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20 Jan 2003 : Column 59W—continued
Tobacco Smuggling
Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation between Imperial Tobacco and HM Customs and Excise on the issue of tobacco smuggling; and what recent discussions HM Customs and Excise has had with Imperial Tobacco on strategies to tackle tobacco smuggling. [91576]
John Healey: HM Customs and Excise have regular meetings with each of the major UK tobacco manufacturers.
The Government are giving careful consideration to the recent report on tobacco smuggling from the Committee of Public Accounts and will include in their response to the Committee details of the present level of co-operation between Imperial Tobacco and Customs and Excise.
DEFENCE
Accreditation
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department is doing to support the Government's policy on accreditation. [88094]
Dr. Moonie: The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is recognised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Sate for Defence as the sole national body for the accreditation, against international standards, of certification and inspection bodies, testing and calibration laboratories. The Ministry of Defence uses UKAS accreditation services whenever it is appropriate to do so.
Afghanistan
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops have been (a) killed and (b) wounded in Afghanistan in the last 12 months. [91009]
Mr. Ingram: Three British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in the last 12 months, though none died as a result of hostile fire. Two British soldiers were wounded during the same period, both in accidental shooting incidents.
Appropriation Accounts
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the Appropriation Accounts for 2001–02. [91460]
Mr. Ingram: In accordance with the Government Resource Accounting Act 2000 the Department's financial performance is reported to Parliament in the Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts. The 2001–02 Accounts were laid on 21 November 2002 (HC47). Copies are available in the Library of the House. The Appropriation Accounts for 2000–01 were the last in that form.
Army Recruits
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Army Recruiting Group's budget has been spent for the current financial year; how many army
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recruits will pass through Army Training Regiments in the period 1 January to 31 March; and when he expects the Army to achieve full manning. [91093]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 16 January 2003]: In the current Financial Year, as at 30 November 2002, the latest date for which accurate figures are available, 80 per cent. of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency's net resource budget has been spent. The total includes £64.8 million for the Recruiting Group, of which 68 per cent. has similarly been spent. The balances of 20 per cent. and 32 per cent. have, however, largely been committed.
In the period 1 January to 31 March 2003, a total of 4,390 recruits will commence training at Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA) Phase 1 training establishments, including the Army Foundation College and the Army Technical Foundation College. The figure also includes Junior Entry recruits at Army Training Regiment (ATR) Bassingbourn and those commencing combined Phase 1 and 2 Infantry training at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick. Only those Adult recruits who commenced training on 6 January at the other ATRs will pass out to Phase 2 training before the end of March; the present estimate of this number is 147.
The Army intends to achieve manning balance, in accordance with the Public Service Agreement, by the end of 2005. The Army's overall manpower requirement is dynamic and subject to continuing review in light of evolving doctrine, new technology and equipment and possible changes to the operating environment.
Recent performance has been encouraging, with personnel increasing by over 1,400 during the last 12 months.
Asthma
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been discharged from the Armed Forces on account of their suffering from asthma in the last 12 months. [91039]
Dr. Moonie: Between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2002 there have been 13 medical discharges in the Armed Forces due to asthma, nine of which were in the Army and four of which were in the Navy.
Further information on medical discharges can be found in the National Statistics publication entitled "Medical Discharges in the Armed Forces 2001" which was published on 27 March 2002. This publication can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.dasa.mod.uk/medstats/discharge/ns_initframe. htm.
Capita Group
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by his Department. [89965]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has the following contracts with the Capita Group.
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| Division | Contract number |
|---|---|
| Capita Business Services Ltd. | MSC5/07998 |
| ABRO1A/0112 | |
| CBC/2B/0139 | |
| CP21B/1178 | |
| Capita Group plc | CPPF1/102/14 |
| Capita RAS Ltd. | CBC/2B/0003 |
| CP21A/1411 | |
| CP21B/1249 | |
| Capita Property Services Ltd. | DABMSC/10851 |
| Capita Property Consultancy | WS35/806 |
Chinooks
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purchase of the MH-47G Chinooks for special operations purposes. [90169]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 692W.
Close Range Defence
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels have recently been fitted with (a) general purpose machine guns and (b) other weapons systems suitable for close range defence. [91237]
Mr. Ingram: The majority of Royal Navy vessels are, and always have been, fitted with general purpose machine guns, and also with larger calibre weapons for the purposes of close range defence. The fitting policy for these weapons, including the number of weapons carried by each platform, is reviewed on a regular basis and is subject to change as a result of changes to the threat or operational tasking of the units concerned. The fitting policy of weapons, the numbers and types carried by each vessel and the outcome of any reviews is classified information and I am, therefore, withholding that information under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice (Defence, security and international relations).
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Deployment
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, according to theatre or country, the units of the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines deployed on duties determined by (i) the UK exclusively, (ii) NATO, (iii) the European Union and (iv) the United Nations. [91238]
Mr. Ingram: As at 20 January 2003, units are deployed as follows:
- North Atlantic
(a) HMS Ark Royal, HMS Ocean, HMS Edinburgh, HMS York, HMS Liverpool, HMS Marlborough, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Grimsby, HMS Ledbury, RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Argus, RFA Sir Tristram, RFA Sir Galahad, RFA Fort Austin and RFA Fort Rosalie
HMS Chatham, RFA Brambleleaf, RFA Oakleaf
- HMS Cardiff, HMS Cumberland, HMS Bangor, HMS Blyth, HMS Brocklesby, HMS Sandown, RFA Bayleaf, RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Diligence
- Caribbean
RFA Blackrover
- South Atlantic
HMS Endurance, HMS Leeds Castle, RFA Grey Rover
- North Atlantic
HMS Dumbarton Castle, HMS Walney
- Mediterranean
HMS Northumberland, RFA Orangeleaf.
In addition, three Royal Marine Protection Teams are deployed. I am witholding the precise location of their deployments and details of the location of deployed UK submarines under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice.
Deployments
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the principal (a) Royal Naval and (b) Royal Marines deployments on (i) peacekeeping, (ii) anti-terrorist and (iii) humanitarian operations in each of the past five years. [91239]
Mr. Ingram : The information requested is as follows:
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In addition, Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel have been deployed on operations in support of the civil authorities in Northern Ireland in each of the years in question.
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