House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 11 Feb 2002 (pt 3)

Qala-I-Jhangi Fort

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 964W, what inquiries are taking place into the deaths at Qala-I-Jhangi fort between 25 and 27 November 2001; and if he will make a statement. [34867]

11 Feb 2002 : Column 8W

Mr. Hoon: I see no grounds for instituting an inquiry. I am satisfied that the actions of British troops were a perfectly proper response to the situation they encountered at Qala-I-Jhangi fort.

Detainees (Afghanistan)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the US Secretary of State for Defense concerning the treatment of British hostile nationals apprehended in Afghanistan. [31895]

Mr. Hoon: I have had a number of discussions with my United States counterpart about the situation in Afghanistan and related issues. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a permanent presence at Camp X-ray at Guantanamo Bay. The three British prisoners have been seen by British officials and have made no complaints about their conditions or treatment.

The ICRC is also being allowed access to detainees in Afghanistan. However, our extremely limited consular capacity in Afghanistan and continuing security risks to our staff travelling outside Kabul place a practical limit on what we are able to achieve there.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether detainees in Afghanistan (a) captured and (b) held by United Kingdom forces have been transferred to US forces. [33636]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 5 February 2002]: No.

Southern Helicopter Stations

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the armed forces' helicopter stations south of the M4. [31911]

Mr. Ingram: There are seven armed forces helicopter stations south of the M4. These are:

Royal Air Force Odiham

Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton

Middle Wallop Airfield

Netheravon Airfield

Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose

Royal Air Force St. Mawgan

Royal Marines Base Chivenor.

Injuries (Female Personnel)

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to address the number of injuries sustained by women under Army training since the introduction of the gender-free policy. [31477R]

Mr. Ingram: This issue has been kept under close review since the introduction of "gender-free" physical testing in 1998. A number of changes have been made to both the selection and initial training process. In May 2000, a one and a half mile run was introduced at Recruit Selection Centres, to act as a "risk reducer" by identifying

11 Feb 2002 : Column 9W

those individuals who would be unlikely to be able to complete training. Remedial treatment and physiotherapy services at the Army Training Regiments have been expanded and doctors there have been given better training in sports medicine.

During 2001, a complete reprofiling of the common military syllabus for recruits at the Army Training Regiments (ATRs) was undertaken. The programming and physical development profile was reviewed and refined to provide a graduated curve of increasing physical intensity to minimise the risk of early traumatic injury. The programme is focused on the average 16 to 18-year-old physical fitness start state, and it is specifically designed to minimise lower limb traumas and soft tissue injuries in the first six weeks of training. Heart rate monitors have been introduced to optimise individual physical development profiles. Lower limb strength training and certain limitations on basic drill have been introduced. The changes were instituted in October 2001 and will be formally assessed in April 2002; first indications are that injury rates in the first nine weeks of training have fallen overall.

11 Feb 2002 : Column 10W

The Army Training and Recruiting Agency has continued to sponsor studies in injury prevention and management, remedial training, ergonomics and nutritional areas; currently there are 10 studies in progress, with the overall aim of reducing injuries and medical discharges during training, for both male and females recruits, to the lowest practicable levels while meeting standards and complying with legislation.

Foot Guards

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is (a) the establishment and (b) the current strength of each of the Regiments in the Foot Guards; and if he will list each element of company strength serving with them, indicating where each battalion has soldiers attached to it from another battalion, (i) which battalion they are from and (ii) in what numbers. [32456]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 1 February 2002]: The establishment and strength of each of the Foot Guards Regiments, as at 1 January 2002, is detailed in the table. The figures include all attached arms and also detail the Public Duties Companies that serve away from the main body of the Regiment.

