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19 Jun 2007 : Column 1749W—continued
Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of HM armed forces (a) returning from action in and (b) injured whilst serving in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Iraq have been checked for post-traumatic stress disorder; and how
many were in (A) the Army, (B) the Royal Navy and (C) the Royal Air Force; [142296]
(2) how many members of HM armed forces injured while serving in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq have been checked for post-traumatic stress disorder; and how many were in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force. [142297]
Derek Twigg: During the operational period from January 2003 to December 2006, 2,333 mobilised British military personnel (regular and reservists) who deployed to Iraq under Operation TELIC were assessed by, and received treatment from, the Defence Medical Services for mental health conditions thought to be related to their deployment. This represents around 2 per cent. of personnel deployed to Op TELIC over the same period.
Of this number, 363 servicemen fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder. This represents around 0.3 per cent. of personnel deployed to Op TELIC over the same period.
Information on the Service of each individual is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Since 2003 we have collated figures on the incidence of mental health diagnoses for Service personnel returning from Iraq. However, at a time when a growing number of personnel have been deployed to other operational theatres in addition to Iraq, it has become increasingly clear that it is difficult to attribute a subsequent mental health condition (which in many cases may not present itself until months or even years later) to Service on a specific deployment. We are currently, therefore, reviewing our methods of collating figures on Service personnel who are diagnosed with a mental health condition.
We aim to provide first-class medical care on deployed operations in the most challenging of circumstances and surroundings. Commanders and their medical staff can call upon mental health professionals who can provide assessment and care. Operational Theatres are regularly visited by consultant psychiatrists who audit the service provided by the in-theatre mental health professionals.
There are 15 military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) across the UK (plus satellite centres overseas), which provide out-patient mental healthcare.
The DCMH mental health teams comprise psychiatrists, mental health nurses, clinical psychologists and mental health social workers. The aim is to see referred individuals at their unit medical centre and, with the patient's permission, to engage with general practitioners and their chain of command to help manage mental health problems identified in personnel.
A wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments are available (including psychological therapies, environmental adjustment and medication) where appropriate. The Defence Mental Health Services have particular expertise in psychological treatments for mental health problems in general, and psychological injury in particular.
The "King's Centre for Military Health Research: Ten Year Report," published by Kings College,
University of London on a decade's worth of research concerning the health of UK veterans, stated that:
Mental health screening after deployment is practised in other countries, but is not supported by evidence of benefit and is costly.
Afghanistan: Opium
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what volume of (a) opium and (b) other narcotics were (i) seized and (ii) destroyed in Afghanistan by UK forces in each of the last three years. [142992]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 15 June 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 May 2007, Official Report, columns 493-95W, to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mark Williams).
Aircraft Carriers: Procurement
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce a decision on proceeding with the construction of the two new aircraft carriers for the UK. [143443]
Des Browne [holding answer 18 June 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State with responsibility for the armed forces on 22 May 2007, Official Report column 1181W to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Mr Williams).
Ammunition: Testing
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the rate of failure to detonate or self-destruct of M85 submunitions used in the L20A1 artillery shell on impact (a) on hard surfaces and (b) soft terrain. [142526]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not separately test the rate of failure of M85 submunitions on hard and soft surfaces. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 20 April 2007, Official Report, column 800W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) for the detail on L20A1 testing.
Armed Forces: Dental Services
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 June 2007, Official Report, column 488W, on the Joint Ministry of Defence and Department of Health Partnership Board, if he will place in the Library the minutes of the last three board meetings. [142857]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 14 June 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 June 2007, Official Report, column 174W.
Armed Forces: Electoral Register
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for his Department to complete and publish its revaluation survey into electoral registration among members of the armed forces. [142187]
Derek Twigg: I am considering the report of the survey. I will write to the hon. Member indicating our intention to publish it in due course.
Armed Forces: Food
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of (a) all food, (b) beef and (c) lamb supplied to forces based in (i) the UK, (ii) Germany, (iii) Iraq and (iv) Afghanistan is sourced from United Kingdom producers. [142134]
Mr. Ingram: Under the MOD’s food supply contract, which commenced on 1 October 2006, approximately 68 per cent. of food items (excluding fresh produce, which is affected by seasonality) supplied to UK forces based in the UK, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan are sourced from suppliers within the UK. Approximately 55 per cent. of beef and 13 per cent. of lamb and mutton supplied to UK forces in these locations is of British origin.
