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15 Nov 2004 : Column 1052W—continued
EU Satellite Navigation Resources
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions were taken on integration of EU member states' civil and military satellite navigation resources at the meeting of the Council of the European Union's politico-military group on 8 September; and what action has been taken as a result. [190053]
Fishery Protection
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fishery protection vessels are in service; and if he will list the areas in which these vessels are being used. [196728]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 28 June 2004, Official Report, column 141W, to the hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle).
HMCS Chicoutimi
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have been invited to give evidence to the inquiry into the fire on board HMCS Chicoutimi set up by the Canadian House of Commons. [196868]
Mr. Ingram:
Two members of the United Kingdom project team working in support of the lease to sell four submarines to the Government of Canada have been interviewed by the Board of Inquiry convened by the Canadian Navy into the fire on 5 October on board HMCS Chicoutimi. The RN officer who was invited to
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observe as Royal Navy Special Adviser continues to be available to the inquiry in that capacity. UK Defence Ministers have not been asked to give evidence.
Infantry Regiments
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation arrangements (a) he and (b) the Army Board have put in place to allow representations to be made opposing plans to amalgamate regiments. [197915]
Mr. Hoon: Both I and my Army Board colleagues are very aware of the level of interest in, and the strength of feeling aroused by, the decision to adjust the structure of the infantry. Following my announcement on 21 July, the Executive Committee of the Army Board (ECAB) tasked the Divisions of Infantry to consider how best to restructure themselves on the basis of large regiments of two or more battalions, with a view to putting forward recommendations. This process has involved a great deal of consultation both within the ranks of those serving and within the wider Army community. Ultimately, proposals will be put before the Army Board and Ministers for the final decision, but we have made it clear that we want a future infantry structure that takes full account of the considered response of those affected.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the proposals that he is considering on the amalgamation of English regiments in advance of further discussions at the Army Board. [197916]
Mr. Hoon: I am currently awaiting advice from the Executive Committee of the Army Board on how best to take forward the restructuring of the infantry.
Iraq
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated monthly cost to the UK of military operations in Iraq was in the last month for which figures are available; and what the estimated cost to the UK of military operations in Iraq over (a) the next three months and (b) the next six months is. [197264]
Mr. Ingram: Figures for the costs of operations, in Iraq and elsewhere, are published annually to take account of the need for physical stocktakes to establish accurate figures for some aspects of consumption and to allow for audit by the NAO. The annual cost of operations in Iraq in 2003–04, including some elements of the warfighting phase, was £1,311 million. Monthly expenditure within this figure would vary depending on troop numbers and activity, but it is not possible to break down the total by month. It is too early to provide firm figures for the costs of operations in Iraq in this financial year, but Parliament will be asked to vote the necessary funds in Supplementary Estimates.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart on the use of depleted uranium munitions by US forces against Iraqis in urban areas. [189756]
Mr. Ingram:
None.
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Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his reply of 4 October 2004, Official Report, column 1879W, to the hon. Member for Hull North, on Iraq, when the decision to print the aide memoire was made; when it was printed; and when it was first issued to UK service personnel on active duty. [194023]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 26 October 2004]: The decision to print the aide memoire card on the law of armed conflict was taken by 1 Division Legal Command. The cards were printed and issued between February and early March 2003, prior to the commencement of combat operations in Iraq.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what costs have been incurred by his Department in the employment of private security firms and personnel in Iraq since March 2003. [196377]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has not incurred any costs in the employment of private security firms in Iraq.
Manning Control Points
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions units have received lists of names for manning control point reviews in the last 18 months. [197082]
Mr. Caplin: Individual units may have received lists of names for manning control point reviews on up to 10 occasions in the last 18 months.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to conduct manning control point reviews in the next 12 months. [197083]
Mr. Caplin: The answer I gave to the hon. Member on 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 919W, is still applicable today.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to conduct discharges at manning control point reviews in the next 12 months. [197084]
Mr. Caplin: There will be no discharges under Queens Regulations for the Army 1975 Paragraph 9.413 in the next 12 months.
Nuclear Accident Response Group
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) civil servants and (b) members of the armed forces are employed within the Nuclear Accident Response Group; [196296]
(2) what plans he has to expand the membership of the Nuclear Accident Response Group. [196303]
Mr. Ingram:
The numbers of civil servants and members of the armed forces employed within the Ministry of Defence's nuclear accident response organisation will vary depending on the type, location and circumstances of any defence nuclear accident. It is therefore not possible to give precise numbers of civil servants and members of the armed forces employed.
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Press Releases
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2004; and if he will make a statement. [195465]
Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 11 November 2004, Official Report, column 857W.
Procurement
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of military equipment contracts are held by British companies. [196584]
Mr. Ingram: Taking British companies as entities employing workers in Great Britain and undertaking at least 25 per cent. of the relevant task, the percentages of Ministry of Defence military equipment contracts currently held by British companies are estimated by number to be some 96 per cent. and by value some 88 per cent.
RAF Kinloss/Lossiemouth
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying days were lost due to bad weather at (a) RAF Kinloss and (b) RAF Lossiemouth in each month since January 1997; and if he will make a statement. [194893]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not hold records of whole flying days lost owing to bad weather, which are very rare. The following table presents the total number of lost flying hours by month since January 1997 at RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth when conditions were assessed as red. Red conditions are defined as when visibility is less than 800 metres or the cloud base is less than 200 ft above ground level. In these conditions, flying is unlikely to take place. Other weather conditions, for example high winds, might also preclude flying but their incidence is not recorded.
Notes:
1. Owing to the different nature of their flying operations, RAF Lossiemouth records colour states on a minute by minute basis while RAF Kinloss records the situation hourly.
2. The RAF Lossiemouth figures have been recorded over the time period 0750 to 2150 daily, which is the time period within which the majority of the flying programme takes place. The RAF Kinloss figures have been recorded over a full 24 hour period because the station remains open round the clock.
3. No records are available for January to July 1997 for RAF Lossiemouth.
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