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18 Nov 2003 : Column 755W—continued

ITAR Waiver

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with his counterpart in the US Administration about the stance taken by (a) the Senate and (b) the House of Representatives to the US Administration's proposals for an ITAR waiver for the UK. [138603]

Mr. Hoon: I have had discussions with and written to the US Defense Secretary about the progress through Congress of legislation to allow for a waiver for the United Kingdom from the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and emphasised the importance the UK attaches to the successful implementation of a waiver.

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the King's Own Scottish Borderers are due to finish their deployment in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [133651]

Mr. Ingram: The Kings Own Scottish Borderers began returning to the United Kingdom in mid-October and all had returned by the end of the month.

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Operation Telic

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 1 September 2003, Official Report, column 915W, and the answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South (Mr. Hancock) of 15 September 2003, Official Report, column 509W, on Operation Telic, when he expects investigations into the fratricide incidents involving United Kingdom forces during Operation Telic to be complete; whether the families of the United Kingdom personnel involved are being advised of developments; and when the outcome of these inquiries will be made public. [134471]

Mr. Ingram: Investigations into incidents of fratricide involving UK forces will take as long as necessary to uncover and accurately assess and interpret all the possible evidence.

The families of those involved will be kept informed as matters develop. All will have access to a specialist staff officer from the relevant service.

As I informed the House on 15 September 2003, Official Report, column 509W, we will make a summary of the reports' conclusions available, but only after all related proceedings are entirely complete. To do otherwise would be to risk prejudicing those other proceedings.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 20 October 2003, Official Report, column 375W, on parliamentary questions, how many questions tabled to his Department by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South have not been answered within the target times set by the Department. [134734]

Mr. Caplin: Up to 22 October, 196 written questions had been received during this session. 67 (34 per cent.) were not answered within the target of five sitting days.

Saudi Arabia

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for payment by the Saudi Government have been endorsed by staff of his Department's Director General of the Saudi Armed Forces Project since the Al Yamamah programme began; what the total value of these claims is; and what each of the claims endorsed since 1997 have been in respect of. [137235]

Mr. Ingram: Details of the number of claims are not normally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The total number will run into tens of thousands. Details of individual claims since 1997 could only be provided at disproportionate cost. All claims cover goods and services supplied by the Prime Contractor to Saudi Arabia.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff of his Department's Director General of the Saudi Armed Forces Project are based in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Saudi Arabia; and what proportion of their salaries is met by (i) his Department and (ii) BAE Systems. [137236]

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Mr. Ingram: Under the Department's Director General of the Saudi Armed Forces Project there are currently 111 staff directly employed in the United Kingdom and 65 staff in Saudi Arabia. The UK MOD receives a management fee from the Saudi Arabian Government for its management of the programme. All costs of the team, including salaries, are met from this fee.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions relating to (a) security sector reform and (b) human rights are included in the contracts governing the Al Yamamah programme; and if he will make a statement. [137764]

Mr. Ingram: There are none. The Saudi authorities are well aware of the importance we attach to the full respect of human rights.

Technology Transfer Contracts

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) technology transfer contracts from his Department to Scottish companies and (b) technology transfer contracts per Scottish company, including the values, there were in each year since 1999; and if he will make a statement. [138572]

Mr. Caplin: I assume the hon. Member refers to my reply to him of 4 November 2003, Official Report, column 613W concerning Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) operations in Scotland. Contracts are only one measure of technology transfer. The DDA, which acts as a broker, assists companies in various ways including putting them in touch with defence scientists and programme managers. Contracts between the two parties may result and the DDA is currently aware of 16 technology transfer contracts with organisations based in Scotland since 1999. Individual details and financial value of these contracts are subject to confidentiality agreements and are withheld under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Territorial Army

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to help recruit doctors into the Territorial Army. [138951]

Mr. Caplin: The recruitment of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals is currently the Territorial Army's (TA) highest recruitment priority and additional funding is being made available in support of this goal.

Steps being taken to aid recruitment include twice yearly visits by recruitment teams to selected NHS Trusts; attendance by the TA Medical Services at some 25 professional conferences/exhibitions; media advertising with a focused television campaign planned for transmission in early 2004. Work is also in place to ensure greater synergy between recruitment campaigns for the TA and Regular Army.

The recruitment of health care professionals into the TA Medical Services is supported by the Department of Health as part of the Improving Working Lives Initiative.

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Terrorist Attacks

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps United Kingdom forces are taking to protect British citizens from terrorist attacks in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq. [132122]

Mr. Ingram: United Kingdom Forces constantly review security arrangements for those British citizens under their care. For reasons of operational security it would be inappropriate to provide details of the measures in place and I am withholding that information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Unexploded Ordnance

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many children in Iraq have taken part in the Theatre Mine Risk education programme. [131238]

Mr. Ingram: Educating children in Iraq about the dangers of unexploded ordnance is currently the responsibility of four de-mining Non-Governmental Organisations operating in Iraq whose work is co-ordinated by the UN Mine Action Co-ordination Team. We do not hold data on how many children have taken part in their programmes.

Work-related Stress

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136847]

Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy's (Dr. Moonie) letter of 27 March 2002 (reference: D/US of S/LM PQ 2584M) a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The position has not changed since that reply. I am able however to update the hon. Member concerning compensation cases and costs. The most recent figures are as follows:

Sector	Number of claims received in year	Settlements—compensation/legal fees paid in year (£)
Service
2000–01	2	0
2001–02	3	0
2002–03	0	21,200
Civilian
2000–01	17	87,315
2001–02	25	6,015
2002–03	10	61,248

Compensation/legal fees paid in year do not necessarily relate to the number of claims received in the same year.

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