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9 Jul 2003 : Column 805W—continued

Atomic Weapons Research Establishment

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the purpose is of the new tritium plant being built at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston. [123486]

Mr. Caplin: The purpose of the new Tritium Handling Facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment is to replace a 40-year-old facility which is now being decommissioned.

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the Department plans to secure tritium supplies after production ceases at Chapelcross. [123487]

Mr. Caplin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence on 12 February 2002, Official Report, column 175W, to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer).

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 11 June 2003, Official Report, column 915W, on scientific exchanges, if he will list the United States Departments and establishments that were visited by AWE personnel. [123589]

Mr. Caplin: AWE personnel on scientific exchanges to the United States in 2002 visited the following Departments or establishments:


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Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, pursuant to his answer of 11 June 2003, Official Report, column 915W, on scientific exchanges, if he will list the United States Departments and establishments from which visitors to AWE have come. [123590]

Mr. Caplin: United States visitors to AWE on scientific exchanges in 2002 were from the following State Departments or establishments:


Bullying

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by principal personnel officers in the Army to identify best practice in dealing with bullying; in what form common procedures have been established; and what the agreed definition of bullying is. [112620]

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Mr. Caplin: The Army's zero tolerance policy towards bullying is reviewed regularly to ensure best practice in the light of experience and to take account of emerging legislation. The policy was re-emphasised when the new Armed Forces Code of Social Conduct was issued to all personnel in January 2000. The Armed Forces Diversity policy, issued subsequently in June 2002, strives to create an environment that is free from harassment, intimidation and unlawful discrimination. In this spirit, the Army, in common with the other two Services, has set up a confidential helpline for use by personnel who consider themselves to be the victims of bullying or harassment.

The Army's policy on bullying is promulgated extensively through the chain of command. Commanders at all levels are briefed specifically on it and the policy features widely in service literature. In addition each unit routinely publishes orders at least every six months reminding personnel of their rights as individuals and how to raise a complaint if they feel they are being bullied. The chain of command also issues reminders on bullying policy where it considers it necessary to do so.

There is no legal definition of bullying. However, the Army defines bullying as the abuse of physical or mental strength or a position of authority to intimidate, persecute or victimise individual(s).

Deepcut Barracks (Drugs)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to discourage the use of illegal drugs at Deepcut barracks since 1995. [124174]

Mr. Caplin: Drug misuse is unacceptable in the armed forces and the Services have vigorous education and training programmes aimed at deterring drug misuse. Steps taken include drugs awareness lectures and regular poster campaigns to promote awareness on the dangers and consequences of the misuse of drugs. In recognition of the growing drug problem within the society from which it recruits, the Army introduced a Compulsory Drug Testing programme in May 1995. All measures to deter the misuse of drugs have, and continue to be, applied at Deepcut as they are applied at all military units.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date NATO was given right of first refusal over the European Security and Defence Policy mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; [119854]

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Mr. Ingram: The United Kingdom Government have on-going discussions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the ESDP deployment, with the US Administration. Under the European Security and Defence Policy the EU undertakes operations where NATO as a whole is not engaged. The EU Secretary General/High Representative, Mr Solana, briefed NATO Foreign Ministers, including US representatives, on EU discussions about the operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 3 June. NATO Foreign Ministers welcomed this transparency. There was no suggestion that NATO would become engaged. NATO and the EU are autonomous organisations. As such, they take decisions independently of each other, albeit in close consultation.

Electromagnetic Pulse Weapons

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been undertaken into the threat posed by the use of electromagnetic pulse weapons; what steps have been taken to protect against the effects of such weapons; and if he will make a statement. [111231]

Mr. Ingram: Research programmes have been undertaken since the mid 1980s into the threat posed by electromagnetic energy, including high power microwave and radio frequency sources, to both military and civil electronics-rich systems. This research has produced guidelines and procedures to alleviate these effects, by using good equipment fabrication practice, shielding techniques and hardened circuit design.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when first deliveries of the Eurofighter Typhoon will be made to the Royal Air Force. [123570]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 1WS.

Iraq

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list (a) the location and (b) the number of British service personnel (i) killed and (ii) injured while on military duties in Iraq in 2003. [122308]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 30 June 2003]: As at 30 June 43 UK personnel have died and 155 have been injured since the beginning of Operation Telic.

NameDateLocation
Major Ward21 MarchKuwaiti side of the Kuwait/Iraq border
Captain Guy
Major Ward
Colour Sergeant Cecil
Marine Hedenskog
OM(C)2 Seymour
Sergeant Hehir
Lance Bombadier Evans
Warrant Officer 2 Stratford
Lieutenant Green22 MarchNorthern Gulf
Lieutenant King
Lieutenant Lawrence
Lieutenant West
Lieutenant Wilson
Lieutenant Williams
Flight Lieutenant Williams23 MarchIraq/Kuwait border
Flight Lieutenant Main
Staff Sergeant Cullingworth23 MarchSouthern Iraq
Sapper Allsopp
Lance Corporal Stephen24 MarchAl Zubayr
Sergeant Roberts24 MarchAl Zubayr
Corporal Allbutt25 MarchSouth west of Basrah
Trooper Clarke25 March
Lance Corporal of Horse Hull28 MarchSouthern Iraq
Marine Maddison 30 MarchNear Basrah
Major Ballard 30 MarchAz Zubayr
Lance Corporal Brierley30 MarchKuwait
Staff Sergeant Muir31 MarchSouthern Iraq
Lance Corporal Shearer1 AprilSouthern Iraq (Lt Tweedie died on 21 April in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary)
Lieutenant Tweedie
Private Muzvuru 6 AprilBasrah
Lance Corporal Malone
Fusilier Turrington6 AprilBasrah
Senior Aircraftsman Pritchard8 MayIn hospital in UK following RTA in theatre
Lance Corporal McCue30 AprilSouthern Iraq
Private Kelly6 MaySouthern Iraq
Corporal Shepherd 19 MayKuwait
Mr. Leonard Harvey (Defence Fire Service)22 MayDied in hospital in UK after being taken ill while deployed in the Gulf
Corporal Aston 24 JuneAl Majaar Al Kabir
Corporal Miller
Lance Corporal Hyde
Corporal Long
Lance Corporal Keys
Sergeant Hamilton-Jewell


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We cannot provide the locations of the incidents where service personnel were injured as these are not held centrally.

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in clearing sites in Iraq where cluster bombs were used; and if he will make a statement. [112531]

Mr. Hoon: United Kingdom and other coalition explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams in the UK's area of responsibility have completed over 1,000 tasks and destroyed over 100,000 individual munitions. We do not record types of munitions destroyed.

A full survey of sites contaminated with unexploded munitions is now under way. The survey is being conducted in concert with other coalition forces, non-governmental organisations and demining companies. On average about 30 new EOD tasks are being identified each week.

We cannot comment on progress made by other coalition partners, other than to reiterate that providing a safe, secure and risk free environment for the Iraqi people is a key aspect of restoration activity for all the coalition.


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