Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the levels of staffing by definition and grade of the military corrective training centre in Colchester since 1992.
Column 901
Mr. Soames: The levels of staffing at the military corrective training centre since 1992 are:
Number |Rank/Grade |Definition -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Military 1 |Lieutenant Colonel |Commanding Officer 5 |Majors 3 |Captains |Section Managers 1 |Flight Lieutenant 3 |Warrant Officers |Supervisors | Class 1 8 |Warrant Officers |Security NCO | Class 1 1 |Warrant Officer |APTC | Class 2 1 |Warrant Officer |Catering | Class 2 5 |Warrant Officer |Security NCO | (Female) 19 |Staff Sergeants |Security NCO 66 |Staff Sergeants |Security NCO 1 |Sergeant |Medical 1 |Sergeant |Armoury 1 |Sergeant |Pay 1 |Sergeant |Pioneer 9 |Sergeants |Security NCO |(RAF) 2 |Petty Officers (Male) |Security NCO 1 |Sergeant (RM) |Security NCO 1 |Sergeant |Catering 4 |Sergeant (Female) |Security NCO 6 |Sergeants (WRAF) |Security NCO 4 |Corporals |Catering 6 |Corporals |PTI 1 |Corporal Storeman |Armoury 2 |Corporals |General Duties 1 |Corporal |Driver 3 |Lance Corporals |Medical 2 |Lance Corporals |Stores 7 |Lance Corporals |Catering Civilian 1 |Retired Officer 2 |Burnham Lecturers 1 |Civil Servant | Executive Officer 4 |Instructional Officers 5 |Administrative | Officers (Civil | Servants) 2 |Administrative | Assistants (Civil | Servants) 2 |Typists 2 |Storekeepers The catering services were contractorised on 1 September 1994. All military catering staff, except for the W02 (Catering), left MCTC during the period June to September 1994.
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will state what armaments and live ammunition, by category, are stored at the military corrective training centre in Colchester; (2) whether the military corrective training centre based at Colchester has a fully operational and stocked armoury on site; (3) whether prisoners at the military corrective training centre at Colchester have any contact during their incarceration with issued weapons and live ammunition.
Mr. Soames: The centre has a fully operational and stocked armoury. The weapons are for the use of detainees who will be returning to their units at the end of their
Column 902
period of detention. Detainees who are to be dismissed or discharged after serving their period of detention are not given weapon training.The following weapons are held at the centre, including personal weapons of members of staff:
121 x 5.56 mm rifles
35 x 9 mm pistols
8 x 22" conversion kit
15 x 7.62 mm rifles
24 x 5.56 mm SUSAT rifles
24 x 5.56 mm Iron rifles
4 x 5.6 mm light support weapon (machine gun)
The quantity of ammunition held for these weapons is small and varies on a daily basis depending on training programme.
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the ranks held by all prisoners prior to their convictions and subsequent detention at the military corrective training centre in Colchester since 1987.
Mr. Soames: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Service personnel under sentence arrive at the military corrective training centre in the rank of private, or equivalent.
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the director of Prison Services has paid a visit to the military corrective training centre at Colchester.
Mr. Soames: The director of Prison Services, Mr. Derek Lewis, visited the military corrective training centre, Colchester, on 24 March 1994.
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to closing the present discharge wing at the Colchester military corrective training centre.
Mr. Soames: There are no plans at present to close the discharge wing at the centre.
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give the numbers and ages of prisoners in military goals dismissed from the services for drug taking since 1992;
(2) if he will give the numbers, ages and convictions of prisoners currently jailed at the military corrective training centre in Colchester since 1992;
(3) when the decision was made to privatise the catering services establishment at the military corrective training centre in Colchester and what was the date of its commencement.
Mr. Soames: My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member on those subjects.
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the responsibilities of the Colchester military corrective training centre with regard to the rehabilitation of offenders into civilian life.
Mr. Soames: Personnel who are to be dismissed from the service or discharged after serving their period of detention undergo four weeks resettlement training in various trades. The training is designed to prepare them for civilian life by improving their trade skills and developing their self reliance and self respect.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the special advisers employed by
Column 903
his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they (a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.Mr. Freeman: A list of the special advisers employed by my Department in each of the last five years is give below:
|Joined the Name |Department |Left the Department -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keith Simpson |July 1988 |December 1990 John Gardner |June 1991 |March 1992 Perry Miller |April 1992 |February 1993 Crispin Blunt |February 1993
Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine of 34 points, ranging from £19,503 to £67,609. Appointments are non-pensionable, and the salary spine reflects this.
