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18 Jan 2007 : Column 1260W—continued
Defence Expenditure: Iraq/Afghanistan
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of British involvement in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq since the start of the campaigns. [115863]
Mr. Ingram: The costs of operations are calculated on a net additional basis and audited figures are published each year in the MOD's annual report and accounts. The total of the annual audited figures for the costs of operations in Iraq for the years 2002-03 to 2005-06 was £4,026 million. An estimated cost of £860 million for 2006-07 was included in the winter supplementary estimates published in November, which are available in the Library of the House. Final figures will be published in the MOD's annual report and accounts for 2006-07.
The annual audited figures for the costs of operations in Afghanistan for the years 2001-02 to 2005-06 were £844 million. An estimated cost of £540 million for 2006-07 was included in the winter supplementary estimates published in November. Final figures will be published in the MOD's annual report and accounts for 2006-07.
Energy Security Policy
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department makes to the (a) formulation and (b) implementation of the Government’s energy security policy. [108891]
Derek Twigg: While the DTI has lead responsibility for the Government’s energy security policy, the MOD and a number of other Government Departments contribute to its formulation and implementation. The MOD contributes through promoting conditions which enhance stability around the world, such as through its conflict prevention activities and the provision of assurance to maritime and other trade routes.
Government Security Service Contracts
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Aegis Security Services has been invited by his Department to tender for Government security service contracts in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Iraq and (c) elsewhere. [114975]
Mr. Ingram: We have no record of Aegis Security Services tendering for MOD contracts in Afghanistan, Iraq, or any other operational theatres, nor do we have any record of them being invited to do so.
Housing
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers in each of the Services have rented out their family home and moved into local married quarters in each of the last five years. [115780]
Derek Twigg: The information required is not held centrally and can be made available only at disproportionate cost.
Infantry Manning Levels
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the most recent (a) current, (b) establishment and (c) requirement infantry manning levels are, broken down by (i) division and (ii) battalion. [115790]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 17 January 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 October 2006, Official Report, column 333W.
Iraq
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the standard period of operational duty is for UK troops serving in Iraq. [114762]
Mr. Ingram: The standard period of operational duty for UK troops serving in Iraq is six months. However, operational circumstances may dictate that certain individuals and/or units may serve less or more than six months.
Israeli Air Force: Gibraltar Refuelling
Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Israeli air force pilots have (a) trained and (b) refuelled in Gibraltar in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [114781]
Mental Health: Service Personnel
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research and modelling his Department is undertaking of future mental health outcomes for personnel deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq; what assessment he has made of the risk of these personnel developing mental health conditions; and if he will make a statement. [108874]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 13 December 2006]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 December 2006, Official Report, columns 1481-83W.
With reference to the much larger Kings College Mental Health Research study, the MOD’s Veterans Policy Unit has extended the health surveillance study that was launched to look at the physical and psychological outcomes of Op. Telic. This will now also monitor a range of physical and psychological outcomes of Op. Herrick. Data collection will commence in 2007, with results anticipated in 2008.
Additionally, the Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health (ACDMH) has been invited to run a study examining the effectiveness of pre- and post- deployment mental health briefings on the mental health of British forces personnel before, during and after deployment to Afghanistan (Op. Herrick). This study will be run between September 2007 and April 2008, with results anticipated in mid-2008.
Military Aircraft: Biofuels
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the prospects for the use of biofuels for military aircraft. [113771]
Mr. Ingram: At present there are no aviation fuels produced from biological sources which entirely meet the particular requirements of military aircraft. Current military turbine engines would need considerable modification to be compatible with bio-fuels and this is unlikely in the near future.
The MOD is, however, seeking to increase its use of alternative fuels and Defence Specification 91-91 allows for the incorporation of up to 50 per cent. synthetic fuel produced by the Fischer Tropsch method. At present this must come from specified sources, but we are actively seeking to extend the number of sources while maintaining the necessary high fuel quality.
Naval Bases
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of running each of the naval bases in the UK was in each of the last three years. [114132]
Mr. Ingram: The running costs for HM Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde, Devonport and Portsmouth over the last three years are shown in the following table:
| £ million | |||
| Financial year | HMNB Clyde | HMNB Devonport | HMNB Portsmouth |
These figures represent the general site operating costs and include utilities, rates, telephone, maintenance and manpower costs. Direct comparisons from year to year are inexact given the changes to the detailed elements which make up the totals.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what job losses are planned at each naval base in the UK. [114133]
Mr. Ingram: Each of the three naval bases continually reviews the level of manpower required to meet its particular outputs.
