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5 Mar 2004 : Column 1170W—continued
Officers (Leave)
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) majors and (b) brigadiers are between postings; how long each has been on leave; and if he will make a statement. [156073]
Mr. Ingram: Less than five Regular Army officers in these ranks are between postings on compassionate leave, unpaid leave or awaiting placement. None of the periods between postings have lasted longer than eight months to date.
Due to the low numbers involved this information cannot be broken down by Rank or duration because this could identify individuals and breach disclosure and confidentiality policy.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior officers are between postings in the (a) RAF and (b) Royal Navy, broken down by (i) rank and (ii) length of time on leave; and if he will make a statement. [156074]
Mr. Ingram: As at 1 March 2004, there are currently no senior officers in the RAF between postings and on leave.
In the Navy, as at 1 February 2004 there was one Commander between postings who had been waiting for a new post for seven days.
Procurement Programmes
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with introducing (a) the Viking all-terrain protected vehicle for the Royal Marines, (b) the Army's Boxer Multi-role Armoured Vehicle and (c) the Defence Information Infrastructure Programme. [157285]
Mr. Ingram: Deliveries of the Viking all-terrain protected vehicle continue according to programme, with 27 vehicles delivered to date. The In Service Date remains on track for April 2004 when 30 vehicles are due to have been delivered. A pilot Operator/Maintainer course has begun at the Armoured Training Centre, Bovington, to support the introduction of this equipment.
On the Multi-role Armoured Vehicle, I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 17 July 2003, Official Report, column 71WS, about the UK's decision to withdraw from this tri-national programme.
The Defence Information Infrastructure Programme (DIIP) is progressing well. The procurement of the Future Defence Information Infrastructure is also progressing well. The Future DII team are currently in negotiations with three short-listed bidders and are on target for announcement of the preferred bidder in early 2005. Commencement of delivery is due to follow during 2005, with Full Operating Capability expected in 2008.
Service Postal Deliveries (Iraq)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay the decision to cancel the facility for service people in Iraq to receive parcels from home free of charge. [158777]
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Mr. Ingram: The postal packet service, whereby named service personnel on Operation Telic were able to receive packets weighing up to 2 kg from friends and relatives free of charge, was introduced at a time when a combination of the austere conditions and the operational situation meant that service personnel did not have access to the toiletries and consumables normally available through the Expeditionary Forces Institute (the deployable arm of NAAFI). By April 2004 the rollout of Expeditionary Forces Institute facilities will be complete allowing service personnel full access to toiletries and small consumables. In addition the Operational Welfare Package is now fully deployed; this includes: a free 20 minute phone call to anywhere in the world once a week, free access to the internet, a period of rest and recuperation of two weeks in a six month deployment, a generous allocation of TVs and radios to enable access to the British Forces Broadcasting Service, videos and DVDs, free books and access to leisure facilities that include gymnasia. Personnel still receive free aerogramme letters (blueys) and e-letters (e-blueys). While the concession for free packets has been withdrawn, packets weighing up to 2 kg can still be sent at a concessionary rate of £7.23, equivalent to the Royal Mail first class inland rate. Continued provision of the free postal packet service cannot be justified under these circumstances and when other operations in other parts of the world are not in receipt of this service.
Typhoon
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding was given to fund the original design work for Typhoon to operate off aircraft carriers. [158504]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 795W.
HEALTH
Alcohol Abuse
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his Department's policy is on seeking to prevent alcohol-related harm among older people; [157366]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the extent of alcohol abuse among older people. [157367]
Miss Melanie Johnson: 21 per cent. of men and 12 per cent. of women aged over 65 drink on a daily basis, although the vast majority of do not misuse alcohol.
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The Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England due to be published shortly will set the future direction for the development of alcohol prevention and treatment for all groups in the population, including older people.
The Government also recently launched "Choosing Health?", a consultation on improving people's health. The consultation will seek views on the role that Government, the national health service, the media, other organisations and people themselves can play in making the nation healthier. The consultation will offer the opportunity to have a wide ranging national debate about improving the health of all, including older people.
Bed Rails
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency will ensure that bed rails with more than 120mm between the rails will no longer be used in the NHS and in care homes; and if he will make a statement. [158056]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)'s role is to provide guidance to the National Health Service and care providers regarding safety and best practice of medical devices and healthcare products. NHS trusts and care homes have a responsibility to act upon MHRA advice and ensure that with reference to the MHRA Medical Device Alert MDA 2004/007, they do not have beds with twin bar rails as described either in use or in storage.Within the social and independent care sectors, the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) is currently responsible to ensure that operators act upon MHRA's advice, where relevant, during their routine inspections of these establishments. This role will be taken over by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in April 2004.
Body Mass Index
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he list the average body mass index in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in 2002. [156285]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Figures for average body mass index for adults and children in England and by region for 2002 are available from the Health Survey for England and are shown in the table. Figures by strategic health authority are not available.
(1) Age rounded to the nearest integer.
Source:
Health Survey for England, Department of Health.
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Breast Feeding
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken to promote guidance on, and the benefits of breast feeding to new mothers in the hospital setting. [157998]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The NHS Priorities and Planning Framework target to increase breastfeeding initiation rates by two percentage points a year between 2003 and 2006, focussing on disadvantaged groups, supported by the Commission for Health Improvement's Infant Health Indicator, will encourage primary care trusts and their maternity services to promote breastfeeding in the hospital setting.
The Department provides advice and guidance on breastfeeding and related issues to mothers and health professionals through a variety of publications. In addition, the Department will be providing advice and guidance, drawing from existing best practice, to health professionals as part of this year's National Breastfeeding Awareness Week between 9 and 15 May.
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