| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Cancelled Projects
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost of (a) Lion Sun 15/99, (b) Tradewinds 01, (c) Hairspring 00, (d) Winter Deployment 00 and (e) Aswex 00 was before they were cancelled. [44663]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Defence Logistics Organisation
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Defence Logistics Organisation Information Technology projects have been cancelled since 1997; and what has been the total spending to date on these projects. [44215]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 18 March 2002]: The Defence Logistics Organisation was launched on 3 April 2000, since when none of the IT related projects or programmes that it has initiated have been cancelled.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons work has been stopped on the Defence Stores Management Solution system; and what assessment he has made of the effect this will have on the efforts of the Defence Logistics Organisation to achieve cost reductions in the delivery of its services. [44214]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 18 March 2002]: The Defence Stores Management Solution aims to improve inventory management by introducing new processes to provide better visibility across the entire supply chain. Work in industry on the development of a possible means of meeting this requirement has been suspended pending the outcome of the annual review of the forward defence
19 Mar 2002 : Column 207W
programme. We are taking this opportunity to conduct a reappraisal of the options for meeting the requirement to ensure that the most effective solution is chosen to provide all the benefits, including cost reductions, that are required.
Pensions
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of administering the war pension scheme in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [44020]
Dr. Moonie: The cost of administering the War Pensions Scheme is published in the Annual Report and Accounts of the War Pensions Agency; copies of which are held in the Library.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the changes his Department is considering in the Review of Armed Forces Pension Scheme will require primary legislation to effect the changes required; what the timescale is for implementing the review; and if he will make a statement. [44018]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence legal advisers are currently considering whether extant legislation for the current Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) could be amended or if primary legislation would be the most effective means of implementing a new scheme. The timescale for implementation is expected to be determined by factors such as the introduction of a new joint personnel administration system which would provide the IT framework for the pension scheme and for the closely associated systems for personnel data. This system is scheduled for introduction from late 2004 onwards, and we are hoping to introduce the new pension scheme around 2005–06, subject to IT and legislative requirements.
Green Howards Regiment
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rank is held by former Privates Wayne King, Thomas Myers, Marc Hunter and Lance Corporal David White who were with the Green Howards regiment stationed at Warminster in June 2000. [43714]
Mr. Ingram: Former Privates Wayne King and Thomas Myers are no longer serving in the Army. Private Marc Hunter and Lance Corporal David White maintain the same ranks they held while stationed at Warminster in June 2000.
Warship Maintenance
Modernisation Programme
Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Warship Maintenance Modernisation Programme. [44037]
Mr. Ingram: The way ahead on the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative is currently being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. It is anticipated that an announcement will be made in the near future.
Afghanistan
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the investigation led by
19 Mar 2002 : Column 208W
Colonel Zemary Fazil into the death of a man and injury of his pregnant wife in Kabul on the weekend of 16 and 17 February; what statements were issued contemporaneously by the Army press office and other agencies given responsibility for press relations; what subsequent clarifications have been issued; what explanation for the incident has been given to partners in the International Security Assistance Force; how many rounds were fired by each of the members of the Parachute Regiment involved in the incident; what ranks these soldiers were; how many spent rounds were recovered in the vicinity; in whose custody scene of crime evidence has been retained; how many soldiers have been withdrawn from the area of operation; if disciplinary charges are pending; what attempts have been made by senior officers to contact the family of the deceased; and what representations have been received from the Afghan authorities. [41096]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 18 March 2002]: Early on the morning of 16 February, an Observation Post manned by members of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, reported coming under fire from as-yet-unidentified gunmen. The soldiers returned fire. At first light, a joint patrol with the Afghan Interim Authority Police was despatched to the area for follow-up action. In the vicinity of the incident, they discovered a car that had suffered damage from gunfire. On further investigation, they found in a nearby house one dead and four injured people and a new-born baby. The injured were taken to hospital. Their injuries were not life threatening.
The Afghan Interim Authority Police are investigating this incident, with support from members of the Royal Military Police (RMP). The Afghan police have retained any evidence that they wish to and the RMP have retained other items, including the car that had been fired upon. Before the investigation is complete it would not be appropriate to comment further on details of the incident.
The press were briefed at the time in Kabul and have been updated as necessary by the Ministry of Defence press office. Other troop-contributing nations of ISAF were informed of the incident along the same lines as the press.
In accordance with standard procedure, the two soldiers involved in the incident were withdrawn from the area of operations. Until the RMP investigation is completed, the question of disciplinary proceedings does not arise.
ISAF have held informal meetings with the family of the deceased man who understand that the investigation is continuing.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from his US counterpart regarding an increase in the numbers of international peacekeepers in Kabul and Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [41889]
International Security Assistance Force
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the United Kingdom will cease to be the lead nation for the International Security Assistance Force
19 Mar 2002 : Column 209W
for Kabul and its surrounding area under the terms of Annex 1 to the Bonn agreement; and if he will make a statement. [41895]
Mr. Hoon: Negotiations continue with Turkey in pursuit of our aim to hand over our lead nation status of the International Security Assistance Force by 30 April.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to his Turkish counterpart regarding the takeover of the ISAF command in Kabul; and if he will make a statement. [41893]
Mr. Hoon: Official are in close talks with their Turkish counterparts to secure Turkish agreement to take over our status as Lead Nation of the International Security Assistance Force. A joint Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth office team visited Ankara last week for further discussions with Turkish officials. I will be seeing my Turkish counterpart this week.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he has made in the last two months to his European counterparts regarding the extension of the ISAF's mandate; and if he will make a statement; [41891]
- (2) what representations he has received from his European counterparts regarding the extension of the ISAF's mandate; and if he will make a statement. [41892]
Mr. Hoon: I have discussed a number of issues regarding the International Security Assistance Force with the defence ministers of several European countries with military personnel deployed with ISAF.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the British forces' commitment to participating in the ISAF after 30 April; [41897]
- (2) what support the British troops deployed in Kabul will give to a lead nation after 30 April. [41898]
Mr. Hoon: The United Kingdom will remain a significant contributor to the International Security Assistance Force although we plan to reduce the level of our commitment once we relinquish the leadership of the force.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for ISAF troops to be deployed outside Kabul; and if he will make a statement. [41890]
Mr. Hoon: The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)'s area of responsibility (AOR) is limited to Kabul and its environs, as stipulated by the United Nations Security Council resolution 1386 and the Military Technical Agreement signed between the Commander ISAF and the Afghan Interim Administration on 4 January 2002. There are no plans to change this.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |