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23 Jan 2003 : Column 448W—continued
Medical Reservists (NHS)
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with Health Ministers about the removal of medical reservists from NHS hospitals for service in (a) RFA Argus and (b) other Royal Fleet Auxiliary or Royal Navy vessels in the next 12 months. [89879]
Dr. Moonie: Currently, there is no requirement for the employment of medical Reservists in Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus or other Royal Fleet Auxiliary or Royal Navy vessels over the next 12 months. However, if such a requirement arose, the Ministry of Defence would liaise with the Department of Health and, together, we would work closely with the NHS Trusts concerned to minimise any disruption as far as possible.
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Operational Deployments
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the last three operational deployments and the length between each has been for (a) 1 Para, (b) 2 Para, (c) 3 Para, (d) 7th Armoured Brigade, (e) 1st Armoured Brigade and (f) 161 Ambulance Regiment RLC; and how many personnel have been medically downgraded in each. [92140]
Dr. Moonie: Details of the last three operational deployments of each of the units listed, and the length between each of those deployments, are shown in Table 1. 1st Armoured Brigade does not exist. The details for 161 Ambulance Regiment RLC have also been excluded as the unit was disbanded last year, and no longer exists. 161 Ambulance Regiment RLC was a specialist TA unit, and never deployed as a formed unit.
| Unit | Date | Location | Interval (months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 PARA | June-August 1999 | Kosovo | - |
| May and August 2000 (two short deployments) | Sierra Leone | 9 | |
| January-June 2001 | Northern Ireland | 4 | |
| 2 PARA | September-October 2001 | Macedonia | - |
| January-March 2002 | Afghanistan | 2 | |
| September 2002-March 2003 | Northern Ireland | 6 | |
| 3 PARA | September 1997-March 1998 | Northern Ireland | - |
| January-June 2000 | Northern Ireland | 21 | |
| January-June 2002 | Northern Ireland | 18 | |
| 7 Armd | April-October 1997 | Bosnia | - |
| Brigade | May-November 2000 | Kosovo | 3 1 |
| May-November 2001 | Kosovo | 6 |
The details of those personnel classed as Non-FE, as at 1 December 2002, are included in Table 2. Non-FE status signifies some form of temporary medical downgrading, although it should be noted that while an individual is considered to be medically downgraded, they may still be liable for deployment, depending on the reason for the downgrading, the nature and location of the deployment, and medical advice.
| Unit | Non-FE total | Establishment total | Percentage of establishment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Para | 30 | 620 | 4.8 |
| 2 Para | 20 | 687 | 2.9 |
| 3 Para | 30 | 687 | 4.3 |
| 7 Armd Brigade | 350 | 6,576 | 5.3 |
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Overstretch
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's definition is of overstretch. [89277]
Mr. Ingram: There is no formal definition of overstretch. It has however been referred to in the past as that operational loading of military formations or individuals which is excessive.
Royal Naval Vessels
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Naval vessels which have entered service in each of the past five years. [92962]
Mr. Ingram: Details of Royal Navy vessels entering into service in each of the past five years are:
- 1998
- HMS Raider
- HMS Tracker
- 1999
- HMS Ocean
- HMS Pembroke
- HMS Penzance
- 2000
- HMS Grimsby
- HMS Vengeance
- HMS Bangor
- HMS Kent
- 2001
- HMS Ramsey
- HMS Portland
- HMS Blyth
- 2002
- HMS Shoreham
- HMS St. Albans
Royal Ordnance
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is supplied from each of the ROD sites in the UK. [92033]
Mr. Ingram: Royal Ordnance Defence (ROD), part of BAE Systems, supply a variety of munitions to the Ministry of Defence under the terms of the MOD/ROD Framework Partnering Agreement. This work is undertaken by ROD at five main sites: Radway Green, Cheshire (supplies Small Arms Ammunition and manufactures components for 20mm and 30mm ammunition for other RO sites); RO Birtley, Co Durham (manufactures metal components); RO Bridgwater, Somerset (produces explosives); RO Chorley, Lancashire (produces a variety of components such as Small Arms Primers, Tube Vent Electric L4 and other initiating devices); and RO Glascoed, Gwent (undertakes assembly, fill/ pack activities and supplies finished munitions to the Department, including 20mm and 30mm ammunition, tank ammunition, 4.5 inch Naval shells, 105mm and 155mm Artillery rounds).
