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Sierra Leone (Malaria)

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what precautionary treatment was given to troops deployed to Sierra Leone in respect of malaria before they left the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [125191]

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Mr. Hoon [holding answer 9 June 2000]: For Sierra Leone the most effective anti-malaria drug is considered to be mefloquine and current policy recommends that treatment begins three weeks before personnel are due in the area of risk. This is to allow time for those who cannot tolerate mefloquine to exhibit adverse reactions and be placed on an alternative regimen: the drug itself starts to take preventative effect within 12 hours. Aircrew are not given mefloquine because of the possible side effects which can degrade concentration and coordination. Aircrew, therefore, take chloroquine and proguanil tablets instead, although these do not offer the same degree of protection in Sierra Leone which is a chloroquine resistant area.

Issuing the Spearhead Battalion permanently with mefloquine, as a preventative measure, is not an option since the drug is only licensed for one year's continuous use; long term treatment with mefloquine is not medically advisable. The great majority of personnel deployed to Sierra Leone began taking anti-malaria tablets prior to embarkation although not for the full three weeks because of the short notice to deploy. However, a small number did not begin the preventative course of treatment and arrived in theatre without anti-malaria tablets. The reasons for this are currently being investigated. This omission was quickly remedied by procuring a French anti-malaria drug which was available locally, and this was subsequently replaced by supplies of the preferred British drug.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical advice was given to troops deployed to Sierra Leone concerning malaria; and if he will make a statement. [125189]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 9 June 2000]: All UK forces that deployed to Sierra Leone were advised, in accordance with the Surgeon General's policy, that the preferred anti-malarial drug for ground forces deployed ashore is mefloquine. While most effective, this drug carries a risk of side effects when first taken and, for that reason, personnel carrying out certain operational duties cannot be treated with it. Those forces unable to take mefloquine were advised that the recommended alternative is chloroquine and proguanil. Personnel deployed ashore were also provided with the opportunity to impregnate their uniforms and mosquito nets with mosquito repellent.

South Atlantic Medal

Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what length of service was laid down in MOD Command Paper 544/82 for the award of the South Atlantic Medal; and how many medals were awarded to non- military personnel from (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Falkland Islands, (c) St. Helena and (d) elsewhere. [125594]

Dr. Moonie: Information about the length of service required to qualify for the award of the South Atlantic Medal is contained in Command Paper 8601, which was presented to Parliament in July 1982. A copy of this document is in the Library of the House.

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My Department does not hold a definitive list of those civilians who were awarded the South Atlantic Medal, although our records show that the following categories did receive it, with or without a rosette depending on where they served:






The numbers given include those NAAFI personnel who were members of the Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI), who were enlisted into the Royal Navy or Royal Army Ordnance Corps on short service engagements. It has not been possible to break the figures down further to determine how many NAAFI civilian personnel who were not members of the EFI received the medal, as the relevant NAAFI records no longer exist.

A number of laundrymen working on RN ships also qualified for the medal. It has not been possible to establish whether records still exist detailing the numbers who received the medal, although it is known that of those currently working on RN ships three were recipients of the medal. A number of Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel also received the medal, but it has not been possible to determine how many.

In addition to the numbers quoted above we are advised by the Registry of Seamen and Shipping that 2,321 Merchant Navy personnel were awarded the medal. It has not been possible to break the information down further to establish their nationality.

As information relating to the award of this medal to non-Service personnel is not held centrally and records are kept by a number of different agencies and organisations, we have been unable to determine how many other civilians might have been awarded this medal.

Sierra Leone (Parachute Regiment)

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the Parachute Regiment was first told to prepare to deploy to Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement; [125450]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The notice to move for the Spearhead land element, which included the 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was reduced from the usual level of readiness to six hours for the lead element and 24 hours for the main body at 1500 hours on 6 May. All elements started to move later that same day. Anti-malaria treatment commenced also on 6 May, shortly after the notice to move had been reduced.

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Recruitment Targets

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect the introduction of (a) increased telephone time, (b) the increase in leave at the end of operational tours and (c) introduction of e-mail will have on reducing the time the Government will take to achieve its recruitment targets set out in the Strategic Defence Review. [125564]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The doubling of telephone call time to 20 minutes, the introduction of post operational tour leave, and the on- going introduction of e-mail facilities were measures aimed at alleviating pressure on families, and were primarily designed to assist retention. All the measures have proved highly popular since their introduction and it is hoped that they will also have a beneficial, although indirect, effect on recruiting.

Organophosphate Air Pollution (Aircraft)

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his review of incidents involving possible organophosphate air pollution on board aircraft, and their implications for military personnel, has reached conclusions. [125343]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 12 June 2000]: We have no evidence of organophosphate pollution on military aircraft affecting personnel, but we will consider carefully any conclusions from an on-going BAe Systems investigation into an incident involving a civil BAe 146 aircraft last year.

Chinook Disaster

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake that all files held by public bodies relating to the Chinook disaster will be preserved. [125269]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 9 June 2000]: When the original Board of Inquiry papers, written evidence and papers held by the branch with lead responsibility for matters concerning the crash are eventually archived, they will be assigned a review date of 25 years, with a recommendation for permanent retention. At the 25 year point they will be examined for their suitability for transfer to the Public Record Office in accordance with the provision of the Public Records Act 1958 and 1967.

Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department requires manufacturers to provide complete flight reference cards prior to releasing an aircraft into operational service; if the Chinook Mk2 had a complete set of flight reference cards at the time of the fatal crash of ZD576 in June 1994; and if these included drills covering the possibility of FADEC malfunctions. [125300]

Mr. Spellar: All manufacturers of new Ministry of Defence aircraft are contractually required to provide full aircrew documentation prior to release to operational service. This documentation includes both Aircrew Manual and Flight Reference cards. The Chinook Mk2 had a complete set of Flight Reference Cards in June 1994. This contained all the normal and emergency operating drills in force at that time, including drills for a possible FADEC malfunction.

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Joint Helicopter Command

Ms Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will report on the outcome of the study to determine the best location for the new Joint Helicopter Command; and if he will make a statement. [125801]

Mr. Spellar: The Headquarters of the Joint Helicopter Command is based at Headquarters Land Command at Wilton in Wiltshire, and there are no current plans to move it. A team from the Joint Helicopter Command Headquarters is currently at the very early stages of conducting a strategic review to identify the most effective and efficient solution for the basing of Joint Helicopter Command units. The review consists of two phases--a scoping exercise (phase one) and full investment appraisal and review of the estate rationalisation candidates that arise out of the scoping exercise (phase two). Phase one is due to be completed next month, after which it should be possible to give further details of the sites under review. It is too early to say when the comprehensive investment appraisal that will comprise phase two will be completed.

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