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30 Jan 2004 : Column 573W—continued

Iraq

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cluster bombs have been defused in Iraq by bomb disposal squads since 1 May 2003; and if he will make a statement. [148296]

Mr. Ingram: To date around 675,000 munitions have been cleared in the UK area of responsibility. We do not record individual types of munitions cleared.

30 Jan 2004 : Column 574W

Lieutenant Lewis Page

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Lieutenant Lewis Page was given authorisation while a serving officer to publish an article in Prospect magazine. [150861]

Mr. Caplin: Lieutenant Page was not properly authorised to publish this article.

RAF Bicester

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents there were at RAF Bicester in the last five years; how many involved gliders or training aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [147964]

Mr. Caplin: The following table details incidents that have occurred at RAF Bicester over the last five years. The table includes incidents involving other users of the airfield, notably Oxford University Gliding Club. All the incidents occurred within the confines of Bicester airfield and none resulted in any injuries.

SER No	Date	Agency	Glider type	Description of incident
1.	31 May 1998	Oxford University GC	Oxford University GC K21	Ground incident when winch cable snagged glider. Minor damage to glider, but no injuries.
2.	11 June 1999	Joint Service Adventurous Training Gliding	RAF Gliding and Soaring Association K21	Ground loop on landing when wing tip makes contact with ground. Minor damage to glider, but no injuries.
3.	11 May 2001	Oxford University GC	Oxford University GC K18	Ground incident in that tractor ran over wingtip. Minor damage to glider, but no injuries.
4.	23 May 2001	Oxford University GC	Oxford University GC K21	Early solo student allowed undershoot to develop, clipping a tree resulting in a ground loop (See Ser No 2). Major damage to glider, but no injuries.
5.	23 May 2001	Joint Service Adventurous Training Gliding	RAF Gliding and Soaring Association K21	Heavy landing. Minor damage to glider, but no injuries.
6.	25 May 2003	British Gliding Association Visitor	Discus	Ground incident where glider was towed into wingtip contact with another glider. Minor damage to one of the gliders, but no injuries.
7.	25 August 2003	Oxford University GC	RAF Gliding and Soaring Association Astir CS GRP	Pilot allowed undershoot to develop. Glider ploughed through hedge onto the airfield. Major damage to glider and hedge, but no injuries.

Reservists

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists mobilised for operational service under (a) Operation Telic 1 and (b) Operation Telic 2 under the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 have lost their jobs since returning from service; what his Department did to support them in retaining their employment rights; and if he will make a statement. [151426]

Mr. Caplin: There is no requirement for reservists to provide the information requested to the Ministry of Defence. There is, therefore, no comprehensive record of the numbers of reservists who may have lost their civilian job. However, indications are that civilian employers have been very supportive of reservists and, of over 8,600 reservists called-out to support Op Telic, we are aware of only 14 individuals who have brought cases under the 1985 Act.

The Ministry of Defence provides detailed advice to demobilising reservists to ensure that they are aware of their legal right to reclaim their civilian employment. The Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) campaign team provides a help line and a website which gives additional information and advice. Also, each Reserve Forces and Cadet Association (RFCA) has an Employment Support Executive who is able to offer advice and assistance to reservists who are experiencing problems returning to their civilian employment.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision is being made to ensure that life insurance and other financial services made available to reservists being mobilised for operational service in Iraq are of a similar standard and as affordable as those offered to reservists mobilised under Operation Telic 1; and if he will make a statement. [151427]

Mr. Caplin: The only financial service specifically for reservists which MOD facilitates is RPAX, which provide personal accident and life cover—there is a similar product, PAX, for regulars. RPAX was available to reservists mobilised under Operation Telic 1, and is still available now. Information about RPAX was then and still is advised to individual reservists and units.

Scottish Regiments

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Scottish Regiments; what their authorised strength was; and how many vacancies there were in each year since 1997. [150398]

30 Jan 2004 : Column 575W

Mr. Caplin: The establishment, trained strength and difference, of each of the Scottish Regiments, are as follows:

Highlanders

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	660	615	-45
1998	660	585	-75
1999	660	505	-155
2000	660	500	-160
2001	610	495	-115
2002(9)	665	520	-145
2003(9)	625	520	-105

⁽⁹⁾ Strength totals for 2002 and 2003 exclude Gurkhas attached to the regiment: 100 in 2002, and 110 in 2003.

Black Watch

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	595	515	-80
1998	595	540	-55
1999	595	510	-85
2000	705	510	-195
2001	670	565	-105
2002	675	535	-140
2003	675	585	-90

Note:

Black Watch totals exclude BW LAD REME.

Royal Scots

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	665	495	-170
1998	665	510	-155
1999	665	470	-195
2000	595	470	-125
2001	610	515	-95
2002	620	495	-125
2003	620	525	-95

Royal Highland Fusiliers

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	705	595	-110
1998	705	620	-85
1999	705	580	-125
2000	595	625	30
2001	605	530	-75
2002	620	530	-90
2003	620	540	-80

King's Own Scottish Borderers

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	595	545	-50
1998	595	565	-30
1999	595	505	-90
2000	595	550	-45
2001	640	585	-55
2002	620	645	25
2003	665	630	-35

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	595	555	-40
1998	595	595	0
1999	595	600	5
2000	595	600	5
2001	610	590	-20
2002	620	580	-40
2003	625	575	-50

30 Jan 2004 : Column 576W

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	410	385	-25
1998	410	370	-40
1999	410	370	-40
2000	410	405	-5
2001	500	415	-85
2002	495	440	-55
2003	500	475	-25

Note:

RSDG totals exclude LAD REME.

Scots Guards

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	595	530	-65
1998	595	520	-75
1999	595	530	-65
2000	595	560	-35
2001	610	645	35
2002	625	565	-60
2003	625	565	-60

F Coy Scots Guards

	Establishment	Trained strength	Difference
1997	105	85	-20
1998	105	100	-5
1999	105	95	-10
2000	105	115	10
2001	105	100	-5
2002	105	115	10
2003	110	115	5

Notes:

1. The figures are at 1 January each year.

2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.

3. Totals are for Regular Army Officers and Soldiers.

4. FTRS have been excluded.

5. Totals include members of other Arms/Services attached to the regiment but exclude the 2 REME LADs attached to BW and SDG.

6. Historical establishments for F Coy Scots Gds to be confirmed.

Service Medals

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the General Service Medal with Canal Zone clasp will be awarded to service men and women in the constituency of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. [152068]

Mr. Caplin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 November 2003, Official Report, column 634W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle).

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