---

30 Mar 2004 : Column 1317W—continued

Gulf War Syndrome

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to carry out checks on results following the publication of the research study of miscarriages and birth defects amongst the children of Gulf War veterans; and if he will set up an independent inquiry into all reports of serious health problems amongst veterans. [164190]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 29 March 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 24 March 2004, Official Report, column WS44. In addition, the researchers have identified some additional work that is being undertaken within the scope of the original research. With regard to miscarriage, the researchers are looking into measures of infertility as this often relates to early miscarriage. On renal anomalies, a more in-depth study of the diagnosis within this group is being conducted.

The Government are not convinced that an independent inquiry would help. The possibility that we may look again at this matter has not been ruled out but, in the present circumstances, it is only through the programme of research initiated by the Government that we are ever likely to be able to establish the causes of Gulf veterans' illnesses.

30 Mar 2004 : Column 1318W

HIV/AIDS

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what HIV/AIDS programme is in place for British armed forces who spend time in sub-Saharan African countries. [164419]

Mr. Ingram: Guidance on HIV/AIDS for members of the Armed Forces is based on guidelines issued by the UK Chief Medical Officer's Expert Advisory Group on AIDS. The prevention and management of HIV infection is part of a general strategy for the promotion of good sexual health and for the protection of personnel against blood borne viruses.

Before deployment to sub-Saharan Africa Service personnel receive a health brief and are warned that the HIV/AIDS virus is a major medical threat. The educational message for operational deployments makes it clear that sexual abstinence is the only safe form of action with risk reduction only as a last resort.

Service personnel are instructed in the use of condoms as a means of protection against STDs, including HIV/AIDS, as well as a form of contraception. On occasions where condoms are not readily available, they may be distributed to Service personnel.

Service personnel who think they have been at risk are encouraged to consult their medical officer for discussion about the virus and possible referral for testing. Alternatively, Service personnel can also go directly to an NHS STI clinic for testing and/or counselling.

Iraq

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts are being made by the Iraqi Survey Group to use the serial numbers on weapons found in Iraq to trace (a) where and (b) when the weapons were made. [163383]

Mr. Hoon: The Iraqi Survey Group (ISG) is responsible for the assessment of Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction programmes. In general, the ISG does not have a requirement to use serial numbers to establish the origins and age of weapons.

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi security personnel have been trained by British forces; and how many Iraqi army personnel are operational in the British sector of control. [162952]

Mr. Ingram: As at 25 March 2004 there were around 36,800 Iraqi security personnel in the Multinational Division (Southeast) area, of whom 750 are members of the New Iraqi Army.

Some 14,600 personnel have completed at least basic training.

Operational Vehicles

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operational (a) Challenger 2 tanks, (b) warrior vehicles, (c) FU430, (d) Sabre, (e) Spartan and (f) AS90 vehicles there are; what percentage of the fleet this represents in each case; and what percentage of target availability this represents in each case. [163626]

30 Mar 2004 : Column 1319W

Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Stock Reduction

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the changes to stock reduction targets for slow-moving stock and consumables have been, following the undertaking by his Department in its response to the 13th report of the Committee of Public Accounts in Session 2002–03, MoD: Progress in Reducing Stocks, to revisit them. [163933]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 29 March 2004]: Since June 2003, stock reduction targets for slow-moving stock and consumables have been re-visited. As a result of this work, financial provision targets have been replaced by actual stock disposal targets at gross book value. These revised targets were disaggregated and issued in January 2004 to individual budget holders and are being monitored to ensure that the progress required is being made.

The new targets are detailed in the table:

Million

	Disposal targets
2003–04	259.4
2004–05	180.9
2005–06	153.0
Total	593.3

Departmental Timber Purchases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the purchases of wood originating from Tasmania the Department has made in each year since 1997. [164050]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 26 March 2004]: The Ministry of Defence requires suppliers of timber to obtain evidence that the timber supplied complies with Government policy. The country of origin is not recorded separately and therefore the information requested is not available.

Ulster Defence Regiment (Records)

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the search records of the (a) 7 City of Belfast battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment, (b) 10 City of Belfast battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment, (c) 3 County Down battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment and (d) regular military units operating in their tactical area of responsibility for the night of 17 February 1978 are held; by what method they are stored; and whether they are a matter of public record. [164431]

Mr. Ingram: The search records of all military units in Northern Ireland are held manually in paper format in the Northern Ireland Search Report Archive at 25 Engineer Regiment, Antrim. Reports of any searches,

30 Mar 2004 : Column 1320W

which did not produce a find, are routinely destroyed after six years when the statute of limitation for claims runs out. Records of productive searches may be held indefinitely in the archives and are subsequently reviewed in accordance with the terms of the Public Records Act, 1958 and 1967. However, I can confirm that there are no search records held prior to 1990.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Register of Interests

Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House what the requirements are on officials in his Office to declare current interests; and what register of interests is kept for his officials. [164698]

Mr. Hain: The Civil Service Management Code sets out the requirement for civil servants declaring any conflict of interest (http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/managementcode/index.asp).

Details of individual interests declared and of approvals to undertake activities outlined in these codes of conduct are held on personal files.

TRANSPORT

Speed Cameras

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (a) how many speed cameras there were and (b) what amount of revenue was raised, in each region in each year since 1997. [143347]

Mr. Jamieson: My Department holds information on speed cameras operated under the Speed Camera Programme for funding of approved cameras from fixed fine receipts, which began with seven Safety Camera Partnership areas in England and Wales in April 2000, increasing to 14 in 2001 and to 28 during 2002. The numbers of approved fixed and mobile speed camera sites for those partnership areas are:

As at endof year	Fixedcamera sites	Mobilecamera sites	Total
2000–01	311	242	553
2001–02	706	541	1,247
2002–03	1,387	1,528	2,915

My Department plans shortly to publish information on the number of safety camera locations for all Safety Camera Partnerships in England and Wales together with collision and casualty information.

Prior to the Safety Camera Programme, police and highway authorities have used cameras since 1991, under the Road Traffic Act 1991 and the Department of Transport Circular 1/92 "Use of technology for traffic enforcement: Guidance on deployment". My Department does not hold information centrally on cameras which are not part of the Safety Camera Programme.

30 Mar 2004 : Column 1321W

The conditional offer fixed penalty fines for speeding and traffic light offences from the partnerships, from the audited figures available for 2000–01 and 2001–02 were:

£

	Fine revenue
2000–01
Cleveland	898,960
Essex	1,843,480
Lincolnshire	627,000
Nottingham	555,360
Northants	2,167,840
South Wales	1,567,000
Thames Valley	2,239,120
	9,898,760
2001–02
Cleveland	855,480
Essex	3,524,120
Lincolnshire	1,059,680
Nottingham	812,640
Northants	2,967,640
South Wales	1,876,240
Thames Valley	4,672,880
Cambridgeshire	135,420
Derbyshire	654,000
Lancashire	1,197,180
Norfolk	160,140
North Wales	648,780
Staffordshire	631,260
Warwickshire	204,300
Total	19,302,536

Note:

Separate figures are not available for speeding offences only.

Information on 2002–03 fine revenue will be available shortly.

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras have been erected in each county in England in each year since 1997. [163804]

Mr. Jamieson: My Department plans shortly to publish information on the safety camera sites in all Safety Camera Partnerships, which currently cover 38 of the 43 police authority areas in England and Wales. Information is not held centrally on safety cameras operated by police and highway authorities which do not participate in the partnership scheme.

---