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DEFENCE
Gulf War
Mr. Malins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British civilians were (a) seconded
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and (b) contracted to Her Majesty's Forces in the war theatre during the Gulf War; if they came under military discipline; and what insurance arrangements were made on their behalf by Her Majesty's Government. [107284]
Mr. Spellar:
Civilians, including foreign nationals, based in the UK and overseas, played a vital role in supporting British Forces during the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, but the precise number seconded (that is attached to British Forces) has not been determined. However, a review of Ministry of Defence (MOD) records shows that on 22 February 1991, 931 MOD civilian staff were reported as being in the Gulf theatre, but not all were working in direct support of British Forces. Of these, 785 were members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. In addition, there were a significant number of civilian contractors' employees working in direct support of British Forces in the Gulf theatre. My Department conservatively estimates that the number of civilian contractors' employees involved would have been in excess of 1,000 people.
All civilians (including contractors) serving with any part of British Forces who were on active service would have been subject to military discipline.
The MOD does not normally purchase insurance. In accordance with Treasury guidelines and in common with other Government Departments, the MOD underwrites its own financial risks and pays claims for compensation directly out of current expenditure. When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the MOD has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation we do so. No insurance would have been purchased by the MOD covering British civilians seconded or contracted to British Forces during the Gulf conflict. This would be a matter for the employing organisations and the individuals themselves. The MOD would expect the cost of any insurance to be reflected in the contract price.
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time members of the armed forces were stationed in Northern Ireland on 31 January 1998, 31 January 1999 and 31 January 2000; and if he will make a statement. [108109]
Mr. Spellar:
The number of members of the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland are set out in the table:
| Strength as at(5) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 January 1998 | 31 January 1999 | 31 December 1999(6) | |
| Army (General Service) | 9,840 | 9,063 | 8,697 |
| Royal Air Force | 1,152 | 1,150 | 1,133 |
| Royal Navy | 321 | 182 | 179 |
| Royal Irish Regiment(7) | 2,703 | 2,627 | 2,511 |
| Royal Irish Regiment(8) | 1,967 | 1,923 | 1,799 |
| Total | 15,983 | 14,945 | 14,319 |
(5)Excludes those forces fully committed to Northern Ireland but rear-based on the mainland
(6) Strengths given for December 1999 as the January 2000 figure is not yet available
(7) Home Service full-time
(8) Home Service part-time
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RAF Pilots
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the NATO recommended minimum flying times for (a) rotary pilots, (b) multi-transport pilots and (c) fast jet pilots; what percentage of RAF pilots in each of these categories met or exceeded NATO recommendations in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [107545]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 2 February 2000]: The NATO recommended minimum flying times are in the table:
| Pilots | Flying times (hours per year) |
|---|---|
| Rotary | Not defined |
| Multi engine | 240 |
| Fast jet (readiness 1--3) | 180 |
| Fast jet (readiness 4) | 160 |
| Aircraft category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotary | 345 | 389 | 382 | 354 | 319 |
| Multi engine | 361 | 448 | 462 | 479 | 451 |
| Fast jet | 239 | 236 | 235 | 238 | 211 |
Army (Welfare Services)
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he would (a) list the MoD funding received by the Army Welfare Service as separate from the Personal Welfare Service in each year between and including financial year 1996-97 and the current financial year, (b) provide an explanation of the remit and function of the AWS, (c) list the MoD funding received by the Personal Welfare Service as separate from the Army Welfare Service in each year between and including financial year 1996-97 and the current financial year, (d) provide an explanation of the remit and function of the PWS and (e) provide an explanation for the change in the combined AWS/PWS budget allocation and spend between financial year 1998-99 and 1999-00. [108094]
Mr. Spellar:
Although the Army Welfare Service (AWS) has been operating since 1996, records of total expenditure have only been recorded since centralising funding was established on 1 April 1999. Expenditure for the AWS before 1999-2000 therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost. A breakdown of funding between the AWS and the Personal Welfare Service (PWS) is provided for 1999-2000. Figures for 1996-97 to 1998-99 are for the PWS in Northern Ireland only.
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| Year/Organisation | Spend | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | ||
| PWS | 87,165 | 88,000 |
| 1997-98 | ||
| PWS | 87,368 | 90,000 |
| 1998-99 | ||
| PWS | 88,002 | 90,000 |
| 1999-2000 | ||
| AWS | 5,941,000 | 6,528,000 |
| PWS | (9)81,000 | (9)99,000 |
(9) Spend to date
The AWS's mission is to provide a comprehensive, professionally based and confidential welfare support service responsive to the needs of individuals, the chain of command and statutory requirements, in order to maximise the operational effectiveness of service men and women.
The AWS provides support for soldiers and their families in recognition of the greater turbulence, and a lack of the wider family support resulting from military service. The AWS supports Commanding Officers by developing a long term static welfare infrastructure at garrison and station level through which units can move with the assurance of expert welfare assistance and advice that is complementary to, and integrated with, civil agencies whose help can be drawn upon when required.
MoD policy adopts and reflects UK national legislation for its Service community overseas. In the welfare area this means that the AWS, using the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help personnel, is given the same statutory responsibilities with regard to the protection of children as those of local authority social service departments. The AWS also uses other specialist agencies, such as RELATE and HomeStart, to provide specific assistance.
The PWS provides comparable services in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the annual cost of maintenance of The Keep at Imphal barracks, York; and what estimate he has made of the cost of renovation; [108665]
(3) what (a) area and (b) proportion of custom-built office accommodation at Imphal barracks, York, will be used for document storage. [108669]
Mr. Spellar:
The average annual cost of maintenance per year of The Keep at Imphal Barracks is some £600. In financial year 1998-99, however, exceptional work totalling £18,800 was carried out to repair the roof and re-point brickwork. There are no plans to renovate it.
There is no requirement to hire portakabins for use as office accommodation, as the existing office accommodation available within the Garrison is sufficient to meet our needs.
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At present, there is no area of office accommodation at Imphal Barracks set aside for document storage. The relocation of the Defence Vetting Agency (DVA) to the Barracks in April 2000, however, will also involve the setting up of the DVA Library, estimated at 535 metres square, which will represent approximately 2.65 per cent. of the total office accommodation within the Barracks.
Ms Drown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy of investing in the US National Ignition Facility; [107734]
Mr. Hoon:
The decision to invest in the US National Ignition Facility (NIF) was announced by my predecessor in June last year. The currently projected UK total investment is some £100 million over a period of 10 years. Of this, expenditure of some £11 million has been approved so far to fund measures aimed at increasing the laser shot rate, and initial feasibility work related to the second target chamber. Decisions on future UK investment will depend largely on the outcome of the feasibility study, which will also take into account the US Government's assessment of the status of the NIF project.
(2) what area of Portakabin office accommodation will be hired at Imphal barracks, York; for what reason; and at what cost; [108668]
(2) how much the Government (a) have invested and (b) are planning to invest in the US National Ignition Facility. [107735]
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