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16 Apr 2007 : Column 159W—continued
Iraq: Reconstruction
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq. [130542]
Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Iraq have made significant progress since they were established in 2006. By working with Provincial Governments to develop their ability to deliver essential services to Iraqi citizens, PRTs have helped extend the reach of the Iraqi Government in key provinces.
In partnership with the Iraqi Provincial Councils, the PRTs have co-ordinated reconstruction programmes in every province, to help ensure that a range of civilian and military and organisations are working to one Provincial Development Strategy.
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the remit is of the provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq. [130543]
Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
The remit of provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq is to co-ordinate international support for provincial development including civil development and reconstruction assistance; development of the capacity of the Provincial Government; and to help develop the rule of law and infrastructure.
Iraq: Territorial Waters
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy and marine patrol boats are operating in Iraqi waters. [130866]
Mr. Ingram: As at 28 March 2007 there was one Royal Navy vessel and no UK marine patrol boats operating in Iraqi waters.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what helicopter support is available to support British Marines operating in Iraqi waters as part of operations conducted in pursuance of UN Security Council Resolution 1723. [130868]
Mr. Ingram: It is not possible to provide the number of helicopters available to support British Marines operating in Iraqi waters as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our armed forces. There are sufficient numbers of helicopters in theatre, all of which may be deployed in their specific role in support of marine operations if necessary. British forces are also able to call on the support of coalition assets as part of Multi- National Force Iraq if required.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which other NATO countries are contributing to the patrolling of Iraqi waters in addition to British forces; and who has overall command. [130869]
Des Browne: The patrolling of Iraqi territorial waters is not a NATO task. Under UNSCR 1723, the United States, as lead nation of the Multi-National Force—Iraq, has responsibility for the patrolling of Iraqi territorial waters. The UK, the only other member of NATO, and Australia provide support to this task.
Royal Navy: GPS
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what global positioning system and satellite tracking systems are on board Royal Navy rigid inflatable patrol boats. [130867]
Mr. Ingram: Royal Navy rigid inflatable patrol boats carried by Type 22 and Type 23 frigates are fitted with a command, control and navigation system known as XERES.
Lynx Helicopter
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what versions of the Lynx helicopter are operated in Iraq; what the acquisition cost was of each aircraft; and what the average total operating cost is per hour of the Lynx helicopters deployed in Iraq. [130026]
Mr. Ingram: A number of Lynx Mk 7 aircraft are currently operated in Iraq.
These aircraft were initially procured between 1979 and 1981 and have subsequently been extensively modified and enhanced. The Net Book Value on 12 December 2006 for each of these aircraft was about £4.7 million.
The total operating cost per hour for Lynx Mk 7 is approximately £23,000. This cost includes both fixed and marginal costs incurred in using the aircraft, comprising servicing costs, fuel costs, crew capitation and training costs, support costs and charges for capital and depreciation.
Additional costs are incurred as a result of the operational use and particular climatic conditions experienced in theatre. These costs cover additional wear and tear, additional spares and additional equipment and are paid for by the Conflict Prevention Fund. A total of £11 million has been claimed against the Conflict Prevention Fund in financial year 2006-07 for additional operating and capital costs for Lynx Mk 7s operating in Iraq.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from what budget funding for the cross-service use of helicopters is taken; and if he will make a statement. [130794]
Mr. Ingram: Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) was formed in 1999 with the specific purpose of providing integrated Battlefield Helicopter and Air Assault capability from all three Services. Funding for JHC is provided from the Defence budget, through Land Command.
Other helicopters operated by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force may also be called upon for cross-service support. Use by a single service remains the resource responsibility of that service alone.
The net additional cost of military operations are met from the Treasury Reserve.
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which helicopters are being used by each of the services in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan; on what operations they have been deployed; and if he will make a statement. [130795]
Mr. Ingram: All helicopter assets are provided by the Joint Helicopter Command, which is a tri-service organisation. The following table shows the helicopter types deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
| Operational theatre | Type of helicopter | Operated by |
These are used for a range of operational tasks in support of UK operations but for reasons of operational security I will not go into detail on the operations that each helicopter undertakes.
MOD Police
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the terms of reference are for the review of the Ministry of Defence Police; when the review is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [102316]
Derek Twigg: I apologise for the delay in answering this question.
