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10 Jan 2005 : Column 75W—continued
Iraq (Territorial Army)
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from members of the Territorial Army on the length of their tours of duty in Iraq. [207380]
Mr. Caplin: I am unaware of direct representations to Ministers from TA personnel on the length of their tours of duty in Iraq, although several requests have been received from reservists wishing to extend their tours of duty on other overseas operations and in one or two instances representations have been made by Members of the House.
IT (Disciplinary Procedures)
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department have (a) received official warnings and (b) faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997. [205811]
Mr. Caplin: Information is not held centrally on the number of Ministry of Defence staff that have received official warnings following minor disciplinary breaches of IT policy, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The number of MOD civilians that have faced disciplinary procedures following major disciplinary breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997 is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 2 |
10 Jan 2005 : Column 76W
Lost/Stolen Property
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the property belonging to his Department that has (a) been stolen and (b) been reported lost in each year since 1997, broken down by type of article. [206370]
Mr. Caplin: Reported cases of stolen property are held centrally on a summary basis only and relate to suspected theft by Crown Personnel of stores and equipment. Cases are not recorded or grouped by property type and are often recorded, especially in respect of lower value items, as multiples or combinations of items such as tools, clothing, foodstuffs etc. Providing a response in the form requested and for the period concerned could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
Manning/Record Offices
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in the Army's manning and records offices, broken down by area and location. [206621]
Mr. Caplin: The Army's manning and records offices collocated in Glasgow between December 1996 and July 1997, to become part of the Army Personnel Centre (APC). The APC employs a total of 884 staff (164 military and 720 civilian personnel) in three business areas: the Manning and Career Management Division, Chief of Staff and Civil Secretariat. With the exception of six staff in London, all APC personnel are based in Kentigern House, Glasgow.
Medals
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for which (a) campaigns and (b) wars, medals were issued in each of the last five years; which medals were made of (i) silver and (ii) cupro-nickel; and how many were made in each case. [205002]
Mr. Caplin: The following British medals have been instituted for campaign service since the end of the Second World War. It is not possible to determine how many of each medal has been issued, as such information has not been recorded.
10 Jan 2005 : Column 77W
Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Project
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability project to complete its concept phase. [199834]
Mr. Ingram: The Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability project is currently in transition from the concept phase to the assessment phase. The timing is being considered in the Department's current planning round.
Napalm
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 6 December 204, Official Report, column 339W, on napalm, whether substances similar to napalm have been used by the Coalition (a) during and (b) since the recent war in Iraq. [204263]
Mr. Ingram: The UK has not used napalm (or similar substances) during or since the end of decisive combat operations in Iraq. Furthermore, the US has confirmed that they also have not used napalm (or similar substances) during or since the end of decisive combat operations in Iraq.
Nimrod MRA4
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Nimrod MRA4 to be fully in service; and if he will make a statement. [205942]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 20 December 2004]: The Nimrod MRA4 Design and Development contract is progressing with the first flight of the second aircraft,
10 Jan 2005 : Column 78W
PA2, having taken place on 15 December. However, the way ahead for this project is subject to industry demonstrating satisfactory performance at acceptable prices. The in service date for the aircraft is 2009.
Official Documents
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is in relation to the storage of documents and the use of shredders; and whether this policy has been reviewed in the past 12 months. [206735]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence's policy on archiving records is that those required for medium to long term use and possible permanent preservation or those for which there is no storage space locally, should be archived. This policy has not been reviewed in the last 12 months, although some changes have been required in terms of its practical implementation due to changes in archive storage provision. The policy on the use of shredders follows central Government guidelines and relates to the type of shredder required securely to destroy documents with particular levels of sensitivity. This policy has also not been reviewed in the last 12 months.
Press Officers
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed in the Department. [206525]
Mr. Caplin:
On 21 December 2004 there were 17 press officers employed in the Ministry of Defence's central press office in London.
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This figure relates solely to those press officers employed in the Department's central press office in London. The information does not include those employed as press officers in Regional Press Offices, Defence Agencies, the Permanent Joint Headquarters, single Service Commands or at unit level, some of whom have a press officer task in addition to their main role. Accurate information on this is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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