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14 Jun 2004 : Column 643W—continued

Israel

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what bilateral military relations the United Kingdom has with Israel. [178587]

Mr. Ingram: Our current bilateral relationship with Israel includes maintaining professional contacts through our Defence Attaché in Tel Aviv as well as some exchanges on technology and some equipment procurement. We have formal agreements covering research and security but these are subject to certain restrictions. We also hold military talks that cover a wide range of issues.

Lance Corporal William Graham

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date Lance Corporal William Graham of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment was released from prison; on what date he resumed military duties; and what duties he has performed since January; [175969]

(2) what factors underlay the decision to retain Lance Corporal William Graham as a member of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment following his conviction and imprisonment; [175970]
 
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(3) what payments were made to Lance Corporal William Graham of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment between the date of his criminal conviction to the date of his release from prison; [175971]

(4) what measures were taken by the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment to retrain Lance Corporal William Graham in the use of firearms following his release from prison; [175972]

(5) what role Lance Corporal William Graham of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots Regiment played in the parade of honour and other public events at (a) Linlithgow, (b) Peebles, (c) Haddington, (d) Penicuik and (e) elsewhere in April. [175975]

Mr. Ingram: Lance Corporal Graham was released from prison on 9 January 2004. He resumed military duties on 10 January 2004. The Queen's Regulations for the Army define the exceptional reasons which would make the retention of a soldier desirable if he has been sentenced by a civil court or by court-martial to imprisonment, detention or any other form of custodial sentence. Where there are circumstances that make retention of a soldier desirable then the case is to be submitted with valid and explicit reasons to the Director of Manning (Army) Ministry of Defence for a decision. The circumstances will vary from case to case. From the date of his criminal conviction to the date of his release from prison LCpl Graham did not receive payment.

In common with all personnel in Regular Army and TA Units, LCpl Graham must complete his personal weapon training and pass his personal weapon and weapon handling tests.

LCpl Graham did not take part in any parade in April.

I am withholding personal data relating to LCpl Graham under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, unless the relevant conditions are met.

Lockheed-Martin

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Lockheed-Martin about inward investment into the UK. [177125]

Mr. Ingram: Ministers meet regularly with Lockheed-Martin, which employs about 800 staff at over 10 sites in the UK, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

Priory Hospital, Bristol

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on psychiatric treatment for current and former Service personnel at the Priory Hospital at Bristol; and how many personnel have received such treatment in the last year. [178014]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 10 June 2004]: In 2003–04, the Ministry of Defence spent £169,789.99 on treating 21 serving members of the armed forces at the Priory Hospital in Bristol. The MOD does not refer former Service personnel to the Priory Group for treatment. On leaving the Services, responsibility for their medical care falls to the NHS.
 
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RAF Scampton

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel are required to carry out those of RAF Boulmer's functions which are to be moved to RAF Scampton; and how many RAF personnel will be required to carry out the functions at RAF Scampton. [178221]

Mr. Ingram: Some 700 RAF personnel with civilian support, currently carry out those functions at RAF Boulmer whose relocation is being considered. A similar number would be required for the same functions were they to be located elsewhere. If they were subject to more efficient basing however, there would be economies in the number of their support personnel.

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has changed (a) the proposal to move No. 1 ACC from RAF Boulmer to RAF Scampton and (b) the timing of any planned move; and if he will make a statement. [178222]

Mr. Ingram: No decisions have been made on this issue as a final decision on the review of Air Combat Service Support Units and Minor Unit Basing has not yet been taken as consultation with the Trades Unions is still ongoing. As part of a contingency planning exercise to alleviate current accommodation problems at RAF Boulmer, staff have been considering whether it is feasible to provide an interim facility for 1 ACC elsewhere.

Remembrance Events

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions (a) he, (b) his Department and (c) the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has had with the French authorities regarding low-level tourist overflights of British and Commonwealth military cemeteries and memorials. [178590]

Mr. Caplin: There have been no discussions between either the Ministry of Defence or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the French authorities about low level tourist overflights of British and Commonwealth military cemeteries and memorials in France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has no recollection of any representations raising concerns about such matters.