Establishment and strength of Footguard Regiments as at 1 January 2002

1 Grenadier Guards N Coy 1 Coldstream Guards

Establishment Strength Establishment Strength Establishment Strength

Infantry 561 535 107 100 561 547

RAChD 0 0 0 0 0 0

RLC 23 19 0 1 23 22

RAMC 4 3 0 0 4 3

REME 11 11 0 1 0 1

AG CORPS (SPS) 22 23 0 0 22 22

Royal Signals 0 0 0 0 0 1

QARANC 1 0 1 0 1 0

Royal Engineers 0 0 0 0 0 1

HCAV 0 0 0 0 0 0

APTC 1 1 0 0 1 2

UKTAP 622 592 107 102 611 599

FTRS 0 0 0 0 0 0

Gurkhas 0 0 0 0 0 0

Whole Army total 624 592 107 102 612 599

	1 Grenadier Guards	N Coy	1 Coldstream Guards
	Establishment	Strength	Establishment	Strength	Establishment	Strength
Infantry	561	535	107	100	561	547
RAChD	0	0	0	0	0	0
RLC	23	19	0	1	23	22
RAMC	4	3	0	0	4	3
REME	11	11	0	1	0	1
AG CORPS (SPS)	22	23	0	0	22	22
Royal Signals	0	0	0	0	0	1
QARANC	1	0	1	0	1	0
Royal Engineers	0	0	0	0	0	1
HCAV	0	0	0	0	0	0
APTC	1	1	0	0	1	2
UKTAP	622	592	107	102	611	599
FTRS	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gurkhas	0	0	0	0	0	0

Whole Army total	624	592	107	102	612	599

7 Coy 8 Coy 1 Scots Guards

Establishment Strength Establishment Strength Establishment Strength

Infantry 107 80 98 98 562 515

RAChD 0 0 0 0 0 1

RLC 0 0 0 0 23 17

RAMC 0 0 0 0 4 3

REME 0 1 0 0 11 9

AG CORPS (SPS) 0 0 0 0 22 21

Royal Signals 0 0 0 0 0 0

QARANC 1 0 1 0 1 0

Royal Engineers 0 0 0 0 0 0

HCAV 0 0 0 0 0 0

APTC 0 0 0 0 1 1

UKTAP 107 81 98 98 623 567

FTRS 0 0 0 0 0 0

Gurkhas 0 0 0 0 0 0

Whole Army total 107 81 98 98 624 567

F Coy 1 Irish Guards 1 Welsh Guards

Establishment Strength Establishment Strength Establishment Strength

Infantry 107 111 621 612 590 583

RAChD 0 0 0 0 0 0

RLC 0 1 24 20 23 21

RAMC 0 0 4 4 4 3

REME 0 1 0 0 29 24

AG CORPS (SPS) 0 0 24 20 22 18

Royal Signals 0 0 0 0 0 0

QARANC 1 0 1 0 1 0

Royal Engineers 0 0 0 0 0 0

HCAV 0 0 0 3 0 0

APTC 0 0 1 1 1 1

UKTAP 107 113 674 660 669 650

FTRS 0 0 0 0 0 0

Gurkhas 0 0 0 0 0 0

Whole Army total 107 113 675 660 670 650

	7 Coy	8 Coy	1 Scots Guards
	Establishment	Strength	Establishment	Strength	Establishment	Strength
Infantry	107	80	98	98	562	515
RAChD	0	0	0	0	0	1
RLC	0	0	0	0	23	17
RAMC	0	0	0	0	4	3
REME	0	1	0	0	11	9
AG CORPS (SPS)	0	0	0	0	22	21
Royal Signals	0	0	0	0	0	0
QARANC	1	0	1	0	1	0
Royal Engineers	0	0	0	0	0	0
HCAV	0	0	0	0	0	0
APTC	0	0	0	0	1	1
UKTAP	107	81	98	98	623	567
FTRS	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gurkhas	0	0	0	0	0	0

Whole Army total	107	81	98	98	624	567

	F Coy	1 Irish Guards	1 Welsh Guards
	Establishment	Strength	Establishment	Strength	Establishment	Strength
Infantry	107	111	621	612	590	583
RAChD	0	0	0	0	0	0
RLC	0	1	24	20	23	21
RAMC	0	0	4	4	4	3
REME	0	1	0	0	29	24
AG CORPS (SPS)	0	0	24	20	22	18
Royal Signals	0	0	0	0	0	0
QARANC	1	0	1	0	1	0
Royal Engineers	0	0	0	0	0	0
HCAV	0	0	0	3	0	0
APTC	0	0	1	1	1	1
UKTAP	107	113	674	660	669	650
FTRS	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gurkhas	0	0	0	0	0	0

