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25 Jan 2006 : Column 2127W—continued

Joint Casualty Treatment Ship

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Joint Casualty Treatment Ship programme. [44175]

Mr. Ingram: The Joint Casualty Treatment Ship programme aims to deliver a ship-borne medical facility broadly similar in scope to a field hospital, capable of treating a full range of casualties, whether from sea, land or air environments. It is intended to replace the capability currently provided by RFA Argus. A review of the programme is currently taking place which will inform the requirement further.

Merchant Fleet

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on measures to protect the British merchant fleet of the planned reduction in the fleet of commissioned frigates and destroyers; and if he will make a statement. [45193]

Mr. Ingram: The global threat to merchant shipping is kept under constant review, and the Royal Navy, in conjunction with other Government Departments and international partners, remains fully capable of providing support and assistance to British merchant shipping via its Maritime Trade Operations policy.

Nursing Services

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel at 1 April 2006 will comprise the (a) Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps and (b) Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service. [43694]

Mr. Touhig: The latest available information on the strength of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) and the Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) is given in the following table.
Number

	Strength 1 December 2005
QARANC	830
Officers(3)	260
Other Ranks	570
PMRAFNS	420
Officers	120
Other Ranks	300

⁽³⁾ Excludes the ranks colonel and above.
Source:
DASA (Tri-Service).





 
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QinetiQ

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work (a) the Department and (b) QinetiQ is undertaking to support the European Defence Agency's review of training and evaluation. [44172]

Mr. Ingram: Representatives from the Ministry of Defence participate, alongside their colleagues from other European nations, in a European Defence Agency (EDA) working group examining possible measures to rationalise the Defence Test and Evaluation base in Europe. QinetiQ is not directly involved in these discussions, but is consulted by the Ministry of Defence on matters of mutual interest. The EDA discussions are at an early stage, and no firm conclusions on the prospects for rationalisation have been reached.

RAF Bentley Priory

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of RAF Bentley Priory; what assessment he has made of its historic significance; and what discussions he has had on the subject with the Battle of Britain Fighter Association. [42319]

Mr. Touhig: Studies within the Ministry of Defence have concluded that there is no current defence requirement for retaining Bentley Priory and therefore the Department is considering options for its disposal. This work is being taken forward through Project MoDEL, which aims to consolidate the defence estate in Greater London to ensure that it is the right size and quality to support our future operational outputs and to improve working and living conditions for current and future generations of service personnel in London. The MOD is in the process of selecting an industry partner to take the project forward.

The MOD is well aware of the unique historical importance of RAF Bentley Priory. Defence Estates has completed a detailed Heritage Assessment, which was shared with English Heritage in July 2004. The Department has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in the future of RAF Bentley Priory, including the Battle of Britain Fighter Association (BoBFA), and understands their aspirations. Meetings have also been facilitated between BoBFA and the two short-listed industry bidders for the Project MoDEL contract. Defence Estates' staff are also engaging with BoBFA over the development of a formal Conservation Statement, which will act as the definitive identification of the site's heritage importance.

The MOD wishes to identify a long-term and sustainable solution that will ensure that the site is preserved in a way that is appropriate to its significant importance, whilst seeking to enhance public access. In doing so, it is important that we maintain the momentum of Project MoDEL, in order to realise the benefits it will deliver at the earliest opportunity.

Royal Ordnance

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on ammunition supplied to his Department by Royal Ordnance from overseas; and how much of the ammunition supplied was rejected as being unsuitable for use in 2004–05. [43905]

 
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Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence procures a range of defence general munitions from BAE Land Systems (Formerly Royal Ordnance) through a Framework Partnering Agreement. Sourcing is principally a matter for the company, which is free to make commercial decisions to source components or complete rounds of ammunition from overseas. MOD monitor the performance of all ammunition in service, whether sourced in the UK or overseas. Statistics on ammunition rejected and the original source country are not held centrally, and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Swimmer Delivery Vehicles

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he has received from the Royal Navy regarding the operational implications of the loss of underwater launch facilities for swimmer delivery vehicles supplied by HMS Spartan; [44030]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effects on (a) insertion teams and (b) transportation units of the loss of underwater launch facilities for swimmer delivery vehicles; [44032]

(3) in what year he expects underwater launch facilities for swimmer delivery vehicles to be restored. [44033]

Mr. Ingram: I am withholding this information on the grounds that disclosure would prejudice the defence of the UK and the capability and effectiveness of the armed forces.

