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Gatwick Express
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there is an exemption order for the Class 460 trains to be introduced into service by Gatwick Express in respect of provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; and if he will make a statement. [115700]
Mr. Hill: As my predecessor explained in her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) on 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 167W, we are expecting to receive a number of exemption applications from train operating companies whose designs for new rail vehicles were well advanced prior to the 1998 Regulations coming into force.
We have received an application from Gatwick Express relating to the new Class 460 trains they wish to introduce into service. The exemptions, have been discussed with our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. An exemption Order relating to the exemption of these trains has been laid in Parliament today. Copies are available from the Library.
The exemptions will not prevent disabled people from using the new trains. Indeed, we believe that their introduction will make a significant contribution to improving mobility opportunities for disabled people.
Photo Passes
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee, pursuant to her answer of 13 March 2000, Official Report, column 14W, on photo passes, how many passes were held by temporary research assistants from overseas on 1 January. [115121]
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Mrs. Roe:
Up to 50 passes at any one time are issued each spring, summer and autumn term to temporary research assistants from overseas, who are sponsored by an institution of higher education.
HQ 2 Division
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the additional annual travelling and subsistence costs to the 2 Division will be consequent upon the relocation of the headquarters to Edinburgh; [108667]
- (2) what the staffing costs will be of the 2 Division following relocation of its headquarters to Edinburgh. [108666]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 7 February 2000]: The staffing costs of the new HQ 2 Division are expected to be of the order of £8 million per annum. The travel and subsistence costs of HQ 2 Division consequent on its relocation to Edinburgh have not been identified separately. The move will save in the region of £4 million per annum in HQ costs compared with HQs in both Edinburgh and York.
Gulf War Illnesses
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel, in each of the armed services, who served in the Gulf War have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder; how many have been treated successfully; how many have left the services on grounds of ill health; and if he will make a statement. [113959]
Mr. Spellar: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not keep a central record of all medical diagnoses and subsequent treatment for currently serving personnel. Responsibility for the health of ex-Service personnel, if resident in the UK, lies with the NHS, which similarly does not keep a central record of all diagnoses and treatment. Neither does the NHS routinely communicate diagnostic or treatment information to the MOD. No arrangements are in place to monitor the health of ex-Service personnel living overseas. Therefore, the total number of British Service personnel who took part in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict who have been diagnosed as having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), their Service and their subsequent treatment is not known.
However, the MOD holds information on those Gulf Veterans who were referred by their Service Medical Officer or GP for assessment at the MOD's Gulf Veterans Medical Assessment Programme (MAP). Since its establishment in October 1993, MAP had seen a total of 2,934 patients (up to 31 January 2000). Of these, 245 personnel (nine Royal Navy/Royal Marines, 213 Army, and 23 RAF) had a recorded diagnosis of PTSD confirmed by a consultant psychiatrist.
As at 31 January 2000, of the 53,462 Service personnel who deployed to the Gulf, 846 personnel (189 Royal Navy/Royal Marines, 554 Army and 103 RAF) had been
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medically discharged. Of these, 37 (10 Royal Navy/Royal Marines, 24 Army and three RAF) had been medically discharged following a diagnosis of PTSD. Of the 37 cases, nine (two Royal Navy/Royal Marines and seven Army) are included in the figure of 245 who had been to MAP.
Mr. Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the reason for the withdrawal from service of (a) the L27 off-route mine and (b) the Mk 7 anti-tank mine; and if he will make a statement. [114362]
Mr. Spellar:
(a) The L27 Anti-Tank Mine was withdrawn from service in 1997 because it was obsolete and no longer required for service use.
(b) Two variants of Mk 7 Anti-Tank Mine were withdrawn from service over 10 years ago as they were obsolete and no longer required for service use. Two other variants remain in service.
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of Army personnel (i) deployed to and (ii) stationed in (a) Kosovo, (b) Bosnia and (c) Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [114256]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 13 March 2000]: The information requested is given in the table:
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Former Yugoslavia | 3,315 | 10,489 | -- | -- | -- |
| Kosovo | -- | -- | 0 | 0 | 4,235 |
| Bosnia | -- | -- | 5,468 | 5,129 | 4,136 |
| Northern Ireland | 15,608 | 15,308 | 15,022 | 14,483 | 13,517 |
Notes:
1. The figures given are at or around 1 April.
2. Information held prior to 1997 only records deployments to the Former Yugoslavia.
3. From 1997 onwards the figures for Kosovo and Bosnia are defined as the UK Land contributions to KFOR and SFOR respectively.
4. The figures for Former Yugoslavia and Bosnia include UK personnel serving in multinational units, such as HQ SFOR.
5. In addition to the personnel shown in the final column, there are a number of Territorial Army units based in Northern Ireland.
Military Establishments
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military establishments within (a) Devon and (b) the Torbay constituency, indicating in each case the complement; what plans he has to change the (i) number and (ii) manning of such establishments; and if he will make a statement. [114553]
Mr. Spellar: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) manned establishments within (a) the county of Devon and (b) Torbay constituency are listed in the table. The personnel complement at each establishment is also given. The data reflect the status of the establishments in question as of 1 October 1999, which is the most recent date for which data are centrally held.
(1) Personnel on ships based at Devonport
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(i) There are currently no plans to change the number of establishments in Torbay constituency and the county of Devon.
(ii) Current plans to change the manning of establishments in Torbay constituency and the county of Devon are set out as follows:
The transfer of 13 Service posts and 36 civilian posts at naval establishments in Plymouth and Dartmouth to Flagship Training Ltd., as part of the continuing implementation of the Partnership Arrangement between the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency and Flagship. If agreed this will come into effect on 1 April 2000. This is subject to consultation.
A study and investment appraisal are currently being carried out into the future of HMS Cambridge. As a result, changes in the status or manning of the establishment may be recommended.
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