House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 17 Nov 2005 (pt 13)

17 Nov 2005 : Column 1413W—continued

HMS Sheffield

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests have been made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for information relating to HMS Sheffield; when the requests were made; and on what date a decision was made on each request. [28356]

Mr. Ingram: Three requests for information (RFI) from different applicants have been made relating to HMS Sheffield under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. One RFI was made in January, and the other two in February. Full replies have been deferred pending the outcome of the departmental review that I commissioned in April 2005 to consider what information can be made available publicly concerning the investigation into the loss of HMS Sheffield during the Falklands conflict. My letter of 7 April (D/MSU/2/5/1) refers, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

17 Nov 2005 : Column 1414W

Armed Forces

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints of (a) unfair treatment, (b) discrimination, (c) harassment and (d) bullying have been made by members of the armed forces in each year since 1997. [27614]

Mr. Touhig: The armed forces do not record complaints of unfair treatment as a separate category, nor do they differentiate between those relating to discrimination and harassment.

The number of complaints received by the armed forces of (a) discrimination and harassment and (b) bullying in each year since 1998 are as follows:

Discrimination/harassment Bullying

1998 114 37

1999 72 44

2000 50 67

2001 59 41

2002 30 55

2003 29 35

2004 45 47

	Discrimination/harassment	Bullying
1998	114	37
1999	72	44
2000	50	67
2001	59	41
2002	30	55
2003	29	35
2004	45	47

Comprehensive figures for 1997 are not available.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen and women injured on active service since 2000 have stayed on in the armed forces in a non-combatant role; and if he will make a statement. [28283]

Mr. Touhig: According to the Geneva Conventions (Protocol 1, Article 43), the only uniformed personnel to whom the term non-combatant" applies are medics and chaplains. Therefore, if a serving member of the armed forces who is subject to illness or injury is medically downgraded, enabling them to continue in service while being unfit for operational deployment, this does not mean that they become a non-combatant (unless of course they are discharged from the armed forces or they subsequently transfer to one of the non-combatant branches).

The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 2 November 2005, Official Report, column 1067W, how many foreign nationals are serving in the armed forces, broken down by country of origin. [28362]

Mr. Touhig: The numbers of UK armed forces personnel who are foreign nationals are shown in the following table:
UK regular forces who are foreign nationals

Number
September 2005⁽⁸⁾ All services⁽⁷⁾ Naval Service Army RAF

Total recorded foreign nationals⁽⁹⁾ 7,155 485 ⁽¹¹⁾6,460 ⁽¹²⁾210

Country

Antigua ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Australia 110 20 75 15

Bahamas ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Bangladesh 5 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Barbados 20 5 10 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Belize 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Botswana 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Cameroon 20 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 20 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Canada 105 20 65 20

Cyprus ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Dominican Republic 15 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 15 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Egypt ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Eire 335 60 210 60

Falkland Islands ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Fiji 2,040 70 1,965 5

Gambia 75 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 70 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Germany⁽⁹⁾ 5 ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Ghana 590 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 585 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Gibraltar ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Grenada 55 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 50 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Guyana 15 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 15 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

India 45 5 40 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Jamaica 1,030 25 975 25

Kenya 105 5 95 5

Malawi 85 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 80 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Malaysia 10 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 5 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Malta 10 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 5 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Mauritius 25 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 20 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Montserrat ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—;

Namibia ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—;

Nepal 25 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 25 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

New Zealand 85 10 65 5

Nigeria 55 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 55 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Other African Country ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Other Asiatic Country ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Pacific Islands ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Pakistan 10 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 10 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Papua New Guinea ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—; ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Seychelles 10 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 10 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Sierra Leone 40 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 40 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Singapore ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

South Africa 710 55 650 5

Sri Lanka⁽¹⁰⁾ 15 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 10 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

St Christopher ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾—

St Helena 30 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 20 10

St Kitts ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

St Lucia 225 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 220 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

St. Vincent 420 135 285 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Swaziland 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Switzerland ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Tanzania ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Tonga 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 5 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Trinidad and Tobago 95 15 70 10

Uganda 35 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 35 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Ukraine ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

United Arab Emirates 10 10 ⁽¹⁵⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

USA 5 ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾—

West Indies 5 ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁴⁾— ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Zambia 20 ⁽¹⁴⁾— 15 ⁽¹⁵⁾—

Zimbabwe/Rhodesia 590 15 565 10

Other Non-British5, 6 20 ⁽¹⁵⁾— 20 ⁽¹⁴⁾—

Not Recorded 705 600 25 80⁽¹³⁾

⁽⁷⁾ RAF and Army data are for UK regular forces (trained and untrained), including Nursing Services and excluding full-time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. Naval Service figures are for UK Regular Forces including Nursing Services, FIRS and activated reservists.
⁽⁸⁾ Naval Service data are provided by AFPAA as data are not centrally held. Data are for personnel serving at 3 October 2005.
Army data are provided by DASA for personnel serving at 1 September 2005.
RAF data are provided by AFPAA as data are not centrally held. Data are for personnel serving as at 16 September 2005.
⁽⁹⁾ Includes personnel with nationality recorded as West German.
⁽¹⁰⁾ Includes personnel with nationality recorded as Ceylon.
⁽¹¹⁾ Includes personnel with nationality recorded as Commonwealth/foreign and personnel with nationality recorded as Foreign/foreign.
⁽¹²⁾ Includes personnel with nationality recorded as Foreign National.
⁽¹³⁾ Includes 80 personnel recorded as Commonwealth by birth, but with no nationality recorded.
⁽¹⁴⁾ Denotes less than five.
⁽¹⁵⁾ Denotes zero.
Note:
Data are rounded to 5 to prevent disclosure of sensitive personal information. Due to the founding methods used totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.

