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Civilian Service Personnel

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects the target reduction for civilian service personnel of April 2006 to be reached by (a) natural wastage and (b) redundancies. [22363]

Mr. Touhig: The reductions being made by April 2006 by the Ministry off Defence will be achieved by a combination of natural wastage, voluntary early release and transfers under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) arrangements.

Eskopi Garrison, Cyprus

Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to reduce (a) illegal drug-taking and (b) excessive drinking amongst British soldiers posted abroad over the last 12 months, with particular reference to the Eskopi garrison in Cyprus. [21528]

 
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Mr. Touhig: No specific changes have been made to the Army's policies on drug and alcohol abuse over the last 12 months. The Army has in place a robust drug policy based on prevention, detection and disciplinary or administrative action. Similarly, the Army's policy on alcohol misuse is based on prevention through education, tackling the symptoms of misuse and where appropriate taking disciplinary action against those who offend.

Education and information strategies for substance misuse, including both alcohol and drugs, have been developed which are implemented at all stages in the careers of soldiers wherever they are based, on at least an annual basis.

Although implemented more than 12 months ago, measures in Cyprus include the provision of additional recreational and welfare facilities within barrack areas coupled with a robust out of bounds policy. The Army Compulsory Drugs Test team visits Cyprus on a regular basis.

F15 Accident

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the full report of the board of inquiry into the USAF F15 accident in Scotland on 26 March 2001. [22874]

Mr. Touhig: I am unable to release a copy of the board of inquiry at present, as the next of kin of the pilots have not yet been briefed on the contents. When that process has been completed I will write to the hon. Member, and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the board of inquiry into the USAF F15 accident in Scotland on 26 March 2001 was commenced; when it was completed; and what the reason was for the amount of time taken between the accident and the start of the inquiry. [22875]

Mr. Touhig: The board of inquiry into the USAF F15 accident in Scotland commenced on 27 March 2001, the day after the accident, and completed on 8 June 2005.

Gershon Review

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made, in terms of (a) headcount reductions and (b) cost savings, in achieving the efficiency objectives set for the Department by the Gershon review. [21300]

Mr. Touhig: Progress was reported in Budget 2005 and in the Departmental Annual Reports. Further progress will be reported in the Autumn Performance Reports and at aggregate level in the pre-Budget report.

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who in the Department has been made responsible for achieving the efficiency objectives set for the Department by the Gershon review. [21314]

John Reid: I am responsible for the overall delivery of the Department's efficiency programme.

King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2005, Official
 
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Report, column 1052W, if he will list those consulted over the new name of the King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment; and how many (a) district councils and (b) hon. Members in the North West were consulted on the new name of the Regiment. [22389]

Mr. Ingram: Further to my answer of 19 October 2005, Official Report, column 1052W, there was an extensive process of local consultation on the titles of the new Regiments before the Divisions made their recommendations to the Executive Committee of the Army Board (ECAB). The conduct of local consultation was very much a matter for the relevant Regiments and Divisions, and they were subsequently not required to formally consult district councils and MPs in advance of their recommendation to ECAB. In making their recommendations, however, the King's Division, where these Regiments sit, were keenly aware of local views.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many letters of opposition were submitted in response to consultation on the new name of the King's, Lancashire and Border Regiment. [22390]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has received approximately 20 letters on the subject of the amalgamation of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, The King's Regiment and the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, of which one was in regard to the new title. However, this does not include any letters that may have been received by the regimental associations, who sit outside the Ministry of Defence' s chain of command.

Military Records

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will transfer to Scotland the index cards comprising First World War Scottish military records, with particular reference to those held at Hayes and earmarked for destruction. [23129]

Mr. Touhig: As I advised the House on 9 June 2005, Official Report, column 640W, the Ministry of Defence has no further administrative use for the index cards to the World War I army medal rolls formerly held at Hayes. The National Archives has copied and makes publicly available almost all of the information they contain. The Department along with The National Archives, has actively sought to identify a suitable institution prepared to accept the original cards, understanding the value attached to such records by many people. The women's index cards have now been transferred to the Imperial War Museum and the remainder of the collection is with the Western Front Association.

It would be difficult to extract accurately all the cards relating to Scotland by whatever definition was chosen even if full information was available, and because the index cards are arranged alphabetically to attempt to do so would destroy the coherence of the collection.

Opinion Surveys

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by the Department and its agencies in the last 12 months; if he will place
 
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copies of the results of each survey in the Library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid. [14808]

Mr. Touhig: The Ministry of Defence has commissioned two corporate level opinion polls in the last 12 months, designed to research the reputation of the armed forces and the Department in a number of areas. The surveys were carried out in March and August 2005 by Ipsos at a total cost of £80,804 including VAT. In addition, an internal survey of Service and civilian opinion on a range of questions was carried out in April by the Defence Analytical Services Agency at a cost of £16,947 excluding VAT.

Details of other surveys that may have been conducted by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

I am today placing copies of the results of all three surveys in the Library of the House.

Territorial Army

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army centres are in the constituency of Hemel Hempstead; what plans he has to open further such centres; and if he will make a statement. [22742]

Mr. Touhig: There are no Territorial Army centres in the Hemel Hempstead constituency. As the hon. Member will be aware, work is currently underway to rebalance the Territorial Army, and the associated estate, so that it is aligned with changes to the Regular Army under the Future Army Structure work. This is a nationwide study that is not due to report until later in the year and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome.

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