House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 Oct 2005 (pt 3)

10 Oct 2005 : Column 7W—continued

Armed Forces Deployment

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list UK armed forces units hatted for potential deployment with (a) EU and (b) NATO units. [16073]

Mr. Ingram: The Government declare forces to NATO and the EU through the Defence Planning Questionnaire and Force Catalogue respectively. The declarations entail that those forces are earmarked as available in principle for potential deployment on NATO or EU operations. Any actual decision to deploy is taken by the Government, voluntarily and on a case-by-case basis. However the Government are committed under article V of the North Atlantic Treaty to deployment in collective defence as required.

The forces declared are shown in the following tables. The tables' slightly different formats reflect the different ways in which NATO and the EU request nations to express their declarations.
UK units earmarked for potential NATO operations

Unit type Country plans 2005

Land Units

Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) complete, including:

Signal Brigades 2

Engineer Brigade 1

Reconnaissance Brigade 1

Artillery Brigade 1

Air Assault Brigade 1

Joint Helicopter Force 1

Rear Support Command Headquarters 1

RAPIER Air Defence Regiment 1

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit 1

1 (UK) Armoured Division complete, including:

Armoured Brigades 2

Mechanised Brigade 1

Logistic Brigade 1

3 (UK) Division complete, including:

Mechanised Brigades 2

Light Brigade 1

Logistic Brigade 1

Maritime Units (Royal Navy and Royal Marines)

Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR):

Maritime Component Commander 1

Aircraft Carrier:

Aircraft Carrier—CVS (including Sea Harrier) 3

Destroyers/Frigates (AAW/ASW Ships):

DD/FF (Multipurpose) 25

Submarines:

Attack Nuclear 10

Ballistic Missile Nuclear 4

Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ships):

Landing Platform Dock 2

Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ship):

Landing Platform Helicopter 1

Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ships):

Landing Ship Logistics 3

Mobile Logistic Support Ship (MLS):

(Ammunition) 2

Mine Warfare Vessels:

Mine Counter Measures Command and Support Ship 2

Mine Hunter/Mine Sweeper 16

Auxiliary Ships:

(OILER) 10

RoRo (AKR) 6

HQ 3 CDO BDE RM 1

3 CDO BDE:

(Amphibious Brigade comprising 3 RM Battalions, Artillery, Signals, Aviation and Logistics support) 1

Air Units

E-3D 6

Tornado F3 20

Jaguar 14

Rapier 4

Tornado GR-1/4 60

Force Protection—Ground Defence Module 6

Nimrod-MR2 18

BAE125 5

BAE146 1

C-130 J/K 41

C-17 4

Force Protection—Ground Ops Support 5

Tristar C2 3

Tristar K1/KCI—VC10 C1K 14

VC10 K3/4 9

Harrier GR 7/9 28

Joint Units

Combat Search and Rescue helicopters 8

Joint Force Special Operations Component Commander 1

Special Operations Forces Task Group 1

Joint Force Logistic Component, complete including:

Joint Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) Group 1

Infrastructure Engineering Brigade 1

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment 1

Role 3 Medical (Field Hospital) 1,000 beds

Pioneer Regiment 1

Port and Maritime Regiment 1

Movement Control Regiments 2

10 Oct 2005 : Column 8W

UK units earmarked for potential EU operations

Unit type Country plans 2005

Land Units

Armoured or Mechanised Divisional Headquarters complete 1

Brigade headquarters complete (drawn from armoured, mechanised or airborne as required) 1

General Support Signal Regiments 2

Armoured Regiments 2

Armoured Infantry Battalions 2

Mechanised Infantry Battalions 2

Air Assault Battalions 3

Composite Aviation Unit 1

Support Helicopter Force 1

Field Artillery Regiments 3

Multi-Barrelled Launcher Rocket System (MLRS) Battery 1

RAPIER Air Defence Regiments 2

Close Support Engineer Regiments 2

General Support Engineer Regiments 2

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company 1

Formation Reconnaissance Regiment 1

Special Operations Force Battalion 1

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit 1

Logistic Battalion 1

Transport Battalions 3

General Support Logistic Regiment 1

Maintenance and Recovery Battalion 1

Role 3 Medical (Field Hospital) Unit 1

Military Police Companies 2

Maritime Units (Royal Navy and Royal Marines)

