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Defence Medical Services

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many clinicians have (a) joined and (b) left the Defence Medical Services in each of the last 10 years. [14304]

Dr. Moonie: The numbers of trained medical and dental officers joining and leaving the Defence Medical Services (DMS) in the last nine financial years are provided in the table. No figures are available before financial year 1992–93. Trained medical officers have completed a medical degree, finished a year as a pre-registered medical practitioner and undertaken their initial officer training.

Trained dental officers have completed a dental degree and their initial officer training. The intake figures include those who have completed their medical or dental training under DMS sponsorship.

Medical officers Dental officers
YearIntakeTrained outflowNet differenceIntakeTrained outflowNet difference
2000–016859922175
1999–2000767151926-7
1998–997175-430255
1997–986283-211623-7
1996–9786160-741939-20
1995–9664170-1061437-23
1994–9551120-691337-24
1993–943578-431934-15
1992–937280-82531-6

Notes:

1. The figures in the table include transfers between the services, re-entrants and transfers from medical specialties to dentistry.

2. It is not possible to identify the exact intake dates of army medical and dental officers. The Army intake figures included in the table have been calculated by taking the difference in strengths at the beginning and the end of the year plus the outflow.

3. The intake figures comprise former medical and dental cadets and, in the RAF, former bursars plus direct entrant qualified doctors and dentists.


22 Nov 2001 : Column: 375W

Territorial Army

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the changes he is making to the advertising account for the Territorial Army. [17079R]

Dr. Moonie: Following a restructuring of the external marketing operations of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency's recruiting division, the decision has been taken to seek a re-tender for the national advertising contract for both the Territorial and the Regular Armies. The requirement will be re-tendered over the next few weeks and it is hoped to identify the successful tenderer in mid-December.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 November 2001, Official Report, column 250W, on the Territorial Army, if he will make a statement about the reasons for which those members of the Territorial Army unfit for role have been so categorised. [14377]

Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not specifically categorise members of the Territorial Army (TA) as unfit for role.

As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 7 November 2001, Official Report, column 250W, members of the TA are considered fit for role when they have completed two phases of training which will vary in length depending on an individual's role and trade. Given that the fit for role numbers are based on 100 per cent. of deployable establishments, the majority of those who have not yet achieved fit for role status are undergoing their required training.

The Strategic Defence Review concluded that, in the light of the likely warning time for any large deployment, just over half the TA strength should be fit for role at any

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 376W

one time and as I explained in my answer on 26 October 2001, Official Report, columns 403–04W, to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) the TA is very close to meeting that requirement.

Unlike the Regular Army, the TA holds its untrained soldier strength against its deployable establishment and in order to replace the TA wastage of 25–30 per cent. per year, equivalent numbers of personnel must be recruited and trained to the required standard.

Military Exercises

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many exercises involving tactical air transport have been (a) cancelled and (b) reduced over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [15229]

Mr. Ingram: Since 1 April 2000 when records on the cancellation of exercises involving the tactical air transport element began, 10 exercises have been cancelled. Records were not maintained before this date. The cancellation of these exercises has had no impact on our ability to conduct operations. Records of exercise reduction are not maintained.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military exercises that have been cancelled in the last 24 months together with the reason for cancellation. [14470]

