. 8 Squadron RAF

No. LXX Squadron RAF

No. IX (Bomber) Squadron RAF

No. 99 Squadron RAF

No. 10 Squadron RAF

No. 101 Squadron RAF

No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron RAF

No. 120 Squadron RAF

No. XIII Squadron RAF

No. 201 Squadron RAF

No. 14 Squadron RAF

No. 206 Squadron RAF

No. 23 Squadron RAF

No. 216 Squadron RAF

No. XXIV Squadron RAF

No. 617 Squadron RAF

Reserve Forces’ and Cadet Forces’ Associations: Annual Report

The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)

I am today publishing the report of the review of the reserve forces and cadets associations 2019.

The review’s purpose was to assess and challenge the continuing requirement, efficiency and good governance of the 13 RFCAs and, their joint committee, the council of RFCAs. The review was undertaken by the MOD, and an independent challenge panel was appointed to assure its robustness and impartiality. The review was conducted with the full participation of the RFCA community, and gathered evidence from a wide range of stakeholders across Government, Defence and the RFCAs’ customers at the national and regional levels. I would like to thank all those who contributed to the review.

The review concluded that the functions of the RFCAs remain valued and necessary and the RFCAs should continue in their role of key partner to Defence—a point made clear by the wide range of beneficiaries of the RFCAs’ work. The review makes a number of recommendations to strengthen the relationship between Defence and the RFCAs, ensuring the RFCAs are on a stable, sustainable footing to continue to deliver advocacy and support for reserves and cadets across the UK.

Defence is currently working with other Government Departments and the RFCAs to understand how best to implement the recommendations. This will be announced in due course.

The report will be placed in the Library of the House.

[HCWS178]