Royal Air Force (Turkmenistan)

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the collision between a RAF Hercules based at Lyneham in Wiltshire and an un-named jet aircraft over Turkmenistan on 22 May. [177035]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 8 June 2004]: An RAF Hercules C130J aircraft was on a routine flight between Kabul and Bucharest on 22 May when there was a collision with a Turkmen aircraft which damaged one of the C130J's propellers. The C130J landed safely at Baku airport. There were no injuries to personnel on board. The RAF is conducting a Unit Inquiry. The Turkmenistan authorities have also convened a Board of Inquiry.
 
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Shipbuilding

Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) the Department of Trade and Industry, (b) shipbuilders and (c) trade unions to identify the minimum numbers of (i) workers and (ii) designers necessary to maintain a strategic capacity of naval shipbuilding in the United Kingdom. [175575]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 7 June 2004]: We remain committed to maintaining a strategic capacity and capability for naval shipbuilding in the United Kingdom. Ministry of Defence and Department of Trade and Industry officials and representatives from the shipbuilding industry meet on a monthly basis to discuss the future programme. These meetings are being taken forward in a positive and constructive manner. Additionally, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence met with Kevin Curran, General Secretary of the GMB on 4 May.

We are building on the solid base that the Defence Industrial Policy has established and are actively exploring practical ways of achieving its objectives. In the shipbuilding area, we are comparing our requirements against capacity and, where possible, evaluating the options to smooth out large peaks and troughs.

Special Investigations Branch

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training is undertaken by the Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police in the investigation of serious incidents; and what computer system is available to the Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police to assist in the investigation of serious incidents. [176016]

Mr. Ingram: All members of the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police are required to attend and pass the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Course. Some members also attend external training courses in the investigation of serious or series crime. Senior members of the Special Investigation Branch are trained as Senior Investigating Officers and attend Home Office accredited training courses.

The Special Investigation Branch have the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (HOLMES) Version 2 to assist in the investigation of serious incidents.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past two years members of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch have been subject to military discipline; and for what offences. [176029]

Mr. Ingram: All members of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch are subject to military discipline.

In the past two years, four members of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch have been subject to military disciplinary action. The offences were:

Rape/Indecent Assault

 
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Possession of Obscene Articles

Publication of Obscene Articles

Impaired Driving

Traffic Accidents in Military Transport.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms are available to consider complaints against members of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch; and how many complaints have been made in each of the past two years. [176030]

Mr. Ingram: There are various types of complaints, which may be related to either authorised policing activities or the conduct of investigations; they may be made at any stage of an investigation:

applications for Redress of Complaint are considered in accordance with the Army Act 1955 by the commanding officer of the complainant's unit;

complaints that an RMP Investigator has breached the Service Police Codes of Practice, and complaints following the completion of an RMP investigation are considered by the commanding officer of the relevant RMP unit. The Special Investigation Branch (SIB) will investigate complaints of serious malpractice or negligence;

in accordance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, any complaints about the use of covert investigation techniques are matters for the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

Since 2002, the following number of complaints have been made against members of RMP SIB for alleged professional misconduct:

	Number
2002	2
2003	2

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what body has responsibility for overseeing the operation of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch; and to whom it reports. [176031]

Mr. Ingram: The Royal Military Police (RMP) Special Investigation Branch (SIB) is commanded by the Adjutant General and is under operational control of the Provost Marshal (Army). The SIB is subject to inspection in accordance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The Surveillance Commissioner undertook an inspection in 2003 and made no substantive comments. The Interception Commissioner is expected to undertake an inspection later this year. In addition, all major SIB investigations are reviewed by external civilian police forces in accordance with Home Office Guidelines. No other external body has responsibility for oversight of RMP SIB operations. All reports are made to the Provost Marshal (Army).

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