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RAF Fylingdales
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) UK and (b) US (i) military and (ii) civil personnel are deployed at RAF Fylingdales. [6264]
Mr. Ingram: As at 5 September 2001, there were 81 UK military, 318 UK civilian, one US military and 10 US civilian personnel deployed at RAF Fylingdales.
RAF Feltwell
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he ensures, in the absence of RAF personnel at RAF Feltwell, that the activities undertaken at the base are consistent with the UK national interest. [6261]
Mr. Ingram: RAF Feltwell falls within the administrative responsibility of the RAF Commander Lakenheath, who regularly visits the base in the course of his day-to-day duties.
Fishing (Luce Bay)
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long he expects the ban on fishing extending across Luce Bay in Wigtownshire to remain in place due to unrecovered ordnance left by the RAF after testing procedures. [6087]
Dr. Moonie: The area of Luce Bay currently closed to fishing covers approximately 2 square miles. Officials are working with the appropriate authorities to have navigation buoys put in place to mark clearly an area of 0.103 square miles which will be permanently closed to fishing. The work to place the buoys is expected to be completed shortly.
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Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to agree compensation provisions for fishermen excluded by MOD restriction orders from fishing grounds in Luce Bay, Wigtownshire. [6086]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has no special plans to agree compensation provisions for fishermen excluded from the fishing grounds in Luce Bay, Wigtownshire. When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation, we do so.
One claim for compensation has been received from a fisherman alleging a loss of earnings caused by his exclusion from fishing grounds in Luce Bay. On investigation, it was determined that in excluding this individual from the area for reasons of safety, the range authorities were acting within their legal rights as laid down in the relevant local bye-laws. As a result, liability was denied and no compensation has been paid.
Dundrennan Range, Kirkcudbrightshire
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for future capital investment by his Department at Dundrennan Range, Kirkcudbrightshire. [6085]
Dr. Moonie: The facilities at Dundrennan are used primarily for infantry training and also offer facilities for ammunition testing. In terms of infantry training, the facilities represent a valuable resource and we wish to maximise their utility. Starting in June next year, a programme of building will commence which will provide training accommodation with supporting infrastructure to house up to 500 personnel and an infantry field firing range complex. There are no plans to develop the ammunition testing facility.
Strategic Defence Review
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the size of the (a) regular and (b) Territorial Army beyond the levels envisaged in the Strategic Defence Review. [6990]
Mr. Ingram: Decisions were taken in the Strategic Defence Review about the size and structure of the Army, which included the creation of a sixth deployable brigade and a second line of communication. It is intended to man the Army to achieve this, and it will require an increase in its strength from current levels. The extent of the increase will depend in part on the outcome of on-going studies into the best ways of delivering the military capability required of the Army.
There are no plans to reduce the Territorial Army below the size announced in November 1998.
Territorial Army
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army units are commanded by (a) Regular Army and (b) Territorial Army officers. [6997]
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Dr. Moonie: A total of 59 Territorial Army units are commanded by Regular Army officers and 46 are commanded by Territorial Army officers.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) two-star generals and (b) generals above this rank serving in the Army are Territorial Army officers. [6988]
Dr. Moonie: There are no two-star generals or generals above this rank currently serving in the Territorial Army.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) establishment and (b) actual strength was of the Territorial Army on 1 July. [6993]
Dr. Moonie: As at 1 July, the actual strength of the Territorial Army (less non-regular permanent staff) was 40,409, some 800 below the agreed establishment of 41,204.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which the most undermanned unit is in the Territorial Army, expressed as actual strength as a percentage of establishment strength. [6991]
Dr. Moonie: The most undermanned unit in the Territorial Army (TA) is 203 Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps (Volunteers). The actual strength of this regiment is currently 59 per cent. of its establishment strength. As the hon. Member may know, there is a general shortfall in numbers in the Army Medical Services (TA) and a recruiting campaign is in place to address this. Numbers are beginning to increase and I expect this trend to continue.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been realised by the sale of Territorial Army centres since May 1997. [6996]
Dr. Moonie: Figures are not available for the period before April 1998. Since that date, some £7 million in receipts has been achieved from the sale of sites used primarily by the Territorial Army, in addition to a receipt in excess of £66 million for the Duke of York's HQ in London. A number of disposals of such sites are still in progress.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers have been commissioned in the Territorial Army in the last three years. [6994]
Dr. Moonie: In the last three years, 2,314 officers have been commissioned into the Territorial Army. This figure excludes non-regular permanent staff.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers have left the Territorial Army, including those transferring to the long-term reserve list, in the last three years. [6995]
Dr. Moonie: In the last three years, 2,663 officers have left the Territorial Army. This figure excludes non-regular permanent staff.
Royal Navy Reserve
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength was of the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 July. [6998]
Dr. Moonie: The strength of the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 July 2001 was 3,144.
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Armed Forces
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains his policy to maintain a one Army concept for the Regular and Territorial Armies. [6989]
Dr. Moonie: We remain fully committed to a TA that is relevant, usable and fully integrated into our armed forces.
Salisbury Plain Training (Accidents)
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the result was of the investigation into the cause of the fatal accident to a Challenger II tank on Salisbury Plain on 11 July; [5859]
- (2) how many fatal accidents have occurred on Salisbury Plain training estate since 1 January 2000; what vehicles were involved; and what the cause of death was, and which emergency service was first on the scene, in each case. [5858]
Mr. Ingram: There have been two fatal accidents on Salisbury Plain training area since 1 January 2000. Private Christopher France died in an accident on 6 April 2000 after being struck by a Pinzgauer vehicle, and Lieutenant Paul Syred and Corporal Michael Paterson were killed in July this year when the Challenger 2 tank in which they were travelling overturned. The police and ambulance services arrived promptly at the scenes of both incidents.
The Ministry of Defence continues to investigate both accidents and I am therefore unable to provide further details at this stage.
Japanese PoWs
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compensation applications have been received for former PoWs held by the Japanese under his Department's new scheme; how many have been approved; how many have been rejected; and how many have been upheld after appeal. [7613]
Dr. Moonie: As at 9 October 2001, a total of 27,628 claims have been received for payments under the ex-gratia scheme. 22,437 payments have been made, 3,761 claims have been rejected. As the payments are made on an ex-gratia basis, there is no formal right of appeal against rejection. However, the War Pensions Agency will reconsider any claim on receipt of further representations.
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