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20 Nov 2003 : Column 1265W—continued
Market Testing
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated level of saving to the Department is from the use of market testing in 2002–03. [107756]
Mr. Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate cost. Market testing has been subsumed into MOD's wider arrangements for evaluating differing acquisition options for services, including Public Private Partnerships.
Medical Downgradings
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each service are medically downgraded; what percentage of the trained strength this represents; and if he will make a statement. [139273]
Mr. Caplin [holding 19 November answer 2003]: The fact that an individual is medically downgraded does not mean that they are not working. The vast majority
20 Nov 2003 : Column 1266W
of those downgraded will be working normally, albeit with their deployability limited by their medical condition. Those who are categorised as medically downgraded includes not only those who are ill, or injured and awaiting treatment, but also pregnant personnel, and personnel who are permanently downgraded because of a long-term condition, but are retained in the Services in recognition of their training, skills and experience.
The latest figures available are for July 2003, when the following numbers of trained Regular Service personnel were reported to be in a medically downgraded category.
| Total number of trained personnelin medically downgraded category | Percentage of trained strength, by Service, who are medically downgraded | |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Navy | 2,410 | 8.0 |
| Royal Marines | 590 | 9.2 |
| Army(29) | 10,600 | 12.5 |
| Royal Air Force | 4,470 | 9.2 |
(29) Figures are not currently available for Army Officers
Notes:
1. These figures exclude Full Time Reserve Service personnel (FTRS), Gurkhas, Royal Irish (home service) and reservists who have been mobilised for duty.
2. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines figures are based on their Medical Category, and are all those who are not categorised as P2 (Fit for worldwide service without restriction)
3. The Army figures are based on the PULHHEEMS standards, showing those who are not able to be graded Forward Everywhere (FE), which means that they are not employable in full combatant duties, in any area, in any part of the world. The figures include those who are temporarily and permanently downgraded.
4. The RAF figures are based on the Medical Employment Standard, and are all those who have a limitation against their "Ground" work capability.
As the Services each have a different method of determining who is medically fit for role, the figures are not comparable.
Military Aircraft
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of (a) United States and (b) United Kingdom military aircraft flying over Scotland since 1 September. [138468]
Mr. Caplin [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The information sought is not held in the required format. Details of the number of United States and British military aircraft flying over Scotland above 2,000 feet are not held centrally. However, all military aircraft flying within the United Kingdom low flying system, that is those that operate below 2,000 feet, are recorded. Low flying areas (LFAs) 14 and 16 most closely conform to the geographic boundaries of Scotland.
The numbers of aircraft that flew within these LFAs between 1 September and 7 November are as follows:
| Aircraft type | Number of military aircraft |
|---|---|
| British Military Fixed Wing | 3,510 |
| British Military Rotary | 361 |
| US Military Fixed Wing | 91 |
| US Military Rotary | 0 |
| Total | 3,962 |
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Military Capabilities
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention that a reduction in the size of the two future aircraft carriers will lead to no diminution of military capability. [139596]
Mr. Ingram: No final decisions have yet been taken on the main capability specifications for the Future Aircraft Carrier programme, currently in its Assessment Phase. The intention, as with any other new equipment project, has always been to use the Assessment Phase to refine the design in order to best meet our capability requirements and to ensure value for money.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what aspects of the designed capability of (a) Type 45 destroyers, (b) Astute-class submarines and (c) Joint Strike Fighters have been changed since 1998. [139597]
Mr. Ingram: The United Kingdom Type 45 destroyer programme began in late 1999, following completion of Phase 1 of the tri-national Horizon programme which was carried out in collaboration with France and Italy. Much of the designed capability under the Horizon programme is being developed further in the Type 45 programme and has increased in a number of areas. The most significant change from Horizon has been in the provision for growth so that equipments may be added later to meet future capability requirements. The Type 45 design also incorporates a number of features to enable it to support and deploy an Embarked Military Force of 60 troops. In addition, it includes improvements to the operational range in extreme environmental conditions and the development of an Integrated Electric Propulsion system, which will reduce through life costs.
The designed capability of the Astute class submarines has increased in some areas since 1998. These changes comprise: improved weapon handling and discharge; increased weapon stowage capacity, together with an additional torpedo tube; the fitting of Tomahawk missile capability; and the introduction of improved tactical data link capability, which allows joint operational planning to be conducted by co-operating forces and the UK HQ. Also under consideration are options for the inclusion of capability, such as improved navigation and data communications, in the first three boats which was originally planned for later submarines in the Class.
The Joint Strike Fighter project is currently in the Systems Demonstration and Development (SDD) phase. There has been no change in the designed capability of the aircraft since the contract for the SDD phase was let in October 2001. In the previous Concept Demonstration Phase, which began in 1996, the joint UK/US operational requirement was developed to arrive at an affordable solution to satisfy the needs of the UK and the three participating US Services.
