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4 Oct 2004 : Column 1884W—continued

Parachute Battalions

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) schedule and (b) operations of the three Parachute battalions has been over the last three years. [188791]

 
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Mr. Ingram: The details of the operational deployments of each Battalion of the Parachute Regiment over the last three years are shown in the following table. Deployments have been defined as unaccompanied Battalion level operational tours.

Unit	Date	Location
1 Para	May and August 2000 (two short deployments)	Sierra Leone
	January-June 2001	Northern Ireland
	January-June 2003	Iraq
2 Para	January-March 2002	Afghanistan
	September 2002-March 2003	Northern Ireland
	December 2003-April 2004	Iraq
3 Para	January-June 2002	Northern Ireland
	January-June 2003	Iraq
	May 2004 to date	Northern Ireland

Provigil

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been prescribed Provigil and similar drugs in each of the last six years; what quantities of drugs have been dispensed; and for what reasons. [187496]

Mr. Caplin: Provigil may be prescribed within the Defence Medical Services for legitimate clinical reasons in the same manner as it would be used by the NHS. It is prescribed for the treatment of specific sleep disorders including narcolepsy. Information is not held centrally about the number of Service personnel who have been prescribed Provigil nor the quantities prescribed. However, the quantities purchased by the Medical Supplies Agency between 1999 and 2004 (21,600 tablets) would be consistent with the treatment, through Service primary care facilities, of three to five patients per year at normal rates of usage for the product.

Public Relations

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997. [183850]

Mr. Caplin: Salary costs for staff working in public relations and publicity within the Department's central communications organisation from 2001–02 to 2003–04 were as follows:

	£ million
2001–02	5.3
2002–03	5.5
2003–04	5.9

Figures for years prior to 2001–02 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The figures do not include information about staff working in public relations and publicity at command or unit level throughout the Department. Information about this is not held centrally and again could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
 
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QinetiQ Ltd.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what income has been received from the equity stake in Qinetiq Ltd.; who exercises the rights of the controlling equity stake on behalf of the Government; and who approved the higher leveraged equity scheme in QinetiQ for senior managers on behalf of the Government. [188713]

Mr. Ingram: Total proceeds to date from the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Public Private Partnership (DERA PPP), of which the sale of an equity stake is just a part, amount to some £211.1 million. This comprises proceeds from the sale, proceeds from the redemption of debt and from the redemption of preference shares.

A key feature of the DERA PPP was to bring in a strategic partner to improve the management of QinetiQ and help grow the business in preparation for its transfer to the private sector. Although continuing to hold a majority equity stake, operational control of the company is exercised by the Carlyle Group as the Government's strategic partner. Control of the Government's equity stake is exercised by the MOD, via shares held in trust by the MOD Finance Director on behalf of the Secretary of State.

An Incentive Scheme for QinetiQ employees including a component for senior managers, was approved by Ministers at the time of the transaction.

Quick Reaction Alert Aircraft

Mr. Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in equipping (a) RNAS Yeovilton, (b) RAF Marham and (c) RAF St. Mawgan to support quick reaction alert aircraft since his statement of 18 July 2002. [189079]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 14 September 2004]: RAF Marham and RAF St. Mawgan became fully equipped to support quick reaction alert aircraft in June 2004. RNAS Yeovilton is due to become fully equipped for supporting quick reaction alert aircraft in the summer of 2005.

RAF Croughton

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason an American colonel has been appointed as base commander of RAF Croughton. [189523]

Mr. Ingram: RAF Croughton is made available to the United States Visiting Force (USVF) under the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) of 1951. As is the case at all RAF stations made available to the USVF, the United States appoint an installation commander who is responsible for the US mission at the base. At RAF Croughton, a USAF lieutenant colonel fulfils this role.

Regimental Changes

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Army Board first consulted the colonels of the 19 regiments over impending changes. [188796]

 
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Mr. Ingram: The Colonels Commandant of the Infantry were first briefed about a possible successor arrangement to the infantry arms plot by members of the Army Board during a meeting on 29 March. The Colonels Commandant have met several times since then to discuss changes to the Infantry structure. It is usual for the Colonels Commandant to brief and consult informally with Regimental Colonels after such meetings.

Regimental Recruitment

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruiting levels were for the regiments in the (a) Queen's, (b) King's, (c) Prince of Wales and (d) Light Divisions over the past three years for (i) officers and (ii) other ranks. [188797]

Mr. Caplin: The following tables show the numbers of officers and other ranks enlisted into the Queen's, King's, Prince of Wales' and Light Divisions for the last three financial years (April-March).

Officers

These figures show the regiments joined by officers once their training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst had been completed.
Queen's Division

Financial year	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment	6	10	12
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers	14	10	8
The Royal Anglian Regiment	7	9	10

King's Division

Financial year	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
The King's Own Royal Border Regiment	4	7	5
The King's Regiment	2	3	4
The Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Yorkshire	4	4	3
The Green Howards	2	9	5
The Queen's Lancashire Regiment	3	4	4
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment	5	5	2

Prince of Wales' Division

Financial year	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment	4	6	3
The Cheshire Regiment	1	9	1
The Royal Welch Fusiliers	1	6	5
The Royal Regiment of Wales	1	4	8
The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment	6	8	4
The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment	6	5	5
The Staffordshire Regiment	3	3	7

Light Division

Financial year	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
The Light Infantry	11	10	10
The Royal Green Jackets	10	8	11

 
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Other Ranks

Infantry other ranks recruits are enlisted into a Division and not a Regiment. These enlistment figures are taken from the beginning of the training process. Some recruits may have changed employment and cap badge during training.

Financial year	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Queen's Division	854	833	765
King's Division	733	733	595
Prince of Wales' Division	976	784	850
Light Division	590	588	464

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