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22 Jan 2004 : Column 1391W—continued
European Defence
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the NATO Secretary General about European defence. [149470]
Mr. Hoon: I had regular discussions with Lord Robertson across a wide range of issues concerning European defence and I look forward to working with the new NATO Secretary General in the same way. There have been no meetings of the NATO Defence Ministers since the beginning of the year, when Mr. de Hoop Scheffer took on his new role, but one is scheduled for early February.
In a telephone conversation on Friday 9 January 2004, I congratulated Mr. de Hoop Scheffer on his appointment and outlined some of the United Kingdom's priorities for NATO including the importance of the European nations' contribution to the Alliance and the NATO/EU relationship.
Falklands War Veterans
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Falklands War veterans were still serving in the (a) Army, (b) Navy, (c) RAF and (d) Royal Marines in 2003. [148457]
Mr. Caplin: The matter is being investigated and has taken longer to compile than initially thought. I will write to my hon. Friend when this work is complete and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
Fire Service
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of modernising the Defence Fire Service to the standard envisaged by Fire Study 2000. [149059]
Mr. Caplin: The recommendations contained in Fire Study 2000 for modernising the organisation of the Defence Fire Service would expect to achieve yearly savings rather than increased expenditure.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to co-ordinate tri-Service civil emergencies fire training. [149061]
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Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has no plans to co-ordinate tri-Service civil emergencies fire training. Dealing with a civil emergency remains the responsibility of the civil authorities. Any assistance provided by the armed forces in the event of such an emergency would be in support of those authorities and at their specific request. It would most likely take the form of general duties support.
Iraq
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many international law enforcement officers are stationed in the British zone in Southern Iraq. [141680]
Mr. Ingram: As at 16 January 2004, there were around 645 international law enforcement officers stationed in the British zone in Southern Iraq. This figure includes international civilian police officers, contract police officers and carabinieri who are mandated with civilian policing powers.
Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the Department has been to date in respect of the Iraq conflict; and what the projected costs are for (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006. [148779]
Mr. Ingram: Outturn information for 2002–03 on the cost of operations in Iraq has been published as part of the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts. Operating Costs for 2002–03 for operations in Iraq total £629.531 million. Expenditure on capital equipment amounts to £217.680 million. The grand total is, therefore, £847.211 million.
For 2003–04, funding voted at Winter Supplementary Estimates amounted to £1.2 billion and covered the cost of peacekeeping and associated Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). The MOD will seek a further £300 million at Spring Supplementary Estimates to cover primarily the cost of the Recuperation of my Department's operational capability. Thus, the total sought in 2003–04 will be £1.5 billion.
It is too early to say what costs might be incurred after 2003–04.
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his statement of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 690, on the National Audit Office Report on Operation Telic, when he gave Mrs. Samantha Roberts, a (a) summary of the incident in which her husband died and (b) ballistics report; when he met Mrs. Roberts; when the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch report into Sergeant Roberts' death will be published; and when the Army Board of Inquiry into Sergeant Roberts' death will be convened. [149539]
Mr. Hoon: Mrs. Roberts was provided with a summary of the incident on 18 June 2003 by the Casualty Visiting Officer. A report summary of the weapons test was passed to Mrs. Roberts in December 2003. I met Mrs. Roberts, together with other members of Sergeant Roberts' family, on 15 October 2003 and 19 January 2004.
It is not clear when the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch investigation will conclude, but a briefing will be offered to Mrs. Roberts as soon as is
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practicable, once the SIB's findings are known. A Board of Inquiry will be convened when the SIB investigation has concluded.
Night Vision Goggles
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reason the pilots of the two helicopters of 849 Naval Air Squadron which collided on 22 March 2003 had not been issued with night vision goggles; [149876]
- (2) what the criteria are for the issuing of night vision goggles to Naval Air Squadron personnel; [149877]
(3) if he will list the equipment available to Naval Air Squadron helicopter pilots, other than night vision goggles, to prevent collision in poor flying conditions at low altitude at night; [149879]
(4) if he will make it his policy that night vision goggles will be issued to helicopter pilots before night-time missions. [149880]
Mr. Ingram: Night vision goggles (NVG) can be operated only in aircraft that have been specifically modified for this role. Naval helicopters are fitted to allow operation with NVG according to their tactical role in operations. The operational role for the helicopters of 849 Naval Air Squadron involved in Operation TELIC did not require the modifications to the helicopters that are necessary for the provision of NVG.
For RN helicopters, safety is provided by operating procedures such as, air traffic control awareness of hazards through radar detection, communications, lighting and lookout. NVG can, in certain circumstances, enhance these capabilities. But ships operating NVG aircraft need to be compatible. Darkening a ship to allow aircraft NVG operations brings its own safety issues.
Policy for a fleet-wide night vision capability is currently under consideration.
Non-British Naval Ships (UK Waters)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 278W, if he will make a statement on co-ordination between external security measures taken by the UK and on-board security measures taken by a visiting nation during the docking of non-British naval ships in UK waters. [148966]
Mr. Ingram: External and on-board security measures put in place during the docking of a non-British naval ship in the United Kingdom waters are closely coordinated between the relevant UK authority and the visiting nation. Jurisdiction, however, is clearly delineated, with the visiting ships' Commanding Officer responsible for security within the confines of the ship while external security measures rest with the local police authority or the Naval Base Commander for visits to a Naval Base.
Oath of Allegiance
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to change the
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requirement that members of the armed forces take an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors. [148930]
Port Facilities (Iberian Peninsula)
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what preference is given to the use of port facilities at Gibraltar over those at other Iberian ports where Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary or other vessels owned or chartered by his Department transit the Straits of Gibraltar or operate in, or transit, nearby waters. [148958]
Mr. Ingram: The goodwill generated from visiting foreign ports makes a significant contribution to Defence Diplomacy, the continuing development of bilateral relations and support to the United Kingdom Industry. A balanced approach is, therefore, taken to ensure that Gibraltar and other ports in the region, including those of other Iberian states, are visited on a regular basis. In addition, ships en route to or returning from deployments east of Suez and Atlantic Patrol Tasks are routinely programmed to visit Gibraltar.
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary and (c) other vessels owned or chartered by his Department which has visited (i) Gibraltar and (ii) other Iberian ports in the last year; and what the (A) date, (B) length and (C) location of each visit was. [148959]
Mr. Ingram: The following tables lists visits by Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Ministry of Defence-owned or chartered vessels to Gibraltar and other Iberian ports over the 2003 calendar year.
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| Port | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | HMS Grimsby | 24 January | 27 January |
| Lisbon | HMS Ledbury | 24 January | 27 January |
| Lisbon | HMS Cumberland | 9 February | 11 February |
| Lisbon | HMS Ramsey | 1 April | 2 April |
| Lisbon | HMS Shoreham | 1 April | 2 April |
| Pontadelgada | HMS Scott | 24 July | 24 July |
| Porto | HMS Grimsby | 30 July | 30 July |
| Porto | HMS Shoreham | 30 July | 30 July |
| Porto | HMS Ledbury | 30 July | 30 July |
| Porto | HMS Ramsey | 30 July | 30 July |
| Lisbon | HMS Chatham | 1 August | 5 August |
| Oporto | HMS Marlborough | 29 September | 1 October |
| Lisbon | HSM Glasgow | 10 November | 10 November |
| Lisbon | HMS Monmouth | 13 November | 18 November |
| Lisbon | HMS York | 29 November | 1 December |
| Lisbon | HMS Albion | 4 December | 8 December |
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