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Colchester Garrison
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development of the new Colchester Garrison. [52449]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 40W, to the Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin).
Helicopters
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with trials of the Army's Apache AH Mk 1 attack helicopter. [53517]
Dr. Moonie: Trials of the Apache WAH64 Attack Helicopter are progressing satisfactorily. Delivery of an initial operational capability to the army, consisting of the first operational Apache Squadron, is expected in August 2004.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings accrued to the Defence Budget from the reduction in the planned order of Merlin helicopters. [54903]
Dr. Moonie: There have been no reductions in planned orders of Merlin since the Strategic Defence Review.
10 May 2002 : Column 376W
West Freugh Airfield
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air traffic movements were reported at West Freugh airfield in each of the last 12 months. [54251]
Dr. Moonie: The following aircraft movements took place at West Freugh in each of the last 12 months.
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| April 2001 | 300 |
| May 2001 | 470 |
| June 2001 | 256 |
| July 2001 | 391 |
| August 2001 | 310 |
| September 2001 | 231 |
| October 2001 | 166 |
| November 2001 | 276 |
| December 2001 | 633 |
| January 2002 | 143 |
| February 2002 | 232 |
| March 2002 | 367 |
These figures do not include overflights or range runs.
Deployments
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many service personnel are serving with (a) BDLS Washington and (b) BATUS Suffield, broken down by service; [53778] (2) pursuant to his answer of 16 April, Official Report, column 825W, on deployment, what account was taken of army personnel serving with (a) BATUS Suffield and (b) BDLS Washington. [53801]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 2 May 2002]: The answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Ingram) gave on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 825W, showed the total number and location of armed forces personnel deployed overseas on military tasks and operations only.
No account was taken of army personnel serving with (a) BATUS Suffield and (b) BDS Washington as neither of these are military tasks or operations.
The figures for those currently serving with BATUS Suffield are as follows:
| Permanent Staff | 207 |
| Temporary Staff (summer training staff) | 180 |
| Canadian Military Staff | 103 |
| Total Personnel* | 490 |
The figures for those currently serving with BDS Washington are as follows:
| Naval Service | 18 |
| Army | 16 |
| RAF | 12 |
| Total Personnel | 46 |
These figures reflect service personnel serving in the British Defence Staff at the British Embassy in Washington (including Attaches). They do not include service personnel in exchange, liaison or project staff appointments. In organisational terms BDLS Washington no longer exists and is replaced by BDS Washington.
10 May 2002 : Column 377W
Gibraltar
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel were stationed in Gibraltar in (a) October 2000, (b) April 2001, (c) October 2001 and (d) April 2002. [54355]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 7 May 2002]: The number of military personnel stationed in Gibraltar is as follows:
| Year | Personnel |
|---|---|
| October 2000 | 585 |
| April 2001 | 591 |
| October 2001 | 600 |
| April 2002 | 564 |
These figures include UK-based military personnel stationed on Gibraltar and regular members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.
Medical Downgrading
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the reason underlying the number of service personnel who are medically downgraded; and if he will make a statement. [54128]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 7 May 2002]: There are many reasons for Service personnel being medically downgraded on either a temporary or permanent basis. Personnel who are temporarily downgraded have incurred an injury or developed a medical condition for which they are receiving or awaiting treatment or are recuperating. Servicewomen who are pregnant or have recently given birth are also temporarily medically downgraded. Personnel who have a long term medical condition which prevents them from undertaking their full range of duties, but which allows them to be retained with limited employability, are placed in a permanently downgraded category.
Work is currently in hand in the Ministry of Defence to develop improved analysis of the causes of medical downgrading. This will enable us to ensure that we are adopting the most effective means of prevention and treatment wherever these are appropriate.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Navy are in the medical categories (a) baby, (b) PO, (c) P2, (d) P2X, (e) P2U3, (f) P2L3, (g) P3R, (h) P3P, (i) P7RA, (j) P7RB, (k) P7RC, (l) P7RD and (m) P8; in each case what percentage of (i) establishment and (ii) actual manning this represents; and if he will make a statement. [54130]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 7 May 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 19 April, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. The Royal Navy only has figures for the total number of medically downgraded personnel, and a comparison with the Establishment, which includes only trained posts, would not be valid. "Baby" is not a medical category but an administrative one used when a woman declares her
10 May 2002 : Column 378W
pregnancy; she is then included in the P3R Medical Category. P2L3 and P2U3 are administrative categories used in training, and personnel in these categories are fit for service world-wide.
