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DEFENCE

Service Discipline Acts

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the consolidation of the Service Discipline Acts. [122507]

15 May 2000 : Column: 15W

Mr. Spellar: We recognise the importance of updating the legislation governing discipline in the armed forces. It has been the intention for some time to consolidate the Army and Air Force Acts 1955 and the Naval Discipline Act 1957. We have been taking stock of the consolidation in the light of the changes to the present legislation made by the Armed Forces Discipline Bill and the likelihood of further changes in the quinquennial Armed Forces Bill in the next Session.

A further consideration is the Government's intention, indicated in the Strategic Defence Review, to replace the three present Acts with a single tri-Service Act. It is planned that the substantive development of this important project should get under way as soon as the quinquennial Bill is enacted and that, when the work is complete, the resulting legislation should be introduced when the parliamentary timetable allows. As a consequence, legislation consolidating the present Acts would be likely to have an effective life of only a few years.

We have therefore concluded that the most sensible approach would be to subsume consolidation within the development of the tri-Service Act, the purpose of which will be to provide legislation that better meets the requirements of the three Services in an increasingly joint environment.

Disciplinary Procedures

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Civil Service Appeal Board Case No. AB/6751, held on 13 April, concerning Mr. A. J. Ely of Linlithgow and ABRO (MOD), what response he has made to the request by the Board to examine the implementation of the case, with particular reference to the rating of the offence in the charge letter, in their current review of disciplinary procedures. [120836]

Dr. Moonie: The Civil Service Appeal Board (CSAB) makes reference to a current review by the Ministry of Defence of its disciplinary procedures. The review was completed some time ago and, following lengthy consultation with the trade unions, revised guidance has been issued on the handling of the most serious disciplinary offences. This has also been made available to the CSAB.

The rating of a disciplinary offence as gross misconduct in the particular case in question followed full and proper consideration of the facts of the offence committed.

Cluster Bombs

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what failure rates for cluster bomb submunitions are assessed as acceptable. [121693]

Mr. Spellar: The small possibility of submunition failure is taken into account when reaching decisions on the use of UK cluster bombs in the light of national Rules of Engagement and targeting constraints.

Ranger Anti-personnel Mines

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ranger anti-personnel mines have been cleared from the Falkland Islands. [121977]

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Mr. Spellar: No Ranger anti-personnel mines have been laid by UK forces in the Falklands, and therefore none have been cleared.

Lynx Helicopters

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Lynx helicopters are in reserve. [121601]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 11 May 2000]: As of 10 May 2000, the Ministry of Defence has a total of 203 Lynx helicopters. All aircraft are rotated through a routine of operational use and regular maintenance, including update work such as the conversion from Mk 3 to Mk 8. There are no Lynx helicopters held as a "reserve", although some aircraft in maintenance are characterised, for fleet management purposes, as an In-Use Reserve.

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the number of Royal Navy Lynx helicopters has been decreased to 59. [121599]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 11 May 2000]: The Royal Navy has 59 Lynx helicopters available for front-line units, sufficient for our current operational requirements. Other Naval Lynx are undergoing routine deep maintenance or conversion work.

Sea Harriers

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea Harriers are available to the Royal Navy; how many are in service; of these how many are in reserve and how many Sea Harriers (a) have been converted to FA2 standard, (b) are undergoing conversion and (c) will be converted in due course. [121596]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 11 May 2000]: The Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA2 programme consisted of 52 aircraft: 18 were purchased from new and a further 34 were converted from Sea Harrier FRS1. The conversion programme was completed in 1999. Allowing for attrition losses, the Royal Navy now has 47 Sea Harriers of which 29 are available to meet operational requirements. Of the remainder, a number are undergoing updates to the navigational system. The balance is held in reserve.

HEALTH

Social Workers

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish his proposals for education and training for social workers; and if it is his policy that undergraduate and postgraduate social work qualifications should continue to be recognized when the General Social Care Council assumes its responsibilities. [119694]

Mr. Hutton: Independent contractors have completed reports on the content and delivery of the Diploma in Social Work. We shall make these reports available when we publish our Quality Strategy Green Paper for social care later in the spring.

In carrying out its functions the General Social Care Council will recognise existing professional social work qualifications at both entry and post qualifying levels.

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Vaccinations (Deaths)

Mr. Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have died following a routine vaccination in each year since 1990. [111958]

Yvette Cooper: Over 150 million doses of vaccine have been distributed in the United Kingdom for use in the childhood programme in the last 10 years.

A report of a particular suspected reaction does not necessarily mean that it has been caused by the vaccine. There is no evidence to support the suggestion of a causal link between any of the childhood vaccines recommended in the UK and death.

Yellow card reports to the Medicines Control Agency of suspected adverse reactions to a routine vaccine where a child, aged 16 years or less, died are presented in the table for the UK.

Year	Reports of a fatal reaction to a vaccine
1990	2
1991	9
1992	10
1993	7
1994	4
1995	4
1996	3
1997	5
1998	2
1999	4

Vaccinations

Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current percentage take-up for each childhood vaccination. [122157]

Yvette Cooper: The information available about the percentage of children receiving childhood vaccinations is contained in the Statistical Bulletin, "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 1998-99". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website: www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb9928.htm.

Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the potential side-effects for each of the current childhood vaccinations. [122155]

Yvette Cooper: The potential side effects for each of the current childhood vaccines are listed in the UK health departments' handbook, "Immunisation against infectious disease", a copy of which is in the Library. A revised chapter on meningococcal vaccine, including reference to the new meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine, was issued on 18 October 1999 under cover of PL/CMO/99/4, PL/CNO/99/8, PL/CPHO/99/3; a copy of this is also available in the Library.

Strategic Services Reviews (South Staffordshire)

Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is (a) the total cost to date and (b) the total budgeted cost on completion of the Strategic Services Review being undertaken by South Staffordshire Health Authority. [121579]

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Mr. Denham: The review of South Staffordshire health services commenced in July 1999 and has involved the health authority, National Health Service trusts, primary care groups and social services serving the health community. To date the review has spent £65,000 on specialist advice and consultants support and an additional £8,000 in respect of materials and publications to keep staff and the public informed (these costs exclude normal staff and professional time). It is anticipated that expenditure for the assessment and recommendation phases will not exceed £100,000.

Public Bodies

Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2000, Official Report, columns 324-25W, on transfer of work, how many of the bodies listed in (a) (i) and (ii) have been transferred since 1992 or are planned to be transferred to and from the Northern Region. [121624]

Ms Stuart: Of the bodies listed at (a)(i) (executive agencies), National Health Service Estates relocated its headquarters from London to Leeds in April 1993; it also has staff at the regional office headquarters in Durham and has an office in Newcastle, opened in April 2000.

Of the bodies listed at (a)(ii) (non-Departmental public bodies), the Family Health Services Appeal Authority has been located in Harrogate since it was established in 1995.

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