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16 Dec 2002 : Column 510W—continued

Drug Testing

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the reserves tested positive for controlled substances when last tested; what the date was of the last tests; and what percentage of force strength this represents; and if he will make a statement. [86584]

Dr. Moonie: When in full time service with Regular units and formations, reservists of all three services are tested on the same random basis as their Regular counterparts. Only the Army randomly test reservists serving in reserve units. During the period 1 January 2002 to 31 October 2002,1,342 Territorial Army

16 Dec 2002 : Column 511W

personnel were tested, of whom nine tested positive (0.67 per cent. of those tested). Individual Army reservists are also tested on mobilisation when they report to the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre. During the same period 971 tests were conducted of which 13 tested positive (1.34 per cent. of those tested).

Executive Agencies (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Army Base Repair Organisation; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and if he will make a statement. [86406]

Mr. Ingram: As at 1 December 2002, the total number of staff employed by ABRO, formerly known as the Army Base Repair Organisation, was 2587. Of these, 143 individuals were employed in Stirling, ABRO's sole workshop facility in Scotland.

The forecast total pay cost of ABRO staff for the current financial year of 2002–03 was, as of 1 December 2002, #57.048 million. This figure includes # 3.179 million for Stirling.

Firefighters

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel he estimates will lose money by standing in as firefighters during the dispute. [85411]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has a comprehensive pay and allowance package in place that includes various reimbursement and compensatory allowances. There should be no Xlosers" under this arrangement but it is possible that some individuals, as their circumstances change (e.g. different types of separation, no longer living away from home etc.) might move from one set of allowances to another— because their compensation needs are different. MOD is aware that there may be some individuals who will or may have been temporarily withdrawn from career courses and would seek to address any potential financial loss sympathetically.

General Affairs Council

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to implement the conclusion of the General Affairs Council of 19 November 2002 that, in relation to ECAP, it would be useful to continue to inform the public on this progress. [86616]

Mr. Hoon: Ministers will continue to inform the public of progress on the European Capabilities Action Plan (ECAP) through speeches, Ministry of Defence publications, and other means as appropriate.

Grievance Complaints

Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many formal grievances for (a) bullying and (b) harassment have been made by his Department's employees in each of the last five years; and how many of these have been upheld in favour of the complainant. [86987]

16 Dec 2002 : Column 512W

Dr. Moonie: No central records of complaints of harassment and bullying made by civilian staff are maintained by the Ministry of Defence. The MOD procedures encourage the informal resolution of harassment and bullying complaints with the assistance of line manager and personnel managers and trade union representatives. Where complaints become formal they are resolved within the alleged offender's line management chain. There is no requirement for complaints to be reported centrally, and it would be disproportionately expensive to collect the information requested.

Gulf War

Mr. Pickthall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf War veterans are being paid disability pensions for war-related illnesses; what those illnesses are; how many veterans are suffering from each illness; and how many Gulf War veterans have died of war-related illnesses since 1991. [87105]

Dr. Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Helsinki Process

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the shortfalls identified by the Helsinki Process Catalogue and the actions being undertaken to remedy them; and if he will make a statement. [86615]

Mr. Hoon: European Union members have so far met 104 of the 144 capability targets in the Helsinki Headline Catalogue. The shortfalls are:


16 Dec 2002 : Column 513W

Key

AcronymExplanation
BDABattle Damage Assessment
CCHQComponent Command Headquarters
FHQForce Headquarters
HQHeadquarters
IMINTImagery Intelligence
ISRIntelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance
MNMultinational
NBCNuclear Biological Chemical
OHQOperation Headquarters
PSYOPSPsychological Operations
RO-RORoll On-Roll Off
SIGINTSignal Intelligence

Work is under way to address the remaining targets through the European Capabilities Action Plan (ECAP). About half of these are regarded as significant. ECAP has made steady progress, with 18 multinational panels of experts so far launched, covering 21 shortfalls. The panels will report in March 2003.

Hercules C130J (Afghanistan)

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules C130Js are deployed in Afghanistan; and on what mission. [86901]

Mr. Ingram: There is one C130J Mark 4 aircraft currently deployed in Afghanistan, carrying out a variety of military transport tasks.

HMS Cattistock

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the repair cost will be of HMS Cattistock; when the ship will return to service; and if he will make a statement. [85694]

Mr. Ingram: Following her impact with the jetty at Portsmouth on 23 November 2002, HMS Cattistock is currently in dock at Portsmouth undergoing preparations for her repair by Fleet Support Ltd. It is estimated that the work will take about four weeks, and be completed in January 2003. Cattistock will then be available for operational tasking. The Warship Support Agency's initial estimate of the cost of repairs is #250,000.

16 Dec 2002 : Column 514W

Iraq (Hostile Fire)

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British aircraft have experienced hostile fire from Iraqi military installations during each of the last 12 months. [85821]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 11 December 2002]: Attacks by Iraqi air defence weapons on coalition aircraft conducting legitimate patrols of the No Fly Zones are not recorded against individual nations. The number of recorded confirmed attacks on coalition aircraft in the period were as follows. It is believed actual figures may be significantly higher.

Number of attacks
December 20016
January 200221
February15
March2
April8
May32
June50
July57
August68
September88
October24
November65

Manning Control Reviews

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers who were subject to a manning control review and subsequently transferred to the S-type engagements, were discharged at the end of their engagements and under what Queen's Regulations they were discharged broken down by regiment, in each year since 1997. [87255]

Dr. Moonie: The number of soldiers discharged following Manning Control review, who subsequently transferred to an S-type and were discharged at the end of their engagements are listed by discharge paragraph (Queen's Regulation) as follows:

Total
9.373—by right, having given appropriate notice (less than 12 years service)
19970
19980
19991
20001
20010
20020
Total2
9.387—ceasing to fulfil Army medical standards
19970
19980
19990
20002
20010
20020
Total2
9.389—by right, having given the appropriate notice (12 years and less than 22 years service)
19972
19980
19990
20001
20010
20020
Total3
9.393—on completion of engagement
19974
19988
199913
200014
20019
20024
Total52
9.399—at the soldier's request—on payment (12 years and less than 22 years service)
19970
19980
19990
20000
20011
20020
Total1
9.414—services no longer required
19971
19980
19990
20000
20010
20020
Total1

16 Dec 2002 : Column 515W

Due to the low numbers involved, this information is not broken down by Regiment as requested, because this could identify individuals and breach disclosure and confidentiality policy. I am therefore withholding that information under Exemption 12 (Privacy of an Individual) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what DASA outflow code number refers to manning control. [87256]

Dr. Moonie: The Defence Analytical Services Agency outflow code which refers to discharge following Manning Control Review under Queen's Regulations 1975 9.413 'Not required for a full Army career,' is 262.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers subject to manning control are on the reserve list and could be called up for deployment; and if he will make a statement. [87257]

Dr. Moonie: There are 1,917 individuals who have been discharged following Manning Control Review who are currently on the reserve list, and who may be liable for call-out depending on their status.

Mr. Keetch : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel were issued with manning control warning certificates in each of the last 10 years, broken down by regiment. [87258]

16 Dec 2002 : Column 516W

Dr. Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 27 November 2002, Official Report, columns 332–34, which reported the number of soldiers discharged under Queen's Regulations paragraph 9.413 XNot required for a full Army career" in each of the last 15 calendar years and by Regiment. These individuals would also have been issued with manning control warning certificates.


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