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12 Sept 2005 : Column 2278W—continued
Army Applicants
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications to join the Army from Northern Ireland were rejected on national security grounds in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [14526]
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Mr. Touhig: During 2003 nine applications to join the Army from Northern Ireland were rejected on grounds of national security. The figure for rejected applications during 2004 was 39 and up until 21 July 2005 the figure was five.
The figures relate to applications from within Northern Ireland wishing to join the regular Army, including the General Service battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment (R IRISH), and the Home Service battalions of the R IRISH.
Bullying/Harassment
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many payments have been made in the last five years to members and former members of HM armed forces in compensation for ill-treatment, bullying or harassment experienced while serving; and what the total cost was in each year. [14518]
Mr. Touhig: Compensation relating to common law and Employment Tribunal cases paid to members and former members of HM armed forces for ill-treatment, bullying or harassment experienced while serving and settled during the last five years are as follows:
| Financial year | No of cases | Amount paid (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 4 | 20,000 |
| 2001–02 | 3 | 62,500 |
| 2002–03 | 10 | 134,389 |
| 2003–04 | 13 | 516,000 |
| 2004–05 | 8 | 162,400 |
Defence Estate Byelaws
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress and timetable of the review of the defence estate byelaws. [14414]
Mr. Touhig: In October 2004, the Ministry of Defence (MOD set up a team to conduct an extensive review of all military byelaws. An initial appraisal conducted across the defence estate identified in excess of 150 sites, where byelaws require review. A five-year rolling review programme, including priorities, has been drawn up. The Military Lands Act 1892 empowers the Secretary of State for Defence to make a new byelaw. The process takes approximately 18 months in each case. It is intended that the first proposed new byelaw stemming from the review will me made available for public consultation in September 2005. Subject to the outcome of the consultation process, the first new byelaw should come into force in spring 2006.
In order to facilitate public access and consultation during the review, a MOD Byelaws Internet website is being constructed and will go on line in mid-August 2005.
Departmental Facilities
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all of his Department's facilities in the UK with staff of over 10 personnel, broken down by nation and region of the UK. [14912]
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Mr. Touhig: Information on civilian and military personnel is regularly published by DASA at Government Office Region level where it is believed the data is of sufficient quality. Individual defence facilities may hold data at a local level, but centralised systems are not able to provide a reliable breakdown to this level of detail.
Individual defence facilities do not routinely publish data, as different organisations and agencies are responsible for the same location or site.
UK Regular Forces Distribution across UK (TSP10) reports the number of military personnel by nation, government office region and local authority. A copy of which can be found in the Library of the House, showing data at 1 July 2004. UK Regular Forces Distribution across UK (TSP10) at 1 April 2005 will be available later this year.
The following table shows gives the number of civilians by Government Office Region.
(10)This table uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (see www.dasa.mod.uk).
(11)Includes staff who were temporarily absent.
Source:
DASA(Civilian)
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Diana Elias
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Diana Elias, of Enfield Southgate, is eligible for a £10,000 award under the ex-gratia scheme for British groups interned by the Japanese during the Second World War. [14080]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 21 July 2005]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has appealed the High Court decision of 7 July 2005 that the birthlink criteria used to determine the eligibility of civilian internees under the ex-gratia payment scheme for former Far East Prisoner of War and Civilian Internees resulted in unlawful indirect race discrimination. It was these birthlink criteria that Mrs Elias did not meet. Until the legal proceedings have been concluded and a lawful basis for the civilian element of the scheme established, the initial decision that Mrs Elias was ineligible for a £10,000 award remains the subject of review. I wish to see a proper
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resolution of the case quickly, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has agreed that the appeal is appropriate for expedition in the Court of Appeal lists given the advanced age of the claimant herself and of other former internees who have a direct interest in the outcome of the case.
Disablement Pensions
Mr. Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of applications for war disablement pensions were successful for each major disability in each year since April 1997. [14024]
Mr. Touhig [holding answer 21 July 2005]: Departmental information systems cannot provide a breakdown of War Disablement Claims by major disability" as this level of medical data is not available. It is however possible to provide information on the percentage disability awarded of first claims cleared each year since 2000–01, and this is given as follows:
Note:
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
Future Rapid Effects System
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what his Department's current estimate is of the whole life cost of the Future Rapid Effects System programme; [13274]
(2) what the reasons are for the increase in the estimated procurement cost of the Future Rapid Effects System. [13273]
Mr. Ingram: The revised estimate of the procurement cost of FRES reflects the increase in the number of vehicles we plan to procure to around 3,500. Studies being conducted during the assessment phase are aimed at developing a series of options for meeting the requirement and the outcome of these studies will include information that will enable us to formulate reliable whole life cost estimates.
Group 4 Securicor
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department and public bodies and agencies for which he is responsible on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in 2004–05; and if he will list (a) the nature and location of services provided and (b) the start and end dates of such contracts. [13524]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 21 July 2005]: The Ministry of Defence paid Group 4 Securicor companies a total of £153,190 including VAT in the period 2004–05 for the provision of security and security-related services to various sites in England and Scotland. It would not be possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to specify the detailed services provided under each contract, nor, for security reasons would I be prepared to give detailed information on security measures taken at individual sites. Locations and contract periods are given in the following table:
(12)Sums paid in financial year 2004–05 related to work undertaken in financial year 2003–04.
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