---

19 May 2003 : Column 578W—continued

Intelligence Units

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the remit is of the Joint Services Group. [112522]

Mr. Ingram: I am withholding this information under section 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.

Iraq

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to establish a mechanism that can provide for investigation of allegations of the unlawful use of lethal force by members of HM armed forces in Iraq. [111844]

19 May 2003 : Column 579W

Mr. Ingram: We are not aware of any allegations of unlawful use of lethal force by United Kingdom personnel in Iraq. However, were such an allegation to be made, and it could be substantiated, the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police, a detachment of which is currently deployed in the Gulf, would be responsible for carrying out an investigation into the circumstances.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions and orders have been issued to members of HM armed forces in Iraq concerning co-operation with investigations into allegations concerning the unlawful use of lethal force by members of (a) UK, (b) US and (c) other forces performing policing and public order duties in Iraq. [111845]

Mr. Hoon: Co-operation with investigations into allegations of unlawful use of lethal force, whether by members of the United Kingdom, the United States or other forces performing policing and public order duties in Iraq, is a matter for individuals, unless they are compelled to co-operate by a court order. Accordingly, no such orders or instructions have been issued.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what orders and instructions he has given concerning participation of Scots Guardsmen (a) Mark Wright and (b) James Fisher on foot patrols and other interface with the civilian population of Basra. [112547]

Mr. Ingram: None.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) Paveway II, (b) Paveway III and (c) 1,000 lb bombs were dropped in Iraq; and what the cost was for each group; [113246]

(2) what the total replacement value is of the ordnance dropped by British forces in Iraq. [113247]

Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member on completion of expenditure on operations and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the use of cluster bombs in the war with Iraq on the long-term development of the country. [113739]

Mr. Ingram: The Government recognise that, following conflict, all unexploded ordnance is a matter of humanitarian concern. That is why we are committed to the clearance of unexploded ordnance as part of the post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq.

Missile Defence

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the United States of America on missile defence; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [113902]

Mr. Hoon: As I informed the House on 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 11WS, we have agreed to the US request to upgrade the early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes, and are negotiating a technical memorandum of understanding to give us full insight into the development of the US programme and allow British industry the best possible opportunities to win work within it. Agreements to

19 May 2003 : Column 580W

embody these decisions will comprise one framework memorandum of understanding setting out the principles under which UK/US cooperation may be undertaken plus associated memoranda covering technical cooperation and the upgrade of RAF Fylingdales. Final decisions on the releasability of these MOUs have not yet been made.

Northern Ireland

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role (a) Army and (b) official personnel played in planning, preparing and carrying out the killing of Councillor Eddie Fullerton. [112274]

Mr. Ingram: I am not aware of any evidence or allegations to suggest that Army or official personnel were involved in the killing of Councillor Eddie Fullerton.

I would urge anyone who has any evidence on this, or other deaths, to pass it to the police.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Action Group

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the action against the MOD by the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Action Group. [113697]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 16 May 2003]: The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Group action against the Ministry of Defence was heard in the Royal Courts of Justice between 4 March and 13 November 2002. Judgment will be handed down on 21 May 2003. The Ministry of Defence's legal costs and disbursements incurred from the commencement of the action up to 28 April 2003 was £3,530,379.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects (a) RFA Sir Galahad and (b) RFA Sir Tristram to be paid off. [112271]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 13 March 2003, Official Report, column 389W, and 27 February 2003, Official Report, column 670W, to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr Keetch).

Saudi Arabia

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the continued deployment of British forces to Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement. [113954]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's two written ministerial statements on Iraq Force Level Adjustments of 11 April 2003, Official Report, columns 38–39WS, and of 30 April 2003, Official Report, columns 15–16WS, in which he made clear that the precise level of the continuing United Kingdom presence needed in the Gulf region is the subject of an on-going dynamic planning process.

We will continue to inform the House of any firm decisions on the level of UK military presence required in the region.

19 May 2003 : Column 581W

Security Cleared Contracts

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with the Defence Vetting Agency regarding discrimination in advertisements for Ministry of Defence security cleared contracts; [113709]

(2) what action he is taking to ensure that advertisements for Ministry of Defence security cleared contracts do not discriminate against potential applicants whose Ministry of Defence security clearance may have lapsed; [113707]

(3) what action he is taking to inform recruitment agencies who advertise MOD security cleared contracts of the MOD policy that applicants do not need current clearance to apply for classified contracts. [113708]

Mr. Ingram: I have had no discussions with the Defence Vetting Agency (DVA) regarding discrimination in advertisements for Ministry of Defence security cleared contracts. I am, however, advised by the DVA and other Departments in the MOD that complaints are sometimes received from individuals who feel that advertisements placed by some employment agencies, seeking staff who already possess a security clearance, are discriminatory.

Whenever the Ministry of Defence becomes aware that a recruitment agency is advertising for staff holding a security clearance to work on MOD protectively marked contracts, we write to the agency concerned advising them to stop the practice. The agency is told that the wording used is incorrect, discriminatory and counter to Government policy, and could potentially place the company in breach of equal opportunities legislation. The agency is also requested to use more suitable wording, as suggested by MOD, when advertising job vacancies, making it clear that the successful applicant will require to be security cleared prior to confirmation of their appointment.

MOD have also taken action to ensure that United Kingdom defence contractors are advised along similar lines when advertising employment opportunities.

Sierra Leone

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom troops are deployed in Sierra Leone; what the number was at its peak; what the timetable is for reducing the UN peacekeeping force; and what assessment he has made of whether the timetable is likely to be met. [113657]

Mr. Ingram: As at May 2003, there are 119 United Kingdom military personnel deployed to Sierra Leone. Of these, 21 personnel form the UK contribution to the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), and 98 personnel form the core of the UK-led International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT). At the peak of the UK's military deployment in February 2001 there were around 907 personnel in Sierra Leone.

The key objective for UNAMSIL is to assist the Government of Sierra Leone in the consolidation of peace and security. Progress is regularly reviewed against a range of benchmarks relating to the security situation in Sierra Leone, and wider governance, justice and human rights issues. These benchmarks are set down in the Fifteenth Report of the UN Secretary

19 May 2003 : Column 582W

General on Sierra Leone of 5 September 2002. UNAMSIL drawdown is driven by achievement of these benchmarks rather than by a set timetable. As a consequence of progress made, UNAMSIL started a phased drawdown in September 2002. Phase One of the drawdown is now complete, with Phase Two to be completed shortly. This will see a reduction in troop strength to around 13,000.

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the United Kingdom is making (a) to training the Sierra Leone army and police and (b) to the reintegration of former combatants. [113658]

Mr. Ingram: A United Kingdom-led International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) continues to help build the Republic of Sierra Leone armed forces into an effective, professional and democratically accountable force and to improve the capacity of the Sierra Leone MOD. The IMATT currently involves 114 personnel, comprising 98 UK military personnel plus a number of internationals. In addition, there are two UK Ministry of Defence civil servants serving in the Sierra Leone MOD.

The UK is also making a major contribution to the restructuring of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) through training and the provision and repair of police infrastructure. Training for the SLP is being provided under a scheme, managed by the Department for International Development, worth some £13 million over three years. In all, about 4,000 police officers, from senior management to new recruits, have received some form of training under the project.

In preparation for the gradual withdrawal of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone(UNAMSIL), the Government of Sierra Leone plan to recruit some 3,000 additional officers. The refurbishment and extension of the SLP training school is being paid for by DFID to enable training of these additional officers. The UK has also nominated 10 civilian police officers to UNAMSIL to work on capacity building programmes.

The UK's reconciliation and reconstruction projects in Sierra Leone are carried out through the Community Reintegration Programme (CRP) and the ReAct Programme. Both of these provide community reintegration activities in the form of job opportunities and short-term skills training and education for ex-combatants. The activities are community-based, with ex-combatants working alongside other war-affected people. The CRP, to which £14.4 million has been committed by DFID, operates in the northern region of Sierra Leone; ReAct operates in the eastern region of Sierra Leone and is co-funded by DFID and UNHCR. The DFID contribution to ReAct is £1.8 million.

---