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Training Facilities (Morocco)
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for provision of flying training facilities in the UK to the Moroccan air force. [12886]
Mr. Soames: We have no such plans.
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities in the UK have been made available to the Moroccan authorities as a result of the 1993 military co-operation accord. [12887]
Mr. Soames:
No facilities have been made available to the Moroccan authorities as a result of the 1993 accord, although we encourage the presence of Moroccan students on courses at UK military training establishments.
2 Feb 1996 : Column: 998
Mr. Simon Coombs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military parachute jumps were made in each of the last five years; and how many injuries were sustained as a result. [12939]
Mr. Soames:
The total number of military parachute jumps and injuries sustained requiring medical treatment in the years 1991 to 1995 were as follows:
| Year | Jumps | Injuries | Percentage of injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 42,964 | 65 | 0.15 |
| 1992 | 42,957 | 105 | 0.24 |
| 1993 | 49,212 | 92 | 0.18 |
| 1994 | 48,608 | (14)94 | 0.19 |
| 1995 | 42,861 | (14)49 | 0.11 |
(14) Includes one fatality.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of (a) ex-service men and (b) ex-service women suffering from combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder. [12904]
Mr. Soames: Records are not held by my Department for ex-service men and women suffering from combat-induced post-traumatic stress disorder--PTSD--as the responsibility for their care lies with the national health service. Veterans from conflicts dating as far back as world war one may be suffering from PTSD, formerly known as battle shock. It is therefore not possible to give a meaningful estimate.
Helicopter Flying School
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the defence helicopter flying school. [12273]
Mr. Soames: An invitation to tender for the provision of a commercially owned and maintained helicopter fleet for the defence helicopter school was issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 August 1995. Three responses were received on 14 December 1995. The bids, which include a number of support activities at RAF Shawbury and the school of army aviation at Middle Wallop, are now being evaluated.
We expect to announce the winning bid in May this year.
Mines
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what weapons systems are deployed in the armed forces which can deliver mines from a land-based system from less than 500m. [12327]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The weapons systems which are currently in service with the United Kingdom armed forces which can deliver mines from a land-based system from less than 500m are Ranger and Barmine. Ranger projects mines over a short distance while Barmine lays them directly on, or under, the surface of the ground.
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