The number of personnel in the Medical Categories listed and the percentage they represent of the Total Strength is set out on the following table:
| Medical Category | Total | per cent of Total Strength |
|---|---|---|
| PO | 119 | 0.28 |
| P2 | 38,346 | 90.41 |
| P2X | 9 | 0.02 |
| P3P | 383 | 0.90 |
| P3R (including "Baby") | 354 | 0.83 |
| P7RA | 298 | 0.70 |
| P7RB | 66 | 0.15 |
| P7RC | 62 | 0.14 |
| P7RD | 1,525 | 3.59 |
| P8 | 68 | 0.16 |
| Medical Category | Total | per cent of Total Strength |
|---|---|---|
| P2L3 | 844 | 1.99 |
| P2U3 | 56 | 0.13 |
ASRAAM
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings to the Defence Budget accrued from the delay in the delivery of the ASRAAM missile. [54902]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 February 2002, Official Report, column 601W, when I informed the House that the delay in the ASRAAM In-Service Date had cost the Ministry of Defence approximately £7 million. The MOD has collected liquidated damages from the contractor, on the basis of terms agreed at the time of contract signature. Liquidated damages are paid to the MOD in respect of the loss and damage caused by the late delivery of the missiles; this includes both the MOD's additional costs and the loss of capability. Accordingly, although the amount of liquidated damages received from the company exceeds £7 million, the MOD does not regard this as a saving.
Retention
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average length of service by new recruits in each regiment since 1990; and if he will provide a breakdown of the results of exit interviews with personnel over the most recent period for which figures are available. [55168]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 9 May 2002]: The average length of service on Outflow for trained Officers and soldiers since Financial Year 1990–1991 is detailed in the following table:
10 May 2002 : Column 379W
| Financial Year | Mean Length of Service on Outflow |
|---|---|
| 1990–1991 | 12 Years 9 Months |
| 1991–1992 | 10 Years 2 Months |
| 1992–1993 | 15 Years 10 Months |
| 1993–1994 | 13 Years 10 Months |
| 1994–1995 | 13 Years 2 Months |
| 1995–1996 | 11 Years 11 Months |
| 1996–1997 | 12 Years 1 Month |
| 1997–1998 | 13 Years 2 Months |
| 1998–1999 | 13 Years 9 Months |
| 1999–2000 | 14 Years 10 Months |
| 2000–2001 | 14 Years 10 Months |
| 2001–2002 | 15 Years 10 Months |
| Financial Year | Mean Length of Service on Outflow |
|---|---|
| 1990–1991 | 8 Years 8 Months |
| 1991–1992 | 8 Years 11 Months |
| 1992–1993 | 10 Years 9 Months |
| 1993–1994 | 11 Years 10 Months |
| 1994–1995 | 10 Years 9 Months |
| 1995–1996 | 9 Years 3 Months |
| 1996–1997 | 8 Years 10 Month |
| 1997–1998 | 9 Years 9 Months |
| 1998–1999 | 9 Years 9 Months |
| 1999–2000 | 10 Years |
| 2000–2001 | 9 Years 10 Months |
| 2001–2002 | 9 Years 8 Months |
The above information is not restricted to new recruits as to do so would provide no meaningful information. New recruits would obviously have a shorter reckonable service than those that joined in 1990 as, by definition, they will have had less time to accumulate service. The information provided allows for a valid time series comparison to be made. To provide a breakdown of this information by Regiment could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Information gathered at exit interviews is recorded on the Continuous Attitude Survey; however, the Survey is anonymous so it is not possible to attribute information to any particular Regiment or individual. The last full leavers survey conducted covered the period July–December 1999; questionnaires are still being returned for the latest Survey so data has not yet been analysed.
The main reasons for leaving were identified as follows:
Lack of job satisfaction
Amount of separation from spouse/partner
Better civilian job opportunities outside
Effect of Army lifestyle on marriage/relationship
If stayed longer it would be difficult to start a new career
Compassionate reasons.
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