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24 Mar 2003 : Column 11W—continued

Gulf Forces

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government have commissioned capacity from ships and aircraft to supply the needs of an additional humanitarian emergency in the area of the Gulf where UK forces are operating. [103948]

Mr. Ingram: Planning for the movement of pre-positioned humanitarian aid in the Gulf envisages the use of in-theatre military or Royal Fleet Auxiliary assets. Officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development remain in close contact over the possible use of military or military-chartered assets for the movement of further humanitarian supplies to the region.

Humanitarian Relief

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds his Department has been allocated in connection with humanitarian relief tasks (a) this year and (b) last year; and for what purposes. [104029]

Mr. Ingram: The ambit of Defence Votes does not ordinarily include funding for humanitarian aid, which is a responsibility of the Department for International Development. Therefore, no funding was provided for this task in 2001–02. Funding will be provided in 2002–03, for the conflict in Iraq, to cover the United Kingdom's legal requirements under the 1949 Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilians in Time of War. The final amount required has yet to be determined.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance British forces are giving to the Department for International Development in respect of contingency plans for humanitarian relief missions in Iraq and the Gulf region. [104032]

Dr. Moonie: Ensuring the provision of humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq, both during and immediately following any conflict, will be one of the coalition's highest priorities. Experts from the Department for International Development are embedded in the United Kingdom National Component Command Head-Quarters in Kuwait to advise the armed forces on how to address urgent humanitarian need in advance of UN agencies and NGOs being able to operate safely in a post-conflict environment.

24 Mar 2003 : Column 12W

Insurance Schemes

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to alter insurance provision for serving members of the armed forces when the existing PAX and RPAX insurance schemes expire. [104675]

Dr. Moonie: Revised PAX and RPAX schemes will operate from 1 July 2003. The Ministry of Defence is currently negotiating benefits and premiums with commercial providers.

While every effort is being made to achieve best value for money, replicating existing benefits is unlikely in the current insurance climate. Some combination of increased premiums and decreased benefits appears likely. Changes will apply to all scheme members, both new and existing. Details of the new schemes will be promulgated to all Service personnel (Regulars and Reservists) once they are available. Existing PAX and RPAX members will automatically migrate to the new schemes.

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been made to him about the operation of the (a) PAX and (b) RPAX insurance schemes; and what plans he has to augment these schemes for reservists being called up during the current crisis. [104674]

Dr. Moonie: PAX provides Personal Accident and Life cover for Regulars and RPAX for Reservists. No representations have been made to the Secretary of State for Defence about the operation of these schemes. There are no plans to augment arrangements for Reservists provided under RPAX.

Interdepartmental Fund Transfers

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds have been transferred from the Department for International Development to the Ministry of Defence in each of the last four years; and for what purposes. [104030]

Mr. Ingram: The cross-departmental Conflict Prevention Fund was established in the 2000 Spending Review. This joint approach by the Ministry of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development maximises the impact of the conflict prevention work done by each Department by ensuring it is based on a shared strategy and common objectives. It also allows the United Kingdom to react flexibly and more rapidly to emerging crises and to opportunities for peace building.

Conflict prevention expenditure from the three Departments was brought together in two pooled budgets—one for sub-Saharan Africa and one for the rest of the world. Programme funds for conflict prevention in sub-Saharan Africa are included as a ring-fenced element in the Department for International Development's Departmental Expenditure Limit. Programme funds for conflict prevention in the rest of the world are included in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Departmental Expenditure Limit. Both pools are managed jointly by the three departments and funds are transferred between relevant Departments to cover expenditure incurred in pursuit of commonly-agreed objectives. Since the pools' inception

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there have therefore been a number of transfers between pool partners associated with their management. The amounts and purposes of these transfers are set out in the relevant Estimates, all of which are available in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the man-portable communications electronic support measures system will be operational for war in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [104229]

Mr. Ingram: We have deployed a range of surveillance equipment in support of current operations. I am withholding details in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Javelin

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Javelin anti tank weapon to enter service. [104333]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 308W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

Military Contracts

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will award a contract for the Urban Operations Study for the armed forces; how long the contract will last; how much money the contract is worth; when equipment tested will enter service; and if he will make a statement. [104227]

