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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 4 July 2003
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Correspondence
David Winnick: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if she will make a statement on the latest position regarding the latest time Royal Mail can collect Members' letters for delivery to constituents the following day. [123812]
Mrs. Roe: Senior officials from both Houses are in discussion with the Managing Director of UK Royal Mail with the aim of achieving reinstatement of a later collection of Members' letters for delivery to constituents the following day. I will write to the hon. Gentleman once the outcome of these discussions is known.
DEFENCE
Iraq
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units will make up 19 Mechanised Brigade as it is deployed to Operation Telic 2; and when deployments will commence. [123573]
Mr. Ingram: The following units will make up 19 (Mechanised) Brigade, during its period of deployment to Iraq:
- 19 (Mechanised) Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron
The Regimental Headquarters and two Squadrons from the Light Dragoons
B Squadron, 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
1st Battalion, the King's Regiment
1st Battalion, the Queen's Lancashire Regiment
1st Battalion the King's Own Scottish Borderers
4/73 Observation Post Battery from 5th Regiment Royal Artillery
40th Regiment Royal Artillery
38th Engineer Regiment (including 100 Squadron, Royal Monmouthshire,
Royal Engineers (Militia))
- 32 Brigade Support Squadron, from 3 Close Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps.
150 Provost Company, from 3 Royal Military Police
A Close Support Company, from 5 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
A Close Support Medical Squadron, from 3 Close Support Medical Regiment
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Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sites in Iraq suspected of links to possible covert weapons of mass destruction programmes have been searched by (a) the Iraq Survey Group and (b) other coalition personnel; and how many identified suspect sites have yet to be searched. [121289]
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary gave on 26 June 2003, Official Report, column 938W to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn).
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the USA concerning incidences of 'friendly fire' against British troops in Iraq. [108850]
Mr. Ingram: We worked closely with the United States to ensure that effective Combat Identification arrangements were in place before the start of operations in Iraq. United Kingdom forces' Combat Identification capability is compatible and comparable with that of our US allies, but regrettably no system can be 100 per cent. fail-safe.
Both incidents of "friendly fire" that occurred during operations against Iraq involving US and UK forces are the subject of Boards of Inquiry, which have now convened. But we will be looking to ensure that all parties absorb any lessons identified.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what US assistance was (a) requested and (b) provided in deploying logistics as part of Operation Telic. [112030]
Mr. Ingram: No United States assistance was requested or provided in deploying logistics from the United Kingdom to the Gulf as part of Operation Telic. However, the US provided the reception process for all troops arriving in theatre and shared UK/US contracts were placed in Kuwait for services including accommodation and ablution facilities.
A and P Shipbuilders
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 35W, what the value was of each order; how many man hours were required for the completion of each contract; and in which yards the work was carried out in each case. [123741]
Mr. Ingram: The yards which carried out the work on the contracts listed in the answer of 30 June, Official Report, column 35W are detailed in the table. The number of man hours required for completion of each contract is not known as companies do not include this information in their tenders.
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I am withholding details of the value of individual contracts in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Third Party's commercial confidences).
Combat Aircraft
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF and Royal Navy combat aircraft were available for operations on 1 January 2003; and how many are planned to be available on (a) 1 January 2008, (b) 1 January 2013 and (c) 1 January 2018. [119492]
Mr. Ingram: As of 1 January 2003, the RAF and RN combat (fast jet) aircraft Actual Operating Fleet figure was 306 aircraft. The numbers of aircraft available on 1 January 2008, 2013 and 2018 will depend upon our operational requirements at the time.
European Peacekeeping Force
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units flagged for deployment with the European peacekeeping force are (a) deployed and (b) undeployable owing to roulement; what proportion by category of unit or establishment this comprises; and if he will make a statement. [123046]
Mr. Ingram: There is no such force as the "European peacekeeping force".
Infantry Battalions
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 538W, on infantry numbers, whether Ministers have had discussions with the Director of Infantry about disbanding infantry battalions. [122986]
Mr. Ingram: Ministers have had no discussions with the Director of Infantry about disbanding infantry battalions.
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Sewel Motions
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list Sewel motions passed by the Scottish Parliament since May 1999 that apply to his Department's responsibilities and Government Bills he has sponsored. [120692]
Mr. Ingram: Of the bills sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces Bill was the subject of a Sewel motion in the Scottish Parliament on 29 March 2001.
The Sewel motion related to specific provisions within the Armed Forces Bill concerning Ministry of Defence Police that were later included in the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.
Trainer Jets
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contractors who have been asked to provide proposals to supply trainer jets to the Royal Air Force; and by what criteria bids will be assessed. [115121]
Mr. Ingram [pursuant to the answer, 2 June 2003, Official Report, c. 42–43W]: The company named should have read Aermacchi and not Finmeccanica.
TRANSPORT
Road Repairs (Deaths and Injuries)
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people working on road repairs and improvements over each of the last three years have been (a) injured and (b) killed working on (i) motorways, (ii) other trunk roads and (iii) all other roads. [120672]
Mr. Jamieson: The number of people injured and killed while working on road repairs and improvements on Motorways and other trunk roads in England over the last three years is shown in the following table. Information for all other roads is not available.
| Severity | Motorway | Trunk road | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Fatal | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Injured | 48 | 11 | 59 | |
| All | 49 | 13 | 62 | |
| 2001 | Fatal | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Injured | 47 | 26 | 73 | |
| All | 50 | 27 | 77 | |
| 2002 | Fatal | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Injured | 59 | 37 | 96 | |
| All | 60 | 42 | 102 |
(1) Highways Agency.
(2) Motorways and Trunk roads in England.
Source:
Reports from Highways Agency contractors.
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