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Defence Export and Market Access Forum

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how the Defence Export and Market Access Forum relates to (a) the National Defence Industries Council, (b) the National Defence and Aerospace Systems Panel and (c) the Aerospace and Innovation Team; and if he will make a statement; [182584]

(2) pursuant to his answer of 30 June 2004, ref 179257, on the Defence Export and Market Access Forum; if he will list the individuals and the companies or trade associations they represent on the Defence Export and Market Access Forum; how many times it has met; and what the subject areas under discussion were. [182562]

Mr. Ingram: The Defence Export and Market Access Forum reports to the National Defence Industries Council and complements the National Defence and Aerospace Systems Panel and the Aerospace and Innovation Team. The following Government Departments are represented on the Forum:

Industry is represented by the following Trade Associations, which include representatives from their member companies:

The major defence companies represented at the last meeting, which was held on 17 February 2004, were BAE Systems, Cobham, GKN, Rolls-Royce and Smiths. I am withholding the personal details of the individuals concerned under Exemptions 8 and 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relate to public employment, public appointments and the privacy of an individual.

There have been three meetings to date and the issues discussed have included defence trade with other countries, export control legislation, market analysis and the contribution of defence exports to the economy.

Departmental Staff

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent staff there have been in (a) his Department and (b) agencies of the Department in each year since 1997. [181375]

Mr. Caplin: Information on the number of full-time equivalent staff in the department since 1997 is published annually in the "Civil Service Statistics"
 
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publication. Copies of the publication are available in the Library and on the Cabinet Office Civil Service Statistics (www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics ) website.

Diego Garcia

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel are stationed on Diego Garcia in a (a) temporary and (b) permanent capacity; and if he will make a statement. [182581]

Mr. Ingram: 40 UK military personnel are deployed on Diego Garcia and normally undertake 12-month tours.

Intermediate Light Anti-Armour Weapon

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in introducing the Army's Intermediate Light Anti-Armour Weapon. [181488]

Mr. Ingram: The Interim Light Anti-Armour Weapon (ILAW) is being procured to provide a light, short-range anti-armour capability in advance of the introduction of the Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon (NLAW). Following a competitive down select, the Saab Bofors Dynamics AT4 anti-armour system has been chosen to meet the ILAW requirement. In parallel, the NLAW programme remains on track to meet the long-term requirement.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each allegation of malpractice in the management of detainees in Iraq made against British forces since 1 May 2003, broken down by date of the allegation; and if he will place in the Library copies of the allegations with personal data removed. [178725]

Mr. Ingram: There have been no allegations of malpractice in the administration of detainees in UK run detention facilities in Iraq. However there has been one allegation of ill treatment of detainees while in the UK run detention facility, the exact nature and date of which is still under investigation. Therefore there are no plans to place the information referred to by the hon. Member in the Library of the House.

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 8 June 2004, Official Report, columns 4–5WS, on Iraq, whether any of the 14 investigations initiated since 4 May relate to detention facilities. [179017]

Mr. Ingram: One of the 14 investigations initiated since 4 May relates to the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility at Shaibah.

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with security contractors his Department uses for operations in Iraq about them (a) being subject to Iraqi law and (b) being recipients of immunities following the transfer of sovereignty; and if he will make a statement. [179871]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not use security contractors for operations in Iraq. I have not, therefore, had discussions with them on these topics.
 
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Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the date of each compensation claim arising out of the death of an Iraqi individual allegedly caused by UK forces and whether, in each case, the claim (a) has been rejected, (b) has been accepted and (c) remains to be decided. [177579]

Mr. Ingram: We have so far received 91 claims relating to incidents where it is alleged that the death of an Iraqi individual was caused by the actions of the UK Armed Forces. The date of notification of each compensation claim is as follows:

2003

2004

Thirty-three claims relate to alleged incidents before the end of decisive combat operations (1 May 2003) including 19 claims associated with air raids. 58 claims arise from alleged incidents after 1 May 2003.

Over half of the total number of claims (52) relate to fatal shooting incidents with some incidents leading to multiple claims. Other incidents include fatalities due to road traffic accidents and unexploded ordnance. Four claims relate to deaths in detention.

Fifty-four claims have been rejected, three accepted and 34 remain to be decided.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Status of Forces Agreement being negotiated for troops in Iraq will parallel the Visiting Forces Act 1952 in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [176744]

Mr. Hoon: The Iraqi Government has approved a new version of Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17 to cover Status of Forces issues for Multinational Forces in Iraq. The order's provisions are similar to the provisions of the status offerees arrangements for the multinational forces deployed in Afghanistan and the Balkans, which are closer parallels than the NATO arrangements implemented by the Visiting Forces Act of 1952. A copy of the order can be found at www.cpa-Iraq.org. I am arranging to have a copy placed in the Library of the House.

NATO Commitments

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current commitments of NATO forces are; and if he will make a statement on plans for future commitments. [182399]


 
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Mr. Ingram: NATO currently commits forces to the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan; SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; KFOR in Kosovo; Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean; and in support of Poland's operation in Iraq. In accordance with the Istanbul Summit Communiqué issued by the Heads of State and Government on 28 June 2004, NATO has decided to expand the ISAF Force in Afghanistan, including through several more Provincial Reconstruction Teams; to conclude its successful SFOR operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; that a robust KFOR presence remains essential in Kosovo; to enhance the contribution of Operation Active Endeavour to the fight against terrorism; and to offer assistance to the Government of Iraq with the training of its security forces.

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