Mr. Ingram: The Urban Operations Study contract is expected to be let towards the end of April 2003 subject to completion of the competitive bid assessment and contract negotiation process. The Study is expected to last for up three years. While contract values can not be confirmed until the tender assessment process is complete it is likely that the study will be valued at about £2.5 million. Supporting contracts will also be let with QinetiQ and DSTL to assist and manage the analysis of

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the data collected and help convert this into prioritised user requirements in order to support equipment programming action. Equipment tested and prioritised for acquisition would enter service from 2005. Future acquisition could, however, be subject to normal affordability considerations.

Military Training

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Air Force training exercises have been cancelled since 1 January as a result of personnel allocated to Operation FRESCO. [103995]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 March 2003]: Operation Swift Hawk was cancelled in February 2003. This exercise was in support of rotary wing aircrew training. No other training exercises have been cancelled as a result of Operation Fresco.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which training exercises to be undertaken by (a) 2nd Bn, Royal Anglian Regiment, (b) 1st Bn, Royal Green Jackets, (c) 1st Bn, King's Own Scottish Borderers, (d) 16 Regiment, Royal Artillery, (e) 40 Regiment, Royal Artillery, (f) 4 Regiment, Royal Artillery, (g) Light Dragoons, (h) 22 Engineer Regiment, (i) 38 Engineer Regiment, (j) 1st Bn, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, (k) Royal Dragoon Guards, (l) 21 Engineer Regiment, (m) 1st Bn, King's Regiment (n) Queen's Royal Hussars, (o) 1st Bn, Queen's Lancashire Regiment, (p) 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, (q) 22 Regiment, Royal Artillery, (r) 1st Bn, Cheshire Regiment, (s) 1st Bn, Royal Anglian Regiment, (t) 32 Regiment, Royal Artillery, (u) 4 General Support Regiment, RLC, (v) 3 Close Support Regiment, RLC, (w) 1st Bn, Royal Regiment of Wales, (x) 1st Bn, Welsh Guards, (y) 27 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, (z) 1st Bn, Scots Guards, (aa) 1st Bn, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, (bb) Household Cavalry, (cc) 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards, (dd) 1stBn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, (ee) 1stBn, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and (ff) 1st Bn, Royal Highland Fusiliers have been cancelled as a result of the units being on stand by for Operation Fresco. [103996]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 March 2003]: Of the units listed, the following have had major training exercises cancelled as a direct result of Operation Fresco:

Serial (a)/Unit (b)	Exercise (c)	Remarks (d)
1. 2nd Bn, Royal Anglian Regiment	UK MILAN Concentration	2 week dry/live anti-tank training
2. 1st Bn, Royal Green Jackets	GRAND PRIX	6 week FTX(1)
3. 1st Bn, Kings Own Scottish Borderers	UK MILAN Concentration	2 week dry/live anti-tank training
4. 16 Regiment, the Royal Regiment of Artillery	CENTAURS BOW	1 week CPX(2)
5. 40 Regiment, The Royal Regiment of Artillery	IRON THUNDERGRAND PRIXIRON SQUALL	1 week CAST(3)6 week FTX1 week CPX
6. 4 Regiment, The Royal Regiment of Artillery	Artillery Firing Camp	3 week dry/live firing
7. 22 Engineer Regiment	LION SUN	5 week FTX
8. 38 Engineer Regiment	GRAND PRIX	6 week FTX
9. Queen's Royal Hussars	Armoured Firing Camp	2 week dry/live firing
10. 1st Bn, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment	DRUIDS DANCE	4 week FTX
11. 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery	IRON SQUALLIRON THUNDERSEA TROUT	1 week CAST1 week CPX3 week light gun firing camp
12. 1st Bn, The Royal Anglian Regiment	IRON RAM	2 week exchange FTX

⁽¹⁾ Field Training Exercise

⁽²⁾ Command Post Exercise

⁽³⁾ Command and Staff Trainer

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In addition, all units involved in Operation FRESCO have had their training plans affected to varying degrees. Detailed information on the impact on individual units could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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