A copy of the terms of reference for a review by the Defence Management Consultancy Service (DMCS), of the optimal degree of integration of the Ministry of Defence Police and Ministry of Defence Guard Service, has been placed in the Library of the House.
The Ministry of Defence and Guarding Agency has recently received a draft report from the DMCS which makes recommendations on the way ahead. This is currently being checked for factual accuracy and a copy of the final report will be placed in the Library shortly.
Navy: Deployment
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2007, Official Report, column 1359W, on Navy: deployment, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital spending was made on the Royal Yacht in each of the last five years; and what spending is forecast for future years. [131325]
Mr. Ingram: None. The former Royal Yacht was sold to the Former Royal Yacht Britannia Trust in April 1998. The trust has complete control and financial responsibility for display and upkeep.
Navy: Recruitment
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits the Royal Navy seeks to attract to the (a) full-time regular service and (b) reserve service in (i) officer and (ii) non-officer capacity. [129732]
Derek Twigg: Recruiting targets vary from year to year, depending on the requirement. For recruiting year 2007-08 the Royal Navy is seeking to attract:
| Number of recruits | |
| (1 )Including Royal Marines | |
Navy: Warships
Andrew Rosindell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether there are plans to enlarge the
capability of the Royal Navy's fleet of assault ships; and if he will make a statement on the future of the fleet; [129736]
(2) whether there are plans to enlarge the capability of the Royal Navy's fleet of Type 22 Frigates; and if he will make a statement on the future of the fleet; [129737]
(3) whether there are plans to enlarge the capability of the Royal Navy's fleet of Type 42 Destroyers; and if he will make a statement on the future of the fleet; [129741]
(4) whether there are plans to enlarge the capability of the UK's aircraft carrier fleet; and if he will make a statement on the future of the UK fleet. [129742]
Mr. Ingram: We are improving the capability of the fleet with the largest warship building programme this country has seen for many years. We have introduced new amphibious assault and support ships that are vastly more capable than the ships they replaced. We are bringing into service the Type 45 Destroyers, which are the most capable air-defence destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy. We plan to replace the present fleet of aircraft carriers with the future aircraft carriers, which will be the largest warships ever to see service with the Royal Navy. The Type 22 Frigates have many years of service ahead of them, and are planned to be replaced in due course by the new and more capable Future Surface Combatant.
RAF Feltwell
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force personnel are based at RAF Feltwell. [131061]
Derek Twigg: There are no RAF personnel based at RAF Feltwell, which is a base made available to the United States Visiting Force.
RAF Menwith Hill
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he was informed that the US planned to use its Space Based Infra Red System at Menwith Hill to provide critical data for national missile defence systems; and if he will make a statement; [130524]
(2) when he was first informed that data from Menwith Hill for the US Space Based Infra Red System was being used in relation to active defence systems. [130537]
Des Browne: The UK has received no request from the US to use RAF Menwith Hill for missile defence-related activities. Any such use would first require UK approval.
Royal Ordnance Factories: Chorley
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records are held on the number of employees (a) killed and (b) injured while working at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Chorley since the beginning of production at the site. [130803]
Mr. Ingram: None. When BAE Systems purchased the Chorley site in 1987, all records were handed over to the company. The MOD does not keep a register of accidents that occur in private organisations.
Service Personnel
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2007, Official Report, column 109W, on service personnel, what the five major issues on the Service Families Task Force Tri-Service Families Action Plan are. [131088]
Derek Twigg: Child care; communication; education (admissions, notice and special educational needs); health (access to NHS dentists, waiting lists); housing (upgrading programme, affordability, availability, customer care) and support for families in Greater London. The latter issue was added to the Families Action Plan at the quarterly meeting of the Families Working Group on 9 January 2007.
Territorial Army: Desertion
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many absent without leave cases there were in the Territorial Army in each year since 1997. [130590]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 29 March 2007]: Members of the Territorial Army can only be declared as absent without leave from duty when they are mobilised or Full Time Reserve Service. In these circumstances, the regulations for UK Regular Service apply. There have been six members of the Territorial Army who have been charged with 10 counts of being absent without leave since 1997.
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