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Pilot Training

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the time interval is between pilots completing fast jet training and beginning operational conversion unit training in respect of the (a) Tornado GR4, (b) Tornado F3, (c) Harrier and (d) Jaguar. [132551]

Mr. Ingram: Following completion of fast jet training, all pilots from the RN and the RAF are selected to join a specific Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). The length of time pilots wait to join their allotted OCU depends on the availability of spaces at the OCU.

During these periods, trainees are attached to units to enhance their general service knowledge. Refresher training is normally undertaken at RAF Valley in the event of time intervals exceeding 20 weeks between the completion of flying training and the formal start of the OCU.

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Recruitment

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the involvement of a recruitment company in the enlisting into Her Majesty's armed forces people from Fiji. [132807]

Mr. Caplin: I am not aware of any involvement of a recruiting company currently connected with the enlistment of Fijian citizens into the United Kingdom armed forces.

Royal Naval Personnel (Family Contact)

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often (a) submariners and (b) other Royal Naval personnel are able to contact their families when on operations; and under what circumstances contact is restricted. [128118]

Mr. Caplin: All personnel deployed outside UK waters or Northern Europe on a Permanent Joint Headquarters "named" operation for seven days, or a Fleet operation or exercise for two months, are eligible to the benefits of the Operational Welfare Package, free of charge. This comprises 20 minutes of telephone time per week; one e-mail per week (which may be increased if operational circumstances permit); and unlimited postal aerogrammes.

Telephone calls and e-mails are sent using satellite communications, which may be restricted from time to time at the discretion of the local commander for reasons of operational security. Also, satellite communications cannot be used by submerged submarines, so use of these facilities is restricted to time on the surface or in port. Aerogrammes can only be delivered or sent when the ship or submarine receives a mail delivery/collection.

In the case of Vanguard Class ballistic missile submarines, which spend the whole of their deployed time submerged, none of the above methods can be used, but personnel on board are able to receive "familygrams" sent via Flotilla HQ at Faslane. These are restricted to 40 words per week at the moment, although we are currently considering increasing this limit.

Iraq

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 1 September 2003, Official Report, column 910W, whether his Department has had discussions with the (a) World Food Programme and (b) International Committee of the Red Cross about security at the Ministry of Trade warehouse in Basra. [129802]

Mr. Ingram: The Department for International Development is responsible for liaison at departmental level with non-governmental organisations operating within Iraq. It is usual procedure for local commanders to discuss matters such as these with representatives of NGOs. Because representatives of the World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross have now withdrawn from Iraq and due to the roulement of UK armed forces personnel, I cannot confirm when security arrangements at the Ministry of Trade warehouse in Basra were discussed.

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Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many atropine Combopens each soldier had in his possession at 202 Field Hospital at the start of the conflict in Iraq. [133709]

Mr. Ingram: At the start of the conflict atropine Combopens were not issued to individual personnel of 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer) (202 Fd Hosp (V)), but 420 were distributed across several locations in the Hospital complex. By the end of March a further 1,200 were issued to 202 Fd Hosp and each member of the unit was personally issued with 2 Combopens.

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work his Department is doing to locate, identify and repatriate Kuwaitis who remain in Iraq from Iraq's invasion in 1990. [117032]

Mr. Ingram: None. However, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is making significant efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1483 which calls for continuing efforts to locate, identify and repatriate all Kuwaiti and Third-State Nationals. Mass grave sites continue to be found across Iraq which may contain human remains from a number of groups of Iraqi society as well as foreign nationals. United Kingdom forensic experts have visited mass grave sites and a strategy is being drawn up which will enable the CPA to protect sites and secure evidence. There are a number of UK CPA secondees working to support the collection of witness statements and testimonies and train Iraqi organisations in the relevant skills.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Maze Prison

Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will support the transformation of Maze Prison in County Antrim into a tourist attraction or a site that could be used by European countries as an outreaching post for the US tourism market. [128572]

Mr. Pearson: The Government appointed a Consultation Panel in March this year to consider and bring forward proposals for the regeneration of the Maze Prison and adjacent Ministry of Defence site. The Panel will be trawling widely for ideas and proposals to regenerate these very valuable sites. Having considered and taken advice on the proposals received, the Panel will make recommendations to Government both on how the sites can be used to promote social and economic regeneration and on the appropriate regeneration vehicle for taking the work forward.

Age Discrimination

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on tackling age discrimination in Northern Ireland. [131856]

Mr. Spellar: We plan shortly to issue for consultation, proposals for legislation which will tackle age discrimination in employment and training. These proposals will be in line with the requirements of the EU Employment Framework Directive.

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Policy development is continuing within the context of the single Equality Bill on extending protection against age discrimination to the provision of goods, facilities and services. A consultation on the single Equality Bill is planned for the end of 2003.

The Promoting Social Inclusion working group on Older People is also planning to issue their 'Strategy for Older People in Northern Ireland' for consultation before the end of the year.

Ambulance Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to improve ambulance response times in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [133183]

Angela Smith: One of my Priorities for Action in 2003–04 is that the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service should by 31 March 2004 have an Accident and Emergency ambulance at the scene of 50 per cent. of 999 calls in 8 minutes, and at the scene of 95 per cent. of 999 calls in 18 minutes in the Eastern Board area, 21 minutes in the Northern, Southern and Western Board areas.

I have already made capital funding available to the Ambulance Service to replace and add to its vehicle fleet, and revenue funding to recruit and train the necessary additional staff, to enable these targets to be met.

In addition in February this year it was announced that some 29 million would be available over the next five years from the Strategic Investment Programme to continue to take forward the development of a modern ambulance service which can respond quickly to emergency situations and provide vital clinical care to patients.

Belfast City Airport

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his plans for the future policing of the Belfast City Airport. [133300]

Jane Kennedy: The policing arrangements at Belfast City Airport are being enhanced following a recommendation from the Chief Constable of the PSNI. This move is seen as a necessary and prudent measure to ensure the airport has the appropriate level of security. As is the case at other important economic facilities in Northern Ireland, levels of security at BCA are kept under continual review.

Carpets International (UK) Ltd.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to assist Carpets International (UK) Ltd. since it went into receivership; and if he will make a statement. [133188]

Mr. Pearson: Since Carpets International (UK) Ltd. went into receivership on 20 August 2003, officials from Invest NI, the Department of Employment and Learning and the Social Security Agency have maintained close links with all relevant parties associated with this case.

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Invest NI received a project plan from a management buy out (MBO) team on 17 October 2003. This plan is currently being appraised. As regards the employees made redundant by the company, links have been made available to them to local job agencies, job clinics and the Social Security Agency. I am also aware that local employers have offered positions to suitable applicants from the Carpet International plants at Killinchy and Donaghadee.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the likelihood of a successful outcome for a management buy-out at Carpets International; and if he will make a statement. [133235]

Mr. Pearson: Officials from Invest NI met the management buy out (MBO) team from Carpets International, Donaghadee and their advisers on Friday 17 October 2003 having been in touch with them on a number of previous occasions. At that meeting Invest NI was presented with the MBO team's business plan. The business plan is being appraised by Invest NI and it would be inappropriate to make an assessment at this early stage.

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