| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
27 Jan 2003 : Column 639W—continued
Morale
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how Army personnel when last questioned described the morale of (a) themselves, (b) their working group, (c) their unit and (d) the Army as a whole; how many people responded; what percentage responded to each option asked; and if he will make a statement. [92147]
Dr. Moonie: On the basis of responses to a Continuous Attitude Survey (CAS) carried out in April/May 2002, the numbers of Army personnel expressing an opinion about their morale, that of their working group, that of their unit and that of the Army as a whole, are as given in the following Of 3,978 surveys issued, 1,867 (47 per cent.) completed forms had been returned at time of analysis.
| Low | Neither high nor low | High | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | 36 | 10% | 85 | 23% | 245 | 67% |
| Soldiers | 247 | 16% | 413 | 28% | 826 | 56% |
Note:
99 per cent. (1,852) of those replying responded to this question.
| Low | Neither high nor low | High | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | 40 | 11% | 126 | 35% | 196 | 54% |
| Soldiers | 358 | 24% | 542 | 37% | 585 | 39% |
Note:
99 per cent. (1,847) of those replying responded to this question.
| Low | Neither high nor low | High | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | 58 | 16% | 152 | 42% | 153 | 42% |
| Soldiers | 461 | 31% | 577 | 39% | 434 | 30% |
Note:
98 per cent. (1,835) of those replying responded to this question.
| Low | Neither high nor low | High | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | 88 | 25% | 184 | 52% | 83 | 23% |
| Soldiers | 499 | 36% | 634 | 45% | 273 | 19% |
Note:
94 per cent. (1,761) of those replying responded to this question.
NBC Equipment
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many NBC suits are (a) issued to personnel and (b) in stock; and if he will make a statement. [92135]
27 Jan 2003 : Column 640W
Mr. Ingram: There are sufficient stocks of NEC suits to meet our contingency plans. I am withholding the information relating to the quantities held, under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Operation Fresco
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service people have been given warning orders for both Operation Fresco and possible operations in Iraq. [92804]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 23 January 2003]: Over time it has been necessary to make adjustments to the forces allocated to Operation Fresco to ensure that those units that may be required for contingent operations elsewhere were available for duty. Most recently, elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade have been withdrawn from Operation Fresco in a phased manner as they have been assigned for potential future military action in Iraq. Consequently, there are no forces assigned concurrently to both Operation Fresco and possible operations in Iraq.
Redundant Weapons
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many redundant weapons there were in each year since 1997; and what the nature was of those weapons. [93575]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested will take some time to compile, therefore I will write to the hon Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of theHouse.
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how redundant weapons are disposed of. [93576]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence disposes of significant amounts of munitions annually for a variety of reasons including that they become unserviceable or surplus to requirements. The United Kingdom approved methods are by burning, detonation, dilution by solvent and chemical destruction. MOD employs the first two methods. Small quantities are disposed of in licensed demolition grounds on MOD property. Large quantities of ammunition are normally disposed of under civilian contract either in the UK or abroad.
Reservists' Pensions
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the pensions rights of individuals in their main job are protected during periods of service as an armed forces reservist; and if he will make a statement. [93342]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has arrangements in place to ensure that reservists who are called-out for permanent service with the armed forces are not disadvantaged in pension terms.
Individuals may have a number of pension options dependent on their personal circumstances. Those individuals who wish to remain in their civilian pension scheme during their period of called-out service can do so and the MOD will meet the cost of the employer
27 Jan 2003 : Column 641W
contribution to the pension scheme. Alternatively, individuals may opt to have the period of their called-out service covered by MOD's full time reserve service pension arrangements, or they can opt to be contracted-in to the state pension arrangements (state second pension). Those individuals who have previous service that gave them pension rights under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) may opt for an enhancement to their AFPS pension rights.
Royal Marines
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the main current deployments of the Royal Marines. [92895]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch).
Royal Navy
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what modifications his Department has made to (a) Royal Naval and (b) Royal Marines tactical doctrine since 11 September 2001. [92901]
Mr. Ingram: Following 11 September 2001 the increased danger from terrorist organisations to the Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines) has been recognised and work undertaken to ameliorate the risks to both deployed forces and those in their base port. Detailed Force Protection advice on countering the Asymmetric threat from terrorist attack is available in both Tactical and Reference publications and is the subject of continual assessment and periodic update as new information and feedback is obtained. This doctrine comprises both a generic description of likely threats and consideration of numerous measures that Commanding Officers need to consider adopting depending on their area of operations. The advice covers methods of reducing ship and personnel vulnerability to attack, enabling Commanding Officers to formulate a defensive posture commensurate with their operational state and location; reducing the risk of attack from an enemy who holds the advantage of surprise and method.
When ashore, RM tactical doctrine follows Land (Army) tactical doctrine. Events since 11 September 2001 have not forced modifications to existing doctrine but lessons identified in operations since, by the Army and RM, are undergoing evaluation in order to capture them, as necessary.
Service Personnel (Gulf)
Mr. Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what contingency plans he has made to replace the troops on their way to the Gulf; which troops from which units and regiments would be used; and if he will make a statement; [93259]
- (2) what the maximum amount of time is that he estimates 30,000 soldiers could be maintained at a high level of readiness in the Gulf before rotating personnel. [93261]
Mr. Hoon: We continue to hope that Saddam Hussein will disarm voluntarily but it is evident that we will not persuade him to do so unless we present him with a clear
27 Jan 2003 : Column 642W
and credible threat of force. No decision has been taken to commit British forces to military action, nor is such a decision inevitable or imminent. It is therefore premature to speculate about the duration of military deployments or about the rotation or replacement of those forces involved.
Shipping (Terrorists)
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are in place to protect (a) merchant and (b) naval shipping from terrorist attack. [91235]
Mr. Ingram: The threat from terrorist attack is kept under constant review and the Ministry of Defence works closely with other Government Departments on the protection of merchant shipping. The Royal Navy's worldwide Maritime Trade Operations—known as UK MTO arrangements—enable a number of options to be offered in support of merchant shipping, graduated to the prevailing threat. These range from the provision of routine advice and guidance through to naval supervision. The appropriate level of MTO support required in a given area remains under constant assessment. For example, UK MTO arrangements in the Gulf have been enhanced since October 2001 by the establishment of a UK MTO liaison cell in the region. If necessary, higher level Maritime Trade Operations can be implemented very quickly. Information on specific measures to protect naval shipping were provided in my answer to the hon. Member on 15 January, Official Report, column 640W.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |