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27 Nov 2002 : Column 331W—continued
Kenya
Mr. Caton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the viability of contracting out the (a) locating and (b) clearing of unexploded ordnance at the Archers Post training ground in Kenya. [83357]
Mr. Ingram: While some Non-Government Organisations and firms have approached the Ministry of Defence with broad offers to assist with Explosive Ordnance Clearance operations currently carried out by the British Army in Kenya, it is considered that this task can be more competently and comprehensively conducted by specialist Royal Engineer Explosive Ordnance Disposal units. Moreover, given the testing climatic environment, there is considerable training value in such clearance operations being carried out by the units involved.
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what clearance techniques for removing unexploded ordnance are met at Archers Post, Kenya; [83358]
- (2) what surveying techniques are used by the Army in locating unexploded ordnance to be cleared at Archers Post, Kenya. [83361]
Mr. Ingram: After firing of ordnance British Army units training at Archers Post commence a visual search of the surface of the training area with the object of recording and clearing any Xblind" or unexploded munitions before leaving the area. The techniques employed observe and adhere to extant British Army practices and regulations for the disposal of munitions. These procedures are applicable on all sites where the British Army trains throughout the world.
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions his Department has held with the Kenyan Government about the future clearance of unexploded ordnance on land in Kenya made for military training by British forces; [83360]
- (2) how long the clean up of unexploded munitions at Archers Post training site in Kenya took in the spring of (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 operations; [83355]
(3) if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement between his Department and the Kenyan Government on the clearing of unexploded ordnance at Archers Post and other training grounds in Kenya. [83359]
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Mr. Ingram: There is no formal agreement with the Kenyan Government specifically dealing with the clearance of unexploded ordnance from areas used by the British Army for training in Kenya. To assist the Kenyan authorities Exercise PINEAPPLE, an annual Explosive Ordnance Clearance exercise, is conducted at Archers Post and other Kenyan training areas. This is a voluntary initiative of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, undertaken in order to provide a safe training environment. The exercise is conducted in conjunction with Kenyan Army Engineers and its requirement is assessed annually. During each of the years 2000, 2001, and 2002 some four weeks were spent conducting disposals at Archers Post. We plan to repeat this in 2003.
Manning Control Reviews
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force have been subject to a manning control review in each of the last 15 years; in which regiments of the armed forces the policy of manning control has been practised over the past 15 years; and what the (i) start and (ii) end dates of the policy were; [82128]
- (2) how many personnel who elected for premature voluntary release in each year since 1996 were issued with a manning control warning certificate beforehand. [82129]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 25 November 2002]: The Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force have distinctive manning policies that are designed to meet their different requirements. The hon. Member's question relates to the Army's practice for its non-commissioned personnel and can only be answered specifically for the Army. I shall, however, also outline the nearest equivalent Royal Navy and Royal Air Force procedures.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given on 7 May 2002, (Official Report, column 41) which reported the Army figures for the last five years for those discharged following Manning Control review. The number of soldiers in the Army who have been discharged under Queen's Regulations paragraph 9.413 'Not required for a full army career in each of the last 15 calendar years and by regiment following a Manning Control Point review is summarised in Tables 1 and 2 respectively.
