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Departmental Staff
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of departmental personnel treated at NHS hospitals; how many operations were carried out on them; and what was the cost to his Department in each of the last five years. [65780]
Mr. Doug Henderson: In the case of Service personnel treated in MDHUs, the MOD pays the host NHS Trust for their treatment. The Department pays on the basis of the anticipated throughput of patients. These costs are adjusted at the end of each year in the light of the actual throughput. The number of patients treated in MDHUs and the cost of their treatment to date for each year since the first MDHU was opened is shown in the table. The available information does not differentiate between those patients admitted for surgical operations and those admitted for other treatments.
| Year | Inpatients | Daycases | Outpatients | Total throughput | Cost £ million |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 813 | 878 | 5,189 | 6,880 | 1.934 |
| 1996-97 | 4,246 | 2,197 | 22,887 | 29,330 | 12.050 |
| 1997-98 | 4,457 | 2,571 | 28,558 | 35,586 | 8.622 |
| 1998-99 | 4,457 | 2,884 | 27,146 | 34,112 | 9.976 |
Service Personnel may also be treated in any other NHS hospital as an NHS patient. The DSCA does not have visibility or control over such referrals, which would be mostly for emergency or specialist treatment. The cost of such treatment is in general met by the Department of Health, as for all other NHS patients.
Royal Hospital, Haslar
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cash limit placed on work by his Department at the RN Hospital Haslar in each of the last five years. [65783]
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 733
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The Defence Secondary Care Agency took over responsibility for Haslar in April 1996. Since then, the cash limits placed on the hospital's expenditure have been as follows:
These are at the price base appropriate to the respective year.
Details for FYs 1994-95 and 1995-96 are the responsibility of another part of my Department. They are unable to provide the information in the timescale. I have, therefore, asked the DSCA Chief Executive to write to you separately when the information becomes available.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses have been employed and by which Government department at the RN Hospital, Haslar in each of the last five years. [65784]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The number of MOD civilian doctors and nurses employed at the Royal Hospital Haslar over the last five years are as follows:
1996-97: £41.345m
1997-98: £40.314m
1998-99: £48.999m.
| Year | Doctors | Nurses |
|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 24 | 57 |
| 1996-97 | 13 | 16 |
| 1995-96 | 8 | 3 |
| 1994-95 | 10 | 4 |
| 1993-94 | 5 | 5 |
Until the last year, robust manpower recording systems were not in place to ensure the provision of accurate information. The details above are, therefore, the best that can be provided from central computer records.
For military personnel, the information requested will take a little while longer to identify. I have, therefore, asked the CE DSCA to write to you separately when the information becomes available.
No other Government Department has provided doctors or nurses for work at the Hospital.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost for non-departmental work at the RN Hospital Haslar and how many operations were performed on non-MOD personnel in each of the last five years. [65781]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Since the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA) took over responsibility for the RH Haslar in April 1996 its total expenditure in each year since then has or is projected to be:
Figures for the financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96 are not held by the DSCA. These are being obtained and the Chief Executive of the DSCA will write to the hon. Member when this information is available.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 734
1996-97: £43.081m
1997-98: £41.287m
1998-99: £48.999m.
| Year | Service personnel | NHS patients |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 2,630 | 10,092 |
| 1995-96 | 3,524 | 10,592 |
| 1996-97 | 5,054 | 10,554 |
| 1997-98 | 5,174 | 11,335 |
| 1998-99 | 3,982 | 8,901 |
The available information does not differentiate between those patients admitted for surgical operations and for other treatments.
Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to public funds of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 in each of the years since its enactment. [68306]
Mr. Spellar: The following amounts in compensation were paid in each of the financial years shown to Service and ex-Service personnel following the enactment of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act in May 1987:
| Financial Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1987 to 1988 | 5,000 |
| 1988 to 1989 | 710,000 |
| 1989 to 1990 | 1,627,000 |
| 1990 to 1991 | 2,020,000 |
| 1991 to 1992 | 3,413,000 |
| 1992 to 1993 | 6,998,000 |
| 1993 to 1994 | 8,960,000 |
| 1994 to 1995 | 14,338,426 |
| 1995 to 1996 | 12,184,000 |
| 1996 to 1997 | 14,678,000 |
| 1997 to 1998 | 25,807,329 |
| 1998 to 31 December 1998 | 21,220,346 |
ACEATM
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Aimed Controlled Effect Anti-Tank Mine; and if he will list the project milestones. [68507]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 3 February 1999]: The Aimed Control Effect Anti-Tank Mine, ACEATM, is a collaborative programme with France and Germany. The development phase is expected to finish late this year, when France will withdraw from the programme. Subject to national approvals, the production phase would, therefore, proceed bilaterally with Germany.
