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Base Security
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the security issues associated with the Peel Circus/Pockeridge Lane development adjacent to Basil Hill Barracks, Cariton, and Defence Communication Services Agency, Copenacre; and if he will make a statement. [19574]
Mr. Ingram: Security is always a prime concern. The security arrangements at Corsham have been examined in the light of the proposed civilian housing development and appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that military and civilian personnel at the site are properly protected.
Gulf War (Medical Records)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many medical records have been requested by armed services personnel who served in the Gulf War; how many have been found; whether all requests for medical record information have been granted; and if he will make a statement; [20266]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the management of medical records from the Gulf War and their accuracy. [20265]
Dr. Moonie: Information is not readily available that would enable the Ministry of Defence to identify, from the large number of requests for medical records received, how many were in respect of individuals who served in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict and, of those, in how many cases medical records were available. However, in view of the Government's undertaking to be as informative and thorough as possible in addressing issues of concern to Gulf veterans, I have asked that the information requested be researched. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House. The policy of the MOD for some years has been that no medical records should be withheld except where legislation so requires.
In October 2001, MOD's Gulf Veterans Illnesses Unit updated and re-issued a paper previously produced in April 1999 entitled "Medical Records in the Gulf". This is available on MOD's website at: www.gulfwar.mod.uk. I have arranged for a copy of this paper to be placed in the Library of the House. The paper describes
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arrangements for medical record keeping during the Gulf conflict; discusses a number of reasons why records that were kept may not have been complete, and provides guidance to Gulf veterans on how to obtain their service medical records.
Service Aircraft
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average age of aircraft is in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force. [19962]
Mr. Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
International Military Services Ltd.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who the board members of International Military Services Ltd. are. [20186]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 3 December 2001]: The board members of International Military Services Ltd. are:
- Sir Kenneth Macdonald KCB
Mr. D. G. Jones
Mr. N. A. D. Sharvell.
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 3 December 2001]: The contingent liabilities in respect of International Military Services Ltd. have not been drawn on since the company ceased trading but they remain under review.
Fylingdales
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been made of the upgrading requirements of Fylingdales. [20739]
Mr. Ingram: Since RAF Fylingdales was established in 1963, there have been numerous studies that have led to the upgrading of equipment and infrastructure. The most recent addressed security, and its recommendations are currently being implemented.
Aircraft Movements (Nuclear Weapons)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many movements of (a) UK aircraft and (b) US aircraft occurred within UK airspace in the last year for which figures are available where nuclear weapons were carried; and if he will make a statement. [20170]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 3 December 2001]: It is current UK policy not to transport UK nuclear weapons by air. The number of US flights carrying nuclear weapons each year within UK airspace depends on programme requirements which are confidential between
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the two Governments. I am therefore withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Royal Marines
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on undermanning in the Royal Marines. [20633]
Mr. Ingram: The Royal Marines continue to be challenged by overall undermanning of about 6 per cent., although recruiting is meeting current targets, retention rates need to be improved and a range of measures are in hand to achieve this. We are confident that the Royal Marine forces deployed on operations will be manned to the appropriate level for any likely task arising.
Spanish Airspace
Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 November 2001, Official Report, column 1055W, on Gibraltar, if he will initiate discussions to permit the overflight of Spanish airspace by UK military aircraft. [20776]
Mr. Ingram: We have no plans specifically to discuss the overflight of Spanish airspace by UK military aircraft, but the on-going discussions with Spain under the Brussels Process aims to resolve all outstanding issues between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar.
Efficiency Savings
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the efficiency savings that have been secured by the United Kingdom armed forces in each of the last three years. [18803]
Mr. Hoon: Since 1998–99, the Ministry of Defence has achieved the following efficiency savings, against the challenging targets in our public service agreement.
| 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative target | 505 | 998 | 1,499 |
| Cumulative savings | 594 | 1,126 | (27)1,472 |
| Annual target | 505 | 475 | 430 |
| Annual savings | 594 | 511 | (27)318 |
(27) Achievement still being validated
Note:
All figures expressed at outturn prices (uprated where appropriate to take account of inflation)
These efficiency savings help ensure that the MOD is able to invest in increasing the military capability of the armed forces.
Military Personnel
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are serving (a) in and around Gibraltar, (b) in and around Cyprus and (c) in and around the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [18797]
Mr. Ingram: The following table shows the number of UK regular forces serving in and around Gibraltar, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands as at 1 September 2001.
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| Gibraltar | Cyprus | Falkland Islands | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Service | 237 | 8 | 92 |
| Army | 70 | 2,053 | 457 |
| RAF | 114 | 1,089 | 726 |
| Total | 421 | 3,150 | 1,275 |
Source:
DASA (Tri-Service)
Armed Forces Housing Stock
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the value of the armed forces housing stock; and if he will make a statement. [18811]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel have been allocated to service in Northern Ireland for 2001–02; and how many there have been in each of the last 20 years. [18823]
Mr. Ingram: The number of military personnel (Army, Navy and RAF) stationed in Northern Ireland for the last 15 years is set out in the table (figures for the Navy and RAF prior to 1985 are not available):
| As at 31 October | Number of security force personnel |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 16,536 |
| 1986 | 18,851 |
| 1987 | 18,003 |
| 1988 | 18,295 |
| 1989 | 18,626 |
| 1990 | 17,628 |
| 1991 | 17,962 |
| 1992 | 18,982 |
| 1993 | 19,022 |
| 1994 | 18,345 |
| 1995 | 17,070 |
| 1996 | 16,490 |
| 1997 | 16,716 |
| 1998 | 15,566 |
| 1999 | 14,459 |
| 2000 | 13,640 |
| 2001 | 13,820 |
As well as those troops stationed in Northern Ireland there are troops under the command of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI) that are rear based on the mainland and can be called forward to the Province as and when required. In addition other troops can be made available to the GOC NI from Land Command, if required, to help out during the height of the summer marching season.
The security situation is the determinant as to how many security force personnel are stationed in the Province at any given time. Therefore, we cannot say how many personnel may be needed in Northern Ireland next year.
5 Dec 2001 : Column: 348W
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the level of expenditure on armed forces based in Northern Ireland for each of the years 1984–85 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [18808]
Mr. Ingram: The General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland was vested as a Top Level Budget (TLB) holder on 1 April 1994. Figures for the total expenditure in his TLB are in the annual Appropriation Account, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
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