Aircraft Carrier (With Sea Harrier) 1

Submarine Attack Nuclear 2

Destroyers/Frigates (AAW/ASW) 4

Auxiliary Ships 13

Amphibious Warfare Ships (LPH/LPD/LSL) 6

Mine Warfare Vessels 4

HQ 3 CDO BDE RM 1

3 CDO BDE RM 1

Survey Vessel 1

Air Units

Tornado F3 18

Tornado GR4 24

Harrier GR7/9 10

Jaguar 8

VC10K/Tristar AAR-D 15

Ground Based Air Defence 2

Communications aircraft (BAE 125) 2

APOD 1

SIBCRA Team 1

Tristar/VC10 PAX 11

C130 J/K TCC-M 43

C17 TCC-H 4

Command, Control, Communications and Information Assets

Operational Headquarters 1

Force Headquarters 1

Force Headquarters carrying ship 1

Special Operations Force Component Commander 1

Psychological Operations Component Commander 1

Land Component Commander HQ carrying ship 2

Land Component Commander 1

Maritime Component Commander 1

Air Component Commander 1

Combined Air Operations Centre 1

Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Assets

Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft 3

Airborne Early Warning aircraft 4

Electronic and signal intelligence gathering aircraft 2

Strategic reconnaissance aircraft 2

Ground-Based Electronic Warfare radar 1

Maritime Patrol Aircraft 4

Electronic Warfare Company Task Force 1

Surveillance and Target Acquisition unit 1

10 Oct 2005 : Column 9W

Unit type	Country plans 2005
Land Units
Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) complete, including:
Signal Brigades	2
Engineer Brigade	1
Reconnaissance Brigade	1
Artillery Brigade	1
Air Assault Brigade	1
Joint Helicopter Force	1
Rear Support Command Headquarters	1
RAPIER Air Defence Regiment	1
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit	1

1 (UK) Armoured Division complete, including:
Armoured Brigades	2
Mechanised Brigade	1
Logistic Brigade	1

3 (UK) Division complete, including:
Mechanised Brigades	2
Light Brigade	1
Logistic Brigade	1

Maritime Units (Royal Navy and Royal Marines)
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR):
Maritime Component Commander	1

Aircraft Carrier:
Aircraft Carrier—CVS (including Sea Harrier)	3

Destroyers/Frigates (AAW/ASW Ships):
DD/FF (Multipurpose)	25

Submarines:
Attack Nuclear	10
Ballistic Missile Nuclear	4
Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ships):
Landing Platform Dock	2

Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ship):
Landing Platform Helicopter	1

Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ships):
Landing Ship Logistics	3

Mobile Logistic Support Ship (MLS):
(Ammunition)	2

Mine Warfare Vessels:
Mine Counter Measures Command and Support Ship	2
Mine Hunter/Mine Sweeper	16

Auxiliary Ships:
(OILER)	10
RoRo (AKR)	6

HQ 3 CDO BDE RM	1

3 CDO BDE:
(Amphibious Brigade comprising 3 RM Battalions, Artillery, Signals, Aviation and Logistics support)	1

Air Units
E-3D	6
Tornado F3	20
Jaguar	14
Rapier	4
Tornado GR-1/4	60
Force Protection—Ground Defence Module	6
Nimrod-MR2	18
BAE125	5
BAE146	1
C-130 J/K	41
C-17	4
Force Protection—Ground Ops Support	5
Tristar C2	3
Tristar K1/KCI—VC10 C1K	14
VC10 K3/4	9
Harrier GR 7/9	28

Joint Units
Combat Search and Rescue helicopters	8
Joint Force Special Operations Component Commander	1
Special Operations Forces Task Group	1
Joint Force Logistic Component, complete including:
Joint Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) Group	1
Infrastructure Engineering Brigade	1
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment	1
Role 3 Medical (Field Hospital)	1,000 beds
Pioneer Regiment	1
Port and Maritime Regiment	1
Movement Control Regiments	2

