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16 Oct 2003 : Column 322W—continued
Defence Spending
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how much he plans to increase defence spending over the next five years. [132157]
Mr. Ingram: Plans for defence spending in 2004–05 and 2005–06 are set out in the Government's Expenditure Plans for the Ministry of Defence, a copy
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of which can be found in the Library of the House. Plans for defence spending beyond 2005–06 will be set in the 2004 and 2006 Spending Reviews.
Depleted Uranium
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will phase out the use of depleted uranium. [132312]
Mr. Ingram: United Kingdom forces have two types of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition: 20 mm rounds used by the Royal Navy's Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (a missile defence system); and 120 mm anti-tank rounds (CHARM 3), fired by the Army's Challenger II (CR2) tanks.
The Royal Navy's Close-in Weapon System does not require anti-armour properties and in recent years, a new tungsten round has been developed for it. Since 1996, all replacement ammunition for the Phalanx system has been of the tungsten variety. Some ships still carry the 20 mm DU round, however, and would fire it should the operational need arise.
There is currently no plan to replace the DU penetrator in the CR2 Main Armament Weapon System although a programme is being commissioned over the next three years to determine the most cost-effective means of maintaining CR2's capability. This will investigate the replacement of the rifled barrel with a smoothbore barrel, which in turn, may offer alternative munitions. DU replacement is not the primary aim of this programme.
To date, DU has consistently outperformed all equivalents as a kinetic penetrator when employed in anti-armour weapon systems: its use, therefore, currently offers the best operational effectiveness in this role.
Service Personnel (Debt Management)
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what special assistance is given to (a) service and (b) ex-service personnel who are facing financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement. [121520]
Mr. Caplin: Service personnel are expected to manage their financial affairs responsibly. However, individuals facing financial difficulties can be assisted by way of advice at unit level within the chain of command. Commanders, along with others in the unit, including administrative and welfare staffs and chaplaincy services, can provide help and assistance in dealing with individual financial difficulties and will facilitate liaison between the individual and credit organisations.
Each service produces self-help publications on debt and debt management, and RAF personnel receive instruction on the need for integrity in their personal and financial affairs, with recruits instructed on basic money matters, including how to operate a bank account, balance a cheque book and use a credit card. Personnel are also made aware of the support available through the Citizens' Advice Bureau, SSAFA-Forces Help, professional credit advice organisations and respective benevolent funds.
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At the Veterans Agency there is a Veterans Advice Unit which aims to provide 'one-stop-shop' guidance to former armed forces personnel or their families on where to seek professional help on a wide range of issues including financial difficulties.
Ex-service Personnel
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to encourage ex-service personnel to rejoin the armed forces; and if he will make a statement on the value of ex-service personnel to the armed forces. [121521]
Mr. Caplin: Ex-Service personnel are routinely encouraged to consider rejoining the armed forces. All three services ensure that regular contact is maintained with former service personnel from the moment of discharge (and in many instances in the weeks leading up to the discharge date), when their continued value to the armed forces is fully explained to them, and for a period of time thereafter. Such has been the nature of these initiatives that in financial year 2002–03, a total of 762 ex-service personnel rejoined the armed forces and for the first five months of 2003–04 a further 345 former service personnel have rejoined.
The armed forces greatly value ex-service personnel. Those who rejoin the regular forces bring their past experience and expertise with them which is particularly useful when individuals join branches or trades currently experiencing a shortfall. Many who rejoin do not have to repeat the full re-selection process and many of those formerly on the trained strength do not have to repeat initial training. This is a considerable saving on time and resources.
Ex-regular personnel have played, and continue to play, a vital role in recent operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Firearms
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern the handling of firearms in a made ready condition; and in what circumstances made ready firearms may be carried inside an Army barracks. [131985]
Mr. Ingram: For the purposes of answering this question, it has been assumed that the hon. Member is referring to the non-operational use of firearms by Army personnel. The relevant rules maintain that unless an individual is ordered to make the weapon ready, or he/she is about to fire, the weapon is always to be made safe; that is no live round is to be carried in the breech, and, in the case of automatic weapons, the working parts are to be forward.
Under normal circumstances, a soldier would only carry a made ready weapon inside the barrack area when they are ordered to do so; for instance when training on a range, or if there was an imminent threat to life.
