| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
18 Mar 2003 : Column 625W—continued
EU Operations
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the main features are of the EU/NATO arrangements for EU access to NATO capabilities for EU-led operations; how they differ from the agreement concluded between WEU and NATO; and if he will make a statement. [102676]
Mr. Hoon: At the NATO summit at Washington in 1999, the Alliance declared that it stood ready to "define and adopt the necessary arrangements for ready access by the European Union to the collective assets and capabilities of the Alliance, for operations in which the Alliance as a whole is not engaged militarily as an Alliance". The main features of the arrangements, known as "Berlin Plus", are assured EU access to NATO operational planning capabilities, and a
18 Mar 2003 : Column 626W
presumption of availability to the EU of pre-identified NATO capabilities and common assets for use in EU-led operations.
The North Atlantic Council (NAC) decided on 13 December 2002 that assured EU access to NATO's operational planning capabilities was effective immediately, and undertook to put in place the rest of the Berlin Plus arrangements swiftly. This has now been done.
The NATO/EU arrangements go beyond those established for the WEU in two important respects. First, because EU access to NATO operational planning is assured (i.e. continuous and guaranteed), NATO agreement is not required for any EU requests for NATO planning support; every WEU request would have required specific NAC approval. Second, there is a presumption that those NATO assets and capabilities that have been pre-identified will indeed be available to the EU. There was no such presumption under the NATO/WEU arrangements.
The implementation of the Berlin Plus arrangements is a manifestation of the genuine strategic partnership in crisis management which NATO and EU have decided to establish together.
Gibraltar
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart regarding the British military base on Gibraltar. [102919]
Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary has not met his Spanish counterpart formally since December 2001, nor has he had any recent discussions. However there has been some correspondence on security matters.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the British military base on Gibraltar. [102920]
Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary has had no recent discussions with Commander British Forces (CBF) Gibraltar. I visited British Forces Gibraltar in November 2002 and had extensive discussions with CBF and others.
Gulf War Syndrome
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of Gulf War veterans who are (a) receiving treatment for Gulf War syndrome, (b) have outstanding compensation claims to his Department for Gulf War syndrome and (c) have been compensated by his Department for Gulf War syndrome. [103452]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 17 March 2003]: The Ministry of Defence does not recognise "Gulf War Syndrome" as a medical condition. It accepts that some veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf Conflict have become ill and that many believe this ill health is related to their Gulf experience. A large number of multi-system, multi-organ, non-specific, medically unexplained symptoms have been reported by some Gulf veterans as well recognised medical conditions. The overwhelming consensus of the scientific and medical community is
18 Mar 2003 : Column 627W
that there is insufficient evidence to enable this ill-health to be characterised as a unique illness, condition or 'syndrome'. The MOD's approach must be guided by findings from the scientific and medical community. Primary health care records for the 53, 000 or so veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict are held by their doctors and are not accessible centrally for reason of patient confidentiality.
When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the MOD has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability arising to pay compensation we do so. The MOD has received about 2,000 notices of intention to claim from Gulf veterans, and members of their families in respect of illness allegedly arising from the Gulf conflict, but no writs or formal claims have yet been received. No compensation has therefore been paid following claims for Gulf veterans' illnesses.
The fact that there is, at present, no proper basis for recognising "Gulf War Syndrome" as an appropriate diagnostic label does not prevent a Gulf veteran from getting a war pension. A war pension can be paid for any disablement provided that a causal link to Service is accepted. Over 1,200 war pensions have been awarded to Gulf veterans by the Veterans Agency.
HMS Triumph
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons HMS Triumph is being put into extended readiness in 2004; and how many fleet submarines will be operational in 2004. [102577]
Mr. Ingram: The Royal Navy operates its nuclear submarine fleet under stringent safety regulations. It is planned to place HMS Triumph in a state of Extended Readiness when her reactor reaches its maximum length of service, prior to entering a refit and overhaul period
18 Mar 2003 : Column 628W
that will include refuelling. It is planned that a minimum of five fleet submarines should be available in 2004 for operational tasking.
Hospitality
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what hospitality has been offered at public expense in the last 12 months, by each Minister in his Department to outside interest groups, broken down to (a) restaurant, (b) recipient and (c) cost in each case; [99501]
- (2) what criteria Ministers in his Department use when determining whether to offer hospitality in restaurants to interest groups at public expense; and if he will make a statement; [99500]
(3) how often Ministers in his Department have received hospitality in restaurants from outside groups in the last 12 months. [99576]
Dr. Moonie: All offers of hospitality are made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. The giving and receiving of hospitality is conducted fully in accordance with the guidance set out in the Ministerial Code and Guidance on Contacts with Outside Interest Groups including Lobbyists. The detailed information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Military Training Establishments
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) establishment and (b) requirement is of (i) medical officers and (ii) other medical staff in military training establishments in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [100174]
Dr. Moonie: Current establishment and manning figures for military medical officers, civilian medical practitioners, and other medical personnel at training establishments in each of the Services are as follows:
| Training Establishment | Military Medical Officer Establishment | Military Medical Officer Manning | Civilian Medical Practitioner Establishment | Civilian Medical Practitioner Manning | Other Medical Personnel (Military/Civilian) Establishment | Other Medical Personnel (Military/Civilian) Manning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| HMS Raleigh | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 16 |
| HMS Collingwood | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| HMS Dryad | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| HMS Sultan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
18 Mar 2003 : Column 629W
| Training Establishment | Military Medical Officer Establishment | Military Medical Officer Manning | Civilian Medical Practitioner Establishment | Civilian Medical Practitioner Manning | Other Medical Personnel (Military/Civilian) Establishment | Other Medical Personnel (Military/Civilian) Manning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAF Cranwell | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 21 |
| RAF Cosford | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 19 |
| RAF Brize Norton | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 31 |
| RAF Halton | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 18 |
| RAF Digby | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 |
| RAF Boulmer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| RAF St. Athan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 13 |
| RAF Linton on Ouse | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 16 |
| RAF Valley | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 11 |
| RAF Honington | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 16 |
| RAF Shawbury | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 11 |
| RAF Northolt | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 9 |
Notes:
1. Civilian posts may be part-time or filled on a job-share basis. In calculating these figures, part-time posts have been counted as a half; job-share arrangements have been counted a one.
2. Figures for other medical personnel include practice manager/receptionist posts.
3. HQ Defence Logistic Support Training Group, School of Logistics and 25 Training Support Regt are covered by Deepcut Garrison medical centre, and it is these figures which appear in the table.
4. The following Army training establishments do not have medical staff on their establishment, but are covered by medical centres at local units:
Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Training Centre and Army School of Physical Training—covered by Aldershot Garrison medical centre.
Army School of Ammunition—covered by the medical centre at Defence Munitions at Kineton.
School of Petroleum—covered by the medical centre at West Moors Station.
Port and Maritime Wing—covered by the medical centre at 17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC.
Construction Engineering School, Defence Explosives Ordnance School and HQ
Royal School of Military Engineering—covered by medical centre at Combat Engineer School at Chatham.
5. There are no medical staff on the strength of the Joint Services Mountain Training Centre.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |