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4 Nov 2003 : Column 618W—continued

DEFENCE

A400M

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the employment and technology benefits are to Lancashire of the A400M project; and if he will make a statement. [135571]

Mr. Ingram: The A400M Prime Contractor, Airbus Military, is free to select equipment through competition so that the programme is organised and managed as cost effectively as possible. It is therefore not known how many jobs or the degree of investment that might be generated in Lancashire.

However, Airbus UK have estimated that the A400M programme will directly create up to 2,500 high quality jobs in the United Kingdom—notably in design and advanced manufacture. They have calculated that indirect employment could bring that figure to over 8,000.

Astute Class Submarines

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for further Astute class submarines; and if he will make a statement. [134483]

Mr. Ingram: A contract was placed in March 1997 for the design and manufacture of three Astute class submarines. The procurement of further Astute submarines is being considered and announcements will be made as soon as possible.

Bomb Disposal Units

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions, broken down by fire authority, in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003 to date armed forces bomb disposal teams have been called out to provide assistance where the device has been (i) a firework and (ii) firework related; and what the total cost of such call-outs has been. [135647]

Mr. Ingram: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Broadband (RAF Bases)

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in introducing broadband for RAF bases. [134388]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 29 October 2003]: RAF station commanders have the option to provide separate recreational broadband internet connectivity for their station if it is commercially available at their localities.

The Defence Communication Services Agency is engaged in the provision of a Defence Intranet broadband service, which allows those Defence users with broadband capable local telephone exchanges to connect to MOD's Restricted Wide Area Network.

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This MOD Broadband service has been trialled successfully, and is due to be launched this calendar year.

Disciplinary Offences

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints of bullying and violent assaults were investigated by the Special Investigations Branch in the last 12 months; and what the breakdown of outcomes is. [132179]

Mr. Ingram: In the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002, the Royal Military Police conducted 2,399 investigations of assault. Of these, 30 cases involved an allegation or suspicion of bullying and as a result: disciplinary action was taken in nine cases; no further action was taken in 14; and the outcome has yet to be determined in seven.

In the period 1 January 2003 to 30 September 2003, 1,686 cases were investigated. Of these, 16 cases involved an allegation or suspicion of bullying and as a result: disciplinary action was taken in four cases; no further action was taken in seven; while investigations into the remaining five have not concluded.

RAF Griffin

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the deployment of RAF Griffin aircraft from Cyprus outside Cyprus since 2002 required the mobilisation of sponsored reserve personnel; what cost it entailed; and what mobilisation costs were budgeted when the leasing contract was signed to cover such deployments. [134554]

Mr. Ingram: Griffin helicopters, which are supplied by a contractor but flown by RAF personnel, have been based in Cyprus since April 2003. The aircraft have been deployed once since, in support of a training exercise. There is no contractual requirement for the aircraft to deploy on operations and no requirement for contractor personnel to be sponsored reserves.

Defence Diversification Agency

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new jobs have been created in Scotland through the Defence Diversification Agency in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [135797]

Mr. Caplin: The Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) has been operating in Scotland since early 1999 and has so far assisted over 250 companies in Scotland, producing technology transfer contracts from the Ministry of Defence to a value in excess of £l million.

There are no reliable techniques for translating the impact of technology transfer into new jobs created. However, the DDA is exploring methods of measuring value with a view to imbedding appropriate systems into future projects. Estimates from other United Kingdom regions suggests the DDA adds value through its activities of around three times that of its costs.

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Defence Systems International Exhibition

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (a) when and (b) where the next Defence Systems Equipment International Exhibition will be held. [134965]

Mr. Ingram: We understand from the exhibition organisers, Spearhead Exhibitions, that they plan to hold the next Defence Systems International Exhibition between 13 and 16 September 2005, at the ExCel Exhibition Centre, London Docklands.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Government Ministers attended (a) the Defence Systems Equipment International Exhibition in September and (b) the exhibition dinner. [134966]

Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement and I attended the exhibition. There was no official exhibition dinner or reception.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the size is of UK military deployment to the Democratic Republic of Congo; what its estimated annual cost is; and under whose command the forces operate. [136529]

Mr. Ingram: The UK currently contributes six military personnel (shortly to reduce to five) to the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC) that has been operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 13 November 1999. The estimated annual cost of the deployment is £713,000. Troops deployed on MONUC are under the command of the UN Force Commander, General Diallo.

Eurofighter

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent technical difficulties have been encountered in the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon; and when he expects the aircraft to enter operational service with the RAF. [134461]

Mr. Ingram: Following a minor malfunction of the aircraft's landing gear computer during a test flight in Germany on 9 October, all Typhoon flying has been suspended as a precautionary measure while the problem is investigated and rectified. This work is progressing and we hope to resume flying and the acceptance of aircraft into RAF service shortly. Typhoon remains on schedule to become operationally deployable in the second half of the decade.

Export Control

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 705W, on export control, what assessment he has made of the benefits of having extra-territorial controls on UK arms deals; and whether this would have an impact on the number of (a) fatalities and (b) injuries caused to UK armed forces by illicitly purchased weapons. [135104]

Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.

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The 1998 White Paper on Strategic Export Controls (CM 3989) sets out the benefits of introducing extra-territorial trade controls.

No assessment has been made of the impact of extra-territorial trade controls on fatalities and injuries caused to UK armed personnel.

Gibraltar

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the future size of the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in Gibraltar. [135525]

Mr. Ingram: Gibraltar remains a key staging post and forward mounting base comprising a naval base, airfield and other support facilities. We will continue to maintain forces there appropriate to its role.

Mental Health

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action the Royal Welch Fusiliers have taken in respect of soldiers suffering from stress-related mental conditions in the past five years; [135362]

(2) what guidelines he has issued in respect of support and treatment of army personnel suffering from stress-related mental conditions; [135363]

(3) what facilities the Royal Welch Fusiliers have for support and treatment of soldiers suffering from stress-related mental conditions. [135364]

Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence recognises that stress-related disorders are serious and disabling conditions. Policy on prevention is reviewed regularly in light of medical developments. Guidance and prevention of stress-related conditions has been issued widely throughout the army chain of command, and all army medical officers receive training in the recognition and management of such conditions.

Community-based psychiatry is available to every military unit and to every service person. Support available to the Royal Welch Fusiliers includes an on- site community psychiatric nurse, who is backed-up by a psychiatric consultant where possible. Secondary care is provided by military and civilian psychiatric hospitals. If a soldier is assessed as suffering from a stress-related condition the unit medical officer will order treatment tailored to his or her clinical needs. The unit medical officer liaises closely with the chain of command and may also refer individuals to the unit welfare officer and/or the padre as appropriate.

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