HMS Bulwark
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original in-service date was for
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landing platform dock Bulwark; what the current in-service date is; what the reasons are for the changes; and if he will make a statement. [131933]
Mr. Ingram: The original in-service date for the landing platform dock Bulwark was March 2003. The current planned in-service date is March 2005. There have been a number of manufacturing, project management and productivity difficulties experienced at the BAe Systems Barrow shipyard which caused slippage to HMS Bulwark's sister ship, HMS Albion. Resources were concentrated in HMS Albion in order to minimise the delays. This caused a consequential delay to HMS Bulwark programme.
There are opportunities to improve upon the ISD of March 2005 and the Ministry of Defence will continue to work hard with BAe Systems with the aim of accelerating the programme and achieving ISD some weeks earlier than currently forecast.
Colombia (Military Aid)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to stop giving military aid to Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [132079]
Mr. Ingram: British military assistance to Colombia is focused primarily on Explosive Ordnance Disposal training, and provision of British military education. We believe that it provides clear benefits to the Colombian Armed Forces, and the country as a whole, by reducing the number of deaths (civilian and military) from explosive devices, and by introducing Colombian military personnel to British defence concepts in key areas such as the democratic and accountable control of the armed forces and Rules of Engagement. As a matter of policy, we therefore do not intend to cease providing military assistance to Colombia.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of giving British military aid to Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [132080]
Mr. Ingram : British military aid to Colombia is focused on providing assistance primarily in the fields of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and military education and training. Mines and other explosive devices are responsible for a significant proportion of deaths among the Colombian armed forces, and also have a devastating effect on the civilian population. Provision of British military training and education is designed to help Colombia develop more professional armed forces, and to introduce personnel to British defence concepts, including the importance of accountable and democratic control of the armed forces, and the use of Rules of Engagement.
The nature of other aspects of military advice and assistance provided to Colombia is confidential between Governments, and I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information where disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.
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Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much military aid Britain has given to Colombia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [132175]
Mr. Ingram: Details of military assistance to Colombia from January 2000 onwards are in the list. Information on assistance before this date is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The nature of other aspects of military advice and assistance provided to Colombia is confidential between Governments, and I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information where disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.
- 18–28 January 2000: One officer visited Colombia to discuss with the Colombian armed forces the disposal of terrorist explosive devices and to advise on the maintenance and replacement of EOD equipment. The total cost of this visit was £3,252.08.
2–14 September 2000: One officer visited Colombia to advise the Colombian authorities on improving the protection of police stations against terrorist attack. The total cost of this visit was £3,480.00.
26 March-6 April 2001: A team of five UK military personnel visited Colombia to provide EOD training support to the Colombian authorities. I am afraid that we have been unable to locate records of the cost of this visit.
28 January-2 February 2002: One officer visited Colombia on a remit to scope further aspects of EOD training required by Colombia. The total cost of this visit was £893.61, exclusive of flight costs. In the event, the planned further training did not take place due to UK resource constraints.
19–24 March 2003: Two EOD personnel participated in a counter terrorist seminar in Colombia organised by the Metropolitan police, at a total cost of £7,225.
30 August-5 September 2003: Three EOD personnel visited Colombia on a scoping visit. Final costs associated with this visit are not yet available.
2003–04: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Project Fund is supporting a project to raise awareness in the Colombian armed forces on their role in prevention and protection of the rights of internally displaced people, at a cost of £14,723.54.
- A Colombian officer attended the MSc in Global Security course (August 2002-August 2003), at an approximate cost of £26,760.
A Colombian officer attended the Royal College of Defence Studies course from January 2002-January 2003, at an approximate cost of £48,296.
A Colombian officer is attending the Advanced Command and Staff College, which began in September 2003, at a projected cost of £77,934.
Two Colombians are currently attending the CT Bomb Disposal Course at the Army School of Ammunition at a total projected cost of £15,220.
Mr. Ingram: When considering bilateral military assistance to Colombia, the UK takes account of the need to avoid funds being used in any way which would
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not be compliant with United Nations human rights recommendations. Mechanisms are in place to check that, at the time military assistance is given, the military units involved are not implicated in human rights violations, internal repression, or collusion with paramilitary organisations.
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