| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
War Graves (France)
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has made to the French authorities about the effect of a third Paris airport on Commonwealth war graves; and if he will make a statement. [49742]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 166W.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of how many British and Commonwealth war graves would have to be relocated if the French authorities proceeded with a new airport at Chaulnes; and which military cemeteries are affected. [49741]
Dr. Moonie: The French Government have a good record for handling civil engineering projects on the battlefields of the Western Front with sensitivity. We have no reason to believe that they will handle this current proposal any differently. In the case of the proposed airport at Chaulnes, no firm plans have been agreed and the perimeter of the site is still to be discussed. However, based on the latest proposals which have been published in the French press, the cemeteries that could be affected are as follows, together with the number of British and Commonwealth graves that may be disturbed as a result.
| Cemeteries | Australian | Canadian | New Zealand | South African | United Kingdom | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bouchoir New British | 6 | 214 | — | 1 | 542 | 763 |
| Damery Communal | — | 10 | — | — | 1 | 11 |
| Folies Communal | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 |
| Fouquescourt British | 49 | 138 | 2 | — | 187 | 376 |
| Marcourt French National | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 6 |
| Meharicourt Communal | 6 | 12 | 2 | — | 21 | 41 |
| Warvillers Churchyard Extension | — | 35 | — | — | 13 | 48 |
16 Apr 2002 : Column 819W
Sovereign Base Areas Cyprus
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent visit to the Sovereign Base Areas Cyprus by Lieutenant General Reith. [48739R]
Mr. Ingram: Lieutenant General Reith, Chief of Joint Operations, made a routine visit to Cyprus during the period 25–28 February. The trip was part of a series of visits to the three Overseas Commands (British Forces Gibraltar, Falkland Islands and Cyprus), of which he has operational command.
Territorial Army
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army are serving on operations; and in which locations their numbers exceed 50. [49770]
Dr. Moonie: As at 12 April there were 415 members of the Territorial Army serving on operations. The locations where the numbers exceeded 50 were Bosnia, where 174 were serving, and Kosovo, where 155 were serving.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength is of the Territorial Army. [49769]
Dr. Moonie: As at 1 March 2002, the strength of the Territorial Army stood at 39,617 personnel of whom 392 are currently mobilised in support of operations.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to disband Territorial Army field hospital units. [49745]
Dr. Moonie: There are currently no plans to disband Territorial Army field hospital units.
Golden Jubilee
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the exclusion of retired officers from eligibility for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal; and if he will make a statement. [50019]
Dr. Moonie: A number of hon. Members have written on behalf of constituents who are former members of the armed forces but who have been re-employed as civil servants in a Retired Officer grade. In addition, the Ministry of Defence has received letters from individual Retired Officers and the Retired Officers Association has made representations on behalf of their members. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 568W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell).
War Widows' Pensions
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons Mrs. M. K. Tushingham, a constituent whose details have been supplied, has been told that she may no longer receive her RAF widows pension via an order book at a post office. [48989]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 April 2002]: Pensions under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme are normally paid monthly in arrears. Some 6,700 pensioners (2 per cent. of the total number of Armed Forces pensioners) in receipt of pensions prior to 1981 have retained rights to payment of
16 Apr 2002 : Column 820W
pensions weekly in advance, historically via a "Payable Order Book" (POB) cashable at post offices. Revised arrangements were introduced from April 2002 to provide the pensioner with a more secure means of payment than the POB system; it is also more cost-effective to the Ministry of Defence and easier to administer.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which RAF widows can receive their war pensions other than into a bank account; [48987]
- (2) what arrangements are available for war widows who (a) are unable to obtain a bank account and (b) do not wish to open a bank account to receive their pensions. [48988]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 April 2002]: War Widows pensions, administered by the Veterans Agency, can be paid into either a bank account or building society, or by cash at the post office.
Staff College, Shrivenham
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training and education the Joint Services Staff College at Shrivenham provides in peacekeeping and conflict resolution. [44746]
Mr. Ingram: The Joint Services Staff College at Shrivenham provides a number of courses that cover peacekeeping and conflict resolution. The courses are:
- The Higher Command and Staff course, which trains 30 students per year.
The Advanced Command and Staff course, which trains 420 students per year.
The Royal Navy Junior Division, which trains 200 students per year.
The Army Junior Division, which trains 420 students per year.
The Royal Air Force Junior Division, which trains 440 students per year.
Reserve courses.
Accommodation
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who conducts the (a) customer attitude survey, (b) continuous attitude survey and (c) Independent Housing Survey; what questions on housing there were in each of the surveys; if he will place a copy of the most recent of each in the Library; and if he will make a statement; [48665]
- (2) what percentage of respondents were content with the standard of accommodation allocated to them in the (a) customer attitude survey, (b) continuous attitude survey and (c) Independent Housing Survey; and if he will make a statement. [48666]
Dr. Moonie: The Customer Attitude Survey conducted by QinetiQ for the Defence Housing Executive (DHE) is a comprehensive survey of attitudes relating to Service Family Accommodation. It is wide-ranging and covers many aspects of housing; copies have been placed in the Library of the House. It records 67 per cent. of
16 Apr 2002 : Column 821W
service families as "content" with the standard of family accommodation. There is no separate "independent housing survey" questionnaire.
Each of the Services undertakes continuous attitude surveys. These are not specifically related to family housing but are intended to measure morale and to understand the concerns and motivations of their personnel across a spectrum of issues, including conditions of service, training and development and accommodation of all kinds. There are no plans to release them into the public domain.
For the RN, the continuous attitude survey responses of August 2001 indicated that some 58 per cent. were either very satisfied or satisfied, and 22 per cent neutral, with the standard of family accommodation provided. For the RAF, the survey for May and August 2001 indicated that 53 per cent. regarded their accommodation as satisfactory or very satisfactory and 31 per cent. as adequate. The corresponding question in the Army's August 2001 survey did not distinguish between family and single accommodation but showed 42 per cent. satisfied or very satisfied.
SAS and SBS
Mr. Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the policy for Return to Mainstream service for personnel in the Special Air Service's and Special Boat Service; and whether he plans to recruit for SAS and SBS other than from serving members of the regular armed forces. [49467]
Mr. Ingram: Non-commissioned personnel who successfully complete United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) selection, and continue to maintain appropriate standards, will normally serve the balance of their careers with UKSF. The careers of regular serving officers will be managed in a way which balances service within and outside the UKSF group, to the mutual benefit of the individual, UKSF and the parent service.
Members of UKSF may be returned to their parent corps at any time should they be found unsuitable for further service or should they wish to do so at their own request.
Volunteers for the SBS and SAS, who must have completed two years adult military service, may apply from any part of the regular armed forces, as may reservists serving with one of the UKSF reserve units. Applicants from overseas are also eligible in certain circumstances. There are no plans to expand the recruiting base.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |