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9 Jun 2003 : Column 654W—continued
Jaguar Fleet
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the grounding of RAF Jaguars; [117503]
- (2) what problems have been experienced with the Rolls Royce Adour Mk 106 engines fitted to the Jaguar fleet; and if he will make a statement. [117504]
Mr. Ingram: On 8 May 2003, whilst operating from RAF Coltishall, a twin seat Jaguar T4 aircraft, powered by the Adour Mk l06 engine, made a precautionary landing due to a fire warning. The cause was found to be a technical problem that resulted in damage to the afterburner casing. As a result of this incident Jaguars fitted with the Adour Mk 106 engines did not fly until their engines had been inspected. These aircraft returned to normal flying on 24 May although some flying restrictions still apply pending a full engineering solution. Jaguar aircraft fitted with the Adour Mk 104 engines have no flying restrictions.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the engine upgrade programme for the Jaguar fleet; and what improvements to the aircraft's performance have resulted in cases when the upgrade has been completed. [117505]
Mr. Ingram: The cost of the Jaguar aircraft Adour Mk 106 engine upgrade programme is £105 million. The programme will reduce the through life costs of the aircraft propulsion system by increasing engine reliability and availability.
In addition the upgraded Adour Mk 106 engine provides an increase in thrust over the current Mk 104 engine. This increase improves the operational effectiveness of the Jaguar aircraft particularly when deployed in hot climates.
Non-precision Weapons
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 16 May 2003, Official Report, column 454W, on non-precision weapons, how many (a) 540lb free fall bombs, (b) 1,000lb free fall bombs and (c) RBL 755 cluster bombs were dropped by UK forces in urban areas in (i) Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and (ii) Iraq during Operation Telic; whether, during post mission target assessments, 540lb and 1,000lb free fall bombs and RBL 755 cluster bombs are considered to have hit their target if they fall within the radius of their average accuracy; and if he will make a statement. [116051]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 3 June 2003]: No weapons were dropped by United Kingdom aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. During the course of operations in Iraq,
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while none of the weapons detailed in the question were dropped in dense urban areas, a number of military targets on the periphery of built up areas were attacked.
5401b and l,0001b free fall bombs and RB 755 cluster bombs are considered to have hit their target if the weapon causes damage to the intended target.
Reservists
Mr. Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) medical treatment and (b) other work medical reservists stationed in Iraq have carried out in the last month; and if he will make a statement. [115073]
Dr. Moonie: From 1 to 30 May, medical reservists stationed in Iraq have performed a wide range of medical procedures ranging from the general treatment of minor cuts through to major surgical intervention following the traumatic amputation of a limb. The patient in this case was a 10-year-old Iraqi girl. It is not possible at this time to give details on specific treatments, however 202 (Volunteer) Field Hospital have undertaken 711 Primary Health Care treatments, 37 Theatre procedures and seen 1,123 patients in Accident and Emergency. During this time, medical reservists have also relocated an entire field hospital, facilitated visits from various agencies and have served with aeromedical evacuation teams throughout the evacuation chain.
Tomahawk Missiles
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired by the Royal Navy during the Gulf conflict; and from which vessels. [112257]
Mr. Ingram: Two United Kingdom submarines, HMS Splendid and Turbulent, fired a number of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles during operations in Iraq. I am withholding the precise number of missiles fired by each in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.
Service Veterans
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) parliamentary questions have been tabled, (b) enquiries have been received from hon. Members, (c) early day motions have been tabled, (d) petitions have been presented, with the total number of signatories, (e) representations have been received from organisations representing veterans and (f) representations have been received from members of the public calling for the award of a medal for those who served in the Suez Canal Zone in the early 1950s, since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [117420]
Dr. Moonie: Since May 1997 the Ministry of Defence has responded to approximately 27 parliamentary questions, 510 letters from hon. Members and seven early-day motions on the subject of a campaign medal for those who served in the Suez Canal Zone in the early 1950s. In addition, 415 representations have been received from members of the public, a number of whom undoubtedly represented the views of one or more of the several Canal Zone veterans organisations, though it
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would not be possible to differentiate between them and letters from individuals. One petition was presented to the MOD by my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Bennett) in 1998, containing approximately 20,000 signatures.
As the hon. Member is fully aware; the matter of a campaign medal for the Canal Zone presently rests with the HD Committee and not with the Ministry of Defence. The Committee is deliberating on recommendations submitted by a special sub-committee created late last year for the sole purpose of reviewing the case for a Canal Zone medal and will publish its decision, subject to the Queen's approval, very soon.
Sickness Absence
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average number of sick days was in his Department for (a) civilian and (b) military staff in each year since 1997; what percentage of staff were on long term sick leave in each year; and if he will make a statement. [116865]
Dr. Moonie: The average number of sick days in the Ministry of Defence for civilian staff are as follows:
| Number of days | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 7.9 |
| 1998 | 8.0 |
| 1999 | 8.8 |
| 2000 | 8.8 |
| 2001 | — |
| 2002 | — |
The percentage of civilian staff on long term sick leave in the Ministry of Defence are as follows:
| Percentage of civilian staff | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | — |
| 1998 | — |
| 1999 | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 5.9 |
| 2001 | — |
| 2002 | 6.4 |
Figures are for non-industrial staff and include staff on unpaid sick leave. Industrial staff, Trading Funds and RFAs are not included.
Sick absence data for all Government Departments, which includes information about the average number of days lost to sickness absence, are published in an annual Cabinet Office report "Analysis of Sick Absence in the Civil Service". Copies of the 1999, 2000 and 2001 reports are available in the Library. However, the 2001 report excludes data for the Ministry of Defence, pending the introduction of a new and more accurate statistical reporting system. The 2002 report, which will include MOD data, will be placed in the Library of the House on publication.
The report does not contain information about long term sick absence, the figures therefore are based on internal figures. Long term sickness is defined as staff who have been on sick leave for a spell of 30 calendar
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days or more in a calendar year. Due to data inaccuracies the figures for 1997, 1998 and 2001 are not available.
A programme of measures is being implemented to help meet the target in MOD's Service Delivery Agreement to reduce sickness absence to 7.0 days by the end of 2003 (target adjusted following the reorganisation of Government Departments in 2000). This includes a regular audit of long-term sick cases. MOD is committed to improving the health of its staff and managing sick absence more effectively.
Records are not held centrally of the number of sick days taken annually by military personnel or the percentage on long term sick leave. This information could be compiled only from records held locally by units, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
TA Estate
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 21 May 2003, Official Report, column 787W, on Territorial Army Estate, when he intends to secure a sale of TAC Greenhithe; and if he will make a statement. [116760]
Dr. Moonie: It is hoped a sale will be concluded in the near future.
TA Medics
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many TA medics are serving in Iraq; and when he expects them to be discharged. [117548]
Dr. Moonie: The majority of Territorial Army (TA) medical personnel currently deployed in Iraq are serving with 202 Field Hospital (V) (a total of 483 TA medical personnel). These personnel are expected to be released from theatre through a staged process over the next few weeks, and all should have returned to the United Kingdom by the end of July 2003. Additionally there are a relatively small number of further individual appointments filled by TA medical personnel who will leave theatre when their parent Regular unit leaves.
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