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30 Jun 2003 : Column 43W—continued
Operation Dimming Sun
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on operation Dimming Sun; how much it cost to host; where and when it took place; which countries' participants came; what scenario was tested; and if he will (a) post on the departmental web site and (b) place in the Library a copy of the final report of the exercise. [122278]
Mr. Ingram: Exercise Dimming Sun 03 was a joint UK/US Grade A defence nuclear accident response exercise. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs of the exercise as the majority lie where they fall, and are not charged specifically to an exercise budget as participants are carrying out duties to which they are already assigned in their command structure. The exercise took place in Norfolk over the period 16 to 20 June 2003, and was co-sponsored by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and the United States Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Exercise play was also conducted at the MOD Headquarters Nuclear Accident Response Organisation in London, the US Embassy in London and by US Government officials in Washington. The exercise scenario simulated the crash in Norfolk of a US Air Force aircraft, carrying a cargo of unarmed nuclear weapons. UK and US units participated in the exercise and responded to the incident, as well as other Government Departments, agencies, civil emergency services and local authorities. A copy of the All Agency Report on this exercise will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it is completed. It will not be posted on the Departmental web site.
Operation Telic
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) volunteer reserves personnel and (b) regular reservists in the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Royal Marines, (iii) Army and (iv) RAF units are involved in Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement. [122152]
30 Jun 2003 : Column 44W
Mr. Caplin: As at 20 June, the following Volunteer and Regular Reservists were involved in Operation TELIC:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Royal Navy | |
| Royal navy reserve | 145 |
| Royal fleet reserve | 0 |
| Royal Marines | |
| Royal marine reserve | 0 |
| Royal fleet reserve | 0 |
| Army | |
| Territorial army | 3,990 |
| Regular reserve | 157 |
| RAF | |
| RAFR and RauxAF | 656 |
| Sponsored reserves | 10 |
| Regular reserves | 165 |
Parliamentary Questions
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in response to how many parliamentary written questions during the 2002–03 session he has decided to withhold information under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information; and what percentage of written questions asked this constitutes. [119104]
Mr. Caplin [pursuant to his answer, 18 June 2003, col. 252W]: I regret that the date and last session of the Select Committee on Public Administration report 'Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions' was incorrect. The last report was published in July 2002 for Session 1999–2000.
Private Sector Medical Treatment
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces have been removed from medical waiting lists because they have opted to pay for their own treatment in the private sector in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [121370]
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Mr. Caplin: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Procurement
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay the decision to purchase Sonar 2087 systems for frigates; and if he will make a statement. [120727]
Mr. Ingram: It was decided to purchase Sonar 2087 in order to protect against modern, quieter nuclear and conventionally powered submarines. The system is designed to detect, classify, localise and track a hostile submarine while remaining outside its firing range. The number of ship sets to be purchased takes into account such considerations as the threat assessment, budgetary priorities and platform availability.
30 Jun 2003 : Column 46W
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the order was placed for the supply of desert boots and uniforms prior to the war in Iraq; what quantities were ordered; what the contract price was; when the order was supplied; and what the final cost was. [120730]
Mr. Ingram: Due to the scale of deployment of personnel to Iraq, contracts were placed prior to the commencement of operations to supplement stock already held under planning assumptions. These are shown in the following table. The delivery dates reflect the dates for delivery of the items to the Ministry of Defence's central storage depots in the United Kingdom. I am withholding details of cost in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
| Order | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Contract placed | Quantity | Delivery period | |
| Desert Trouser | 19 and 24 December 2002 | 89,700 | February to April | |
| Desert Lightweight Jacket | 19 and 24 December 2002 | 92,750 | February to April | |
| Desert Boots | 29 November 2002 and 10 January 2003 | 30,000 | February to April | |
Radioactive Material
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the quantities of radioactive material he has held in each year since 1980, broken down by (a) high level, (b) intermediate level and (c) low level material. [122664]
Mr. Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
RAF Northolt
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list operational military airfields situated within 50 miles of central London. [122173]
Mr. Ingram: Operational military airfields within 50 miles of central London are:
- RAF Odiham
RAF Benson
RAF Northolt
- (2) what assessment has been made of alternative airfields for military flights within the London area, should flying activity at RAF Northolt be precluded. [122165]
Mr. Ingram: As no decision has yet been made on the possibility of a third runway at Heathrow, it would be premature to assess the future status of RAF Northolt or the alternative airfields that might be available if flying activity were to cease there.
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategic importance of RAF Northolt, with particular reference to military flights. [122167]
Mr. Ingram: RAF Northolt is home to 32 (The Royal) Squadron, part of the Ministry of Defence Communications Fleet, which is established for the support of military and Government communications tasks in times of crisis and war. It provides a rapid and secure method of transport for key personnel in pursuit of urgent defence tasks.
Refurbishment Costs
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many refurbishment programmes undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies are over-running; what extra costs have been incurred by these over-runs; and how many of these programmes involve outside contractors. [121251]
Mr. Ingram: Given the size of the Defence estate and the number of buildings and other facilities on it, it is difficult to define what constitutes "refurbishment". Work on buildings can range from minor modifications and maintenance, to the complete restoration of listed buildings, and the maintenance of machinery such as lifts. While information on individual contracts is available, it is currently not held centrally or on a consistent basis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Suicide
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the suicide rate of active members of the Army has been since 1993, broken down by regiment. [121367]
30 Jun 2003 : Column 47W
Mr. Caplin: I am unable to provide a suicide rate for individual regiments due to changes in the Army regimental structure since 1993. I have therefore provided the suicide, and open verdict, mortality rate of Army personnel since 1993 for each Arm or Service. This information is contained in the table.
| Arm or Service | Rates per 100,000 strength |
|---|---|
| H Cavalry/RAC | 14 |
| RA | 7 |
| RE | 8 |
| R Signals | 14 |
| Infantry | 20 |
| RLC | 19 |
| RAMC/RAVC/RADC/QARANC | 18 |
| REME | 7 |
| AG Corps | 12 |
| AAC | — |
| Other(6) | 11 |
| All | 14 |
(6) Other includes staff, RAChD, SASC, Int Corp, APTC, General List, CAM, Officer Designates, LS LIST and unallocated.
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