20 Nov 2003 : Column 1268W
Military Exercises
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 November 2003, Official Report, columns 51–52W, on military exercises (cancellation), how many military exercises were cancelled in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003 to date; what savings were made from cancellations; and if he will make a statement. [139274]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 19 November 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Military Vehicles
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles there are in the manoeuvre and support brigades' fleet; and how many of this fleet are (a) Saxons, (b) Land Rovers, (c) drawn from the 430 Series and (d) drawn from the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) fleets. [139690]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Ministerial Meetings
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when since 1 January 1999 Ministers in his Department have held meetings with the Government of Qatar; which Ministers in his Department attended each of these meetings; and where each of these meetings was held. [123011]
Mr. Ingram: 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 pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2003, Official Report, column 516W, on the MOD Police, when he proposes to bring into force the provisions of (a) section 25 and (b) section 79(3) of the Police Reform Act 2002; and if he will make a statement. [138784]
Mr. Caplin: Section 25 of the Police Reform Act 2002 relates to misconduct and complaint regulations for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad, and is therefore a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
Section 79(3) is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and will be brought into force early next year.
MOD Staff (Wales)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's civilian staff were (a) working in and (b) based in Wales in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [137312]
Mr. Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
20 Nov 2003 : Column 1269W
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes in Ministry of Defence staff in Wales for each quarter since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [137305]
Mr. Caplin: Staffing levels and changes for Ministry of Defence staff in Wales (full-time equivalent figures for industrial and non-industrial, permanent staff, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and those on career breaks, long term sick leave, secondments etc.):
| Date | Civilian staff | Change |
|---|---|---|
| October 2003 | 3,950 | -30 |
| July 2003 | 3,970 | -200 |
| April 2003 | 4,170 | -40 |
| January 2003 | 4,210 | -10 |
| October 2002 | 4,220 | -50 |
| July 2002 | 4,270 | -160 |
| April 2002 | 4,430 | +50 |
| January 2002 | 4,390 | +10 |
| October 2001 | 4,380 | -10 |
| July 2001 | 4,390 | -390 |
| April 2001 | 4,780 | -110 |
| January 2001 | 4,890 | -10 |
| October 2000 | 4,900 | -20 |
| July 2000 | 4,920 | -60 |
| April 2000 | 4,970 | +290 |
| January 2000(30) | 4,690 | -40 |
| October 1999(30) | 4,720 | -300 |
| July 1999 | 5,020 | -70 |
| April 1999 | 5,100 | +340 |
| January 1999(30) | 4,760 | -330 |
| October 1998 | 5,090 | +50 |
| July 1998(30) | 4,670 | -370 |
| April 1998 | 5,050 | +90 |
| January 1998 | 4,950 | +40 |
| October 1997 | 4,920 | +90 |
| July 1997 | 4,830 | -60 |
| April 1997 | 4,890 | -60 |
| January 1997 | 4,840 | — |
(30) Breakdown by location was not available for DSTL in these months.
Notes:
1. This includes Trading Fund staff.
2. Full-time equivalent is a measure of the size of the work force that takes account of the fact that some people work part-time.
3. Changes are calculated from unrounded data, and then rounded to the nearest 10.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed in Wales by (a) his Department and (b) executive agencies responsible to his Department; where these staff are located; and how many staff are employed in (i) England, (ii) London and the South-East, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) United Kingdom in total. [137306]
Mr. Caplin: The number of civilian staff employed in Wales (full-time equivalent figures for industrial and non-industrial, permanent staff, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and those on career breaks, long term sick leave, secondments etc.), by the Department and by executive agencies as at 1 April 2003 is set out in the following table.
Notes:
Those Agencies and Trading Funds that are not referred to do not have staff employed in Wales. Data have been rounded to the nearest 10 and those with fewer than five staff are recorded as '—'. Detailed data on staff locations is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
20 Nov 2003 : Column 1270W
The number of staff employed by the Department (full-time equivalent figures for industrial and non-industrial, permanent staff, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, Locally Engaged Staff and those on career breaks, long term sick leave, secondments etc.) as at 1 April 2003 is set out in the following table.
| Region | Civilian staff employed as at1 April 2003 | Trading Fund staff |
|---|---|---|
| UK (including unallocated) | 72,320 | 11,920 |
| England | 58,240 | 8,270 |
| London | 6,410 | 660 |
| South East | 14,280 | 3,490 |
| Scotland | 6,510 | 610 |
| Wales | 1,350 | 2,830 |
| Northern Ireland | 3,280 | 30 |
| Unallocated | 2,940 | 190 |
Full-time equivalent is a measure of the size of the work force that takes account of the fact that some people work part-time.
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