Mr. Churchill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from what vote and subhead compensation payments to former service women dismissed on grounds of pregnancy are currently made; how much has been allowed for in the 1994 95 supply estimates; what recourse has been made to the contingencies fund; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: Compensation payments to former service women dismissed on grounds of pregnancy are made from class 1 vote 1--defence operational and support costs--subhead item J2(2). Within this, provision in the supply estimates for 1994 95 is £25 million. No recourse has been made to the contingencies fund. Some 70 per cent. of these cases have now been settled for an average of about £10,000 each.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department made a financial charge to members of the armed forces to participate in the commemorative and memorial services at Arnhem.
Mr. Soames: Essential costs associated with the presence of service men in Arnhem were met from the public purse. The main British presence was provided by the Parachute Regiment. Each soldier and officer who attended was asked to pay £5 to cover the cost of recreational transport provided by the Dutch authorities. This arrangement was considerably cheaper and more convenient than if individuals had been left to find alternative means of transport.
Mr. Hutton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments his Department made and to which United Kingdom warship builders, to encourage or support the submission of tenders for the replacement programme for
Column 904
HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to preserve the historic aviation buildings at Farnborough, Hampshire from demolition; and if he will make statement.
Mr. Soames: On current plans, the buildings occupied at present by the Defence Research Agency at Farnborough will be vacated in the latter part of 1996. We are in the process of defining a strategy for the future of the site. There are at present no plans to demolish any historic aviation buildings at Farnborough.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to issuing protective clothing to British service personnel in the Gulf conflict using malathion sprays on captured Iraqi service men; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: Standard instructions are the MOD personnel applying dusting powder containing 1 per cent. malathion need not wear protective clothing unless performing lengthy collective treatment procedures. The relatively small number of Iraqi prisoners of war infested with lice meant that individual administration with dusting powder could take place and that collective spraying and protective clothing were not necessary. Protective clothing was, however, available had collective treatment taken place.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the mission of his Department's vehicle, registration number 16 AY 60, which formed part of a convoy that travelled on the A1 highway on 28 October; at what location the convoy (a) commenced and (b) terminated its journey; what was the total number of vehicles in the convoy; what was the cargo of each vehicle; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: The military convoy in question was undertaking a routine transport movement. It is not our policy, however, to discuss operational details of military movements.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force (a) Hawker Siddley Buccaneer, (b) English Electric Canberra and (c) Hawker Hunter aircraft are currently being preserved; what type marks they have; where they are currently based; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: At present there are four Buccaneers, type mark 2B, in storage and 1 Canberra, type mark T4, held in storage at RAF St Athan. There are no Hawker Hunter aircraft being held in storage by the Royal Air Force. The Buccanneer aircraft have been purchased by Hanifield Metals and are being held for collection by the purchaser. The Canberra is held at present in the Fleet Management Reserve long-term reserve category.
Column 905
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying in each year since 1988 have led to an RAF police investigation being initiated; and how many of the investigations carried out in each year since 1988 have concluded that a breach of low flying regulations had occurred.
Mr. Soames: The information is not available in the format requested. The table below details the total number of investigations carried out by the RAF police flying complaints flight each year from 1988 to the end of 1993; and the number of those where the police confirmed a breach of flying regulations. The 1988 figure for the latter is not available and could be produced only at
disproportionate cost. It should be noted that, in addition to low flying incidents, the figures for the number of investigations include other military aircraft activity examined by the RAF police.
