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28 Jan 2004 : Column 367W—continued
Foreign Defence Equipment
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign ships have been hired by his Department in each of the last five years. [150409]
Mr. Ingram: Freight-carrying ships chartered by the Ministry of Defence are categorized as either British or non-British registered. In the calendar year 2003, 58 non-British registered freight-carrying ships were chartered. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) on 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 626W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Prosser) for details of all vessels chartered in earlier years.
Specialist ships chartered by the Ministry of Defence are categorized as either British or foreign-owned. The following foreign-owned specialist ships were chartered over the last five calendar years: 1999—eight, 2000—fourteen, 2001—four, 2002—twelve, 2003—nine.
Give as You Earn Scheme
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as
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You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143903]
Mr. Caplin: The answer to the question is, 1,315 civilian staff (approximately 1.4per cent.) contribute a total of £14,400 each month. These figures include Ministry of Defence Trading Funds.
Of course this represents only a single element of charitable donations in the Department. For example some £30,000 is paid each month direct from payroll to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund.
In 2004 we intend to remind all staff, by individual leaflet, of the benefits of donating to charity through the "Give as you Earn" scheme.
For the armed forces, the latest available figures are from December 2003. In this month 906 Naval Service personnel (2.2per cent.) contributed around £2,100 to the Charity Payroll Giving Scheme, with a further 1,273 personnel (3 per cent.) contributing around £8,800 through Voluntary Deductions from Pay. The Army figures for December show 21,069 personnel (12.26 per cent.) contributed £99,552 and the RAF £15,274 from 2,561 personnel (4.8 per cent.) through their respective Give as you Earn Schemes.
This represents only a single element of charitable donations in the Department. For example the equivalent of £120,000 per month (paid quarterly) is paid to the RAF Benevolent Fund directly from RAF pay.
In previous years the Department have published Defence Council Instructions (DCIs) and produced articles in the three main Service publications (Navy News, Soldier Magazine and RAF News) on the benefits of donating to charity through the "Give as you Earn" schemes. We intend to continue this effort into 2004.
Herbicides
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK has bulk-stored herbicides with a view to possible military application; and if he will make a statement. [146707]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not bulk-store herbicides.
Iraq
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what complaints have been received about the adequacy of investigations into Iraqi deaths resulting from UK military action; and if he will make a statement. [142615]
Mr. Ingram: We have received a number of letters from members of the public and enquiries from the media some of which have expressed concern about investigations into Iraqi deaths allegedly caused by United Kingdom forces.
The most common concerns expressed have been about the speed with which investigations are carried out, their independence and whether their results would
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be made public. In responding we make clear that investigations are thorough, which can take time; that both the Royal Military Police and, if called on, the single-service Prosecuting Authorities are fully independent of the chain of command; and that while the findings of investigations are subject to legal, operational and other security constraints, there may be some circumstances in which we are able to release certain details to entitled persons.
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of hoods on Iraqi citizens in the course of their arrest or detention in Iraq. [147708]
Mr. Ingram: Current practice in Iraq is that hoods are not used on Iraqi citizens during or after their arrest.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received on the smelting plant near Basra which is melting down tanks and armoured vehicles contaminated by depleted uranium; and what efforts are being made to identify and close down such facilities in the area controlled by British forces. [148056]
Mr. Ingram: There is no known legitimate operational smelting plant in the Basra region. A small number of illegal mobile smelting plants used for smuggled copper and aluminium have been found and closed down. There is no evidence they had been used to smelt tanks.
Military vehicles known to have been hit by DU munitions within the southern sector of Iraq controlled by the British military have been clearly marked. Arrangements are currently being negotiated with the US for a contractor to collect and store these military vehicles.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the report on the accident involving two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters in Iraq in March 2003 will be published. [150990]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 26 January 2004]: As is usual practice, on completion of the accident investigation, a copy of the findings of the Military Aircraft Accident Summary into the Royal Navy Sea King accident of March 2003 will be placed in the Library of the House. That investigation is not yet complete.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of weapons used for the first time in battlefield conditions in the war on Iraq. [151373]
Mr. Ingram: Two weapons were used for the first time in Iraq, Storm Shadow and Maverick missiles.
Operational feedback is that both missiles were accurate and effective against a range of targets.
Overseas Deployments
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 1124W, on overseas deployments, if he will list the countries where personnel are deployed other than those where they are stationed; and how many are deployed in each case. [151097]
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Mr. Ingram [holding answer 26 January 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 67W to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew).
Rape/Violence Against Women
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what measures have been put in place to ensure that complaints of violence against women by UK military personnel employed overseas are properly investigated; [149666]
- (2) if he will list the complaints received of violence against women, made against UK military personnel stationed abroad in the last 10 years. [149664]
Mr. Ingram: The armed forces do not tolerate any form of criminal behaviour and have well-established and effective procedures for dealing with allegations. Whether arising in the UK or overseas, complaints are thoroughly investigated and the relevant prosecution authorities consulted. Disciplinary action is taken as appropriate.
For troops serving overseas, the investigating authority is determined by the status and nationality of the complainant, the provisions of any Status of Forces Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding existing between the UK and the host nation.
Complete records of complaints of violence against women by service personnel are not held centrally, and the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Road Construction (Parker Plan)
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) his Department and (b) agencies and companies operating on his behalf have had with Parker Plan road compaigners in respect of road construction in or near the south-east corner of Boscombe Down Airfield. [150806]
Royal Naval Reserve
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Naval Reserve have (a) been called up and (b) served in Operation Telic; and how many have served for more than one tour. [150862]
Mr. Caplin: Up to 23 January 2004, 446 members of the Royal Naval Reserve had been called out for Operation TELIC, of whom 371 were accepted into service. Seven, all volunteers, have either completed more than one tour of duty or are currently doing so.
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