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2 Feb 2004 : Column 750W—continued
Northern Ireland
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers have been (i) killed and (ii) injured by terrorist actions in Northern Ireland since 1974; [152130]
- (2) how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time Royal Irish Regiment soldiers have been (i) killed and (ii) injured by terrorist actions in Northern Ireland since 1974. [152129]
Mr. Ingram: From 1 January 1974 until 30 June 1992 there have been 37 full-time and 121 part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who have died as a result of terrorist activity. On 1 July 1992 the Ulster
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Defence Regiment and the Royal Irish Rangers were amalgamated to form the Royal Irish Regiment. From that date two full-time members and four part-time members were killed as a result of terrorist activity.
Statistics relating to injuries are not recorded in a format that allows a break down between full-time and part-time members who have been injured as a result of terrorist activity. The statistics also include those who have been injured as a result of public disorder. However, from 1 January 1974 to 30 June 1992, 376 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment were recorded as injured as a result of terrorist activity or public disorder and from 1 July 1992, 152 members of the Royal Irish Regiment were recorded as injured by terrorist activity or public disorder.
RAF Bicester
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the evidence on which his decision that the most cost-effective transfer of glider squadrons from RAF Bicester would be to RAF Halton was based. [147965]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Ships
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what delays have occurred in the construction of RFA Largs Bay; and if he will make a statement. [150864]
Mr. Ingram: Delays to the construction of RFA Largs Bay have resulted from engineering and design issues, leading to a need for some rework. The ship is currently scheduled to enter service in late 2005.
Royal Irish Regiment (Jonathan Russell)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Jonathan Russell of the Royal Irish Regiment was arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland; when he was charged with offences arising from the protests in Portadown in July 2002; what rank of officer made representations on his behalf connected with the bail application; what rank of officer was responsible for overseeing his behaviour while on bail; and what internal disciplinary action has been taken following conviction. [150607]
Mr. Ingram: John Russell was not in the Army at the time of his conviction. Issues relating to his arrest, charge and bail are matters for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Civil Courts.
Sunset Clauses
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of sunset clauses in legislation; and which Acts containing such clauses relevant to his Department were passed in each year since 1997. [149328]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is guided by the revised Regulatory Impact Assessment guidance, "Better Policy Making: A Guide to Regulatory Impact
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Assessment", published on 28 January 2003. The guidance advises policy officials to consider time limiting or sunsetting at an early stage of policy development and gives specific examples of where sunsetting may be appropriate.
The Ministry of Defence has one Act that has been passed since 1997 which contains such a clause, the Armed Forces Act 2001.
Trident Submarines
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the running costs of the Trident programme have been since it came into service; what the running costs of the Trident programme are in this financial year; and what the total lifetime running costs of the Trident programme are expected to be at the end of its service period. [151703]
Mr. Hoon: The combined capital and running costs of Trident, since it was declared operational in 1994, has ranged between 2 per cent. and 4 per cent. of the annual defence budget. The total cost of Trident for financial year 2003–04 is not yet available.
Based on current planning assumptions the costs for its remaining period in service are expected to be between 2 per cent. and 3 per cent. of the expected annual defence budget.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Trident submarines are on active service; and how many are being repaired. [151595]
Mr. Ingram: Three Trident submarines are rotating through the operational cycle. The fourth is undergoing a period of pre-planned long maintenance and refuelling.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) missiles and (b) warheads are deployed on Trident submarines; and what the approximate yield of the nuclear warheads deployed is. [151596]
Mr. Hoon: The UK's Trident submarines can carry up to 16 missiles but normally carry fewer; I am withholding further information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for reasons of national security. The submarine on patrol carries 48 warheads. As for warhead yields, I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for reasons of national security.
Uzbekistan
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military aid the UK has provided to Uzbekistan since 2001. [145754]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's military assistance to Uzbekistan since 2001 has been focused on assisting the Uzbekistan Ministry of Defence with its
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defence reform efforts through training and advice, which has included stressing the importance of respect for the rule of law and human rights. The United Kingdom also provided a modest amount of military aid to Uzbekistan in March 2002—100 combat helmets and 15 mine detectors.
Welsh Regiments and Battalions
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the average number of days' leave soldiers in Welsh battalions have had in each year since 1997. [151742]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The annual leave entitlement for all Army personnel currently stands at 30 working days per year.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers from Welsh battalions were involved in covering for firefighters during Fire Brigades Union strikes since 1997; and on how many days soldiers from Welsh battalions were involved in covering for firefighters. [151743]
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Mr. Ingram: Approximately 1,500 soldiers from Welsh Battalions have been involved in covering for firefighters during Fire Brigades Union strikes since 1997. This was over a cumulative period of about 15 days, all of which were during the 2002–03 strike.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the authorised strength is of each Welsh regiment; and how many vacancies there are in each. [151744]
Mr. Caplin: The current figures for the establishment and strength of the Welsh Regiments, as at 1 December 2003, are included in the following table:
| Regiment | Unit Establishment | Unit Strength |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Battalion, The Queen's Dragoon Guards | 454 | 460 |
| 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales | 741 | 680 |
| 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards | 618 | 630 |
| 1st Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers | 668 | 650 |
Training (Wales)
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total number of days was that members of the armed forces spent training in Wales in each year since 1997. [151746]
Mr. Ingram: We do not hold central information on this basis.