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DEFENCE

Iraq

17. Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq. [8667]

John Reid: We condemn each and every terrorist attack. The vast majority of the victims are ordinary Iraqi people. They deserve our support in fighting this insurgency. We can expect attacks to continue as Iraq maintains progress towards a constitution, referendum and further elections. Attacks are mainly confined to four out of 18 provinces in Iraq. The Iraqi Security Forces are conducting, both independently and with coalition support, an increasing number of counter-insurgency operations.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his reply of 27 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1204–05W, on Iraq, whether comments by the
 
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British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate on the 27 August 2003 detainee interrogation policy concerned use of (a) dogs, (b) stress positions, (c) sleep management, (d) sensory deprivation, (e) yelling, (f) loud music and (g) light control. [9050]

Mr. Ingram: The content of the advice of the British Deputy Staff Judge Advocate given in August 2003 is covered by legal professional privilege and remains the property of the United States Government. For these reasons I am not able to comment on it.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1204–05W, on Iraq, whether the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq had a role in the formulation of a response to the Red Cross report on Abu Ghraib which he summarised for senior coalition personnel. [9095]

Mr. Ingram: The British Officer embedded within the office of the Staff Judge Advocate did not have a role in formulating the response to the ICRC report received in November 2003. An Australian Officer embedded within that office led in preparing the initial draft response and was working direct to the Staff Judge Advocate on that issue.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the amount and type of ordnance dropped on Iraq by RAF aircraft was in (a) November 2002, (b) December 2002, (c) January 2003 and (d) February 2003. [7261]

John Reid [holding answer 28 June 2005]: RAF aircraft used Paveway laser-guided precision bombs in Iraq over this period, while policing the no-fly zones. 16Paveways were dropped by UK aircraft in November 2002; 24 in December 2002; four in January 2003; and five in February 2003.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists are serving in Iraq; and what proportion had been previously mobilised for service (a) overseas and (b) in Iraq since May 2002. [8621]

Mr. Touhig: Just over 560 reservists are currently called out for permanent service and serving in Iraq. Of the 530 reservists from the Territorial Army and Army's Regular Reserve currently serving in Iraq, approximately 11 per cent. have previously been called out for permanent service in Iraq and 3 per cent. for other overseas operational service since May 2002. Information regarding previous permanent service undertaken by members of the other reserve forces is not held centrally and could be provided only by a manual check of individual records.

Africa (Peace-building)

18. Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department has played in strengthening African peace-building capabilities. [8668]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's contribution to the strengthening of African peace-building capability mainly focuses on peace support training of African armed forces and mentoring and advisory functions through its permanently deployed training teams and liaison officers. For example, at present,
 
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10Defence Attache"s and around 120 British armed forces personnel are based in Sub-Saharan Africa to assist in these tasks. Additionally, there are around 25 personnel seconded to UN missions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

22. Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department plays in strengthening African peace-building capabilities. [8672]

Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer Igave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Michael Jabez Foster).

Second World War

19. Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to commemorate the role of women in the Second World War. [8669]

Mr. Touhig: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Ms Thornberry) earlier today.

24. Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on activities organised by his Department to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the second world war. [8674]

Mr. Touhig: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence earlier today to my hon. Friend, the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier).

Procurement

20. Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what forecast he has made of total cost over-runs occurring in current defence procurement projects worth over £1 billion. [8670]

Mr. Ingram: Details of major equipment projects over £l billion and their performance against financial targets are set out in the Major Projects Report 2004 (MPR04). This year's report, MPR05, is due to be placed in the Library of the House prior to the summer recess.

There are additionally eight infrastructure and support projects outside the DPA worth over £1 billion, none of which is forecasting cost overruns.

Surface Fleet

21. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to enhance the Royal Navy's surface fleet. [8671]

Mr. Ingram: We are adapting and modernising the Royal Navy into a versatile maritime force that is structured to meet the challenges of the future. The capability of the surface fleet will be enhanced through the procurement of two new, large aircraft carriers, new Type 45 destroyers and new amphibious support shipping.

Veterans' Organisations

23. Mr. Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with veterans' organisations. [8673]

 
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Mr. Touhig: The Ministry of Defence maintains a close dialogue with veterans' organisations at both ministerial and official level. Since becoming Minister for Veterans, I have chaired a meeting of the Veterans Forum, which brings together representatives from the Ministry of Defence, other Government Departments and the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations (COBSEO) as part of the highly successful Veterans' Programme. I have also had introductory meetings with a number of individual veterans' organisations, and more are planned. Our discussions have been wide-ranging and constructive, and I look forward to working together to make the Veterans' Programme even more effective.

EU Defence Contribution

25. Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking in the EU to press for a greater defence contribution from EU states. [8675]

John Reid: During the United Kingdom's EU presidency we will promote a European Security and Defence Policy which is more capable, more coherent and more active. As presidency we are pressing ahead with the Headline Goal 2010 capability development process, aiming to deliver the final military Requirements Catalogue 2005.
 
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The UK also continues to play a leading role in the EU rapid-response Battlegroups initiative, to which 22 member states have so far declared commitments.

Armed Forces Personnel

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel applied to take up appointments with defence industry companies in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004, broken down by rank; and how many of the applications were accepted in each case. [9322]

Mr. Touhig: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer Igave on 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1394, tothe right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr.Ancram).

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