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9 Feb 2005 : Column 1512W—continued

Harrier Jets

Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where Harrier jets returning from Afghanistan will be serviced and repaired. [214392]

Mr. Ingram: RAF Cottesmore.
 
9 Feb 2005 : Column 1513W
 

Iraq

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from his US counterpart regarding the length of deployment of the multinational forces in Iraq. [214014]

Mr. Ingram: The Secretary of State for Defence discusses progress in establishing a free, stable and democratic Iraq, and the role of the multinational force in Iraq in securing that objective, on a regular basis with his US counterpart, Mr. Rumsfeld. The Secretary of State has made it very clear in these discussions that UK armed forces will remain in Iraq for as long as there is a requirement for them to do so.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the US Administration concerning (a) the number of and (b) assistance provided to Iraqi civilians travelling on boats sunk in the Euphrates river during military action by coalition forces in Fallujah. [214509]

Mr. Hoon: None.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) children under 18 years are in British custody in Iraq. [215394]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 8 February 2005]: As at 2 February 2005, there are 30 internees being held in the only British Military Detention Facility in Iraq, none of whom are women and none of whom state they are under 18.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which regiments came into contact with members of the United States 800th Military Police brigade during their deployment in Iraq; and on what dates and at what locations in each case. [215482]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 8 February 2005]: The United States 800th Military Police brigade has subordinate elements consisting of some 25 units, none of them currently based in the British area of responsibility. Until early 2004, a unit from 800th Brigade was based at Camp Bucca, which is a US camp within MND(SE). It would have been necessary for members of British units regularly to liaise with the US units based at Camp Bucca. It is not possible after this time to give a list of the British regiments, dates and locations in each case.

Major George O'Kane

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Major George O'Kane was reporting to a British military lawyer based at Coalition headquarters in Iraq, as stated in the Official Report of the Australian Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on 31 May 2004. [210352]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 24 January 2005]: Yes.

MOD Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many police officers there were in the Ministry of Defence police force in each year since 1994; and what projections there are for numbers of officers in the force in future years. [214290]

 
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Mr. Caplin: The following table shows the number of police officers (full-time equivalents) within the Ministry of Defence police in each year since 1994, as at 1 April, and the latest available figure.

	Number
1994	4,750
1995	4,570
1996	4,060
1997	3,860
1998	3,730
1999	3,610
2000	3,540
2001	3,420
2002	3,300
2003	3,320
2004	3,400
January 2005	3,380

The Ministry of Defence police does not produce projections for the number of police officers, so no forecast figures are available.

Postal Packet Service (Iraq)

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reinstate the free postal packet service to the Iraq theatre of operations. [214845]

Mr. Ingram: In respect of the free postal packet scheme to Iraq which ceased on 8 April 2004, there are no plans to permanently reinstate this service. I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 70WS, and subsequent answers of 5 March 2004, Official Report, column 1155W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1605W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson), 5 May 2004, Official Report, column 1527W, to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall), 15 June 2004, Official Report, column 811W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike), 1 September 2004, Official Report, column 713W and 4 October 2004, Official Report, column 1882W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Batley and Spen (Mr. Wood) and 25 January 2005, Official Report, column 244W to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew).

Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the number of Christmas parcels sent to British servicemen in Iraq which have not been delivered. [215384]

Mr. Ingram: I assume that my hon. Friend refers to packets posted under the free mail service arrangements in place from 17 November until 15 December last year. All items received by the British Forces Post Office under that scheme have been delivered into theatre.

Regimental Names

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rank was of the officers of the Army Board who took the decision on the new name for the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, the King's Own Borderers Regiment and the King's Regiment. [214356]

 
9 Feb 2005 : Column 1515W
 

Mr. Ingram: The Executive Committee of the Army Board (ECAB) comprises military officers ranging in rank from Major General to General, and the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence. Its recommendations on all aspects of the Future Infantry Structure were forwarded to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence by the Chief of the General Staff.

Supply Chain Initiative

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision on the rationalisation programme as part of the Future Defence Supply Chain Initiative; when he expects to make an announcement on that decision; and if he will make a statement. [214611]

Mr. Ingram: A decision on the Future Defence Supply Chain Initiative will be made at the end of the current Assessment Phase, based on four competitive Best and Final Offers received in December 2004. Proposals for the Future Defence Supply Chain from both in-house and industry teams are currently being examined and the findings will form the basis of a Main Gate decision, and announcement, in due course. It is not appropriate to make a statement at this stage in the assessment process.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to rationalise DLO Donnington as part of the Future Defence Supply Chain Initiative. [214612]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence received four competitive proposals for the Future Defence Supply Chain on 22 December; two in-house, and two from industry consortia. MOD is currently assessing the proposals and it is too early in that analysis to conclude the impacts for Donnington, or other locations in the Defence Logistics Organisation.

Swan Hunter Contract

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 81W, on Swan Hunter, on what date the decision was taken to award Swan Hunter an £84 million contract amendment; on what date Swan Hunter were notified of the additional money; whether any unsuccessful bidder bid within 20 per cent. of the original contract price agreed with Swan Hunter; and if he will make a statement. [213565]

Mr. Ingram: The approval process for the revised Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) programme costs was completed on 8 December 2004 and Swan Hunter were notified formally the following day.

One unsuccessful bidder from the original contract award was within 20 per cent. of the original contract price agreed with Swan Hunter.

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