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NORTHERN IRELAND
RUC (Redundancies)
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if training of new replacement recruits will be completed before redundant RUC officers leave. [152384]
Mr. Ingram: Officers began to leave the RUC under the terms of the early retirement/voluntary severance scheme in January 2001. The first police trainees will join the Police Service of Northern Ireland in September 2001, and are expected to have completed their training by February 2002.
Force Research Unit
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the Chief Constable of the RUC requested an investigation into the operation of the Force Research Unit; how many items of correspondence he has received from the RUC on the subject of the FRU in the past 12 months; and at how many meetings this subject has been discussed. [150579]
Mr. Ingram: On 19 April 1999 the Chief Constable asked Sir John Stevens to investigate the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane plus associated allegations contained within the British Irish Rights Watch report on the subject. An investigation into the activities of the FRU is an important part of Sir John's investigation. In the last 12 months neither the Secretary of State nor his predecessor received any correspondence from the RUC specifically on the subject of the activities of the FRU. In that same period the Stevens Inquiry has been discussed at ministerial level in a number of meetings held with a range of individuals.
DEFENCE
Warrior Armoured Vehicle
Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of the Warrior armoured vehicle. [153038]
Mr. Spellar: I announced on 30 November 2000, Official Report, columns 726-27W, that a number of precautionary operating restrictions had been put in place on the use of the Warrior armoured vehicle following the failure of the driveshaft system in some vehicles. A technical solution to the problem has now been developed and the fitting of modified parts commenced on 5 March 2001. The operating restrictions are being lifted from individual vehicles as they receive the modified driveshafts. The programme to convert all Warrior vehicles is expected to be completed by July 2001.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) where ex-servicemen who suffer post- traumatic stress disorder can be treated; [152007]
7 Mar 2001 : Column: 220W
- (2) if he will ensure that the Duke of Kent Hospital at Catterick offers treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder to ex-servicemen who require it; and if he will provide the necessary funding; [152006]
(3) if he will make funds available for the hospital treatment of ex-servicemen who suffer from post- traumatic stress disorder. [152008]
Dr. Moonie: Ex-service personnel seeking advice on post-traumatic stress disorder from the Ministry of Defence's veterans advice unit are referred to a variety of contacts for assistance, including their own national health service (NHS) GP and ex-service welfare organisations, especially those that specialise in stress-related disorders. However, if any treatment was necessary, it would be carried out by the NHS, as it becomes responsible for the health care of personnel when they leave the armed forces. There are no plans to change this arrangement. The NHS has a range of psychiatric services available, including those that specialise in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Current NHS guidance provides priority for out-patient and in-patient treatment to be given to war pensioners, where they require treatment for the condition for which they receive their war pension.
Defence Medical Services
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by specialty and rank the number of Defence Medical Services personnel on operational duty in Sierra Leone in September 2000; and if he will make a statement. [151799]
Dr. Moonie: The number of Defence Medical Services personnel on operational duty in Sierra Leone during September 2000 is set out. The majority of these personnel deployed to provide initial medical support to UK troops. A surgical team also deployed briefly to Sierra Leone in support of the UK military operation which successfully freed six members of the Royal Irish Regiment on 10 September, and this is included in the details as shown. Medical support to UK forces was also provided by the UN hospital which was then run by the Indian armed forces.
- Lieutenant Colonel--Consultant General Surgeon
Lieutenant Colonel--Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Lieutenant Colonel--Consultant Anaesthetist
Lieutenant Colonel--Medical Officer
Lieutenant Colonel--General Medical Practitioner
Major--Consultant Anaesthetist
Captain--Medical Officer
Captain--Medical Officer
Flight Lieutenant--Nursing Officer
Warrant Officer Class 1--Operating Department Practitioner Class 1
- Warrant Officer Class 2--Combat Medical Technician Class 1
Staff Sergeant X 2--Operating Department Practitioner Class 1
Sergeant--Regimental Medical Assistant Class 1
Sergeant X 2--Operating Department Practitioner Class 1
Sergeant--Registered General Nurse
Sergeant X 3--Combat Medical Technician Class 1
Corporal X 3--Combat Medical Technician Class 1
Corporal--Environmental Health Technician Class 1
Corporal X 2--Operating Department Practitioner Class 1
7 Mar 2001 : Column: 221W
Ranger X 2--Regimental Medical Assistant Class 2
Lance Corporal--Combat Medical Technician Class 1
Lance Corporal--Regimental Medical Assistant Class 1
Lance Corporal--Operating Department Practitioner Class 1
Lance Corporal--Regimental Medical Assistant Class 3
Senior Aircraftman--RAF Medical Assistant
Private--Combat Medical Technician Class 1.
Dr. Moonie: Requirements for medical support to Exercise Saif Sareea 2 have not yet been finalised. Consequently, we are not yet able to determine the numbers and specialties of the Defence Medical Services personnel who will be deployed, nor whether they will be regular or reserves.
Iraq
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions (a) coalition aircraft and (b) UK aircraft patrolling the southern no fly-zone in Iraq have released ordnance in response to violations from 12 January to date, stating in percentage terms (i) the nature of the threat, (ii) the category of the target attacked and the tonnage of ordnance released on each category of target in proportion to the overall tonnage released; and if he will make a statement. [151804]
Mr. Hoon: Between 12 January 2001 and 28 February 2001, coalition aircrew conducting legitimate humanitarian patrols in the southern no-fly zone were directly threatened by Iraqi air defence forces on 39 occasions and responded in self-defence on six occasions against Iraqi military facilities posing a direct threat to coalition forces. UK aircraft released ordnance on four occasions. Details of the threats to coalition aircraft, targets and UK ordnance, in percentage and weight terms as appropriate, are as follows:
- (i) Nature of threat:
- Anti-Aircraft Artillery/Surface to Air Missile firings-- 100 per cent.
- (ii) Category of Target Attacked:
- Integrated Air Defence System--100 per cent.
- (iii) UK Weapons Released Against Integrated Ground Based Air Defence System
- (A) By tonnage--6.6 tonnes
- (B) By per cent.--100 per cent.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what legal powers recent international military intervention took place in Iraqi no-fly zones. [152460]
Mr. Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on 26 February 2001, Official Report, columns 620-34, about coalition operations to enforce the no-fly zones over Iraq.
Depleted Uranium
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 9 January 2001, Official Report,
7 Mar 2001 : Column: 222W
column 878, concerning oversight of the firing programme of DU shells at the Dundrennan range, if he will specify the nature and extent of the oversight. [151868]
Mr. Spellar: Officials from the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and its predecessor organisations were consulted before test firing began at Dundrennan. Inspectors from both organisations have visited the site on several occasions and are kept fully informed of all activities on the site.
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium shells were fired in Wales in each of the last 10 years. [152628]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 6 March 2001]: No depleted uranium rounds have been fired in Wales in the last 10 years.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on the long-term effects of depleted uranium ammunition on the troops responsible for using the ammunition and recovering vehicles damaged by depleted uranium ammunition. [152155]
Mr. Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 February 2001, Official Report, column 558W; to the independent analysis by Steve Fetter and Frank von Hippel in Science and Global Security, 1999, Volume 8.2, pages 125 to 161; and to the Ministry of Defence paper "Depleted uranium--Documents explaining the Ministry of Defence position on the risks and health hazards", a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 25 January 2001. The Ministry of Defence is also in the process of compiling a list of risk assessments we have undertaken to assess any possible dangers to the environment and human health arising from the use of depleted uranium-based ammunition. That list will be placed in the Library of the House.
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