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19 Nov 2003 : Column 964W—continued
KPMG
Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department has awarded to KPMG since 1997. [113681]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Letter of Intent Framework
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the working groups set up under the Letter of Intent framework to report; and if he will make a statement. [117500]
Mr. Hoon: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Low Flying
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the latest advice to RAF pilots undertaking low-flying training in the Gloucester and Severn Valley area. [136013]
Mr. Caplin: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
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Market Research
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each item of market and opinion research commissioned since May 1997 by (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible; what the purpose of each item was; and whether the results were published. [137010]
Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the previous answer given on 28 April 2003, Official Report, columns 57–58W by my hon. friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr Moonie).
The central corporate communications division carries out public opinion research relating to the Ministry of Defence as a whole and the main findings of the most recent research were included in the MOD's Annual Report, HC1125–Page 38; a copy of the Report is available in the Library of the House.
Married Couples' Rights
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rights only married couples have in (a) housing on military bases, (b) pensions and other employment-related benefits, (c) notification when a spouse has died or has been injured in military action, (d) war pensions and other benefits and (e) war graves. [132414]
Mr. Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Medical Discharges
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical discharges there were from each of the three services in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [139272]
Mr. Caplin: The numbers of medical discharges from the armed forces (both trained and untrained United Kingdom regular personnel) between 1997 and 2002 are as follows:
| Year | Navy | Army | RAF | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 354 | 1,067 | 223 | 1,644 |
| 1998 | 448 | 1,060 | 155 | 1,663 |
| 1999 | 456 | 1,100 | 189 | 1,745 |
| 2000 | 484 | 1,024 | 201 | 1,709 |
| 2001 | 413 | 1,004 | 195 | 1,612 |
| 2002(14) | 391 | 1,008 | 145 | 1,544 |
(14) Figures for 2002 have not yet been finalised and may be subject to alteration.
Medical discharges in the services reflect the different fitness levels required by each service, and the employment policy of each service. Because of these factors medical discharges should not be taken as absolute indicators of the health status of service personnel. Similarly, because of the different requirements of the three services, inter-service comparisons may not be valid.
Ministerial Visits
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) foreign and (b) UK visits
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he has made since 1 April; what the cost was to public funds of each trip; who he met; and what gifts he has received. [126984]
Mr. Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
MOD Police
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the work on surge capacity referred to in the consultative document issued in response to the Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review First Stage Report will be completed; and what the reasons are for the delay in completing the work. [139363]
Mr. Caplin: Work on surge capacity has been completed. Recommendations to deliver an increase in capability have been made and the additional funding needed for this enhanced capability is being considered as one of the bids in the Department's current planning and resource allocation round. The outcome of this will not be known before the end of the year.
National Minimum Wage
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to his Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour. [110447]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Naval Ships
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of (a) oil, (b) oily ballast water, (c) asbestos, (d) polychlorinated biphenyl, (e) biohazards, (f) ozone-depleting substances, (g) mercury, (h) cadmium and (i) chromium and lead-based paints are present on Her Majesty's ships (i) Fearless, (ii) Intrepid, (iii) Brave, (iv) Boxer, (v) Rame Head and (vi) RFA Sir Geraint; and if he will make a statement. [139161]
Mr. Ingram: Information is not held in the format requested for all of the vessels. However, the following substances have been identified on Intrepid in preparation for her sale:
- (a) Residual diesel fuel in pipes and systems—estimated 4,000 litres. Residual mineral oil in sumps and pipework—estimated 2,000 litres;
(b) Oily ballast water—all tanks cleaned and flushed with water;
(c) Asbestos—up to an estimated 40 tons;
(d) Polychlorinated biphenyl/triphenyl (PCB/PCT)—trace; no liquid PCB;
(e) Biohazards—none identified;
(f) Ozone-depleting substances—all main refrigerant gases removed; balance to be removed before disposal;
(g) Mercury—none known;
(h) Cadmium—minimal (plating on fastenings);
(i) Chromium and lead-based paints—not known.
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HMS Boxer and HMS Brave have been designated as target ships for a Cincfleet High Seas Firing and have already been stripped of much of their equipment. As part of the preparatory planning work for the firing, an Environmental Impact Assessment is being undertaken to provide the necessary environmental assurances. These rigorous preparatory steps will ensure that we are able to comply with the international conventions that regulate protection of the marine environment, and we will be required to demonstrate before the exercise takes place that those materials subject to regulation have been removed from the ships.
Ramehead and RFA Sir Geraint remain in operational service. Ramehead is used as a static training vessel. Sir Geraint is held in a reduced readiness state, has been defuelled and there is no oily ballast water on board. Both vessels have been the subject of extensive asbestos surveys and some asbestos has been removed in accordance with Health & Safety Executive directives. The surveys indicate the type of asbestos and where it is fitted, but not the quantities. Three years ago, the outer bottom of Ramehead was pressure-blasted back to bare metal and re-coated using commercial paint products. Similar products have been used throughout the life of Sir Geraint.
Prior to the disposal of Sir Geraint and Ramehead, as part of the preparations for sale, further surveys will be undertaken to identify any remaining hazardous materials and a waste statement will be produced.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) Royal Navy ships and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliaries have been sold for scrapping overseas in each year since 1997; in which countries they were scrapped; and what toxic materials were present on these vessels. [139162]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Nuclear Test Veterans
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-service personnel have been awarded pensions within the last year as a result of health problems resulting from their service on (a) Christmas Island and (b) other nuclear test sites. [138235]
Mr. Caplin: From the information held within the Veterans Agency, it is only possible to distinguish two groups. The first is for service on Christmas/Maiden Island (South Pacific). The second is for other nuclear site tests.
Pensions are awarded if disablement is assessed at 20 per cent. or more; if less than 20 per cent. a single gratuity payment is awarded. Over the last year (April—March 2003) there were no cases awarded for 20 per cent. and above for Christmas Island/Maiden Island and two cases were awarded for less than 20 per cent. Over the same period for the second category, five cases were awarded 20 per cent. and above and none were awarded for under 20 per cent.
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