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DEFENCE

Defence Agencies (Employment)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the (a) Army Technical Support Centre, (b) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (c) Defence Estates Organisation and (d) Defence Dental Agency; and what the figure was at each Agency's establishment. [71944]

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Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 25 February 1999]: This is a matter for the Chief Executives of the Agencies concerned. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Brigadier A. D. Ball to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:



    The ATSA had 1,085 employees on 1st February 1999, and had 1,274 employees at its Agency launch date on 25th October 1995.


    I hope that you find this information helpful.


Letter from Ian C. F. Andrews to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:



    The number of people current employed across the Defence Estate Organisation is 1,423. At the Agency's establishment, on 1 April 1997, there were approximately 1,400.


Letter from Air Vice-Marshal I. G. McIntyre to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:



    The Defence Dental Agency currently has 1185 personnel on the payroll of whom 134 are uniformed dental staff within the command of The Health Alliance (THA) British Forces Germany. Payroll responsibility for these staff was transferred to this Agency with effect from 1 April 1998.


    Strength on formation of the Agency on 1 March 1996 was 1043. At that time dental staff within THA were not included in the strength.


Letter from C. J. Boyle to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:



    When the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) formed on 1 April 1997, it employed a total of 1171 staff, comprising both Service and civilian personnel.


    Through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), AFPAA formed a public/private partnership with EDS to deliver most of the Agency's services on its behalf. In order to ensure the continuity of current services and to provide a significant input to the development of new systems, most of the Agency's civilian staff transferred to the private sector, when the partnership became effective on 1 January 1998. The Agency, therefore, currently employs 299 staff.


    I hope this explains the position.

Gulf War Syndrome

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Gulf War veterans, medically tested as part of his Department's research programme, have shown signs of uranium-related illness; and if he will make a statement; [72940]

29 Mar 1999 : Column: 482

Mr. Doug Henderson: A Gulf veteran who is, or has been, concerned about his or her health may be receiving or have received care, including testing, under various auspices. The Ministry of Defence has only centralised data in respect of its Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). This was established in 1993 to provide veterans who believe that their health may have suffered as a result of the Gulf conflict with as full a diagnosis as possible of their medical conditions. During an assessment at the MAP, all referred veterans receive a standard set of screening tests and are asked by the examining MAP physician to provide detailed information about possible factors to which they may have been exposed during the Gulf conflict. As at 18 March 1999, 3,021 Gulf veterans had been referred to the MAP for a medical assessment. Of these, 34 were waiting to be seen for the first time and 201 had failed to appear for one or more appointments; hence, a total of 235 have yet to receive any tests at the MAP.

With regard to the testing of UK Gulf veterans for the presence of depleted uranium (DU), I refer the hon. Member to a detailed paper setting out my Department's position, which I published on Friday 19 March 1999. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

The MAP is not a research programme. The Ministry of Defence is funding a range of studies into different aspects of Gulf veterans' illnesses. One of these studies--a neuromuscular symptoms study being conducted by a team led by Doctors Michael Rose and Mohammed Shareif at King's College, London--involves carrying out clinical tests on Gulf veterans. A further study on UK Gulf veterans under Professors Simon Wessely and Anthony David of King's College, London, which is being funded by the US Department of Defense, is also conducting clinical tests on UK Gulf veterans. Both these research teams are conducting their studies independently of MOD and we do not have access to the data collected, including any clinical findings.

Naval Manning Agency

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Naval Manning Agency; what was the figure at its inception; on what date the Naval Manning Agency published its report for 1997-98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [76895]

Mr. Doug Henderson: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Naval Manning Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Rear Admiral J. M. de Halpert to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 29 March 1999:



    The Agency currently employs 278 people including four part-time personnel. On Vesting Day (1 July 1996) the Agency employed 292 personnel.

29 Mar 1999 : Column: 483


    The proof copy of the Agency's 1997-98 Annual Report and Accounts was produced on 28 January 1999, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The final version of the Report is currently with the printers and should be published in April. The cost is expected to be similar to last year's at around £1,600.


    I hope you find this helpful.

Weapons Testing (Scotland)

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what testing of depleted uranium weapons has taken place in Southern Scotland. [77356]

Mr. Doug Henderson: [holding answer 18 March 1999]: Since the test-firing of depleted uranium (DU) based ammunition was approved in 1979 all testing of such ammunition in southern Scotland has been conducted at Kirkcudbright and West Freugh (near Stanraer). The trials at West Freugh, which took place in 1988 and 1990, tested Vulcan Phalanx ammunition and were very limited in nature, with only 200 small calibre rounds (around 20kg) being fired. The testing of 120mm DU-based ammunition for the Challenger main battle tank, which takes place at Kirkcudbright, started in 1982. Since the end of the Challenger tank development programme in 1997 this testing has been significantly reduced and currently only a small number of rounds are fired each year to check manufacturing quality.

Armed Forces (Uniforms)

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's contracts for uniforms for the armed forces were awarded to United Kingdom textile companies in each of the last five years. [77468]

Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 18 March 1999]: The number of contracts awarded to UK textile companies in each of the last three Financial Years is as follows:




Earlier details are not available as information on clothing and textile contracts placed by my Department has only been recorded centrally for the last three years.

Cadet Centre, Chorley

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities the new cadet centre in Chorley will provide for cadets; and if these will be the same as at the existing centre on Devonshire Road in Chorley. [77474]

Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 18 March 1999]: The new cadet centre will provide offices, classrooms and activity area, toilet and washing facilities, secure storage facilities, and a rifle range. All facilities currently enjoyed by the cadets will therefore be reprovided in this new centre, which will be for their sole use.

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