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Departmental Finance

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the monthly forecasts of payment and receipts provided by his Department to the Treasury under its cash management scheme for (a) financial years 2002–03 to 2004–05 and (b) the first six months of 2005–06. [32706]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 February 2005, Official Report, column 963W to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson). Copies of the forecasts for February 2005 to October 2005 will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.

Departmental Staff

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) existing and (b) former Ministry of Defence (i) Ministers and (ii) officials have taken up offers of employment with companies involved in the arms trade in the last (A) 10, (B) five and (C) two years. [32355]

Mr. Ingram: Defence Ministers, members of the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence officials, like other Crown servants, are required to comply with rules on the acceptance of outside business appointments if they wish to take up other employment—whether in the defence industry or elsewhere—within two years of their retirement or resignation. It is not possible to determine whether those personnel that have joined companies in the defence industry have taken up specific employment in the arms trade.

Information on the number of former Defence Ministers and senior MOD personnel who have taken up appointments with outside companies after leaving office is contained in Annual Reports that have been produced since 1996 by The Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. Copies of these reports are available in the Library of the House.

Dundalk Bombing

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information has been requested from him by the Irish authorities in relation to the Dundalk bombing of 1975. [32264]

Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has received no direct request. The Northern Ireland Secretary was asked by the Irish authorities to provide relevant material held by HMG on the Dundalk bombing of 1975 and, in fulfilling this request, he consulted my right hon. Friend.

European Rapid Reaction Force

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he expects British forces to play in delivering combat logistics for the European rapid reaction force. [32709]

 
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John Reid: There is no European rapid reaction force. Member states make national forces available for particular EU-led operations voluntarily and on a case-by-case basis.

The EU Battlegroups initiative is delivering national and multinational units for very rapid reaction operations. Each Battlegroup is self-sufficient in support elements, including in combat logistics.

Fixed-wing Aircraft

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which fixed-wing aircraft types will be available for service at sea in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014 on present plans; [32613]

(2) if he will list the aircraft carriers which will be available to the fleet in (a) 2012, (b) 2013, (c) 2014, (d) 2015 and (e) 2016 on present plans. [32612]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 30 November 2005]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1088W.

Gibraltar

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on industrial relations with the Gibraltar Services Police. [32697]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 28 November 2005]: Industrial relations with the Gibraltar Services Police are underpinned by a constructive and co-operative relationship between the Gibraltar Service Police Staff Association (GSPSA) and the Gibraltar Command. Work and dialogue continue with a view to strengthening the relationship. However, there are some difficulties arising from an on-going legal action brought against the command by the GSPSA concerning a disputed backdated pay claim; the case is currently subject to action in the United Kingdom.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the answer of 11 November, Official Report, columns 854–56W, on Iraq, whether British officials have issued an apology to the Iraqi authorities with regard to any aspect of the events of 19 and 20 September in Basra; [29629]

(2) pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2005, Official Report, columns 854–56W, on Iraq, what information he has received concerning the two alleged deaths in custody at the Jameat prison in Basra, with particular reference to (a) the identities, (b) circumstances involved and (c) dates of death of the victims; [29630]

(3) pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2005, Official Report, columns 854–56W, on Iraq, what the response has been from the Iraqi authorities to UK representations regarding alleged human rights abuses at the Jameat Prison. [29631]

Mr. Ingram: No apologies have been given to the Iraqi authorities by officials in the Department with regard to any aspect of the events of 19 September. Some progress has been made in reforming elements of the Basra police which are implicated in alleged human
 
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rights abuses. Discussions are continuing. I am aware of two reported deaths of individuals in Iraqi custody in Basra. One occurred in April this year and the other in September. These are being pursued with the Iraqi authorities but it will be for them to decide which details are appropriate for public release when they have completed their investigations.

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost has been to date of compensation paid by his Department to Iraqi citizens since 2003. [33817]

Mr. Ingram: The total cost of compensation paid to date by the Ministry of Defence to Iraqi citizens since 2003 is £975,351, in respect of some 626 claims. The majority of these relate to property damage.

Joint Combat Aircraft

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the joint combat aircraft was initially intended to be capable of operating from Invincible-class aircraft carriers; and why this requirement has now been dropped. [33050]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 30 November 2005]: The joint combat aircraft (JCA) was originally conceived in 1996 (as the future carrier borne aircraft) with a view to replacing the Harriers on the Invincible-class carriers. Following the strategic defence review in 1998, when the decision was made to build two large replacement carriers, it was decided to design and develop the JCA to operate from the new platforms.

Kenya

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his Kenyan counterpart on the renewal of the agreement with Kenya and the UK allowing British soldiers access to local training fields in Nanyuki and Isiolo; and if he will make a statement. [31029]

Mr. Ingram: Since my last discussion with the hon. Mirugi Kariuki MP, Assistant Minister for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, in February, detailed negotiations about adjusting the restrictions currently placed on where the British Army can conduct its training have been led by the British high commissioner in Nairobi. In the meantime, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Kenya and the United Kingdom which expired in December 2004 has been extended.

Mutual Defence Agreement

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definition he uses of the special nuclear materials referred to in the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement. [32680]

John Reid: The definition of special nuclear material referred to in the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement is that recognised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is as detailed in article 1 of the IAEA's 1959 co-operation agreement with the United States of America.
 
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