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Military Posts (Civilian Recruitment)

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians have been recruited to Ministry of Defence posts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [124140]

Mr. Ingram: The number of civilian personnel recruited from outside the Department into Ministry of Defence posts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997 is as follows:

	Number
1997	327
1998	269
1999	259
2000	250
2001	225
2002	279
2003	(7)26

⁽⁷⁾ As at 31 May

Northern Ireland

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are stationed in Northern Ireland; and what plans there are to change the number of troops stationed in Northern Ireland. [123703]

Mr. Ingram: There were some 14,400 regular armed forces personnel (Army, Navy and RAF) deployed in Northern Ireland under the Command of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI) on 3 July 2003. This figure includes those troops normally under the command of the GOC NI and rear based in Great Britain as well as additional troops made available from Land Command in preparation for this year's marching season. The armed forces operate in Northern Ireland in support of the police who have primacy for security. The level of military support is kept under regular review. Troop numbers may be adjusted to meet the changing security environment as and when it is deemed appropriate and after consultation with the Chief Constable.

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Nuclear Weapons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 450W, what the UK Government's policy is on the intention of the US Government to repeal the 1993 legislation banning the research, development and production of nuclear weapons. [123094]

Mr. Caplin: This is a matter for the United States Government.

Republic of the Congo

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantity of (a) arms and (b) munitions have been sold to interests in the Republic of the Congo in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [123417]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 3 July 2003]: Information on licences granted and statistics of exports of strategically controlled equipment are provided in the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. The reports for the three years 2000–02 are available on the Foreign Office website and the Report for 2002 may be purchased from The Stationery Office. An EU arms embargo was declared in respect of that country in 1993 and remains in place.

Sapper Philip Eden

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Sapper Philip Eden was found dead at Carver Barracks, Wimbish on 22 June 2003; when the gun log records that a rifle was issued to him; at what time he went on duty; when the scene of the incident was secured; when he was pronounced dead; when the police were called to investigate; how many shots were fired; what steps were taken to conduct forensic examination of the weapon; when the next of kin were notified; and if he will make a statement. [123902]

Mr. Caplin: The circumstances surrounding Sapper Philip Eden's death are still the subject of a police investigation and it would, therefore, be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Sigma Aerospace Ltd.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts Sigma Aerospace Ltd. has with the RAF to service Hercules engines; and what plans there are to move this work (a) to and (b) from RAF Lyneham. [123650]

Mr. Ingram: The RAF has a contract with Sigma Aerospace Ltd. for the repair and overhaul of T56 engine modules for the Hercules C130K aircraft. This work is carried out at the Company's site in Croydon, Surrey. Sigma Aerospace Ltd. is also sub-contracted by Lockheed Martin to provide 2nd line servicing at RAF Lyneham for the Allison engines fitted on the Hercules C130J aircraft. There are no plans to change the arrangements during the life of these contracts.

Suez Medal

Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he will take to expedite the issue of the Suez Medal 1951–1954. [123983]

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Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 23 June 2003, Official Report, columns 616–17W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell).

UK Forces Gulf Trust Fund

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been raised by the UK Gulf Forces Trust Fund. [112082]

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total value is of the donations made to the UK Gulf Forces Trust Fund. [123061]

Mr. Ingram: As at 25 June 2003 the total amount raised by the United Kingdom Forces Gulf Trust Fund was approximately £290,000.

Warships

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what technical problems were experienced by (a) HMS Ocean and (b) HMS Cardiff during their deployment to the Gulf region. [123840]

Mr. Ingram: HMS Ocean had no significant technical problems during her recent deployment to the Gulf. During her deployment, HMS Cardiff had a temporary loss of satellite connectivity. This defect was rectified during a programmed port visit. At all times, both ships were fully capable of meeting the challenges of this deployment.

Watchkeeper

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he intends to ensure that the operation of Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicles in UK airspace complies with Civil Aviation Authority requirements. [123605]

Mr. Ingram: United Kingdom military unmanned air vehicles including Watchkeeper are regulated in accordance with the Joint Service Publication 550 "Military Aviation Policy, Regulations and Directives". These regulations ensure compliance with CAA requirements for military aircraft operations.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel have been members of the Watchkeeper Integrated Project Team, and in what capacities. [123606]

Mr. Ingram: To date there have been no RAF personnel serving as core members within the Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (TUAV) IPT, which incorporates the Watchkeeper programme. As required, the IPT draws on the advice and expertise of RAF personnel within other stakeholder communities and is also able to draw on the knowledge and experience of an Army pilot within the team.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans that (a) manned and (b) unmanned aircraft will be part of the Watchkeeper programme; what the Civil Aviation Authority's requirements are in terms of the qualifications required for the operation of these vehicles in UK (i) controlled and (ii) uncontrolled airspace; and what the flying qualifications are, including total flying hours, aircraft

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type ratings and instrument ratings of each member of the Integrated Project Team managing this project. [123607]

Mr. Ingram: The current proposals by industry to meet the Watchkeeper capability requirement are based on a mix of unmanned air vehicle (UAV) systems.

The Civil Aviation Authority has issued UAV guidance in Civil Air Publication 722 "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations in UK, Airspace Guidance". Which, at Chapter 9, identifies the criteria required for the operation of UAVs in United Kingdom airspace. The Department continues to work closely with the CAA on this issue. The IPT includes key staff with both military and civilian flying qualifications with a total of 102 hours on fixed wing aircraft and 1,397 hours on rotary wing aircraft. For one of the IPT staff this has included 1,000 hours operational flying which qualified for a 'GREEN' instrument rating.

SCOTLAND

Hepatitis C

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scotland's First Minister since 13 June 2003 concerning the compensation of hepatitis C victims in Scotland. [124130]

Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend has discussed this matter, along with a number of other current issues, with the First Minister since 13 June 2003.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Ambulance Service

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many requests for ambulances have been made in the last 12 months outside the hours of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm for patients from Kircubbin and points further south on the Ards Peninsula. [119517]

Angela Smith: Between 12 June 2002 and 11 June 2003 there has been a total of 189 requests for ambulances outside the hours of 9 am to 5 pm in Kircubbin and points further south on the Ards Peninsula.

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