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Sierra Leone

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops returning to the United Kingdom from deployment in Sierra Leone have been diagnosed as having signs of malaria since 12 June; how many UK troops have been so diagnosed in the last five years; and in which overseas deployments they had served. [126996]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 21 June 2000]: As of 21 June 2000, a total of 48 confirmed cases of malaria and one suspected case have been recorded among Service personnel deployed to Sierra Leone. According to the Ministry of Defence data on hospital admissions, which includes admissions to RAF medical centres for more than 48 hours and to sick bays in RN ships, 47 Service personnel were diagnosed as suffering from malaria between 1 January 1995 and 17 January 2000. (This is the latest date for which records are immediately available, other than for the Sierra Leone deployment). Those personnel had served overseas in a total of 40 countries (as listed) prior to their diagnosis. Some personnel are likely to have contracted malaria while on holiday overseas.



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Procurement Fraud

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 May 2000, Official Report, column 563W, on procurement fraud, if he will state (a) against which contracts the three cases are being investigated, which were recorded against 1999-2000, stating which project within that contract is affected and (b) contracts for which the values were stated for (i) 1995-96, (ii) 1997-98 and (iii) 1998-99 were found to have been affected by fraud and from which specific area of that contract; and if he will make a statement. [126685]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 22 June 2000]: The three contracts reported for 1999-2000 are the subject of current Ministry of Defence Police investigations and it would be inappropriate to comment further at present. None of the three contracts relate to major procurement projects. For 1995-96 the value was stated against various jobbing orders for works at a Naval Air Station and involved the corruption of a Crown Servant by a contractor. For 1997-98 the value was stated against a suspicion that a Crown Servant had submitted false Travel and Subsistence claims with the help of a firm holding a contract for resettlement training. For 1998-99 the value was stated against a PFI consultancy contract and involved an overpayment, since recovered, arising from genuine error by the contractor.

Theft

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the cost to its budget in relation to theft in each year since 1995-96; how many prosecutions in each year were brought against (a) military personnel, (b) civilian personnel and (c) others on charges of theft of MoD

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property, stating in each case the amount involved and the outcome of the prosecution; and if he will make a statement. [126687]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 22 June 2000]: The reported estimated annual costs of theft for the financial years 1995-96 to 1999-2000 inclusive are as follows:


No abatement is made for subsequent recoveries. These figures relate to a combination of suspected and proven thefts with estimated values refined from time to time as investigations, sometimes lasting a year or more, reach a conclusion. Those cases currently brought to a conclusion involve a range of outcomes and include prosecutions resulting in custodial sentences, dismissal, fines or probation as defined by the Treasury. The reported figures for these prosecutions brought against MOD staff are as set out:












Contracts

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list (a) the original in-service date, (b) the

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current in-service date, (c) the actual or estimated cost, (d) the years of peak expenditure, (e) the expenditure in (d), (f) the date of the initial gate, (g) the date of the main gate and (h) the prime contractor for the projects (i) BOWMAN, (ii) COBRA, (iii) FET, (iv) HARRV, (v) MRAV, (vi) Phoenix, (vii) Shielder and (viii) UK Attack Helicopter; [127707]

Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

British Aerospace

Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he plans to have with British Aerospace about its plans for its defence manufacturing capability, with particular reference to the consolidated site option for the Royal Ordnance Factory, Nottingham; [127589]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 23 June 2000]: The future of the Royal Ordnance site at Nottingham is ultimately a matter for BAe Systems. However the decision on its future has still not been finalised and will not be so until the end of June following discussions between the Trade Unions and BAe Systems.


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