|Number of RAF |Number of cases in |Police FCF |which a breach was Year |investigations |confirmed ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1988 |331 |not available 1989 |423 |43 1990 |571 |13 1991 |411 |12 1992 |718 |40 1993 |686 |47 |Personnel |and Training |Logistics |Command |Command Officer Ranks <1>Air Chief Marshal |2 |1 Air Marshal |- |1 Air Vice-Marshal |9 |3 Air Commodore |29 |15 Group Captain |110 |56 Wing Commander |322 |182 Squadron Leader |802 |514 Flight Lieutenant |1,764 |565 Flying Officer/Pilot Officer |905 |59 Senior Medical Officer |152 |6 Junior Medical Officer |129 |4 Dentist |113 |- Chaplains |89 |- Officer Total |4,426 |1,406 Airmen Ranks Master Aircrew Warrant Officer |284 |215 Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician |764 |1,054 Sergeant |1,733 |1,463 Corporal |2,320 |2,434 Junior Technician/Senior Aircraftman/Leading Aircraftman |3,436 |3,344 Aircraftman |400 |- Officer Designate |73 |- Airmen Total |9,010 |8,510 Overall Total |13,436 |9,916 Note: <1> One of these officers (Chief of the Air Staff) appears on the strength of Personnel and Training Command but is employed elsewhere. This is the case for a number of other personnel, but separate figures could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The above figure of 47 confirmed breaches in 1993 is six more than was listed in the House of Commons Defence Committee Report, HC 314 of Session 1993 94, on low flying. Of these, three were omitted in error from the evidence provided to the Committee; in the other three cases details of the RAF police investigations were not known until after this evidence has been provided.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the 41 low flying avoidance breaches during 1993 listed in his Department's evidence to the Defence Select Committee--HC 314 of Session 1993 94 pp. 35 36--were found by the RAF police investigation not to have been inadvertent.
Mr. Soames: It is not the responsibility of the RAF police to determine whether a breach is inadvertent or deliberate. On receipt of an RAF police report, this is a matter for consideration by the commanding officer of the aircrew concerned, who will take into account the circumstances of the breach, and any factors such as bad weather or flight safety considerations which might be relevant, in determining whether disciplinary or other action is necessary.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent use of Tornado aircraft from Royal Air Force Cottesmore to perform low-level passes over a prison establishment.
Mr. Soames: Several low level passes over HM prison Stocken were made on 27 September 1994 at the request of HM Prison Service. This provided a noise distraction and assisted in resolving an incident at the prison.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many breaches of the Eshott avoidance area have taken place in each year since 1989; what measures have been taken to discourage microlight flying from this site on weekdays; and if he will list the measures taken
Column 906
since 1989 to reduce the incidence of breaches of this avoidance area.Mr. Soames: The numbers of confirmed breaches of the Eshott avoidance area for each year since 1989 are as follows:
1989: 0
1990: 0
1991: 2
1992: 8
1993: 3
The operating times of the airfield, and the use to which it is put, are matters for the civil operator.
In order to reduce the incidence of breaches, notices to airmen have been issued reminding military aircrews of the airfield's avoidance, which is marked on navigation charts and listed in the UK military low flying handbook. In addition, at the end of 1992, changes were made to instructions to foreign aircraft using RAF Spadeadam to ensure they avoid the airfield by a wider margin than previously.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the minimum authorised altitude of the flight by two Belgian air force Mirages which infringed the Sizewell power station avoidance area on 23 August 1993; and at what height the aircraft were flying at the time of the breach.
Mr. Soames: The two aircraft were authorised to operate at a minimum altitude of 2,000 ft minimum separation distance; the RAF police estimated the aircraft were flying at approx 1,000 ft above ground level at the time of the breach.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military aircraft, and of what types, took part in the air show at Bratislava airport, Slovakia, on 20 and 21 August; what were the aims of British participation in the event; and what was the total cost of this participation.
Mr. Soames: The following RAF aircraft were present at the airshow in question:
9 Hawks (Red Arrows)
2 Hawks
4 Tornado GR1
2 Harrier
1 Chinook
1 Hercules
Displays were flown by the Red Arrows and two of the Tornado GR1s. The other aircraft were on static display. All extra costs for accommodation, food and fuel were met by the organisers of the airshow.
Attendance at this airshow was part of my Department's wider policy of enhancing military relations with countries of central and eastern Europe.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with British
Column 907
Aerospace concerning the use of RAF Bentwaters as a base in connection with the showground air combat range.Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the air crash at Boscombe Down airfield on the evening of 26 September.
