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19 Dec 2002 : Column 892W—continued
Statutory Instruments
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Statutory Instruments subject to negative procedure made by his Department (a) came into force and (b) were considered by a delegated legislation committee in each of the last three sessions. [88035]
Peter Hain: The number of negative resolution statutory instruments made solely by my Department in each of the last three Sessions is as follows:
| Session | Number |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | 2 |
| 2001–02 | 1 |
These statutory instruments were considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments but no points were raised. My Department is also responsible for drafting Orders in Council relating to Wales, some of which may be subject to negative resolution procedure.
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MINISTER FOR WOMEN
Transsexual People
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister for Women what her policy is on including the treatment of transsexuals who are now women within her Department's work. [87277]
Ms Hewitt: The treatment of transsexual people under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 is already part of the Department of Trade and Industry's responsibilities. The Sex Discrimination Act (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 amended the 1975 Act to protect people intending to undergo, undergoing, or who have undergone gender reassignment from discrimination at work and in vocational training.
The part of the Department with responsibility for these Regulations is the Women and Equality Unit. The wider issue of the legal status of transsexual people is the lead responsibility of the Lord Chancellor's Department.
DEFENCE
Accident Inquiries
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 926W, on accident inquiries, whether his Department records the results of boards of inquiry; how many boards of inquiry have been held by his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [87936]
Dr. Moonie: The results of boards of inquiry are recorded by the authority that convenes the board, but there are no central records.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 1W, and 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 926W. The information concerning the number of boards of inquiry in the Ministry of Defence is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents in each of the last five years in which damage was done to MOD property or equipment cost over #100,000 to repair; and if he will make a statement. [87924]
Dr. Moonie : I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 1W, and 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 926W. Information concerning the number of accidents involving Ministry of Defence property and equipment that have cost over #100,000 to repair is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Alcohol/Drug Misuse
Mr. Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce (a) alcohol and (b) drug misuse in the armed forces. [86955]
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Dr. Moonie: The armed forces employ vigorous education programmes-including pamphlets, films and lectures-at all stages of military training and service to ensure that personnel are aware of the dangers of alcohol and drug misuse. The programmes are regularly reviewed and updated as necessary, and are complemented by administrative and disciplinary measures to deter misuse.
Defence Procurement
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure on defence procurement was for the last year in which figures are available; and how much of it was spent in Scotland. [86005]
Dr. Moonie: In 2000–01 (the latest year for which published figures are available) procurement expenditure was estimated to be #10,408 million (Table 1.7 UK Defence Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, refers). Of this approximately #2,800 million was for the sum of associated costs, intramural research and development spending, overseas equipment expenditure and unrecoverable VAT. The balance, which represents estimated equipment expenditure with United Kingdom industry and commerce, is some #7,600 million. It is not possible to provide a regional breakdown from data available. All of these figures exclude Ministry of Defence non-equipment expenditure on items such as fuel, utilities and some support activities.
Iraq
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans he has for emergency medical procedures being carried out in the field to troops encountering (a) biological and (b) chemical weapons in Iraq in the event of a war; and if he will make a statement. [86490]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 10 December 2002]: No decisions have yet been made concerning military action against Iraq.
Members of the United Kingdom armed forces are afforded a range of countermeasures which would help protect them against the adverse health effects of chemical and biological weapons. These include physical protection, vaccines and antibiotics against biological agents, and nerve agent pre-treatment sets and Combopen injectors against chemical agents.
Procedures exist for the medical treatment and, if necessary, evacuation of personnel in the event of exposure, or possible exposure, to chemical or biological agents.
Legal Fees
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has (a) spent on legal fees as a result of cases brought against his Department, (b) paid out in out of court settlements and (c) paid out in court-ordered compensation in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [87923]
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Dr. Moonie: The amount spent on legal fees as a result of cases brought against the Ministry of Defence is not recorded separately for the years in question and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The amounts paid in out of court settlements and in court-ordered payments are not recorded separately, but the total amounts paid in compensation and legal costs in both categories for the last five years were:
| Financial year | Amount paid |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 69.22 |
| 1998–99 | 75.20 |
| 1999–2000 | 75.57 |
| 2000–01 | 87.53 |
| 2001–02 | 91.26 |
Military Bases
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 930W, on military bases (legal officers), what welfare and support services there are separate from the chain of command offered to members of the armed forces by his Department; what legal advice is available for members of the armed forces through the range of welfare and support services separate from the chain of command offered by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [87935]
Dr. Moonie: Welfare and support services available to service personnel on military bases include chaplains, medical officers, unit welfare officers and agencies such as SSAFA—Forces Help, RELATE and WRVS. A confidential helpline is also available. These services enjoy varying degrees of separateness or independence from the chain of command. All have appropriate rules of confidentiality.
None of the welfare services provide legal advice per se. However, they may advise an individual to seek independent legal advice where it is felt appropriate. Any service person who is interviewed in connection with a possible offence may make use of the duty solicitor scheme.
Military Training
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the
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effectiveness of the enforcement of preventing public access on byelawed land when military training takes place. [87377]
Dr. Moonie: Every training area and range affected by military byelaws is subject to a risk assessment in accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This risk assessment considers the hazard to the general public if they should enter a byelawed training area or range in error or with intent. Various control measures, which can include signing, flagging or local notification, are then implemented in light of the risk assessment. We are satisfied with the effectiveness of these arrangements.
Nuclear Weapons Tests
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in the clean-up and environmental restoration of the contamination caused by nuclear weapons testing on Christmas Island since 1992. [87727]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence arranged and took part in a specialist Reconnaissance Survey to Kiritimati during September 1998. This was to identify the types and quantities of waste materials, including an assessment of environmental risks associated with the nuclear test programme in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
A further visit was made to Kiritimati in August 2000 by MOD and independent specialists to gather further detailed information for the proposed clean-up project.
The clean-up of the waste material is to be undertaken by contractors appointed and managed by specialists from the MOD. Preparatory work is currently under way with the actual clean-up work on site expected to start during 2003.
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