On current plans, we expect to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Germany for the production phase later this year. The first production deliveries are expected around 2,003 with UK taking delivery towards the end of the production phase leading to an in-service date no later than 2008.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 735
ACEATM will be fully compliant with our commitments under the amended Protocol II of the United Nations Weapon Convention and the Ottawa Convention.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Future Offensive Air System; and if he will list the project milestones. [68509]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 3 February 1999]: The Future Offensive Air System will replace the capability currently provided by the Tornado GR fleet in the offensive support role in about twenty years' time. As confirmed in the Strategic Defence Review White Paper (Cmd 3999), a wide range of options to fulfil the FOAS requirement will continue to be examined, including manned aircraft, remotely piloted/unmanned air vehicles and cruise missiles. Feasibility studies into the various options are under way and continue to progress well.
Proposals for a technology acquisition programme are currently under consideration, leading to a project Assessment Phase commencing in 2001. To realise the benefits from advances in technology, and in line with Smart Procurement principles, decisions on the concepts to be taken forward as potential solutions to the FOAS requirements are unlikely to be taken for around ten years.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with NATO nations on the impact of the Year 2000 problem on interchange of defence-related electronic information and on equipment that is in common service; if interconnections between NATO nations are Year 2000 compliant; and if Year 2000 tests are included in multinational military exercises conducted with (a) NATO and (b) other nations. [68255]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 3 February 1999]: The need for close examination of the inter-connections between NATO nations was highlighted at the Allied Year 2000 Steering Group, hosted by the MOD in November 1998. The question of the Y2K compliance of inter-connections between NATO nations is currently being examined by the NATO Command, Control and Communications board.
The UK is planning its exercise programme to enable Y2K validation to be tested in many areas. Action is also in hand to include Y2K elements in combined exercises with US forces. Discussions with our Allies on other international exercises are continuing.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of his Department's critical systems will be Year 2000 compliant by 1 April. [68261]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 3 February 1999]: Current progress indicates that around 75 per cent. of MOD's critical systems will be Year 2000 compliant by 1 April 1999.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department is collaborating with the Russian Ministry for Defence on assessing and rectifying systems affected by the Year 2000 computer problem. [68256]
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 736
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 3 February 1999]: We recognise the benefit of co-operation with Russia on the Year 2000 problem and we have taken every opportunity to brief visiting delegations. MOD officials have recently taken part in discussions with Russia on the problem under the auspices of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council. The issue will continue to be discussed as a priority agenda item within that forum throughout the year.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the testing of all Year 2000 modified systems for which he is responsible was completed by 31 January. [68258]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 3 February 1999]: The latest figures show that 60 per cent. of those MOD systems critical to providing defence capability, and which needed modification to make them Year 2000 compliant, had been modified and tested by the end of December 1998. Current prospects are that work on all such systems will be complete in good time to ensure that UK defence capability is maintained across the Millennium period and thereafter. Dealing with the Year 2000 problem is the MOD's highest priority, other than urgent operational needs.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has developed to support the civil community in case of emergencies associated with Year 2000. [68259]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 3 February 1999]: Long-standing arrangements exist under which civil authorities can request military assistance in the event of a civil emergency. The extent to which military assistance may be required as a result of Year 2000 problems depends on any identified shortfalls in the ability of the civil authorities to respond to emergencies.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if systems for (a) service members' pay and (b) service members' medical records are Year 2000 compliant; and if he will make a statement. [68257]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 3 February 1999]: A comprehensive programme of work is in place to ensure that all MOD systems, including those delivering a pay for Service and civilian personnel are Year 2000 compliant, and is on target for completion this year. This year Service pay records are archived to microfiche, for which Year 2000 compliance is not applicable.
As medical records of Service personnel are paper based, Year 2000 compliance is not applicable.
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