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Climate Change

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff (a) have worked and (b) are working on identifying the national security implications of climate change. [165281]

Mr. Ingram: The identification of the national security implications of climate change forms part of a wider review by MOD of the impact of climate change on the Department's policies, operations and estate. Staff working on this do so as part of their wider duties and consequently it is not possible to quantify the numbers of staff involved.

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether staff with responsibility for regional strategy have been asked to report on the security implications of climate change for the region for which they are responsible. [165286]

Mr. Ingram: In developing regional strategies, the MOD conducts an analysis of the contemporary strategic context and a wide-ranging assessment of future trends. As part of this strategic assessment, the potential security implications of climate change for particular regions are considered along with other environmental stress factors.
 
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Correspondence

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will write to the hon. Member as promised in his answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 244W. [165487]

Mr. Ingram: The Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team is undertaking an audit to establish the extent of holdings of enhanced combat body armour. It is envisaged that this will conclude shortly and I will write to the hon. Member once this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Destroyers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many destroyers were held by the Royal Navy in 1997; how many are held now; and how many are deployed on operational duty. [165386]

Mr. Ingram: The Royal Navy had 12 destroyers in 1997. There are 11 now. Six are deployed on operational duty, four are available to deploy and one is in a scheduled period of maintenance.

Eurofighter

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 24 March 2004, Official Report, column 853W, on the Eurofighter, what plans he has to discuss with the US Administration the potential benefits the Eurofighter could bring to the US airforce. [164969]

Mr. Ingram: There are no plans to discuss with the United States Administration the potential benefits the Eurofighter could bring to the US airforce.

Foodstuffs/Kit Purchases

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the amount of UK-sourced (a) foodstuffs and (b) kit purchased for the armed services. [165461]

Mr. Ingram: Open and fair competition remains the bedrock of the Ministry of Defence's procurement policy although we are prepared to use other approaches where these offer better long-term value for money. The MOD's non-warlike acquisition requirements such as foodstuffs and equipment are subject to the EC Public Procurement Regulations that require such opportunities be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The MOD's contracted food supplier, '3663', is specifically required to source British products whenever they are competitive and when they meet the required quality standard. Indeed, of the 1,400 different products procured for the armed forces in the UK, including fresh, chilled and frozen commodities, over 1,100 are British. The remaining 300 include products that are not produced in this country, such as coffee and bananas.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the date of each briefing he has received on
 
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the weapons of mass destruction capabilities of Iraq since March 2002; and what the source of the briefing was in each case. [156643]

Mr. Hoon: I received briefings from a variety of sources and took part in various discussions that included reference to Iraqi capability, including assessed weapons of mass destruction capability, during the period in question. However, the exact dates and content are not recorded centrally.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average length of a rotation in Iraq for British Service men and women has been. [165556]

Mr. Ingram: Army personnel normally serve in Iraq for six months, and RAF personnel for four months. In some cases, individuals may serve for longer or shorter tours due to the specific demands of some posts or for career management requirements.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Territorial Army personnel have served in Iraq; [165557]

(2) for how much longer he expects that Territorial Army personnel will be required to serve in Iraq. [165617]

Mr. Ingram: As at 1 April 2004, approximately 6,170 Territorial Army personnel have been mobilised on Operation Telic, the vast majority of whom will have served in Iraq.

In line with the tenets of the Strategic Defence Review, Territorial Army personnel will be considered for Service in Iraq, for as long as a British military presence is deemed necessary.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) part-time military personnel and   (b) Territorial Army personnel are stationed in Iraq. [165558]

Mr. Ingram: There are no part-time military personnel stationed in Iraq. However, as at 31 March 2004 there were 989 reservists stationed in Iraq, of whom 938 were members of the Territorial Army.

Logistics Budget

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Department's logistics budget is spent outside the Defence Logistics Organisation; and by whom. [165562]

Mr. Ingram: 'Logistics' is a term that covers a range of activities that are integral to the capability the Ministry of Defence delivers at all levels. Accordingly, it is not possible to disaggregate a 'logistics budget' for the Department.

Marine Patrol Aircraft

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many marine patrol aircraft were held in 1997; how many are held now; and how many are operational. [165382]

Mr. Ingram: In 1997 the RAF held 29 marine patrol aircraft. The RAF currently has 29 MPAs, 20 of which are operational.
 
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Medical Services

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical services are available to personnel at (a) AAC Dishforth, (b) RAF Leeming, (c) RAF Linton on Ouse and (d) Alanbrooke Barracks. [165093]

Mr. Ingram: The following medical services are available to personnel at these establishments:

same-day appointments giving access to General Practice medical facilities, including on-site dispensing;

occupational health providing routine medical assessments and additional assessments as required pre-deployment, fitness for training etc;

physiotherapy, rehabilitation and remedial physical training including access to 'fast track' diagnostics and treatment if required;

community mental health team referral to secondary/tertiary medical care is available as required through Ministry of Defence Hospital Units/NHS and all disciplines have out-of-hours arrangements plus accident and emergency access through the NHS;

access to specialist services can be arranged as required.

Combined Services Caving Association

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advance notice was provided to the Mexican authorities of the plans of the members of the Combined Services Caving Association prior to their entry into Mexico this month; and if he will set out the official response made by Her Majesty's Government to the concerns raised over the cavers' presence in Mexico by President Vicente Fox. [165160]

Mr. Rammell: I have been asked to reply.

The British Embassy in Mexico City contacted the Mexican Ministry of Defence on 28 November 2003, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 3 February 2004, at official level by telephone. In these contacts the Embassy informed the authorities of the nature and purpose of the Combined Services Caving Association visit and the fact that those members of the group who were members of the British armed forces would be in Mexico in their civilian capacity as cavers. The contacts were designed to establish that, as in previous years, no special clearances would be required, and to ensure the Mexicans were informed of the visit. The Embassy offered further information in writing. The Mexican authorities confirmed by phone that no special clearances were required for the visit and that no further information was needed.

The UK responded to the Mexican Government's concern about the presence of the UK cavers in Mexico by Note Verbale on 26 March. In our reply we expressed our sincere gratitude to the Mexican Government for their co-operation and assistance to help ensure the safe rescue of the trapped cavers. We also set out the full facts about the nature of activities being undertaken by the cavers and our understanding of the immigration documentation necessary.

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