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5 July 2006 : Column 1106W—continued
Iraq
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on changes in the security situation in Basra province since March. [81138]
Des Browne: The United Kingdom's area of responsibility in multi-national division (south-east) remains relatively quiet compared to other parts of the country, accounting for around 4 per cent. of overall attacks in Iraq. There has been a rise in violence in Basra, and there have been a number of developments since March that seek to address this. The provincial council has re-engaged with UK forces, allowing the recommencement of the full programme of operational activity for our forces in MND(SE). Most recently, we have secured important undertakings from the Iraqi Government on delivering a new security plan for Basra.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training programmes in Iraqi native languages are available to troops prior to deployment in Iraq; what type of courses are taught; what levels of proficiency are taught; and how many personnel have taken each of the courses available in each of the last three years. [82570]
Mr. Watson: There are three courses specialising in Iraqi language training available for troops prior to deployment to Iraq, each with a different proficiency level. The numbers undertaking this training over the last three years are shown in the following table.
In addition to these courses Cascade Training takes place at unit level during pre-deployment training over anything up to six months. The training is undertaken by those who have completed the Basic Patrol Arabic Course augmented by specially appointed and trained Operational Unit Education Officers. Once deployed training is continued by the same staff augmented by the Theatre Education Centre. Every soldier is also issued with a language card which is taught during pre-deployment training and is practised regularly by all in theatre.
Joint Personnel Administration
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) regular and (b) reserve army personnel have failed to be fully paid by the army personnel centre since the implementation of Pay 2000; what the total of the underpayments is; what assessment he has made of the reasons for the underpayments; whether he expects all payments to be made prior to the roll-out of joint personnel administration; and if he will make a statement. [79650]
Mr. Watson: Pay 2000 is the generic term used to describe the incremental pay system for armed forces personnel. It arose as a consequence of the recommendations made in the independent review conducted by Sir Michael Bett in 1995, and was introduced in April 2001 for regular personnel, and November 2002 for reservists.
Some 14,160 regular and reserve army personnel have been either under, or overpaid electronically at some time since, and as a result of the implementation of Pay 2000. The number of pay accounts in need of rectification was reduced to some 8,900 during 2004-05, and this figure has been reduced further to some 1,000 during 2006. I am confident that the remaining 1,000 pay accounts will be rectified prior to the roll-out of joint personnel administration to the army.
Arrangements ensure that any shortfalls are paid manually at unit level. The primary causes of the problem have been late changes in the interpretation of policy, computer programming difficulties and the ageing army computer systems.
The total amount of electronic underpayments could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Meteorological Office
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will reconsider the Meteorological Office plans to withdraw its (a) mountaincall and (b) mountainfax services from the general public and mountain rescue services; [67147]
(2) what specialist services the meteorological service plans to provide for (a) mountain rescue services and (b) hillwalkers once the mountaincall and mountainfax services are withdrawn. [67148]
Mr. Watson [holding answer 2 May 2006]: The same meteorological information previously provided by the mountaincall and mountainfax commercial services is now provided through a public service available free of charge on the Met. Office website. The service is also available through the Met. Office customer centre.
Military Co-operation with France
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the extent is of UK military co-operation with France. [82305]
Des Browne [holding answer 4 July 2006]: At the recent UK-France summit on 9 June, the United Kingdom and France re-affirmed their shared commitment to act together against evolving threats and challenges to our security and defence and to that of our allies and partners. An important element of this is the long-standing military co-operation between our armed forces, who currently work together on operations and regular exercises, and in the fields of concepts, doctrine and training. This collaboration is undertaken both bilaterally and through multilateral organisations such as NATO and the EU.
Our armed forces co-operate on operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia. Other recent interaction includes:
Routine integration of Royal Navy and French Navy ships into respective Task Group deployments, most recently in the UK Naval Task Group Deployment AQUILA 2006 and the French Carrier Task Group
AGAPANTHE 06, which deployed to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Gulf regions.
British Army staff officers attached to the French Rapid Reaction Corps Headquarters in Lille where they contribute to French work on achieving NATO Response Force readiness.
The Royal Air Force and French Air Force combining to provide a Joint Force Air Component Headquarters, and substantial force elements, for NATO Response Forces 5 and 6.
Agreement to co-operate in establishing a network of Peace Support Training Centres in Africa.
This close and highly valued military relationship is fostered through regular dialogue at all levels from the Chief of the Defence Staff downwards and underpinned by bilateral agreements and letters of intent. There is also a network of exchange and liaison officers across all three services. The continuation of our excellent military relationship with France will remain important as we work together to tackle the challenges ahead.
