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Data Protection

Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made since the publication of the Hutton report of the right of employees of his Department to the protection of the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to the disclosure of their names and identity to third parties without their consent. [163651]

Mr. Hoon: Lord Hutton makes no reference to the Data Protection Act in his report. No assessment has therefore been made of the rights of MOD employees to the protections of the Data Protection Act following the Hutton report.

Deepcut and Catterick Barracks

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 704W, on Deepcut and Catterick Barracks, with reference to the conclusion of the investigations by Surrey police, if he will order an independent inquiry into the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch; and if he will make a statement. [163146]

Mr. Ingram: The Surrey police, who retained primacy for investigating the deaths at Deepcut Barracks, have made no recommendation to the effect that an independent inquiry into the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch should be undertaken, and the Ministry of Defence has no plans to order one.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the external recommendations made by Brigadier Evans in his 1995 review of the Phase 2 training system at Deepcut barracks; how many of these recommendations were accepted; and what action was taken as a result; [162270]

(2) if he will list the internal recommendations made by Brigadier Evans in his 1995 review of the Phase 2 training system at Deepcut barracks; how many of these

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recommendations were accepted; what action was taken as a result; and what assessment was made of the applicability of these measures to other barracks. [162269]

Mr. Ingram: Brigadier Evans' Review of the Phase 2 Training System within Deepcut made 30 detailed recommendations not all of which were accepted or adopted. I will write to my hon. Friend in more detail and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Defence Logistics Organisation

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the full costs will be of moving the Equipment Support (Air) Group from RAF Wyton to (a) Abbeywood and (b) the other possible locations being considered; [155554]

(2) in relation to the announcement made to staff at RAF Wyton on 26 January regarding the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) re-structuring, on what date the consultation ends; what the likely costs of this re-organisation are; what options other than a move to Abbeywood have been considered; and whether it is an option for other MOD centres for DLO to be moved to RAF Wyton; [155553]

(3) why the Defence Logistics Organisation Equipment Support (AIR) is changing its name to Domain 2*; and on what date the change will take place. [155552]

Mr. Ingram: The Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) began formal consultation with the Trades Unions on 26 January about proposed changes to its structure. Detailed proposals, including possible changes of location, title or role, and associated costs, will flow from this initial consultation period.

Fire Study 2000

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on Fire Study 2000; and what plans he has for a further study. [162592]

Mr. Ingram: I have received a number of representations concerning Fire Study 2000 from Members of Parliament, trade unions, and members of the Defence Fire Service. In particular these have concerned its relationship to the Airfield Support Services Project where the recommendations contained in Fire Study 2000 have also been used to inform the Public Sector Comparator.

There are no plans for a further study.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to implement the recommendations of Fire Study 2000. [162593]

Mr. Ingram: The recommendations contained in Fire Study 2000, identifying Fire Service efficiencies, also forms part of the Public Sector Comparator for the Airfield Support Services Project which is seeking to establish the most cost-effective method of maintaining a full airfield support service, without compromising operational effectiveness. No decisions have yet been made. However, should it be decided that a public-private partnership is not the best option then the Public

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Sector Comparator, including the recommendations contained in Fire Study 2000, would be implemented within two years. In the meantime we continue to examine what Fire Study efficiencies can be implemented pending the completion of the Airfield Support Services Project.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy to require Fire Study 2000 to be subject to an independent specialist review to test its manpower and financial assumptions. [162671]

Mr. Ingram: Fire Study 2000 was commissioned in order to review the Ministry of Defence's fire services and develop an optimum organisation in line with the Government's Strategic Defence Review. The results of the study have also been used to inform the Public Sector Comparator for the Airfield Support Services Project (ASSP). All Public Private Partnership Projects such as the ASSP are subject to independent review by MOD scrutineers supporting the Department's Investments Approvals Board and, in some cases, by Her Majesty's Treasury. The underlying assumptions in Fire Study 2000 are therefore being reviewed as part of the overall ASSP evaluation process.

Fisheries Control Agency

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is planned that Royal Navy fisheries protection vessels will operate under the control of the Fisheries Control Agency; and if he will make a statement. [162964]

Mr. Ingram: We have no plans to change the existing arrangements between the Ministry of Defence and DEFRA for the operation of RN Fishery Protection vessels.

Haes Report

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions were reached by Lieutenant Colonel R. Haes report of 24 April 2001 concerning the exercise by the Army of the duty of care; what recommendations were made; how many of these have been acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [162274]

Mr. Ingram: Lieutenant Colonel Haes' report on Army Training and Recruiting Agency Duty of Care and Supervision 98–01 made a significant number of wide-ranging recommendations. I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

Interpreters

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) military and (b) non-military interpreters have been deployed to Iraq in each month since the beginning of hostilities in the country. [161281]

Mr. Ingram: Currently there are 15 UK-based civilian and 17 UK military interpreters in Iraq. The number deployed in each month is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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Iraq

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2004, Official Report, column 1050W, on Iraq, if he will list the complaints against UK troops that have been upheld which have been recorded centrally; and if he will make a statement. [160506]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 March 2004]: We record centrally cases in which the Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police investigates Iraqi civilian fatalities allegedly caused by United Kingdom forces. As at 17 March the SIB had investigated 21 alleged cases. 10 investigations have been completed. In three the SIB concluded that the soldier had acted within his Rules of Engagement; in four—of road traffic accidents—the fatality was found to have been a genuine accident; and in three it was concluded that there was no case to answer. The remaining 11 investigations are on-going.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make public the report of the Special Investigation Branch into the deaths of six members of the Royal Military Police killed in Iraq in June 2003. [163218]

Mr. Ingram: In line with usual practice on the release of Service Police reports, we have no plans to make public the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) report into the deaths of the six RMPs who were killed in Al Majarr Al Kabir.

On 22 January 2004, the SIB provided an extensive briefing to the families of the soldiers who died and have undertaken to provide them with further updates should significant further information come to light as the investigation continues.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bombing missions were aborted by RAF pilots during Operation Telic (a) in total and (b) owing to faulty target selection; and if he will make a statement. [163410]

Mr. Ingram: Royal Air Force aircraft aborted about 350 missions. 55 of these attacks were aborted due to inability to positively identify the target for example because it was obscured by smoke.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bombs were exploded in mid-air before reaching their targets during Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement. [163411]

Mr. Ingram: None. The RAF does not possess in its inventory any weapons that can be detonated by the pilot after launch.

Mrs. Liddell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the contribution of UK forces towards the re-opening of schools in the southern Iraqi provinces. [143742]

Mr. Ingram: Work on schools is one of the Coalition's highest priorities in the reconstruction of Iraq. From the earliest weeks after the end of major combat operations on 1 May 2003 Coalition forces worked closely with UNICEF and other Non-Governmental Organisations

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to assess need and distribute packages of equipment. Since then a major refurbishment programme has been under way.

As at 25 February, within the Multinational Division (Southeast) area, coalition forces have refurbished and/or granted financial aid packages to 1,824 schools. A large amount of school equipment has also been distributed, including over 15,000 chalkboards, 200,000 student kits and 23,000 desks.

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