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3 May 2006 : Column 1574W—continued
Defence Coalition Support Account
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received from the US regarding the establishment of a Defence Coalition Support Account. [54442]
John Reid: In its 2006 Quadrennial Defence Review the US Department of Defence stated that it would seek to establish a Defence Coalition Support Account. Although there were discussions with MOD officials on the QDR there were no specific representations on a Defence Coalition Support Account.
Drug Testing
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many people in each of the armed forces have tested positive for controlled substances in each of the past five years, broken down by rank; [66997]
(2) how many people in each of the armed forces have gone on the Early Intervention Programme (Drugs) in each year since it began; and how many have subsequently been retained in the armed forces, broken down by rank; [66998]
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in each of the armed forces have failed a drugs test following successful completion of the Early Intervention Programme (Drugs), broken down by rank. [66999]
Mr. Touhig
[holding answer 2 May 2006]: The information required is contained in the following tables.
3 May 2006 : Column 1575W
| Compulsory drug testing | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers/cadets positive | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| WO/Senior Rates positive | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Junior Rates positive | 46 | 38 | 55 | 46 | 46 |
No RN personnel have attended the Early Intervention Programme (Drugs) (EIP(D)).
| Compulsory drug testing | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers/cadets positive | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| WO/SNCOs positive | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| JNCOs/Privates positive | 633 | 506 | 513 | 623 | 790 |
| Early Intervention Programme (Drugs) (EIP(D)) | (2)2003 (September-December) | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 (January-March) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JNCOs/Privates on programme | 37 | 113 | 101 | 43 |
| JNCOs/Privates retained in the Service | 99 retained in total | |||
(2) The EIP(D) commenced in September 2003.
No officers/cadets or WO/SNCOs have attended the programme. Final decisions are still pending upon 94 individuals as to whether they will be retained following completion of the EIP(D).
3 May 2006 : Column 1576W
Of those retained after successfully completing the programme, 14 JNCOs/Privates have subsequently tested positive and have been discharged.
| Compulsory drug testing | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers/cadets positive | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WO/NCOs positive | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Airmen positive | 15 | 8 | 20 | 23 | 18 |
One RAF airwoman attended the EIP(D) in 2004. The individual has been retained.
Equal Pay
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are undertaken within his Department to ensure that women are obtaining equal pay to men doing work of equal value. [65846]
Mr. Touhig: In line with all Departments and agencies, the Ministry of Defence conducted an equal pay audit in 2003. We were satisfied that there was no direct discrimination within our civilian pay systems. We do however have very long pay scales which can distort average salaries. We have monitored the situation annually throughout the MOD's four-year pay deal from 2002 to 2005 and we intend to shorten the pay scales as part of this year's pay deal.
Pay rates for service personnel are recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB). In making their recommendations, the AFPRB is kept informed of the impact of current employment legislation on service personnel through the evidence it receives.
Hospitals (Military Personnel)
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hospital wards in the UK are reserved for military personnel only. [67000]
Mr. Touhig: There are no hospital wards in the UK that are reserved for military personnel only.
Military Medals
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military medals have been issued by the Government since 8 May 1945 for which eligibility may still be claimed; and (a) on what date and (b) for what they were issued. [67502]
Mr. Touhig: There have been 51 campaign related military medals issued by the British Government since 8 May 1945 that can still be claimed. A detailed list is shown in the following tables.
3 May 2006 : Column 1577W
| Medal | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | 5 May 2000 | 31 July 2002 |
| Afghanistan (Op Veritas) | 11 September 2001 | Ongoing |
| Medal | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Accumulated Campaign Service Medal | 14 August 1969 | Ongoing |
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