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9 Jun 2004 : Column 414W—continued
DEFENCE
Absence without Leave
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks have been reported absent without leave in each of the last five years; of those, how many served in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [176112]
Mr. Caplin [holding answer 8 June 2004]: Figures for the number of trained personnel who are recorded as going/being absent without leave are given in the tables. No officers in the Naval Service or the RAF went absent during the last five years. Figures for the Army are unable to be broken down into officers and other ranks as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For the same reason, it is not possible to break down the figures to show any who may have served in Iraq.
| Calendar year | Total number reported AWOL(9) |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 35 |
| 2000 | 50 |
| 2001 | 85 |
| 2002 | 90 |
| 2003 | 115 |
| Calendar year | Total number reported AWOL(9) |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 15 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| Financial year | Total number reported AWOL(9) |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 1,400 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,665 |
| 2000–01 | 1,850 |
| 2001–02 | 1,655 |
| 2002–03 | 1,685 |
| Financial year | Total number reported AWOL(9) |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 20 |
| 1999–2000 | 20 |
| 2000–01 | 20 |
| 2001–02 | 15 |
| 2002–03 | 25 |
(9) Rounded to the nearest 5.
Recording of absence differs between the Naval Service, the Army and the RAF, which means that the figures are not directly comparable on a tri-Service basis. Additionally, the Naval Service changed the basis of their reporting in 2001. The Naval Service and the Army record multiple periods of absence by the same
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person. The RAF registers an individual once, regardless of how many times they are absent within a financial year.
Afghanistan
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his current estimate is of the number of civilians killed in Afghanistan by the activities of (a) UK, (b) United States and (c) other military forces not indigenous to Afghanistan since October 2002; and what methods are used to assess the cause of deaths and injuries to civilians in Afghanistan by foreign military activities. [176904]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is aware of no Afghan civilian deaths relating to the activities of the United Kingdom's forces serving in Afghanistan since October 2002. I cannot speak for the forces of other individual nations, but I can say the coalition makes every effort to minimise the impact of military action on the Afghan population. As I explained in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) on 6 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1104–05W, there are no reliable means of ascertaining the number of civilians killed during combat operations in Afghanistan.
Astute Submarine
Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the anticipated order is for the Astute Class Submarine programme; and what the anticipated phasing of the order is. [175576]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 7 June 2004]: There are three Astute Class Submarines currently on contract with BAE Systems. Further orders for the Astute Class Submarine are being considered and an announcement will be made at the appropriate time.
Departmental Administration Budget
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008, announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 331. [176505]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has a vigorous programme in place to drive down overheads and release resources to the front line. The real terms reduction in administration costs of 5 per cent. or more (against a 2005–06 baseline) will be a central feature of all Departments' public spending settlements to be announced in detail later this year.
Diego Garcia
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United Kingdom has transferred persons detained in custody in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq to Diego Garcia since October 2001; and whether the UK has given permission to the United States to do so. [175068]
Mr. Ingram:
No.
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Fast Jet Pilots
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the RAF's future requirement for fast jet pilots. [176479]
Mr. Ingram: The future requirement for Royal Air Force manpower, including fast jet pilots, is kept under regular review to take account of various factors including changing commitments, Defence Planning Assumptions and the introduction of new aircraft types and equipment. The RAF's fast jet force remains an important part of the United Kingdom's military capability.
Gender Pay Gap
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the pay gap between men and women employed by his Department and its agencies in (a) Southampton, (b) Eastleigh, (c) Winchester and (d) Romsey. [171625]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence, in common with all other Government Departments, conducted an equal pay audit following the publication of the report by the Equal Opportunities Commission Equal Pay Task Force, Just Pay, in March 2001. The outcome of the audit, including an initial action plan, was submitted to the Cabinet Office in April 2003. Further work has been conducted over the last year. This work did not address particular units but nevertheless demonstrated that MOD's pay system treats men and women on an equal basis. The Ministry of Defence intends to place a copy of its action plan in the Library of the House as soon as it has concluded discussions with the Cabinet Office.
Harriers GR9
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish all or part of the investment appraisal upon which he decided to roll forward the Harriers GR9 to RAF Cottesmore. [177014]
Mr. Ingram: The decision that Harrier Air Depth maintenance support work should roll forward to RAF Cottesmore as the centre of gravity for logistic support, was taken following the results of a comprehensive Investment Appraisal (LA) which fully supported the decision by a clear margin over the other option. All key stakeholders within the Ministry of Defence, including the Chief Executive of Defence Aviation Repair Agency and the RAF were involved in the LA.
It is not appropriate to release the LA at this time, as it forms the first phase of other work to decide the location of centres of gravity for logistic support for other air platforms. This further work is still under ministerial consideration.
Human Rights Act
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he has issued to military personnel on the application to them of the Human Rights Act 1998 (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad. [176325]
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Mr. Ingram: The guidance and training given to military personnel reflects the importance placed on their acting within the law, whether in the United Kingdom or abroad. Personnel are also informed of their own rights under the law.
International Committee of the Red Cross
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was informed by his officials at their meeting in April that the concerns raised by the ICRC in their interim report were being investigated. [173453]
Mr. Hoon: The International Committee of the Red Cross acknowledged at the meeting with Ministry of Defence Officials that they were already aware that their concerns raised in the interim report were being addressed.
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