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Armoured Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many servicemen have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured as a result of attacks on Warrior vehicles in each of the last five years; [56387]

(2) how many British servicemen have been (a) killed and (b) injured in Iraq as a result of attacks on military vehicles since the start of the conflict; and how many of those injured in such attacks were discharged from the armed forces as a result of their injuries; [56421]

(3) how many British soldiers were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in Iraq when travelling in (i) armoured and (ii) unarmoured Land Rovers. [56465]

Mr. Ingram: 16 British soldiers have been killed when travelling in armoured Land Rovers in Iraq. Of these, two were killed in road traffic accidents and 14 died as a result of hostile action.

Five British soldiers have been killed when travelling in unarmoured Land Rovers in Iraq. Of these, two died in a road traffic accident and three died as a result of hostile action.

20 British servicemen have been killed as a result of attacks on military vehicles since the start of the conflict in Iraq. 14 of these were travelling in armoured Land Rovers, three were travelling in unarmoured Land Rovers, two were travelling in Warrior Armoured fighting vehicles and one was travelling in a military ambulance.

Two British serviceman have been killed in attacks on Warrior armoured fighting vehicles in Iraq, one in August 2004 and the other in November 2004.

Centrally available records do not allow us to give a figure for the number of British servicemen injured in unarmoured or armoured Land Rovers or attacks on military vehicles since the start of the conflict in Iraq. Nor, consequently, can we give a figure for the number discharged from the armed forces as a result of their injuries. Similarly, we do not hold information centrally on the number of British servicemen seriously injured in attacks on Warrior armoured fighting vehicles in each of the last five years.

Civil Contingency Reaction Forces

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil contingency reaction forces there are; where each is based; and what area each covers. [59988]

Mr. Ingram: There are 14 civil contingency reaction forces (CCRFs) based on the 14 Territorial Army (TA) infantry battalions spread across the United Kingdom. There are CCRF headquarters in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London, with the majority of the remainder situated broadly within the boundaries of the
 
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English Government offices of the regions. All CCRFs are available to be mobilised for operations anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Cluster Munitions

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantity of cluster munitions has been recovered by the UK in (a) Kosovo, (b) Afghanistan and (c) Iraq since operations began in each place. [58613]

John Reid [holding answer 17 March 2006]: Unexploded ordnance, including sub-munitions, in all three countries are cleared both by military personnel and by a range of non-governmental organisations funded through the Department for International Development. Comprehensive records are not available but, in Iraq alone, UK armed forces have cleared well over a million items of unexploded ordnance, much of which was left over from the Iran-Iraq war or was abandoned by Iraqi military and paramilitary forces.

Courts Martial

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time has been in each of the last five years for military personnel accused of serious offences between being charged and appearing at courts martial. [55462]

John Reid [holding answer 6 March 2006]: The following table details the average time between personnel being charged and appearing at courts martial for each of the three Services.
Days

	Royal Navy	Army	RAF
2001	129	416	77
2002	179	387	105
2003	184	343	84
2004	124	367	91
2005	115	399	56

Figures for the RAF include all cases that go to courts martial. The Army figures include all cases of murder, manslaughter, rape, all cases under section 18 of the Offences Against The Person Act 1861 and death by dangerous driving. The Royal Navy figures include all cases of murder, rape, sexual assault, wounding with intent, unlawful wounding, grievous and actual bodily harm.

The averages shown are heavily affected by individual cases where, for example, there may be unusual delays in obtaining evidence and also obscure wide variations between differing offences.

We nonetheless recognise the importance of reducing timescales, and work is in hand to improve current processes and this includes measures for the Army being
 
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brought in under the Adjutant General's Court Martial Delay Action Plan. Measures in the Armed Forces Bill will help facilitate earlier liaison between Service police and Service Prosecuting Authority.

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are in place to encourage the retention of research staff within the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; and what further measures are planned. [44149]

Mr. Ingram: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, (Dstl), offers a range of benefits appreciated by research staff. There are considerable training and development opportunities: technical training programmes are offered to develop and refresh technical knowledge, there is a Dstl Chartership Scheme accredited to eight professional institutes or societies which is open to all staff.

Additionally, staff are allowed time off to undertake further study such as a MSc or PhD and relevant tuition fees are paid by Dstl. There are links with five universities for research purposes and to ensure that knowledge is current; these also encourage staff to spend time in each others' laboratories. Secondments are available to other areas of MOD, OGDs, UK Industry and international laboratories. There is an internal symposium held annually to encourage networking and debate on topical research areas. There is a Scheme for Technical Education and Professional Support to encourage networking, conferences and events for junior staff and a Fellowship Scheme which gives recognition to senior staff who are acknowledged as national or international experts in their field.

Also in addition to the normal range of civil service terms and conditions, such as the civil service pension arrangements and a generous annual leave allowance, Dstl has extended its flexible working arrangements and encourages alternative working practices such as home working wherever possible. Dstl is continually reviewing working conditions for staff. At present a review is being undertaken of its internal career structure which may result in the definition of a more structured career path for staff in both research and managerial roles.

It should be noted that both informal and formal staff surveys indicate that staff are attracted by the challenging research problems presented by Dstl and the availability of excellent scientific facilities.

Democratic Republic of Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding committing troops to support UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [58848]

Mr. Ingram: The most recent discussions took place at the EU Defence Ministers' informal meeting at Innsbruck, on 6 and 7 March this year. While no decision has yet been taken, the United Kingdom believes that the EU should consider the request for assistance from the UN favourably. Work continues on
 
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scoping the potential mission and its requirements. Due to our current heavy operational commitments we would be unable to contribute to any deployed force.

Falkland Islands

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations his Department has made to the Argentine Government regarding the presence of Argentine submarines in waters off the Falkland Islands. [57481]

John Reid: No Argentine submarines have been detected in the waters off the Falkland Islands.

Insurgents/Terrorists

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the Law Officers, and with what outcomes, in respect of the possible prosecution of British (a) citizens and (b) residents who have (i) taken-up arms against United Kingdom or other coalition forces and (ii) trained in terrorist camps and subsequently returned to British jurisdiction. [58662]

John Reid [holding answer 16 March 2006]: No such representations have been made.

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