Mr. Soames: I am aware of a press report of such an incident. Staff at Boscombe Down have confirmed, however, that there was no crash at the unit on that date or, indeed, so far this year. The only flying which took place that night was the launch of two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters in support of an exercise.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many man hours were spent on repairs to Tornado ZA611 following its accident in December 1986; and on what dates the aircraft has been flown since its accident.
Mr. Soames: Tornado ZA611 was repaired in industry, and the details of the contract covering the repair remain commercially confidential. Since its accident, the aircraft was flown on 19, 22 and 28 January 1993. The aircraft has since been held in storage pending its entry into a modification programme, after which it will return to active service.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the date and circumstances of the accident to Tornado F.3 serial number carried out on the aircraft since its accident, and by which unit; what is the estimated additional number of man hours required to complete repairs to the aircraft; and what is the estimated total cost of restoring the aircraft to front line service following its accident.
Mr. Soames: Tornado F3 ZE250 was damaged on 27 March 1992 during engine ground runs. To date, RAF tradesman have expended 9,025 man hours on the repair, and it is estimated that a further 7,090 man hours will be required before the aircraft can be restored to service. The labour costs of returning the aircraft to service are estimated at approximately £800,000. The cost of spares and materials, which have been provided from existing stocks, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the International Chart Service North sea- southern sheet 1:750,000 2182A, INT.1043, published at Taunton on 10 August 1973.
Mr. Soames: It is not our usual practice to lay such charts in the Library. They are widely available, however, from commercial sources.
Mr. Jacques Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to make an announcement on the future of the RAF's Hercules fleet.
Mr. Freeman: We hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.
Column 908
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown by military rank and civilian grade of the number of service personnel and civilian staff employed in (a) the personnel and training command and (b) the logistics command.
Mr. Soames: The strength of the two commands as at 1 October 1994 is as follows:
Table file CW941201.054 not available
Civilian Personnel |Personnel |and Training|Logistics |Command |Command -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Non-industrial grades G3<1> |- |1.0 G5<2> |2.0 |5.0 G6<3> |3.5 |12.0 G7<4> |9.0 |46.0 Senior Executive Officer |31.0 |59.0 Higher Executive Officer/Higher Executive Officer (D) |95.5 |224.0 Executive Officer |260.0 |479.5 Administrative Officer |576.5 |1,186.0 Administrative Assistant |479.5 |642.5 Co-ordinator Anglo/American Relations |0.5 |- Community Relations Adviser |7.0 |- Mess Manager A |1.0 |4.0 Mess Manager B |2.0 |1.0 Retired Officer (Principal) |9.0 |- Retired Officer 1 |27.0 |3.0 Retired Officer 2 |100.0 |20.0 Retired Officer 3 |42.0 |14.0 Senior Personal Secretary |1.0 |1.0 Personal Secretary |46.0 |25 Chief Typing Manager |1.0 |2.0 Typing Manager |19.0 |13.0 Typist |282.0 |165.0 Senior Scientific Officer |4.0 |8.0 Higher Scientific Officer |4.0 |12.0 Scientific Officer |4.0 |11.0 Assistant Scientific Officer |2.0 |1.0 Graduate Trainee |- |3.0 Senior Instructional Officer |18.0 |- Higher Instructional Officer |93.0 |- Instructional Officer 1 |237.0 |3.5 Instructional Officer 2 |39.0 |- Senior Professional and Technology