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors were taken into account when HMS Spartan was selected (a) as the sole submarine capable of the underwater launch of swimmer delivery vehicles and (b) for decommissioning prior to other fleet submarines. [44031]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 24 January 2006]: The decision to reduce our attack submarines from 12 boats to 10 was taken as part of the Strategic Defence Review. HMS Spartan was selected as one of the submarines to be withdrawn from service taking into account such factors as her age, material state and capability. I am withholding the further information requested on the grounds that disclosure would prejudice the defence of the United Kingdom and the capability and effectiveness of the armed forces.

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) second lieutenants, (b) lieutenants, (c) captains, (d) majors, (e) lieutenant-colonels and (f) Territorial Army personnel with five-year service bars are serving in the Territorial Army; [43687]

(2) how many five-year service bars have been awarded to Territorial Army personnel in each of the last five years. [43686]

Mr. Touhig: The Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VRSM) is awarded to members of the volunteer reserve forces subject to completion of 10 years continuous qualifying service. For the purposes of the reply, it is assumed that it is details of the number of clasps to the VRSM, awarded for subsequent continuous periods of five years' service, that are sought. This information is provided in the following table:
 
25 Jan 2006 : Column 2130W
 

Rank	Number currently serving with VRSM clasp(s)
Second Lieutenant	1
Lieutenant	9
Captain	35
Major	28
Lieutenant Colonel	1
All TA Personnel	1,063

Calendar year	Number of VRSM clasps issued
2001	126
2002	334
2003	396
2004	267
2005	34

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average age is of Territorial Army (a) recruits, (b) privates, (c) non-commissioned officers, (d) officers and (e) personnel as a whole. [43690]

Mr. Touhig: Of the 37,430 personnel who were on the strength of the Territorial Army (including TA mobilised reservists) as at 1 December 2005, the average age was as follows:

	Average age (years)
Recruits	23
Trained Privates	28
Non-Commissioned Officers	38
Officers	40
TA as a whole	31

Notes:
1. Figures exclude full-time reserve service (FTRS) and non-regular permanent staff (NRPS).
2. Figures include officer training corps.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence upon which sections of the Territorial Army thecall-out notices for Operation Telic 8 are being served. [43692]

Mr. Touhig: Call-out notices for Operation Telic 8 are being served upon volunteers from across a variety of regiments and corps in the Territorial Army, including: the pool of Watch Keepers; the Royal Armoured Corps; the Royal Artillery; the Infantry; the Royal Logistics Corps; and the Army Medical Services.

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the number of soldiers in the Territorial Army. [44723]

Mr. Touhig [holding answer 23 January 2006]: The number of new recruits into the Territorial Army (TA) remains relatively high. We continue to recruit through professional advertising campaigns and recent TV campaigns have generated a lot of interest in people joining the TA. A new and integrated recruiting process will be introduced under Project One Army Recruiting (OAR) which will provide greater integration and coherence between Regular Army and TA recruiting. In addition, a manning action plan has been introduced to improve recruitment and retention which includes: improved and more flexible Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS); better integration of training with the Regular Army
 
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including increased levels of training support and availability of equipment; and enhancements to support administration, welfare, recruiting and employer support activities.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) tax rates and (b) tax allowances are used when Territorial Army personnel are on deployment; and what advice is available after deployment about personal tax issues. [43674]

Mr. Touhig: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are notified of an individual's impending change in employment status prior to mobilisation, and a change of tax code is issued calculated under the normal pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) rules. Under these rules, the tax rates and allowances that apply vary according to an individual's income and personal circumstances.

Until the change of tax code is received and applied, which is normally during the second month of deployment, an emergency tax code is used for all Territorial Army personnel. This assumes that they are only entitled to the basic personal tax allowance.

Mobilised Territorial Army personnel on deployment are able to seek advice on tax issues in theatre from the regimental administration officer who, if necessary, can seek expert advice on more complex issues from armed forces pay officials within the United Kingdom.

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