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19 Dec 2005 : Column 2342W—continued
Iraq/Afghanistan
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the identities of the killers of the six Royal Military Police who died at Al Majarr Al Kabir in Iraq on 24 June 2003 are known by the British authorities. [30738]
Mr. Ingram: The identities of individuals suspected of being involved in the incident in which the six Royal Military Policemen died in Al Majarr Al Kabir on 24 June 2003 are known to the British authorities.
Jurisdiction for this case lies with the central criminal court of Iraq and they are responsible for issuing any arrest warrants. Case papers, which take account of theRoyal Military Police investigation, including the identity of key suspects, have been lodged with the court. The Ministry of Defence will continue to provide whatever support it can.
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the US mid-term elections in November 2006 on the programme and timetable for withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. [38259]
Mr. Ingram: Withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq and Afghanistan is a matter for the individual troop contributing nations. Withdrawal of UK forces does not depend on particular dates or timetables but on achieving certain conditions.
Married Quarters
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 98W, on married quarters, what the cost to his Department of the empty married quarters properties was in the last year for which figures are available; what plans his Department has for reducing this number; and if he will make a statement. [37767]
Mr. Touhig:
The Married Quarters estate in Great Britain comprises some 49,000 properties of which approximately 7,900 can be empty at any one time. The figure of 7,900 fluctuates throughout the year and the
19 Dec 2005 : Column 2343W
cost cannot readily be identified. However, the nominal rental cost of that number of properties would be around £22 million. In practice, the vast majority of properties remain empty for considerably less than a year.
The number of vacant properties is kept under constant review and they are managed either for continued use, or for disposal where it can be demonstrated that there is no identified longer-term need. The level of empty properties has historically been higher than social housing norms largely because the Ministry of Defence queues houses for families, not families for houses. A number of studies into future basing requirements is currently under way and some of the empty homes are being held against future decisions or are earmarked for work to improve their condition.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 98W, on married quarters, where the married quarters in England which have been empty for longest are located; and if he will make a statement. [37768]
Mr. Touhig: This information will take a little time to obtain from the database. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) of 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2054W, on married quarters, how many properties in the married quarters estate he expects to be classified as empty in each of the next three financial years; and if he will make a statement. [37769]
Mr. Touhig: It is not possible to predict accurately the number of married quarters that will be empty in each of the next three financial years. Approximately 7,900 properties can be empty at any one time and that number fluctuates depending upon demand.
The following table gives details of those properties in Great Britain that have been identified for disposal and those which are currently empty.
| Properties identified for disposal | Currently empty pending disposal | |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | 568 | 269 |
| 2007–08 | 149 | 31 |
| 2008–09 | 221 | 34 |
Properties in the married quarters estate that are leased from Annington Homes are prepared for disposal in sufficient numbers to meet the minimum number criteria laid down in the 1996 Sale Agreement. Typically this means either 10 per cent. of a site or 20 properties (whichever is the lesser) have to be available for disposal at any time. Consequently, empty properties are retained until sufficient numbers at a site become available. Married quarters which are owned by the Ministry of Defence can be disposed of more easily upon vacant possession.
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Medical Provision (Gulf)
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical provision is available in the Gulf for British forces; and whether it is provided exclusively by British medical personnel. [37265]
Mr. Touhig: Medical support to any deployed operation is absolutely vital, and British forces in the Gulf have access to a wide range of high quality medical care, the majority of which is provided by UK Defence Medical Services.
Specifically, there are three levels of Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) available to the British forces in the Gulf. These are:
Role 1—Primary health care, specialised first aid, triage, resuscitation and stabilisation.
In addition to the organic role 1 facilities within the deployed elements, there is also a facility at Basra air station with additional strategic, tactical and immediate response teams components deployed.
Health care providers also give basic occupational medicine and preventative medical advice including:
Role 2—Reception and triage of casualties, and resuscitation and treatment of shock to a higher level than role 1 MTFs.
May include damage control surgery and a short term holding facility for casualties until they can be returned to duty or evacuated. Can be enhanced to include primary surgery (PS), intensive care unit (ICU), and medium and low dependency nursing care beds (MLDs). May also cover:
There are role 2 facilities at Al Amarah and Al Muthanna; the latter has Australian medical personnel supporting UK personnel.
Role 3—Deployed hospitalisation and associated support elements including PS, ICU, MLDs, diagnostic support and mission tailored clinical specialities for emergency medical care.
The holding capacity allows for beds for the sick and injured, diagnosis and treatment of patients who may return to duty within the Joint Operations Area (JOA), within the constraints of the Theatre Holding Policy. Role 3 facilities reinforce those of roles 2 and control or give ready-access to Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) assets. These may include:
Advanced and specialist diagnostic capabilities to support clinical specialists (CT scan, arthroscopy, sophisticated laboratory tests);
The MOD has a role 3 field hospital at Shaibah logistics base, which is currently supported by a Czech surgical team. This has the additional capability of a theatre dental team, a mental health team, two aeromedical evacuation liaison officers (AELO), and a detachment of 84 Medical Supply Squadron.
Other deployed facilities include:
Other troop contributing nations provide facilities which, if necessary, our troops can access. Similarly, other nations can access our facilities.
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