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Gulf War Veterans

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the personal medical records of veterans from Wales of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict have been lost. [22346]

 
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Mr. Touhig [pursuant to the reply, 1 November 2005, Official Report, c. 913W]: It has come to light that some of the information about the retention of medical records of service and ex-Service personnel was misleading.

Medical records of members of the armed forces are not held centrally. The medical records of individuals who have left the services are held by each service at individual central locations. The records of those still serving are normally held at their unit medical centre. They are not held in a way that allows the identification of those who at some stage resided in Wales. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate the number that may be missing.

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen and women from Wales who served in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict are suffering from diagnosed illnesses. [22437]

Mr. Touhig [pursuant to the reply, 2 November 2005, Official Report, c. 1069W]: It has come to light that some of the information about the retention of medical records of service and ex-service personnel was misleading.

Information on all the illnesses reported by veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict is not held centrally. Although the medical records of individuals who have left the services are held by each service at individual central locations, the MOD does not hold records of all illnesses reported after an individual has left the service. Furthermore, for those still serving, medical records are normally held at their unit medical centre. They are not held in a way that allows the identification of those who at some stage resided in Wales.

Harrier Servicing

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost per man hour of servicing the Harrier fleet at (a) RAF Cottesmore and (b) the Defence Aviation Repair Agency, St. Athan. [31646]

Mr. Ingram: Costs for servicing the Harrier fleet are not recorded by man-hour and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

In overall terms, however, the concentration of Harrier aircraft maintenance, including Harrier GR7 to GR9 upgrade, at RAF Cottesmore, and the introduction of more effective and efficient processes is expected to deliver savings of £44 million over financial years 2005–06—2008–09.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average repair times were in the last period for which figures are available on Harrier jets (a) at RAF Cottesmore and (b) the Defence Aviation Repair Agency St. Athan. [32700]

Mr. Ingram: Detailed information on average repair turn round times of aircraft is not held centrally. Repair times are agreed individually according to the extent of the damage and operational requirements. To obtain an accurate assessment of average repair times would require the manual checking of individual aircraft records to ascertain which elements of work were undertaken for repair purposes, and which fell into
 
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other categories, such as, upgrade, role change or scheduled maintenance. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of infiltration by insurgents of Iraqi security forces; and if he will make a statement. [23118]

John Reid: We are aware that a number of insurgents, militia members or individuals with militia allegiance have been able to join the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and that in some cases ISF members have committed insurgent acts. We continue to work with the Iraqi authorities to assess the scale of this problem. The Ministry of Defence does not, however, conduct routine monitoring of a kind that would provide an accurate quantitative assessment of ISF infiltration in the Multi National Division (South East) area where UK forces are operating.

NATO Secondees

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will pay those seconded to NATO, including those in the Territorial Army and reservists, the full rate according to current agreements. [32213]

Mr. Touhig: I understand that the hon. Member is referring to comparisons in pay between members of the UK's armed forces and those of the armed forces of other NATO member states.

The UK armed forces have an expectation of world wide service and their remuneration package is structured accordingly. Their pay is recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB). For its 2005 report to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence, the AFPRB commissioned a survey into the military remuneration packages of 12 countries which contribute to international operations alongside UK forces. The AFPRB concluded from the results that the UK package remains broadly comparable with those offered by other nations.

Naval Logistical Ships

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total overspend on the two logistical ships under construction at Swan Hunter has been to date. [33736]

Mr. Ingram: The increase in costs above the originally agreed contract value for the two Swan Hunter vessels is £84 million. However, the company have indicated a likelihood of a further cost increase. The Ministry of Defence is currently in discussion with the company and these discussions are subject to commercial confidentiality.

Operation Telic

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women who have served in Operation Telic have reported illnesses similar to those reported by veterans of the Gulf War. [22473]

 
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Mr. Touhig [pursuant to the reply, 1 November 2005, Official Report, c. 916W]: It has come to light that some of the information about the retention of medical records of service and ex-service personnel was misleading.

Information on all the illnesses reported by service personnel who have served on Operation Telic is not held centrally. Although the medical records of individuals who have left the services are held by each service at individual central locations, the records of personnel who are still serving are normally held at their unit medical centre.

Royal Ordnance (Chorley)

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the contract between his Department and Proof Yard, Royal Ordnance in Chorley; and whether the contract for work at the Chorley Royal Ordnance site will be renewed after March 2006. [33965]

Mr. Ingram: The current contract is due to expire on 31 March 2006 and there are no plans to extend the contract beyond that date.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to ensure that redundancy payments to former employees of Royal Ordnance in Chorley are fully funded. [33967]

Mr. Ingram: The former Royal Ordnance site at Chorley is now owned by BAE Systems Land Systems. Any redundancy payments made to employees arising from the closure of the site are a matter for the company.

University Officer Training Corps

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training in leadership is offered to participants in University Officer Training Corps schemes. [33136]

Mr. Touhig: Both theoretical and practical leadership training is conducted throughout the syllabus in both military and adventurous training, sport and social activities. Military training, coloured by the sponsor service, is used as a vehicle to deliver leadership opportunities rather than simply delivering military skills. Those who successfully complete the syllabus may sit an examination to gain a City and Guilds Council of Military Education Committees Leadership Award. The award is based on the five core skills areas of: leadership, organisation and self-discipline, communication, teamwork, analysis and problem solving.

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