---

26 Apr 2004 : Column 723W—continued

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Pensions

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the reasons are for the abatement of pensions under Armed Forces Pension Scheme rules; on what grounds those rules are applied for those in full-time reserve when contributions have been paid; and if he will make a statement. [168060]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 23 April 2004]: Successive Governments have maintained the policy that the pensions of public servants who are re-employed in public service should be abated in certain circumstances: these include where an individual is re-employed by the same employer and where an appointment is made
 
26 Apr 2004 : Column 724W
 
under closed competition. The broad terms of this policy apply to all public service pension schemes, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS). Abatement avoids the position where a re-employed member could receive a higher income from public funds, taking account of pay and pension, than a colleague of the same rank, seniority and trade with whom he or she might work. It also provides a safeguard against the potential abuse of re-employment.

Members of the AFPS make no direct contribution towards the cost of their standard pension benefits. However, as part of its overall review of remuneration, the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) compares the value of benefits provided under the AFPS with those provided by comparator pension schemes in the civilian sector and makes an adjustment to pay to reflect any difference. At present the AFPRB makes a 7 per cent. abatement of comparator pay, and in particular take account of the fact that AFPS benefits accrue faster and are paid earlier than those of civilian comparators. This adjustment takes account of the overall terms of the AFPS which include arrangements for the abatement of pension on re-employment in public service.

Army (Self-harm)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 April, to question reference 165755, what the reasons are for the delay in collecting and analysing information with regard to incidents of self-harm in the army. [166929]

Mr. Caplin: It is notoriously difficult to obtain reliable and consistent data about incidents of self-harm, because of problems of definition and identification, uncertainty about intention, patient confidentiality and   the variety and inconsistency of reporting. As I indicated previously, more work is continuing to try to improve the collection of information.

Defence Bills Agency

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid by the Defence Bills Agency to contractors in 2003–04. [167070]

 
26 Apr 2004 : Column 725W
 

Mr. Ingram: The value of the bills processed by Defence Bills Agency in 2003–04 is £19,104 million.

Defence Medical Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many consultants were employed in the Defence Medical Services in each of the last five years. [167232]

Mr. Caplin: The numbers of consultants employed in the Defence Medical Services in each of the last five years were as follows:

	Number of consultants
2004	202
2003	185
2002	195
2001	201
2000	199

First Gulf War

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will instruct the Medical Assessment Programme to test for (a) squalene anti-bodies and (b) mycroplasmal infection in servicemen who served in the first Gulf War; [167548]

(2) whether he has discussed testing for (a) squalene anti-bodies and (b) mycroplasmal infection with the combined medical services; [167549]

(3) for what reasons UK servicemen who served in the first Gulf War have not been tested for (a) squalene anti-bodies and (b) mycroplasmal infection; [167550]

(4) what assessment he has made of the work of Dr.   Garth Nicolson of the Institute of Molecular Medicine on the use of a six to12-month course of antibiotics in treating those with mycroplasmal organisms following service in the first Gulf War. [167554]

Mr. Caplin: The work of Dr. Nicholson has been monitored as part of the Ministry of Defence's consideration of research into Gulf veterans' illnesses. In line with its normal approach to issues relating to the health of Gulf veterans, the MOD takes medical and scientific advice from a range of internal and external sources. In this instance, there was no requirement to consult formally with the Defence Medical Services although they are aware of the matter. In the light of trials funded by the US Government based on Dr. Nicolson's work, we have concluded that there is no evidence to support a connection between illness among veterans and mycoplasma infections or that aggressive antibiotic treatment would benefit veterans. Assessments undertaken by the US Armed Forces Epidemiological Board similarly support the view that there is no evidence that ill health is linked to the presence of squalene anti-bodies. It would be inappropriate to subject veterans to tests for which there is no clinical indication.

Iraq

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what checks are carried out on private military companies supplying guards to British interests in Iraq. [166134]

 
26 Apr 2004 : Column 726W
 

Mr. Rammell: I have been asked to reply.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employs two private security companies to provide armed protection for its staff and assets in Iraq. These companies were subject to normal checking procedures for contact with private military and security companies in line with FCO guidelines.

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security checks are carried out on (a) Iraqi nationals, (b) Third Country nationals and (c) international employees of private military companies protecting British interests in Iraq. [166136]

Mr. Rammell: I have been asked to reply.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs two private security companies in Iraq. One provides armed escorts for its staff when travelling outside secure areas, the other provides static guards at the former embassy and at the British Office in Baghdad. Personnel under these contracts are subject to security vetting prior to deployment, depending on the job they will be doing.

Journalists (Conflict Areas)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what rules journalists working with British forces abroad in conflict areas must abide; and if he will make a statement. [167072]

Mr. Ingram: The Green Book—"Working Arrangements with the Media in times of Emergency, Tension, Conflict or War"—sets out the arrangements for dealings between the media and the Ministry of Defence in times of emergency, tension, conflict or war. This book is currently being reviewed and updated.

A copy of the current version of the Green Book can be found on the MOD website at: www.mod.uk/news/green   book/index.htm

Memorial Cemetery (Korea)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make representations to the UN to replace on the Memorial Wall in the UN Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, Korea, and in official documents, the words No Known Grave with the words Buried at Sea at Latitude 36 Degrees, 2 Minutes North, Longitude 129 Degrees, 42 Minutes East, in respect of the Servicemen who were killed on HMS Jamaica on 8 July 1950 and buried at sea; and if he will reply to the hon. Member for Castle Point's constituent Mr. Anthony Legg's letter of 4 March 2004 on this matter. [167274]

Mr. Caplin: There are no plans to make representations to the United Nations to change either official documents or the inscription of the central commemorative plaque on the Memorial Wall in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, South Korea. The Memorial is dedicated to all Servicemen who died during the Korean War and are buried at sea. It would be invidious to make changes to cover just those who died on HMS Jamaica.

Officials replied to the hon. Member's constituent, Mr. Anthony Legg, on 20 April.
 
26 Apr 2004 : Column 727W
 

---