| Year | Number MCP |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 492 |
| 1989 | 467 |
| 1990 | 140 |
| 1991 | 100 |
| 1992 | 331 |
| 1993 | 157 |
| 1994 | 14 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1996 | 202 |
| 1997 | 231 |
| 1998 | 175 |
| 1999 | 93 |
| 2000 | 66 |
| 2001 | 47 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| Total: | 2,525 |
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| Regiment | Total |
|---|---|
| Queen's Own Hussars | 5 |
| Queen's Royal Irish Hussars | 5 |
| 13th/18th Hussars | 9 |
| Royal Tank Regiment | 16 |
| Royal Artillery | 234 |
| Royal Engineers | 300 |
| Royal Signals | 216 |
| Grenadier Guards | 27 |
| Coldstream Guards | 21 |
| Scots Guards | 8 |
| Welsh Guards | 9 |
| Royal Scots | 16 |
| Royal Highland Fusiliers | 40 |
| King's Own Scottish Borderers | 9 |
| Black Watch | 23 |
| Queen's Own Highlanders | 13 |
| The Highland Regiment | 17 |
| The Gordon Highlanders | 20 |
| Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | 27 |
| Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment | 28 |
| The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers | 26 |
| Royal Anglian | 18 |
| King's Own Royal Border Regiment | 23 |
| The King's Regiment | 22 |
| Prince of Wales Own | 31 |
| Green Howards | 35 |
| The Royal Irish Regiment | 50 |
| Royal Irish (Home Service Full Time) | 27 |
| Queen's Lancashire Regiment | 36 |
| Duke of Wellington's Regiment | 22 |
| Devon and Dorset Regiment | 26 |
| The Cheshire Regiment | 21 |
| Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 29 |
| Royal Regiment of Wales | 16 |
| Gloucestershire Regiment | 15 |
| The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment | 15 |
| The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment | 16 |
| The Royal Hampshire Regiment | 13 |
| The Staffordshire Regiment | 47 |
| The Light Infantry | 31 |
| The Royal Green Jackets | 21 |
| The Parachute Regiment | 12 |
| Army Air Corps | 24 |
| Royal Logistics Corps | 79 |
| Royal Corps of Transport | 169 |
| Royal Army Medical Corps | 43 |
| Royal Army Ordnance Corps | 78 |
| Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | 352 |
| Royal Army Veterninary Corps | 7 |
| Royal Pioneer Corps | 11 |
| Intelligence Corps | 6 |
| Army Catering Corps | 82 |
| Corps of Army Music | 6 |
| Women's Royal Army Corps | 13 |
| Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Corps) | 19 |
| Adjutant General's Corps (Provost) | 5 |
| Others | 36 |
| Total: | 2,525 |
While it is not possible to pinpoint the start date, research of the regulations has shown that Army Manning Control policy has been extant since at least 1952. Although the policy remains in being, as the statistics show, manning control points are used infrequently in the current manning climate.
The information requested concerning the number of Army personnel who elected for Premature Voluntary Release in each year since 1996 and who were issued with a manning control warning certificate beforehand is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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Royal Navy
Royal Naval Ratings and RM other ranks are normally engaged on a 22-year open engagement, which may be curtailed for reasons of inadequate performance or conduct, or reduced employability for medical reasons. RN Ratings and RM other ranks may apply to extend their service beyond 22 years and will be allowed to do so when there is a service requirement. The Royal Navy does not apply a Xmanning control review" to ratings but its manning levels and rates of premature voluntary release are continuously monitored, and recruiting, training and promotion targets are set accordingly.
Non-commissioned engagements in the Royal Air Force are normally offered for an initial period of nine years. Individuals may apply to extend their service to a total of 12 or 15 years and will be allowed to do so when there is a Service requirement. Any further service above this is linked to promotion, for example service to 22 years is possible on promotion to corporal.
Medical Reservists
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are made by his Department to compensate the NHS for medical staff called up as reservists. [83405]
Dr. Moonie: Like all other employers, health trusts may apply for financial assistance to cover the additional costs they incur as a result of their employees being called out. Payments are made in accordance with the regulations set out in Statutory Instrument 1997/309.
Naval Vessels (Refit and Repair)
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those Royal Navy vessels not in service as a result of (a) refits and (b) repairs, together with their anticipated dates to re-enter service. [83585]
Mr. Ingram: In the majority of cases, it is not possible to separate those Royal Navy vessels undergoing repair from those in refit, other than arbitrarily, as all refits and other programmed maintenance periods contain an element of repair work. However, listed in the table are those vessels that, because they are undergoing some form of refit, maintenance or repair, are currently not available for operational tasking. Vessels that can be categorised as solely undergoing repair have been indicated.
(18) Out of service for repair.
(19) Damage sustained on 23 November still being surveyed—too soon to say how long her repairs will take.
27 Nov 2002 : Column 335W
In addition, HMS Nottingham is currently in transit to the United Kingdom on a Heavy Lift Ship following her grounding incident off the west coast of Australia in July this year. No decision has yet been made on her future.
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