S-type Contracts
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2003, Official
23 Jan 2003 : Column 451W
Report, column 226W, on S-type contracts, what the rank is of those soldiers serving on S-type contracts. [92702]
Dr. Moonie: The breakdown by rank of those soldiers who are employed on an S-type engagement following termination of their notice or open engagement after a manning control review, is shown in the following table.
| Pte | LCpl | Cpl | Sgt | Army total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank totals | 82 | 76 | 162 | 31 | 351 |
SA80
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many modified SA80 rifles are (a) issued to personnel and (b) held in stock; and if he will make a statement. [92141]
Mr. Ingram: The modified SA80 is being issued to units at a rate of 4,000 weapons each month, in order of operational priority. 50,000 weapons have been issued to units to date. Weapons are issued to units as they become available following modification; consequently no modified weapons are currently held as stock.
Sea Harriers
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision his Department has made to fill the capability gap which will result from the withdrawal of the sea harriers. [92899]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Baillieston (Mr. Wray) on 5 December 2002, Official Report, column 930W. This provided an update to the
23 Jan 2003 : Column 452W
answers I gave on 26 September 2002, Official Report, column 328W, and on 21 May 2002, Official Report, column 164W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).
Service Chaplains
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the ratio is of (a) uniformed and (b) civilian chaplains to service personnel, broken down by service. [92675]
Dr. Moonie: The ratio of chaplains to service personnel is as follows:
| Ratio of service chaplains to service personnel | Ratio of civilian chaplains to service personnel1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Navy | 1:594 | 1:1318 |
| Army | 1:746 | 1:665 |
| RAF | 1:725 | 1:697 |
(6) The ratio of civilian chaplains to service personnel has been calculated on the basis that chaplains are in full time employment. However, there are no full time officiating chaplains in the Royal Navy and RAF. Officiating chaplains are local clergy employed on a part time basis (usually half day a week) to assist with duties in the absence of a service chaplain.
Note:
Ratios are based on January 2003 strengths, with the exception of the Army figures which are as at 1 December 2002
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) uniformed and (b) civilian chaplains there are in each of the three services, broken down by denomination. [92680]
Dr. Moonie: There are currently 293 service chaplains and 275 civilian 'officiating' chaplains serving with the armed forces. The table provides a breakdown by denomination.
| Royal Navy(7) | Army(8) | RAF (9) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniformed | Civilian(10) | Uniformed | Civilian | Uniformed | Civilian | ||
| Church of England | 39 | 10 | 88 | 98 | 48 | 19 | |
| Roman Catholic | 11 | 12 | 24 | 26 | 10 | 29 | |
| Church of Scotland | 9 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 5 | (11)— | |
| Methodist | 6 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 7 | (11)— | |
| United Reform Church | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | (11)— | |
| Baptist | 4 | 1 | — | — | 2 | (11)— | |
| Presbyterian | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | (11)— | |
| United Board | — | — | 6 | 8 | — | (11)— | |
| Total | 71 | 32 | 149 | 167 | 73 | 76 | |
(7) As at 20 January 2003.
(8) As at 1 December 2002.
(9) As at 1 January 2003.
(10) Figures include both officiating and honorary officiating chaplains.
(11) 28 various denominations (breakdown of figures not readily available).
The term civilian chaplain is misleading. Support to serving chaplains in the Royal Navy and RAF, and on many Army units, is provided by 'officiating chaplains'. These are not full-time ministers but local clergy who in addition to their parochial duties will provide part-time support to military units without a chaplain, cover when the serving chaplain is deployed, and help and advise members of other denominations when a suitable commissioned chaplain or representative of the appropriate denomination is not available.
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