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22 Mar 2005 : Column 781W—continued
Departmental Records Office (Hayes)
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2004, Official Report, column 1542W, on Departmental Records Office (Hayes), what action he plans to take in response to agency staff employed by TNT being found in possession of drugs. [222426]
Mr. Caplin: TNT have a strict policy of zero tolerance of drug and alcohol abuse. The same policy applies at all TNT sites, and will continue in force at the Hayes site until its eventual closure. In accordance with this policy, the agency staff at Hayes found to be in possession of drugs have been dismissed. No further action is required.
Depleted Uranium
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effect of depleted uranium shells on (a) current and (b) former (i) personnel of his Department and (ii) soldiers; and if he will make a statement. [222022]
Mr. Caplin: The Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB), an independent committee established by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is measuring uranium in the urine of personnel who served in the first Gulf Conflict 1990–91 and in the Balkans Operations. This work includes personnel who have been discharged from service as well as those who are still serving. Similarly, under MOD's biological monitoring policy, the Defence Radiological Protection Service (DRPS) is assessing uranium in urine of both military personnel and MOD civilians on operations—including Operation Telic in Iraq—where there is potential for exposure. Depleted Uranium in urine is also being measured in a sample of personnel from across the battlefield as part of a wider study into the physical and psychological health of Operation Telic participants by King's College, London.
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with Edinburgh Military Tattoo Ltd. on the impact of the planned restructuring of the Scottish regiments on the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. [221826]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 15 March 2005]: The planned restructuring of the Scottish regiments will not have any impact on the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and there have been no discussions on this subject between the Ministry of Defence and Edinburgh Military Tattoo Ltd.
EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 13W, on EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service, if he will list those documents, with security grading and caveat, that have been supplied
22 Mar 2005 : Column 782W
to the EU Intelligence Sharing and Co-ordination Service by his Department; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the nature of departmental material that may be supplied. [216509]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 355W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe.
Flight Plans
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances ranks higher than Flight Lieutenant in the RAF would have been required to approve flight plans prior to June 1994. [222599]
Mr. Ingram: Navigation, training or transit sorties (including low level) have not, in the last 30 years, required specific approval by an officer above Flight Lieutenant rank. However, plans for sorties involving multi-aircraft formations conducting air combat manoeuvring or low level evasion training typically require authorisation by an officer of Squadron Leader rank or higher; this requirement has been in place for many years and remains unchanged to date.
Historical Records
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with (a) the national record office at Kew and (b) Army archives about the First World War records at Hayes; [222708]
(2) what steps he is taking to preserve the First World War records at Hayes. [222707]
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to preserve the medal index cards from the First World War for posterity. [222699]
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to safeguard the card records of medals issued to First World War personnel pending discussions with the Imperial War Museum, the Veterans' Association and others on a possible future home for their storage; and if he will make a statement. [223245]
Mr. Caplin: The only collection of records relating solely to the First World War still held by the Ministry of Defence is the Army medal cards. More than 80 years after the end of the conflict, there is no administrative reason for the Ministry of Defence to hold the cards.
The National Archives has microfilmed the front of these cards, which in most cases contains all the information they hold, and they are now available to researchers (in Class WO 372) in microfilmed format at Kew and through the National Archives website online.
Ministry of Defence staff routinely discuss questions relating to records which may be worthy of permanent preservation with the National Archives staff, and both recognise the historical interest in the medal cards. With the agreement of the National Archives, the Ministry of Defence has been approaching institutions in the hope of finding one to which the cards could be presented. So far this exercise has been without success, but discussions continue.
22 Mar 2005 : Column 783W
Infantry Future Army Structure
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 50W, on Infantry Future Army Structure, whether recruitment will operate at (a) regimental and (b) battalion level for the (i) Mercian Regiment, (ii) Yorkshire Regiment and (iii) Royal Regiment of Scotland. [211795]
Mr. Caplin: Under the Infantry Future Army Structure arrangements, it is intended that recruitment to the Mercian Regiment, Yorkshire Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Scotland will be by Regiment, rather than individual battalion.
Low-flying Training
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which areas of the UK military low-flying training is carried out. [222613]
Mr. Caplin [holding answer 21 March 2005]: The whole of the United Kingdom, in principle, is open to low-flying training by military aircraft, although there are areas that are specifically excluded. These include the restricted airspace around civil aerodromes, glider sites, certain industrial sites, the major conurbations and other large centres of population (those towns with over 10,000 inhabitants). Coventry falls within the avoidance area afforded to the West Midlands Conurbation, which also includes Birmingham International Airport. For further details my hon. Friend may wish to consult the report The Pattern of Military Low Flying across the United Kingdom" which is placed in the Library of the House on an annual basis.
Medium Sector
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which battalions in each division will be earmarked to the medium sector in the Future Infantry Structure; and when he expects them to commence progress towards the medium sector. [221489]
Mr. Ingram:
The Future Infantry Structure was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 16 December 2004. Work is continuing to define the roles and locations of individual battalions.
22 Mar 2005 : Column 784W
The Future Army Structure highlighted the requirement for a Medium Weight Capability. Achievement of this capability is being scoped and will identify the force elements that will deliver it, both in the interim and in the long term. Until this work is complete the identity of the battalions to whom this role will be assigned will not be confirmed.
Military Aircraft Crashes
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2005, Official Report, column 804W, on military aircraft crashes, how many of the military accidents listed involved fatalities in each year. [222594]
Mr. Ingram: The following table repeats the information given in my answer of 24 February 2005, Official Report, column 804W, with an additional column showing the number of those accidents that resulted in fatalities.
| Number of air accidents | Number of air accidents involving fatalities | |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 12 | 5 |
| 1994 | 10 | 5 |
| 1995 | 10 | 5 |
| 1996 | 12 | 3 |
| 1997 | 9 | 2 |
| 1998 | 7 | 4 |
| 1999 | 12 | 5 |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 3 |
| 2002 | 8 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 | 4 |
| 2004 | 6 | 3 |
| Total | 105 | 41 |
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