By the end of March 2008 it is anticipated that there will be 86 fewer civilian posts in HM Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport and 36 fewer service personnel. HMNB Clyde anticipates a reduction of 50.5 civilian posts by the end of 2007. Service manpower will also be reduced by some 55 occupied and 26 unoccupied posts between 2007 and 2010. No reductions are expected in HMNB Portsmouth.
The Naval Base Review, which is examining the infrastructure needed to support the Royal Navy, may give rise to further reductions. It is however too soon to say how many or where as the review is at a very early stage, and it is unlikely that the recommendations will be finalised before spring 2007.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his timetable is for (a) the publication of the naval bases review and (b) the implementation of any recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [101443]
Mr. Ingram: The Naval Base Review is ongoing and its recommendations are not expected to be finalised before spring 2007, after which they will be subject to the MOD’s internal scrutiny and approvals process. The current expectation is for an announcement before the parliamentary summer recess. It is too early to say what the implementation time scale will be as this will depend on the option chosen. Final decisions will be subject to formal trade union consultation.
Nuclear Weapons Use
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK would be prepared to use nuclear weapons against a (a) nuclear and (b) non-nuclear adversary; under what circumstances the UK would use nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement. [116652]
Des Browne: I have nothing to add to paragraph 2-11 and section 3 of the White Paper ‘The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent’ (Cm 6994), published on 4 December 2006, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. We would only consider using nuclear weapons in self-defence and even then only in extreme circumstances.
Number 1 Independent Infantry Company
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records have been kept by his Department in relation to the Number 1 Independent Infantry Company based in Malaya during the second world war. [113772]
Derek Twigg: The principal unit records from the second world war were unit war diaries. They are no longer held by MOD, but have been transferred to The National Archives. I can advise that The National Archives holds two files that relate to 1 Independent Infantry Company, under the references WO 172/208, entitled “1 Independent Infantry Company April-September 1941, November 1941-January 1942”; and CAB 106/36, entitled “Account of the Formation, Role, and Operations of No. 1 Independent Infantry Company in Malaya 1941-1942”.
The Department continues to hold personnel records of soldiers who served in the second world war and some are likely to cover individuals who served in 1 Independent Infantry Company. Such records are not indexed on a unit basis and it is therefore not possible to identify soldiers from the unit without incurring disproportionate cost.
Royal Marine Reserves
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) inflow and (b) outflow was of the Royal Marines Reserves in each year since 1997. [113068]
Derek Twigg: The following table provides inflow and outflow figures for Royal Marine Reservists for each complete financial year from 1999.
| Total inflow | Total outflow | |
Data prior to 1999 are not available.
Royal Navy: Reduced Readiness
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy ships will be placed into reduced readiness; and when this is expected to take place. [113749]
Mr. Ingram: The Royal Navy routinely has vessels at varying levels of readiness. This allows necessary maintenance and refits to be carried out and training to be undertaken. Decisions on whether to make adjustments to the readiness states of warships will be taken in the MOD’s current planning round, the results of which are currently planned to be announced in the spring of this year.
Royal Navy Expenditure
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected spending by his Department is on the Royal Navy in each of the next five years; what assessment he has made of such spending on (a) current and (b) future operational capacity; and if he will make a statement. [114138]
Des Browne: The defence budget is not broken down by individual service. Tables two and three of the Government’s expenditure plans for 2006-07 to 2007-08, Ministry of Defence (Cmd 6822), show the current resource and capital spending plans of the fleet top level budget in the years 2005-06 to 2007-08. This covers the main operating and personnel costs of the Royal Navy. Spending plans for future years are being reviewed in the current departmental planning round and will also be shaped by the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review, which will set the Defence budget for 2008-09 to 2010-11.
Royal Navy Frigates
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Type 22 and (b) Type 42 frigates are in operation with the Royal Navy; and how many will be in operation in 2009-10. [114326]
Mr. Ingram: There are currently four Type 22 frigates and eight Type 42 destroyers in operation within the Royal Navy fleet.
On present plans there will continue to be four Type 22 frigates at the end of financial year (FY) 2009-10. Three of the Type 42 destroyers will have been withdrawn from service by the end of FY 2009-10 as these ships begin to be replaced by the new Type 45 destroyers.
Royal Navy Personnel
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy personnel are currently serving aboard ship away from home; and what proportion of total naval personnel this represents. [114135]
Mr. Ingram: The total number of Royal Navy personnel serving on board ships at sea on 9 January 2007 was 3,486. This figure constitutes 9.9 per cent. of the full-time trained strength.
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