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20 Mar 2003 : Column 885W—continued
Departmental Telephone Directory
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the most recent internal telephone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [102027]
Dr. Moonie: The most recent paper copy of the internal phone directory for the Ministry of Defence was published in June 1999. However, the directory has been regularly updated and maintained on the internal Defence websites, allowing access to over 100,000 staff. This is in line with the Government targets for electronic working. For those without internal web access, the directory is published quarterly on CD ROM and distributed to over 1,000 Defence staff, authorised industry partners and Defence trading funds. The latest CD ROM is due to be published at the end of March 2003.
The directory is protectively marked RESTRICTED. The Directory is therefore only available to HMG Armed Forces staff, MOD Civilians and cleared Defence industry partners and trading funds.
Entertainment
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the total spending of his Department on entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92392]
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's hospitality budget (a) is in 2002–03 and (b) was in each of the last three years; and how much was left unspent at the end of each financial year. [99577]
Dr. Moonie: Expenditure on entertainment by the Ministry of Defence in each year since 1996–97 was as follows:
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 5.145 |
| 1997–98 | 5.035 |
| 1998–99 | 5.563 |
| 1999–2000 | 5.538 |
| 2000–01 | 6.001 |
| 2001–02 | 6.030 |
Figures for the years prior to 1996–97 cannot be provided on a consistent basis.
Due to the introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting, from 2002–03 onward entertainment costs will be reported on a different basis. The outturn for 2002–03, on this basis, is estimated to be £6.309 million.
These figures reflect expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence, the establishments and formations of the Armed Forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying appointments for which entertainment allowances were payable. Expenditure incurred on entertainment is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.
20 Mar 2003 : Column 886W
EU Defence Ministers Council
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent progress of plans to create a Council of EU Defence ministers; and what the functions of that Council are expected to be. [103873]
Mr. Hoon: Defence Ministers currently meet twice each year in the formation of the EU Council of Ministers known as the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC). There have recently been proposals, in the framework of the Convention on the Future of Europe, for a new Council configuration bringing together Ministers of Defence, focusing on defence capability matters, including particularly the running of the proposed European Defence Capabilities Development and Acquisition Agency. Although establishment of such a new configuration would not require a change in the Treaty, it is likely that the issue will be dealt with as part of the Convention deliberations. No decisions have yet been taken.
General Dynamics UK
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 636W, on General Dynamics UK, which company was contracted to provide the Defence Stores Management System; whether the programme is still running; and if he will make a statement. [102566]
Mr. Ingram: Four companies (Electronic Data Systems, ASI, and Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, with IBM acting in a project integration role) were contracted to provide elements of the Defence Stores Management Solution (DSMS). The programme was suspended in January 2002 on grounds of affordability, and the Department is currently reviewing its requirements for an advanced inventory management capability that takes account of developments in software technology and in the light of independent external advice from McKinsey and Co.
Gulf Forces
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the UK forces serving in the Gulf area are under 18; and if he will make a statement as to their roles. [104048]
Dr. Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 March 2003 Official Report, column 1053W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe).
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International Military Services Ltd.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether UNMOVIC has requested information about sales of (a) materials and expertise relevant to the delivery of weapons of mass destruction and (b) missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometres from International Military Services Ltd. [103834]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission have not sought any information from the Government about the alleged provision of any goods or services to Iraq by International Military Services Ltd.
Iraq
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of the armed forces (a) regulars and (b) reserves have specific chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training; how many of these have been deployed to the Gulf; and if he will make a statement. [103432]
Mr. Ingram: All armed forces personnel, including the reserves, are given training to protect themselves in a Nuclear, Biological or Chemical (NBC) environment, as part of their basic training. This is refreshed at regular intervals. The Joint NBC Regiment, which also includes a reserve element, and individuals within other units, receive specialist NBC training.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) UK military personnel and (b) military personnel of other nationalities have died in military operations in Iraq since 1990; and if he will make statement. [99605]
Mr. Ingram: There have been 25 United Kingdom military operational fatalities in Iraq since 1990, 23 during the Gulf conflict in 1991 and two in 1994.
We do not hold data in respect of other nations.
Medical Facilities (Gulf)
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent to which British forces will be dependent on hospital and other medical facilities provided by (a) the USA and (b) other countries in the event of conflict in the Gulf. [102375]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 11 March 2003]: If hostilities were to occur, British forces would have access to a comprehensive range of United Kingdom medical facilities that we have deployed to the region. As is normal practice, we have also agreed reciprocal arrangements with the United States and have arrangements in place to enable United Kingdom personnel to have access to specialist medical facilities in other countries.
Military Forces Training
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those countries in which British military forces have provided training since 1997. [103465]
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Mr. Ingram [holding answer 19 March 2003]: Between January 1997 and March 2003 British Military Forces provided Ministry of Defence endorsed, in country, training to 71 countries. A complete list of those countries is shown in the table.
20 Mar 2003 : Column 889W
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Navy training exercises and planned deployments have been cancelled as a result of Operation Fresco. [103997]
Mr. Ingram: The majority of personnel providing fire cover for Operation Fresco have been taken from ships and submarines undergoing periods of refit or maintenance, or which had returned from operational deployments and were not programmed to undergo further deployments. Only two of the ships from which personnel were taken for fire-fighting duties were prevented from undertaking operational tasks: HMS Manchester was withdrawn from NATO's Standing Force Atlantic, and HMS Lancaster from Atlantic Patrol (South). As a result, HMS Lancaster was withdrawn from the Chilean-hosted exercise Teamwork South 2003.
Although the firefighters' dispute has reduced the number of naval vessels going through operational sea training, there has been no need to cancel joint maritime courses as a result.
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