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25 May 2004 : Column 1611W—continued

Solvent Abuse

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in the NHS specialise in solvent abuse among children. [169030]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department does not collect statistics on the number of staff in the national health service who specialise in solvent abuse among children.

Working Time Directive

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Working Time Directive and its effect on (a) doctors' hours and (b) the availability of doctors within the NHS. [167877]

Mr. Hutton: The working time directive (WTD) is a legal requirement on which implementation is being taken forward locally. From 1 August, doctors in training will be required to work no more than 58 hours per week on average.

Lessons from WTD pilot sites have demonstrated that compliance is best achieved through working differently using multi-disciplinary teams in line with the wider NHS modernisation agenda, rather than simply employing more doctors.
 
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DEFENCE

Emergency Planning

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to provide training for (a) helicopter pilots in the armed forces and (b) civilian helicopter pilots to assist in an airlift operation in the event of a major emergency. [174675]

Mr. Ingram: In preparation for operational deployments, military helicopter aircrews, both regular and reserve, are fully trained and equipped to meet a wide variety of contingencies. Their skills could be used for airlift operations in the event of a major emergency. The Ministry of Defence has no current plans to train civilian helicopter pilots.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government expect to be able to guarantee that the Civil Contingency Reaction Force communications system is compatible with the communications system used by the emergency services. [174686]

Mr. Ingram: As part of the Government's wider strategy to improve communications in the event of an emergency or crisis, the armed forces have procured communications equipment that is compatible with that used by the emergency services. Use of the system is dependent on availability of the commercially provided network infrastructure. Initial capability is available now with full capability expected in April 2006.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an Army standby unit is ready to help the emergency services immediately in the event of a serious national emergency. [174689]

Mr. Ingram: The armed forces do not maintain units on standby specifically to respond immediately to a national emergency. Nonetheless, in the event of an emergency or crisis, and assuming the civil authorities asked for it, the armed forces would be able to provide support drawing on the most appropriate resources available at the time, which could include regular and Civil Contingency Reaction Force assets.

Iraq

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientists have come forward voluntarily since 16 July 2003 and approached the Iraq Survey Group with evidence of weapons of mass destruction and related programmes in Iraq; and when he next expects to present to Parliament an updated document of collated evidence. [175567]

Mr. Hoon: Some Iraqi civilians, including scientists, have approached the Iraq Survey Group with information. However, the Ministry of Defence does not hold exact figures.

The Iraq Survey Group has produced two interim reports, in October 2003 and March 2004, and a further report is expected later this year.
 
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Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 May 2004, Official Report, column 663W, on Iraq, what the names are of the two individuals whose deaths have been the subject of reports to the Army Prosecuting Authority. [175751]

Mr. Ingram: Of the two cases in advanced stages of consideration only one relates to a death. The individual concerned is an Iraqi civilian named Hassan Abbad Saied.

Air Near-hit Incident (Gloucestershire)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action has been taken in respect of the aircrew involved in the near-hit incident reported on 4 April 2002 concerning a helicopter and the nuclear installations at Berkeley, Gloucestershire, as recorded in the report of the defence flying complaints investigation team at Henlow, dated 30 May 2002. [174373]

Mr. Caplin: Because the information requested will take a little time to retrieve, I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Al Yamamah Contracts

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed of allegations of corruption involving BAE Systems in connection with the Al Yamamah arms contracts which were drawn to the attention of Sir Kevin Tebbit in 2001. [171750]

Mr. Hoon: I first became aware of allegations of fraud against BAE Systems when they were published in the press in September 2003.

Army Barracks Death

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Minister of State for the Armed Forces received the Amnesty International Report, "Army Barracks Death: Families Demand Justice" (EUR 45/004/2003); and what his response was. [174742]

Mr. Ingram: Amnesty International's Report, "Army Barracks Death: Families Demand Justice" was received on 18 June 2003. I replied to Halya Gowan of Amnesty International on 2 July 2003.

Army Medal Office (Droitwich)

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arrangements he has made to ensure the continued efficient operation of the Army Medal Office at Droitwich Spa in the period before its planned closure; [175005]

(2) if he will ensure the Army Medal Office at Droitwich Spa is able to (a) purchase equipment and (b) recruit staff in the period before the planned closure. [175006]

Mr. Caplin: As I said in my answer of 13 May 2004, Official Report, column 556W, the phased closure of the Army Medal Office is part of a risk reduction strategy aimed at minimising disruption to medal service delivery. The work currently in hand to support that strategy includes an analysis of the benefits for service delivery of early equipment purchase and staff
 
25 May 2004 : Column 1614W
 
recruitment either at Droitwich or at Innsworth. Where such action is cost-effective, to assist in the smooth transfer of responsibilities and reduce the impact on service delivery, it will be done.

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will visit the Army Medal Office in Droitwich Spa to discuss its proposed closure with the staff. [175007]

Mr. Caplin: I have no plans to do so at the present time, but will consider the matter further later in the year.

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 13 May 2004, Official Report, column 555W, on Defence Medal Offices, over what period the closure of the Army Medal Office will be phased. [175027]

Mr. Caplin: Detailed work on an implementation timetable cannot begin until the staff preference exercise has been concluded at the end of this month. That work will need to take into account the risk reduction strategies that are currently being developed.

It is not expected that a detailed implementation plan will be available until early autumn.

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2004, Official Report, column 328W, on the Defence Medal Office, when he will place in the Library a copy of the Investment Appraisal for the proposed closure of the Army Medal Office in Droitwich Spa. [175045]

Mr. Caplin: A copy of the Investment Appraisal was placed in the Library on 20 May 2004.

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