Whole Army total	107	113	675	660	670	650

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Guards Battalions

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trained officers and soldiers are serving in the Guards Battalions broken down by nationality. [32455]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 1 February 2002]: The number of trained officers and soldiers serving in the Guards Battalions, as at 1 January 2002, broken down by nationality is shown in the table. Figures do not include companies that are serving on public duties. In order to conform to confidentiality regulations, exact numbers for

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nationalities where representation is less than five cannot be disclosed. The total strengths are therefore quoted in a separate table.

Regiment strengths as at 1 January 2002

Guards Total strength

Grenadier 592

Coldstream 599

Scots 567

Irish 660

Welsh 650

Guards	Total strength
Grenadier	592
Coldstream	599
Scots	567
Irish	660
Welsh	650

Note:

Figures do not include FTRS and Gurkhas

Trained guards strength by regiment and nationality as at 1 January 2002—PQ2386M

Nationality Grenadier Coldstream Scots Irish Welsh

Soldier

Belize ⁽²⁾—

Fiji/St. Vincent ⁽²⁾— 7 ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

Gambia ⁽²⁾—

Hong Kong ⁽²⁾—

Jamaica ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

Kenya ⁽²⁾—

New Zealand ⁽²⁾—

Republic of Ireland ⁽²⁾— 25 ⁽²⁾—

Zimbabwe ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

British/Commonwealth/Foreign⁽³⁾ 20 17 14 17 9

England 499 518 188 391 125

Irish Republic ⁽²⁾— 5

Isle of Man ⁽²⁾—

Northern Ireland ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— 135 ⁽²⁾—

Scotland 13 10 307 33 10

South Africa ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

Wales ⁽²⁾— 7 5 ⁽²⁾— 462

Officer

India ⁽²⁾—

New Zealand Islands ⁽²⁾—

Republic of Ireland ⁽²⁾—

Britain ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

Britain/Irish Republic⁽³⁾ ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

England 37 32 25 31 29

Isle of Man/Channel Islands ⁽²⁾—

Northern Ireland ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

Scotland ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— 8 ⁽²⁾—

Wales ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾— ⁽²⁾—

Nationality	Grenadier	Coldstream	Scots	Irish	Welsh
Soldier
Belize	⁽²⁾—
Fiji/St. Vincent	⁽²⁾—		7	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
Gambia	⁽²⁾—
Hong Kong		⁽²⁾—
Jamaica		⁽²⁾—		⁽²⁾—
Kenya					⁽²⁾—
New Zealand				⁽²⁾—
Republic of Ireland	⁽²⁾—			25	⁽²⁾—
Zimbabwe	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—		⁽²⁾—
British/Commonwealth/Foreign⁽³⁾	20	17	14	17	9
England	499	518	188	391	125
Irish Republic	⁽²⁾—			5
Isle of Man			⁽²⁾—
Northern Ireland	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	135	⁽²⁾—
Scotland	13	10	307	33	10
South Africa	⁽²⁾—		⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
Wales	⁽²⁾—	7	5	⁽²⁾—	462

Officer
India		⁽²⁾—
New Zealand Islands	⁽²⁾—
Republic of Ireland				⁽²⁾—
Britain	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
Britain/Irish Republic⁽³⁾			⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
England	37	32	25	31	29
Isle of Man/Channel Islands		⁽²⁾—
Northern Ireland			⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—
Scotland	⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—	8	⁽²⁾—
Wales	⁽²⁾—			⁽²⁾—	⁽²⁾—

⁽²⁾ Indicates that, in order to conform to confidentiality rules, exact numbers less than five cannot be disclosed either directly or indirectly.

⁽³⁾ This category indicates those personnel who have dual nationality and class themselves as British/Irish Republic.

11 Feb 2002 : Column 13W

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