17 Nov 2005 : Column 1415W

17 Nov 2005 : Column 1417W

Number
September 2005⁽⁸⁾	All services⁽⁷⁾	Naval Service	Army	RAF
Total recorded foreign nationals⁽⁹⁾	7,155	485	⁽¹¹⁾6,460	⁽¹²⁾210

Country
Antigua	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Australia	110	20	75	15
Bahamas	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Bangladesh	5	⁽¹⁴⁾—	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Barbados	20	5	10	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Belize	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Botswana	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Cameroon	20	⁽¹⁵⁾—	20	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Canada	105	20	65	20
Cyprus	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Dominican Republic	15	⁽¹⁴⁾—	15	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Egypt	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Eire	335	60	210	60
Falkland Islands	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Fiji	2,040	70	1,965	5
Gambia	75	⁽¹⁴⁾—	70	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Germany⁽⁹⁾	5	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Ghana	590	⁽¹⁴⁾—	585	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Gibraltar	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Grenada	55	⁽¹⁴⁾—	50	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Guyana	15	⁽¹⁵⁾—	15	⁽¹⁵⁾—
India	45	5	40	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Jamaica	1,030	25	975	25
Kenya	105	5	95	5
Malawi	85	⁽¹⁴⁾—	80	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Malaysia	10	⁽¹⁴⁾—	5	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Malta	10	⁽¹⁴⁾—	5	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Mauritius	25	⁽¹⁵⁾—	20	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Montserrat	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—;
Namibia	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—;
Nepal	25	⁽¹⁵⁾—	25	⁽¹⁵⁾—
New Zealand	85	10	65	5
Nigeria	55	⁽¹⁴⁾—	55	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Other African Country	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Other Asiatic Country	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Pacific Islands	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Pakistan	10	⁽¹⁴⁾—	10	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Papua New Guinea	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—;	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Seychelles	10	⁽¹⁵⁾—	10	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Sierra Leone	40	⁽¹⁵⁾—	40	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Singapore	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
South Africa	710	55	650	5
Sri Lanka⁽¹⁰⁾	15	⁽¹⁵⁾—	10	⁽¹⁴⁾—
St Christopher	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—
St Helena	30	⁽¹⁴⁾—	20	10
St Kitts	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
St Lucia	225	⁽¹⁴⁾—	220	⁽¹⁴⁾—
St. Vincent	420	135	285	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Swaziland	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Switzerland	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Tanzania	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Tonga	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—	5	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Trinidad and Tobago	95	15	70	10
Uganda	35	⁽¹⁵⁾—	35	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Ukraine	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
United Arab Emirates	10	10	⁽¹⁵⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
USA	5	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—
West Indies	5	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁴⁾—	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Zambia	20	⁽¹⁴⁾—	15	⁽¹⁵⁾—
Zimbabwe/Rhodesia	590	15	565	10
Other Non-British5, 6	20	⁽¹⁵⁾—	20	⁽¹⁴⁾—
Not Recorded	705	600	25	80⁽¹³⁾

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of armed service personnel in 2002–03 were (a) Irish citizens and (b) foreign nationals. [28396]

Mr. Touhig: The information requested is shown in the following table. Historical nationality data for the naval service and the RAF cannot be provided as data is not centrally held. Army data is provided by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA):
Percentage

Irish citizen Foreign nationals

1 April 2002

Naval service n/a n/a

Army 2.0 2.5

Royal Air Force n/a n/a

1 April 2003

Navel service n/a n/a

Army 2.0 4.0

Royal Air Force n/a n/a

n/a=denotes data not available
Note:
UK Regular Forces include Nursing Services and exclude full-time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. They include both trained and untrained personnel.
Source:
DASA(Tri-Service)

	Irish citizen	Foreign nationals
1 April 2002
Naval service	n/a	n/a
Army	2.0	2.5
Royal Air Force	n/a	n/a

1 April 2003
Navel service	n/a	n/a
Army	2.0	4.0
Royal Air Force	n/a	n/a

Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the terms of reference were of research undertaken in the past five years into the socio-economic background of recruits to the armed services; what the size was of the sample in each case; what the principal conclusions were; and if he will place copies of research in the Library. [26274]

Mr. Touhig: No research has been undertaken by the Ministry of Defence in the last five years into the socio-economic background of recruits.

However, in 1999–2000, research into the socio-economic background of a sample of 500 Army recruits in the Cardiff catchment area was undertaken privately by a member of the armed forces in connection with an academic thesis, and was referred to in the evidence provided to the House of Commons Defence Committee for their inquiry into Duty of Care.

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