Unit type	Country plans 2005
Land Units
Armoured or Mechanised Divisional Headquarters complete	1
Brigade headquarters complete (drawn from armoured, mechanised or airborne as required)	1
General Support Signal Regiments	2
Armoured Regiments	2
Armoured Infantry Battalions	2
Mechanised Infantry Battalions	2
Air Assault Battalions	3
Composite Aviation Unit	1
Support Helicopter Force	1
Field Artillery Regiments	3
Multi-Barrelled Launcher Rocket System (MLRS) Battery	1
RAPIER Air Defence Regiments	2
Close Support Engineer Regiments	2
General Support Engineer Regiments	2
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company	1
Formation Reconnaissance Regiment	1
Special Operations Force Battalion	1
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit	1
Logistic Battalion	1
Transport Battalions	3
General Support Logistic Regiment	1
Maintenance and Recovery Battalion	1
Role 3 Medical (Field Hospital) Unit	1
Military Police Companies	2

Maritime Units (Royal Navy and Royal Marines)
Aircraft Carrier (With Sea Harrier)	1
Submarine Attack Nuclear	2
Destroyers/Frigates (AAW/ASW)	4
Auxiliary Ships	13
Amphibious Warfare Ships (LPH/LPD/LSL)	6
Mine Warfare Vessels	4
HQ 3 CDO BDE RM	1
3 CDO BDE RM	1
Survey Vessel	1

Air Units
Tornado F3	18
Tornado GR4	24
Harrier GR7/9	10
Jaguar	8
VC10K/Tristar AAR-D	15
Ground Based Air Defence	2
Communications aircraft (BAE 125)	2
APOD	1
SIBCRA Team	1
Tristar/VC10 PAX	11
C130 J/K TCC-M	43
C17 TCC-H	4

Command, Control, Communications and Information Assets
Operational Headquarters	1
Force Headquarters	1
Force Headquarters carrying ship	1
Special Operations Force Component Commander	1
Psychological Operations Component Commander	1
Land Component Commander HQ carrying ship	2
Land Component Commander	1
Maritime Component Commander	1
Air Component Commander	1
Combined Air Operations Centre	1

Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Assets
Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft	3
Airborne Early Warning aircraft	4
Electronic and signal intelligence gathering aircraft	2
Strategic reconnaissance aircraft	2
Ground-Based Electronic Warfare radar	1
Maritime Patrol Aircraft	4
Electronic Warfare Company Task Force	1
Surveillance and Target Acquisition unit	1

Bowman

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects Bowman to be fully operational. [15402]

10 Oct 2005 : Column 10W

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Igave on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2110W, to the hon. Member for Congleton (Ann Winterton).

Colombia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Department has spent on military aid to Colombia in each of the last five years. [16204]

Mr. Ingram: In Financial Years 2003–04 and 2004–05 the cost of military assistance provided by the UK MOD to the Colombian armed forces was around £120,000 per year. This assistance covered Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training and the provision of courses to members of the Colombian armed forces, both in Colombia and in the UK. The former aimed to reduce the number of civilian and military deaths from explosive devices, and the latter at introducing Colombian military personnel to British Defence concepts in key areas, such as Rules of Engagement and democratic and accountable control of the armed forces.

The information for previous years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions the Defence Export Services Organisation has provided advice to UK companies on the selection of agents in the last 12 months; [15340]

(2) what mechanisms the Defence Export Services Organisation uses to record the advice given by its (a) British-based and (b) overseas staff to companies on the selection of agents; [15341]

(3) whether the Defence Export Services Organisation provides (a) off the shelf lists and (b) bespoke lists of companies in relation to the selection of agents. [15342]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen) on 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 861W. Such advice is typically given in the course of routine and informal contact with industry and is therefore not normally minuted or recorded on file. For countries in which the use of agents is part of normal business practice, DESO tries to meet any requests received for a list, relying as far as possible on information already held.

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