Nuclear Deterrent
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he was informed of the proposed content relating to retention of the nuclear deterrent in the long term of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Mansion House speech prior to its delivery. [81533]
Des Browne [holding answer 4 July 2006]: I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a range of issues.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the time scale is for (a) a national debate, (b) a White Paper and (c) a decision to be made for the replacement of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. [82421]
Des Browne: Decisions on the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent will be taken this year. We expect to publish a White Paper once decisions have been taken and, as the Prime Minister made clear on 28 June 2006, Official Report, column 253, the means of consultation will be made clear when we publish the White Paper.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what structures exist within the Government to provide a framework for formulation of policy on the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent; [82422]
(2) what consideration Ministers have given to detailed policy on the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. [82423]
Des Browne: Work is under way by officials in a number of Departments to prepare for decisions on the future of the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent. Ministers have been briefed by officials on some of the relevant issues and have requested that further work be undertaken.
It remains the case that no decisions have yet been taken, either in principle or in detail although, as the Prime Minister said on 28 June 2006, Official Report, column 253 decisions will be taken this year.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Ministers in other Departments about the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. [82424]
Des Browne: I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues and other Ministers on a wide range of issues.
Search and Rescue Services
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 2052W, on search and rescue services, what timetable he has set for (a) the assessment to be completed, (b) further announcements to be made, (c) invitations to tender to run the services and (d) other matters relevant to the future operation of search and rescue services in the UK. [81981]
Mr. Ingram: The timing for the competition for UK Helicopter Search and Rescue capability is set out in the Official Journal of the European Union Notice (No 2006/S 90-096731) of 12 May 2006. This advises that it is planned to complete the Competitive Dialogue process in mid 2008, at which time the final invitation to tender is planned to be issued. The final assessment of basing solutions and all other relevant matters will be completed after this, with announcements made when the decisions are mature.
Submarines
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarines are operationally available to Commander in Chief Fleet, broken down by type. [82900]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 May 2006, Official Report, column 1262W to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Mr. Penrose) in respect of operational submarines. Two types of submarines make up the Royal Navy Submarine Service. There are 10 Fleet Submarines, of which eight are operational. There are four Ballistic Missile Submarines, of which three are operational. The position remains unchanged.
Tetanus
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what stock of tetanus immunoglobulin is held (a) centrally, (b) in Iraq and (c) in Afghanistan; [80340]
(2) which naval and military units do not have their required stock of tetanus immunoglobulin. [80341]
Mr. Watson:
The Ministry of Defence’s requirement for tetanus immunoglobulin is low. It is only used to treat patients with wounds who have not received the normal tetanus vaccine. Very few such cases arise in our armed forces since MOD aims to ensure that all its personnel have up-to-date tetanus vaccinations prior to deployment. The only people who would need it would
therefore be any service personnel who missed their vaccination and any non-UK individuals who are treated in our medical facilities in theatre.
There is a temporary UK national shortage of tetanus immunoglobulin. We do not currently have any centrally held defence stocks in the UK. However, with the exception of designated field hospitals, units are not required to hold tetanus immunoglobulin, although some do at the discretion of individual medical officers. We are not aware of any stock shortfall of tetanus immunoglobulin in the designated field hospitals and we do not expect a shortfall to arise before supplies become available again.
Routine tetanus immunisation is given by the combined low dose diphtheria/tetanus/inactivated polio (Td/IPV) triple booster which is administered at trainee entrant establishments. Personnel who require a further booster dose because they have sustained an injury from which they could be at risk of an acute tetanus infection can also be given the Td/IPV triple booster. Supplies of the Td/IPV triple booster are not affected by the national shortage of immunoglobulin, and there are currently no known shortages in naval or military units.
In light of the national shortage, the MOD has repeated recent Department of Health guidance on tetanus immunoglobulin to defence medical personnel, advising them of the necessary action they will need to take. This will mainly involve ensuring that all personnel have up-to-date tetanus vaccinations.
Solicitor-General
Chief Crown Prosecutors
Keith Vaz: To ask the Solicitor-General how many chief Crown prosecutors in England and Wales were from black and Asian minorities in each year since 1997. [81586]
The Solicitor-General: The number of chief Crown prosecutors in England and Wales who were from black and ethnic minorities, for which data are available, is shown in the following table.
| Month/year | Item | BME | White | Total percentage |
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