Officer |4.0 |158.0 Higher Professional and Technology Officer |16.0 |257.0 Professional and Technology Officer |11.0 |425.0 Technician Grade 1 |19.0 |81.0 Technician Grade 2 |2.5 |3.0 Senior Telecommunication Technical Officer |- |36.0 Higher Telecommunication Technical Officer |2.0 |110.0 Telecommunication Technical Officer |2.0 |301.5 Assistant Telecommunication Technical Officer |5.0 |366.5 Senior Librarian |2.0 |- Librarian |2.0 |- Assistant Librarian |4.0 |- Historian 2 |2.5 |- Senior Information Officer |4.0 |1.0 Information Officer |8.0 |- Curatorial Officer E |3.0 |- Curatorial Officer F |1.0 |- Senior Medical Officer |1.0 |- Civilian Medical Practitioner |5.0 |3.0 Civilian Consultant |5.0 | - Registrar |1.0 |- Senior Psychologist |3.0 |- Psychologist (Grade T) |1.0 |- Senior Radiographer 2 |1.5 |- Senior Physiotherapist 1 |7.0 |1.0 Senior Physiotherapist 2 |5.0 |- Senior Occupational Therapist 1 |1.0 |- Senior Occupational Therapist 2 |1.0 |- Head Occupational Therapist |1.0 |- Occupational Therapist |1.0 |- Senior Ophthalmic Optician |1.0 |- Senior Orthoptist |1.0 |- Speech Therapist 2 |1.0 |- Speech Therapist 3 |1.0 |- Dental Auxiliary 1 |6.0 |1.0 Senior Optometrist C |1.0 |- Staff Grade Practitioner |1.0 |- Pharmacist E |1.0 |- Nurse A |5.0 |- Nurse D |11.5 |- Nurse F |2.0 |1.5 Nurse G |2.0 |2.0 Chaplains Assistant |4.0 |- Senior Social Worker |2.0 |- Senior Investigating Officer |1.0 |- Investigating Officer 1 |10.0 |- Investigating Officer 2 |35.0 |- Civilian Security Officer 3 |1.0 |- Civilian Security Officer 4 |3.0 |9.0 Civilian Security Officer 5 |38.0 |81.0 Radio Officer |3.0 |- Communications Officer 2 |- |2.0 Communications Officer 3 |- |11.0 Communications Officer 4 |2.0 |15.0 Chef/Chief Cook 1 |- |1.0 Senior Lecturer |5.0 |5.0 Lecturer |35.0 |10.0 Head Teacher 1 |2.0 |- Deputy Head Teacher 1 |1.0 |- Teacher |4.0 |- Senior Graphics Officer |1.0 |1.0 Higher Graphics Officer |5.0 |3.0 Graphics Officer |20.0 |11.0 Mapping and Charting Officer |- |2.0 Fire Service Officer 1 |1.0 |2.0 Fire Service Officer 2 |2.0 |- Fire Service Officer 3 |3.0 |5.0 Stores Officer Grade A |- |1.0 Stores Officer Grade B |- |8.5 Stores Officer Grade C |- |36.0 Stores Officer Grade D |1.0 |76.0 Process and General Supervisory Class B |- |1.0 Process and General Supervisory Class C |- |3.0 Process and General Supervisory Class D |1.0 |13.0 Process and General Supervisory Class E |1.0 |1.0 Families Officer |7.0 |5.0 Station Warden |19.0 |22.0 Support Manager 2 |- |2.0 Support Manager 3 |9.0 |12.0 Support Grade Band 1 |59.5 |61.0 Support Grade Band 2 |83.0 |46.0 Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer 1 |2.0 |- Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer 2 |1.0 |- Higher Professional Photographer |1.0 |- Professional Photographer |5.0 |5.0 Total |2,918.0 |5,139.5 Industrial grades Carpenter |8.0 |46.0 Craftsman Instrument Worker |- |1.0 Electrician |- |3.0 Electronic Assembler 1 |- |5.0 Electronic Assembler 2 |- |7.0 Electronic Assembler 3 |- |5.0 Electroplater |- |2.0 Fitter Aero Engine |- |141.0 Fitter Airframe |- |277.0 Fitter Avionics |- |7.0 Fitter Electronics |1.0 |186.0 Fitter Engine |- |95.0 Fitter General |4.0 |132.0 Fitter Motor Transport |4.0 |58.0 Fitter Ex Research and Development |- |1.0 Fitter Turner |1.0 |22.0 Instrument Maker |- |98.0 Machinist Woodworker |- |5.0 Painter |1.0 |19.0 Spray Painter |1.0 |1.0 Aircraft Surface Finisher |- |21.0 Sheet Metalworker |- |15.0 Technician |- |61.0 Turner |- |1.0 Upholster |- |3.0 Welder |- |6.0 Armourer |1.0 |13.0 Chief Steward 1 |4.0 |1.0 Chief Steward 2 |4.0 |2.0 Steward 1 |27.0 |11.0 Steward 2 |280.5 |122.5 Mess Hand |395.0 |177.5 Head Cook |12.0 |3.0 Cook |57.0 |31.0 Cinema Projectionist |4.0 |- Labourer Unskilled |- |2.0 Explosive Maintenance Assistant |- |13.0 Battery Charging Hand |- |1.0 Cable Layer |- |12.0 Cleaner |4.0 |5.5 Caretaker Keys |1.0 |- Caretaker |1.0 |- Craft Auxiliary A |- |7.0 Craft Auxiliary B |- |32.0 Driver Ambulance |- |1.0 Driver Articulated |- |180.0 Driver Crane |3.0 |3.0 Driver Non-Articulated |49.0 |34.0 Driver Passenger Vehicle |35.0 |32.0 Driver Winch Operator |1.0 |- Driver Locomotive |- |5.0 Crane Driver Overhead Travelling |- |1.0 Fork Lift Truck Operator |- |14.0 Experimental Worker |1.5 |2.0 Fabric Worker A |- |1.0 Fabric Worker B |- |1.0 Gardener/Groundsman |4.0 |1.0 Gardener/Groundsman 2 |4.0 |2.0 Gardener/Groundsman Assistant |2.0 |- Gas Plant Overseer |- |2.0 Examiner 2 |- |8.0 Examiner 3 |- |2.0 Patrolman |5.0 |- Handyman/Woman |1.0 |1.0 Hydraulic Test Wall Operator |- |3.0 General Hand (Superior Duties) |15.0 |54.0 Labourer |83.5 |29.5 Machine Operator |- |3.0 Medical Attendant |- |0.5 Messenger |17.5 |16.0 Museum Attendant |- |1.0 Metalliser |- |1.0 Packing Case Maker 1 |- |6.0 Rangewarden |9.5 |2.0 Refuse Collector |4.0 |4.0 Safety Equipment Worker B |- |3.0 Sewage Plant Attendant |9.0 |2.0 Shotblaster |- |6.0 Slinger |- |6.0 Senior Storekeeper |20.0 |172.0 Storekeeper |69.5 |390.0 Storekeeping Assistant 1 |9.00 |103.0 Storekeeping Assistant 2 |18.0 |103.0 Sub Officer |7.0 |6.0 Leading Fireman |30.0 |21.0 Fireman |105.0 |75.0 Hospital Porter |10.0 |- Seamstress |0.5 |- Servant 1 |1.0 |- Sterilising Assistant |6.0 |- Tyre Refitter/Vulcaniser |- |2.0 Total |1,330.5 |2,950.5 Notes: <1> Grade 3 includes: Assistant Under Secretary. <2> Grade 5 includes: Assistant Secretary, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer and Professional and Technology Director B. <3> Grade 6 includes: Senior Principal, Academic Professor of Music, Senior Principal Scientific Officer and Professional and Technology Superintending Grade. <4> Grade 7 includes: Principal, Statistician, Psychologist, Principal Professional and Technology Officer and Head Historian B. Footnote: Casual staff have not been included in the above figures.
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effects the recently launched offensives by Bosnian Government troops in Bosnia- Herzegovina have had on the safety of British personnel serving under United Nations command; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: We do not assess that British personnel serving under United Nations command have been placed in any significantly greater danger by the recent Bosnian Government offensives. However, we remain very concerned about the upsurge in the fighting and are monitoring the situation closely.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has that Croatian Serb aircraft based in Udbira have bombed Bihac; and if he will publish that evidence.
Mr. Soames: On 19 November 1994, UN military observers observed two ORAO jet fighters in the vicinity of Bihac. One aircraft dropped its bombs and headed south; the other struck a building and crashed. This and other attacks were widely reported. Croatia is not known to possess ORAO aircraft and no Bosnian-Serb ORAO was reported to have been airborne at the time of attack. The Croatian Serb--Republic of Serb Krajina--airfield at Udbina lies to the south of Bihac and some of its armed ORAO aircraft were reported to have been airborne prior to the attacks at Bihac.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has of the dropping of napalm bombs on Bihac; and if he will publish that evidence.
Mr. Soames: A UN military observer reported that on 18 November 1994 a fixed-wing aircraft dropped three bombs on Bihac. From evidence collected by UNMOs at the impact points, one of the bombs was identified as a napalm bomb, but this was unexploded. The others were cluster bombs.
Column 913
Next Section
| Home Page |