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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 25 January 1999
DEFENCE
Gulf War Veterans
10. Mr. Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Government are spending on research into the illnesses of Gulf war veterans. [65533]
Mr. Doug Henderson: As I told the House earlier today, Official Report, column 7, my Department has a programme of research into Gulf Veterans' illnesses covering four main areas. So far, about £1.9m has been spent on these studies and we estimate that they will cost a further £4m to complete.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated concerning the health effects on service personnel of depleted uranium shells used in the Gulf War. [64225]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Ministry of Defence is currently funding four research programmes into different aspects of Gulf veterans' illnesses. However, none of these programmes is specifically aimed at investigating the relationship between possible exposure to depleted uranium (DU) and the illnesses being experienced by some Gulf veterans. The MOD has previously published the Defence Radiological Protection Service's (now the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's Radiation Protection Service) 1993 assessment of the radiological and chemical hazards of DU. The MOD continues to monitor published research which may be relevant to the issue of Gulf veterans' illnesses, including any material concerning DU.
I have asked my Department to collate the information which it possesses concerning mechanisms which would be used to test for the presence of uranium in the human body. I will publish this work shortly.
The MOD is well aware that a link has been suggested between exposure to DU and Gulf veterans' illnesses. However, this is only one of a number of factors which have been suggested as causes of Gulf veterans' illnesses and, pending further medical and scientific evidence, my Department is keeping an open mind on this issue.
11. Mrs. Gilroy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to increase education and training provision in the armed forces. [65534]
28. Mr. Shaw:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to increase education and training opportunities within the armed forces. [65551]
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Mr. Doug Henderson:
We already provide a wide range of education and training opportunities for Armed Forces personnel. Our 'Learning Forces' initiative extends from recruitment to resettlement and beyond. It is a major contribution to the Government's commitment to improving educational opportunities and to ensuring that the qualifications Service personnel receive are fully recognised and transferable when they return to civilian life.
12. Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to amend Queen's Regulations. [65535]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
As with primary legislation, Queen's Regulations are constantly kept under review and amended when necessary, either as a result of changes to primary legislation, departmental policy, or for administrative reasons.
13. Laura Moffatt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Government plan to spend over the next four years on the Defence Medical Services. [65536]
18. Mr. Rapson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Government plan to spend over the next four years on the Defence Medical Services. [65541]
Mr. George Robertson:
This Government are fully committed to improving the present state of the Defence Medical Services. To this end, as I announced recently, an additional £140 million pounds is being put into the Defence Medical Services as a result of the Strategic Defence Review. This sum is spread over the current financial year and the next three years to March 2002. We plan to maintain increased expenditure in subsequent years.
14. Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the disposal of the MOD sites in Shoeburyness; and if he will make a statement. [65537]
Mr. Spellar:
Horseshoe Barracks and Old Ranges, including Gunners Park at Shoeburyness have been declared surplus to MOD's requirements and are now being prepared for disposal. A draft Planning Brief, which was subject to a public consultation exercise was approved by the Borough Council's Planning and Transportation Committee on 19 January and will be placed before the full Council on 25 February. Marketing of the site will begin once the Council have approved the brief. DERA are currently examining possible development opportunities at the New Ranges. Should any part of the New Ranges become surplus to MOD requirement, the Borough Council has suggested that it be the subject of a separate Planning Brief.
15. Mr. Miller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Government's current expenditure plans in relation to cadets. [65538]
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19. Mr. Andy King:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Government's expenditure plans in relation to cadets. [65542]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
We are fully committed to supporting the Cadet Forces. Our planned expenditure in the current financial year totals some £58 million. As a further indication of its commitment, the Government previously announced an increase in cadet forces' expenditure of £3 million over the next four years. This is in addition to up to £12 million which will be made available in order to ensure that those cadet units affected by Reserve Forces' Restructuring announced within the Strategic Defence Review will be provided with alternative accommodation.
16. Mr. Martin Bell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of Operation Desert Fox. [65539]
Mr. George Robertson:
Operation Desert Fox was a success. It met our military objectives. We assess that 87 per cent. of targets were damaged or destroyed and that the ability of Saddam Hussein to make or use chemical and biological weapons or otherwise threaten his neighbours has been set back significantly. I have sent a full report on the effects of Operation Desert Fox to all Members and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the number of civilian casualties caused by the bombing of Iraq during December 1998. [65480]
Mr. George Robertson:
The risk of civilian casualties was a major consideration in selecting targets during Operation Desert Fox and only precision guided weapons were used where there was any risk of collateral damage. Indeed, Operation Desert Fox was the most accurate bombing campaign in which we have ever been involved. Whilst the Iraqi regime have prevented UN humanitarian workers from independently viewing all but a carefully selected few of the sites hit, we are confident that civilian casualties were minimal.
Sir Peter Emery:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the selection of targets during the recent bombing of Iraq was influenced by reports received from any member of UNSCOM. [66001]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 20 January 1999]: I do not discuss detailed operational issues and withhold such information under category 1a (National Security and Defence) of the Code of Conduct. Both the UK and US Governments have made it clear, however, that all information exchanges between themselves and UNSCOM have been strictly in pursuit of UNSCOM's mandate to dismantle Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction capability. Target selection for Operation Desert Fox was a very thorough and detailed process involving information from a wide variety of sources.
17. Mr. Beard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on measures to
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stockpile tactical nuclear weapons in the Russian Federation and to prevent radioactive substances of military origin being traded. [65540]
Mr. George Robertson:
Russia continues to maintain physical security arrangements at its nuclear weapon storage sites. Matters relating to tactical nuclear weapons are a subject of discussion in the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council. We and Allies continue to seek to develop the dialogue in this area. International efforts to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear materials are also co-ordinated through the International Atomic Energy Agency.
20. Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Kosovo. [65543]
27. Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Kosovo. [65550]
Mr. George Robertson:
I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe), Official Report, column 11.
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