Armed Forces: Health Services
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will investigate the speed and level of recovery of injured service personnel when they are treated (a) alongside civilian patients and (b) within dedicated military hospital wards. [142295]
Derek Twigg: The treatment offered to Service personnel is based on their clinical needs. This applies to operational and non-operational casualties. All patients who require admission to hospital are treated in the most appropriate clinical environment according to their clinical need.
The MOD recognises that, under certain circumstances, the recovery of injured Service personnel can be assisted if they are treated alongside Service colleagues. That is why we have established a Military Managed Ward (MMW) at Selly Oak Hospital, the main receiving hospital for our operational casualties, where military patients can be grouped together when it is clinically appropriate to do so. Equally, however, in some cases their clinical condition will dictate that they be placed in a different location.
Injured service personnel requiring rehabilitation after hospital treatment can receive this in the Defence Medical Services' (DMS) own facilities, whether at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) or one of our Regional Rehabilitation Units (RRUs).
Armed Forces: Housing
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of ensuring that unoccupied family accommodation at Pirbright barracks was secured against vandalism and squatters in the latest year for which figures are available; and what it is likely to be in the 2007-08 financial year. [141850]
Derek Twigg: For 2006-07 the cost of ensuring that unoccupied service families accommodation at Pirbright barracks was secured against vandalism and squatters, was approximately £30,000. This included the cost of boarding-up, changing the locks and fencing off of empty properties.
It is too early to estimate a figure for the current financial year.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans there are to replace each of the variants of Land Rover used by the armed forces; and whether replacements will be part of the Future Rapid Effects System programme; [141038]
(2) what consideration has been given to track width of vehicles fulfilling the armed forces Land Rover commitments in the future. [141040]
Mr. Ingram: It is intended that in future most of the roles currently fulfilled by Land Rover based vehicles will be undertaken by vehicles procured under the Operational Utility Vehicle System (OUVS) programme, which is separate from the FRES programme, or by vehicles such as the Panther command and liaison vehicle. The OUVS requirement will cover a range of vehicle attributes, including wheel base.
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of each variant of Land Rover are available for pre-deployment training; and how many Land Rovers turned over during pre-deployment training during the last four years. [141039]
Mr. Ingram: The Army and Royal Navy have approximately 7,000 WOLF, 5,000 Defender, 5 WMIK and 100 SNATCH Land Rovers available for training, including pre-deployment training. These figures exclude items which are in deep maintenance and repair, in storage, on loan and with the design authority, used for reference, training aids and specific trials; items deployed on, deploying to or returning from operations and items taken out of use temporarily in order to be converted to Bowman or to be fitted with equipment procured under the Urgent Operational Requirement process. Information relating to the RAF is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The number of Land Rovers recorded as having ‘overturned without first colliding’ worldwide is shown in the following table. The figures exclude Iraq and Afghanistan but our reporting system does not record whether the accident took place during pre-deployment training and further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| TUL TUM HS(WOLF) | SNATCH | WMIK | All other variants | |
| Note: ‘All Other Variants’ includes Defender Truck Utility Light (TUL)/ Truck Utility Medium Higher Specification (TUM HS) | ||||
Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the cost per mile, excluding crew costs, was of operating the Panther Command and
Liaison vehicle in the latest period for which figures are available; [141042]
(2) to which units the first batch of Panther Command and Liaison vehicles was delivered; and when they were delivered. [141044]
Mr. Ingram: The Panther Command and Liaison vehicle has not yet entered service. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 7 March 2007, Official Report, column 1982W.
Cost per mile data is currently under development and is therefore not available.
Army: Official Residences
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the events held at the official residence of the Adjutant-General in each year since 1997; and what the cost was of each event. [136642]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 14 May 2007]: Information regarding events held at the official residence of the Adjutant-General is available from 2002 to 2006 only. Information relating to expenditure in 2005 and 2006 has been provided previously and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 April 2007, Official Report, column 535W. Figures for previous years are shown in the following tables:
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