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Dr. Gwyn Prins
16. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about (a) the recruitment of Dr. Gwyn Prins to the office of the Secretary-General of NATO, (b) the role, responsibilities and degree of security clearance given to Dr. Prins in that office and (c) the vetting procedures applied prior to his appointment. [75980]
Mr. George Robertson: These are matters for NATO.
Defence Medical Services
17. Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on staffing levels in the Defence Medical Services. [75981]
Mr. Doug Henderson: We have made improving the current serious manpower shortfalls in the Defence Medical Services a top priority. Following the Strategic Defence Review we have provided additional funds to address both personnel and equipment shortfalls in the Medical Services. We have put in place a number of initiatives to rectify the staffing situation, but recognise that restoration of full staffing will take some time.
Iraq (Bombing Damage)
18. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of collateral damage inflicted during the recent bombing of Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [75982]
Mr. George Robertson:
US and British aircraft act only in self-defence, in response to Iraqi aggression. They attack only legitimate military targets which pose a real threat to coalition forces and use only precision guided munitions wherever there is a danger of collateral damage. However, military action is never without risk and I deeply regret any civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure. There would be no such risk if Saddam stopped threatening coalition forces. It is Saddam's continued aggression which potentially puts innocent civilians in harm's way.
22 Mar 1999 : Column: 12
19. Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on rations for the armed forces while they are on manoeuvres. [75984]
Mr. Spellar:
The food supply arrangements for our Armed Forces deployed on operations or exercises will depend on the specific circumstances prevailing. Our aim is always to establish the supply of fresh rations at the earliest opportunity. Where this is not practicable, or in the period before a fresh food supply chain can be established, our personnel will normally be fed on Operational Ration Packs. These Packs have been developed specifically to provide a balanced, varied and nutritional diet suitable for use in a wide range of different field conditions.
20. Mr. Paice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel have been deployed in Macedonia. [75985]
Mr. George Robertson:
Some 4,800 UK military personnel have been deployed to Greece and Macedonia, mainly consisting of the UK contribution to a possible NATO-led peace implementation force in Kosovo, but also including our contribution to the NATO-led Extraction Force, the NATO Verification Mission and the UK contribution to the OSCE Verification Mission, now withdrawn from Kosovo.
21. Mr. Grogan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the pension arrangements for cleaners employed by (a) the NAAFI and (b) the Ministry of Defence. [75986]
Mr. Spellar:
I have a meeting planned with the Chief Executive of the NAAFI this week, at which I expect to raise this issue.
As for those cleaners employed by the MoD as civil servants, they would be eligible to join the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS).
22. Mr. Salter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the announcement by the Environment Agency that plutonium deposits are being washed from the Pangbourne pipeline at AWE Aldermaston into the River Thames. [76051]
Mr. Spellar:
All discharges from AWE through the Pangbourne pipeline are authorised by the Environment Agency. Scaling may occur when water passes down any pipeline. The potential for subsequent descaling is taken into account in the management of discharges which remain at 10-15 per cent. of the currently authorised limits. Details of these discharges are made available to the public through AWE's Environment, Safety and Health reports which are published annually and distributed widely including regulatory and Local Authorities.
Mr. Salter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on safety at AWE Aldermaston. [76019]
22 Mar 1999 : Column: 13
Mr. Spellar:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 18 March 1999, Official Report, columns 801-02.
23. Dr. George Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect that improved training and education within the armed forces will have on recruitment. [75988]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
We want the Services to be a career of first choice. Our learning forces initiative is designed to improve training and education in the Armed Forces and increase opportunities for Service personnel to acquire academic vocational and professional qualifications. This should have a very positive impact on Armed Forces recruitment and retention.
24. Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet his American counterpart to discuss Operation Desert Fox in Iraq. [75989]
Mr. George Robertson:
I keep in regular and close contact with William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense, and we frequently discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including coalition activities in respect of Iraq. I next plan to meet him during a visit to the US between 16-18 April and again at the NATO Summit on 23-25 April.
25. Mr. Rapson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in implementing strategic defence review commitment that Trident submarines would carry only 48 warheads. [75990]
Mr. George Robertson:
We implemented the reduction in warhead numbers announced in the Strategic Defence Review by December 1998. All our Trident submarines on deterrent patrol now carry only 48 nuclear warheads.
26. Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Government are spending on research into the illnesses of Gulf war veterans. [75991]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friends the Members for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) and for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) today, Official Report columns 5-6.
27. Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings his Department plans to achieve by the disposal of TA centres. [75992]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Disposal of TA Centres is expected to generate net receipts of some £40 million, excluding those that may be realised by disposing of the Duke of York's headquarters in Chelsea. We expect also to achieve savings in running costs and costs of refurbishment.
22 Mar 1999 : Column: 14
28. Lorna Fitzsimons:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were employed in Her Majesty's armed forces (a) in the year before May 1997 and (b) since May 1997. [75993]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The information requested is given in the table:
| Date | Number of women employed in the armed forces | Total strength of the armed forces |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1996 | 15,596 | 220,988 |
| 1 May 1997 | 14,834 | 210,269 |
| 1 May 1998 | 15,732 | 203,739 |
| 1 January 1999(2) | 16,119 | 208,763 |
(2) Latest data available
30. Ms Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were employed in Her Majesty's armed forces (a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 March 1999. [75995]
Mr. Doug Henderson: On 1 May 1997 14,834 women were employed in the armed forces. Figures for 1 March 1999 are not yet available but on 1 January 1999, the latest date for which data are available, there were 16,119 women employed in the armed forces.
Cadets (Solihull)
29. Mr. John M. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future arrangements for the training of sea, army and air cadets in Solihull. [75994]
Mr. Doug Henderson: As I have announced, any cadet unit that is currently accommodated in a TA centre that is to close under the restructuring of the TA, will be re-provided with accommodation at least as good as they currently occupy. I have also announced that no TA centre that houses cadets will be closed until alternative accommodation for the cadets is in place. This will be the case for the cadets in Solihull. The future accommodation for the cadets in Solihull is currently under consideration.
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