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8 May 2006 : Column 28W—continued
Deepcut Review
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service and ex-service personnel were given advice by the Army Directorate of Personal Services on how to handle press inquiries following publication of the Deepcut review; how many individuals attended the lunch and briefing on 29 March; and if he will place a copy in the Library of the letter of invitation signed by Colonel N. C. C. Freeman, dated 20 March. [66931]
Mr. Ingram: A total of 43 service and ex-service personnel received advice from the Directorate of Personal Service (Army) on how to handle media attention following the Deepcut review. Five of these individuals attended the briefing on 29 March 2006. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals face disciplinary action following the report of the Deepcut Review. [66932]
Mr. Ingram: The Army is currently examining the Deepcut Review report and associated documentation to see whether there is any evidence to suggest that a disciplinary offence may have been committed. In addition, the Army is examining the report for any indication of professional misconduct or negligence that might make administrative action appropriate.
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the Deepcut Review was, broken down by main budget heading. [66933]
Mr. Ingram: The total cost for the Deepcut Review currently stands at £919,718. Further costs are still expected, mainly concerning the recent publication of the report. The expenditure so far can be broken down into the following main areas:
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Defence Logistic Organisation
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations there have been with the recognised trade unions on Defence Logistic Organisation collocation proposals; and what responses have been received from the trade unions. [68291]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) meets regularly with industrial and non-industrial national level trade unions for discussions on both a formal and informal basis. Discussions in these forums have included DLO collocation proposals.
Formal Trade Union consultation can only begin once I have made an initial decision on DLO collocation proposals. I expect to be in a position to do this in the summer of this year. The DLO will then begin formal trade union consultation and would expect to receive the trade unions' formal responses as part of that process. The DLO is committed to working with the trade union and has recently offered closer engagement on collocation.
Defence/ACPO Protocol
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the date was of implementation of the September 2005 Protocol between his Department and the Association of Chief Police Officers on the investigation of deaths on lands or premises owned, occupied or under the control of the Ministry of Defence; what the conclusions of the first annual review of the Protocol were; and what subsequent amendments were adopted on the (a) content and (b) operation of the Protocol. [66937]
Mr. Ingram: The protocol was signed on behalf of my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Defence and a representative from the Association of Chief Police Officers on 7 November 2005 and was implemented immediately thereafter. The content and application of the protocol will be reviewed 12 months post implementation, in November 2006.
Departmental Publications
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of (a) The Mole, (b) Compass and (c) Lynx publications issued since 2002. [65240]
Mr. Ingram: The Compass publication ceased in February 2000 and “Lynx” is an internal MOD website not a publication. To place in the Library copies of The Mole issued since 2002 would incur disproportionate cost.
Eurofighter
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ground attack missile capability the Eurofighter will have. [66608]
Mr. Ingram: The initial ground attack capability being planned for RAF Typhoon will use the Enhanced Paveway precision guided bomb. Integration of subsequent weapons is being considered under the Typhoon Future Capability Programme. From a ground attack missile perspective these include the Storm Shadow cruise missile and the Brimstone air-launched anti-armour weapon.
Hercules Aircraft
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, columns 6-7W, on Hercules aircraft, what his definition is of (a) directional infra-red defensive counter-measures and (b) lamp infra red counter measure; what the purposes are of each measure; and if he will make a statement. [68737]
Mr. Ingram: The lamp infra red counter measure provides omni-directional protection against infra red guided missiles by projecting broadband jamming energy. The directional infrared counter measure utilises attack warning sensors to focus the jamming system towards the threat.
Iraq
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what delays there have been in delivering Warrior armoured personnel carriers to British forces in Iraq over the last four months; what the reasons were for the delays; and what alternative arrangements have been made to safeguard the security of the troops affected. [67238]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 2 May 2006]: There have been minor delays over the past few weeks to the delivery of replacement Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles for the Operation Telic 8 roulement. This has been due to technical difficulties experienced by the merchant vessel carrying these vehicles while in transit. This delay has had no impact on the security of British forces or Warrior capability in Iraq; existing vehicles were retained in service until the replacement vehicles were ready.
Iraq/Afghanistan
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times UK personnel have undertaken unarmed aerial vehicles strikes in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since military operations began; and if he will make a statement. [63805]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 April 2006]: UK personnel have been involved in five unmanned aerial vehicle strikes in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan.
Joint Strike Fighter
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an (a) memorandum of understanding and (b) exchange of letters between the United States and the United Kingdom on the joint strike fighter programme includes a provision guaranteeing the transfer of technology. [65958]
Mr. Ingram: The Memorandum of Understanding for the current phase of the programme contains provisions for the exchange of information to enable the participants to meet their respective requirements. In addition the Exchange of Letters (EoLs) signed in 2001 articulates the areas of military and industrial capability that are necessary to satisfy UK sovereign requirements. The EoLs do not contain a provision on guaranteeing transfer of technology. The UK remains committed to working closely with the US administration to resolve the issue of technology
sharing and we are optimistic that our ongoing discussions will be successful.
Kieran Heggarty
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result was of the Royal Military Police investigation into the death of Kieran Heggarty in Moscow Army Barracks on Sunday 19 February 2006. [67687]
Mr. Ingram: The Royal Military Police have not carried out any investigation into the death of Kieran Hegarty at Moscow Camp, Belfast on 19 February 2006 as the Police Service of Northern Ireland has jurisdiction in this matter.
Merchant Fleet
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2006, Official Report, column 2208W, on the merchant fleet, what the (a) year of use and (b) type of vessel was in each case. [65526]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is shown in the following table. The list also shows the financial year in which each vessel was chartered. Some vessels will have been chartered towards the end of one financial year, with use continuing into the following financial year.
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