Mr. Ingram: The table covers those exercises from the Ministry of Defence's Defence Exercise Programme (which lists some 350 exercises each year), the exercise programmes of the Front Line Commands, the Permanent Joint HQ and the Defence Logistic Organisation HQ which have been cancelled in the last 24 months. It does not include unit-organised exercises, details of which are not held centrally and which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Exercise nameDatesLocationReason for cancellation
(a)(b)(c)(d)
Tartan EagleJanuary–September 2000UK/USAAmericans reduced annual commitment to one reciprocal exercise a year. Two exercises, one in the UK and one in the USA, were cancelled as a result.
Aswex 0010–21 January 2000South western approachesLack of funding
Winter Deployment 00January–March 2000NorwayLack of funding
Hairspring 00March 2000NorwayLack of funding
JTFEX 1/003–15 April 2000USAUK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Dynamic Mix 0020 May–10 June 2000MedOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Sharem 13311–18 June 2000MedOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Entgrou 2/0025 September–5 October 2000FranceUK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Unified Spirit 005–27 October 2000USAOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Niriis 0020–30 November 2000GreeceUK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Joint Winter 015–16 March 2001NorwayFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Hairspring 015–18 March 2001NorwayFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Tradewinds 011 April–31 May 2001CaribbeanLack of funding
Rolling Deep 018–21 May 2001UKFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Dynamic Mix 0020 May–10 June 2000MedOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Burmese Chase 01June–July 2001USARAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Final NailJuly 2001UKFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Joint Spirit1–30 September 2001USAEvents of September 11th
Tartan EagleSeptember 2001USAOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Sea DaggerSeptember 2001UAEEvents of September 11th
Ursa Minor 01October 2001BulgariaRAF Air Transport unavailable due to other other operational and exercise tasking
Spirochaete8–26 October 2001UKUK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Highport10 May 2001ScotlandFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Lonestar31 May 2001ScotlandFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Lion Sun 15/99October/November 1999CyprusLack of funding
Ferro Ariete/Iron RamNovember 1999UK/ItalyOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Cossak SteppeNovember 1999PolandOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Winged StarDecember 1999UKOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Gobi DustNovember 1999USAOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Druids Dance 8/99November/December 1999UKOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Rhino Charge6–22 January 2001GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Snow ShoeJanuary–March 2000CanadaTo reduce unit commitment
Thor/OdinTwo 2–week reciprocal exercises March-December 2000DenmarkCancelled by Host Nation
Ferro Ariete/Iron RamMarch 2000UK/ItalyOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Marble Tor 2/0029 April–13 May 2000GibraltarRAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Ponte Vehio 00Two weeks April–November 2000ItalyCancelled by Host Nation
Asterix SapperTwo weeks April–November 2000FranceCancelled by Host Nation
Gaulish Star 2/00May 2000FranceOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Pond Jump West 2/0011 July-23 August 2000CanadaOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Lion Sun 03/014 February–4 March 2001CyprusRAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Lion Sun 3/015 February–5 March 2001CyprusRAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Ponte Vecchio/Tower Bridge 00Never confirmedItalyCancelled by host nation
Ponte Vecchio/Tower Bridge 01Never confirmedItalyCancelled by host nation
Iron Ram/Ferro Arriete 01Never confirmedItalyCancelled by host nation
Roman Eagle 01Never confirmedItalyCancelled by host nation
Arrcade GuardMarch 2001GEFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Adventure Express 01March 2001AlbaniaCancelled due to concerns over force protection
Swabian Crusade12–20 March 2001GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Premier Link19 March–1 April 2001GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Thor/OdinTwo reciprocal exercises March-December 2001DenmarkUK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Arrcade Guard 0118–30 March 2001GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Artful Image12–16 March 2001GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Gobidust/Steerspiken/aUSACancelled by host nation
Pacific Kukuri 1/012 April–7 May 2001HawaiiCancelled by host nation
Cobb Ring1–23 April 2001USARAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Cygnet VineApril/May 2001CyprusRAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Medicine Man 122 April–16 May 2001CanadaOperational commitments (Bosnia)
Rhino ChargeApril 2001GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Ardent Ground 0115 April–18 May 2001PolandCancelled by host nation
Druids Dance 3/0114 May–3 June 2001UKFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Active Improvement7–18GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Cygnet VirginMay/June 2001British Virgin IslandsRAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Gaulish 321 May–3 June 2001FranceFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Asterix 321 May–3 June 2001FranceFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Pondjump West 1/0130 May–11 July 2001CanadaOperational commitments (Kosovo)
Gloworm/Rattlesnake9–23 June 2001USAFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Mulberry Tree/Prickly Pear2–15 June 2001USAFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Orient Express 1/0230 June–13 July 2001BelgiumFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Paper Chase19–30 July 2001GermanyCancelled by host nation
Rhino Spear 011–15 July 2001GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Orient Express 2/0214–28 July 2001BelgiumFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Lion Sun 10/0123 July–20 August 2001CyprusOperational commitments (Bosnia)
Asterix 4July 2001FranceCancelled by host nation
Lion Sun 12/0120 August–17 September 2001CyprusOperational commitments (Bosnia)
Wet Gap1–15 October 2001GermanyFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Britannia Way/Iberian Focus 0115–26 October 2001SpainCancelled by host nation
Hard Flint13 May–8 June 2000CanadaOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Collective Training 0027 September–5 October 2000UKNational fuel crisis-uncertainty of impact on fuel reserves prevented deploying forces to exercise area
Snow Falcon25 September–6 October 2000NorwayOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Jagged Corse16–27 October 2000CorsicaOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Sqn Bilat 5/0030 October–3 November 2000SlovakiaOperational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Ample TrainMarch 2001EuropeRAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Collective Training 0112–24 May 2001UKFoot and mouth disease restrictions
Chef de Mission24 September–5 October 2001FranceOperational commitments (Veritas)

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 379W


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