| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
4 Apr 2005 : Column 1101W—continued
Targets
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to halt the year-on-year rise in obesity among children aged under 11 by 2010 will be met. [219249]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The public service agreement (PSA) target is jointly owned by the Department of Health, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education and Skills in recognition that cross-Government action will be necessary to tackle this major public health issue.
4 Apr 2005 : Column 1102W
The delivery plan for the White Paper, Choosing Health", together with action plans focusing on nutrition and activity published recently, demonstrates how delivery of the White Paper commitments will contribute to the PSA target.
Weight Loss Guide
Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the Weight Loss Guide announced in the Public Health White Paper; how he intends to consult stakeholders; if he will ensure that controlled carbohydrate dietary approaches are considered in this process; and if he will make a statement. [223721]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Public Health White Paper, Choosing Health", makes a commitment to issue a weight loss guide by July 2005. The content and process of developing the guide are still under discussion.
DEFENCE
Accidents
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents occurred at his departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Department's staff and (b) members of the public. [222572]
Mr. Caplin: Accidents at work are recorded onto the Central Health and Safety Project Database (CHASP), and are given in the following table by financial year.
The figures for 'Members of the Public' includes all persons visiting MOD premises including contractors who are not MOD employees.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [222576]
Mr. Caplin: Since 1998, accidents in the Department have been recorded onto the Central Health and Safety Project Database (CHASP). Reports giving the numbers, types and rates of accidents in the Department are produced annually. I have instructed officials to place copies of these annual reports in the Library of the House.
Aegis Defence Services
Sarah Teather:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department has (a) supplied to and (b) received from the United States
4 Apr 2005 : Column 1103W
Administration regarding that Government's award of the Iraq Reconstruction Security Support Services contract to Aegis Defence Services. [220987]
Mr. Hoon: The contract with Aegis Defence Services Ltd. was placed by the United States Administration.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence/Pricing and Forecasting Group provided the US Administration with an audit report on the cost accounting system and the financial status of Aegis Defence Services Ltd. This was in response to a standard request from the US Administration placed under the US/UK Defense Co-Operation Memorandum of Understanding—Annex III Reciprocal Audits.
Pricing and Forecasting Group have not been asked to provide further advice beyond that. The ownership of the information contained within the audit report remains the sole property of the US Administration.
Air Cadets Organisation
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) role and (b) purpose of the Air Cadets organisation is. [223413]
Mr. Caplin: The Air Cadet Organisation (ACO) is a national youth organisation that comprises the Air Training Corps (ATC) and the Royal Air Force Sections of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF(RAF)). The ACO exists to promote a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force, training useful to service or civilian employment, good citizenship and leadership, as well as a sense of adventure amongst the young men and women who become Air Cadets. The ACO also encourages membership of schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which provides practical, cultural and adventurous activities, including an emphasis on helping others in the local community.
Armed Forces Discipline
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have been (a) disciplined, (b) court-martialled and (c) dismissed for alcohol misuse or behaviour related to alcohol misuse since 1997. [222899]
Mr. Caplin: The number of recorded disciplinary cases and subsequent dismissals for alcohol misuse in the armed forces since 1997 are:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Summary discipline(3) | 3,421 |
| Courts-martial | 213 |
| Dismissed | 9 |
(3)Cases dealt with at summary level are not available for the Naval Service prior to 2001, the Army prior to October 2000 and for RAF officers prior to 2001.
These figures represent the number of those charged with drunkenness and vehicle alcohol related offences. They exclude those charged with other offences (egcriminal damage) where alcohol may have been a factor.
4 Apr 2005 : Column 1104W
Army Training Regiment
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Army Training Regiment will remain based at the Whittington Barracks near Lichfield following his review of his Department's property; and if he will make a statement. [222858]
Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 November 2004, Official Report, column 110W. The study into the future of Army Training Regiment Lichfield and Whittington Barracks will not be concluded until June 2005.
Bowman System
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the integration of Bowman into the (a) Royal Armoured Corps and (b) Infantry; and when he expects the system to be fully operational; [218130]
(2) if he will make a statement on the fitting of the Bowman radio system into warrior armoured fighting vehicles. [218135]
Mr. Ingram: We are progressively integrating the Bowman communications system into military vehicles, ships supporting amphibious operations, and support helicopters. Military vehicles are converted while units are in their training period. The first Royal Armoured Corps and Infantry units to be equipped with and trained to operate Bowman are within 12 Mechanised Brigade, which will deploy to Iraq in the spring with a core Bowman capability.
We are addressing the outstanding issues involved in integrating Bowman into Challenger main battle tanks and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles. This will inform decisions on when Bowman-fitted Challenger and Warrior vehicles are ready to deploy on operations.
We have always planned for Bowman, like other complex programmes, to be developed and delivered incrementally over a number of years. We currently expect the complete capability to be delivered next year, and for the conversion programme to continue up to 2008.
British Nuclear Deterrent
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the death toll that would arise from the use of one of the UK's (a) tactical and (b) strategic nuclear warheads on a population centre of (i) 100,000, (ii) 1 million and (iii)5 million inhabitants. [218492]
Mr. Hoon: The UK has no tactical nuclear weapons.
The casualties that might arise from the use of a nuclear weapon depend on a wide range of variable factors. These include the yield and design of the weapon; the accuracy of the delivery system; the nature and construction of the target; the geographical characteristics of the surrounding terrain; geological conditions in the target area; the height of weapon burst; and the weather conditions at the target.
4 Apr 2005 : Column 1105W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |