17 Oct 2007 : Column 1118W—continued
17 Oct 2007 : Column 1119W
Des Browne:
It is coalition policy to engage with any group that is interested in joining Iraq’s democratic process and reducing violence.
Meteorological Office: Information Officers
Mr. Gauke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed by the Meteorological Office. [154344]
Derek Twigg:
The Meteorological Office currently employs four full-time and one part-time press officers.
All may deal with other communications issues, including internal communication or marketing tasks.
Military Exercises
Nick Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military exercises were cancelled in (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006; and what the reasons were for cancelling each exercise. [158362]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
During financial year 2004-05, a total of 379 training events were scheduled in the Defence
17 Oct 2007 : Column 1120W
exercise programme (DXP) of which 79 (20 per cent.) were cancelled. While specific reasons for cancellation are not available in many cases, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, the programme was affected by competing operational priorities. Since that time, improved data capture has enabled a more detailed review of the DXP.
During financial year 2005-06, a total of 533 training events were scheduled in the DXP of which 58 (10.8 per cent.) were cancelled. 30 exercises were cancelled due to operational commitments, 13 were removed as savings measures and 10 were cancelled by other nations. The remaining five events were cancelled in response to changing priorities or rescheduling.
In financial year 2006-07, a total of 699 training events were scheduled in the DXP of which 69 (9.8 per cent.) were cancelled. 35 exercises were cancelled due to operational commitments, five were removed as savings measures and 14 were cancelled by other nations. The remaining 15 events were cancelled in response to changing priorities or rescheduling.
Details of the military exercises cancelled between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2007 are set out in the following table.
| Exercise name | Location | Type | Reason for cancellation |
|
Exercises cancelled in financial year 2005-06
|
|
1 Div CT5 Ex
|
Poland
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
3 Div CT5 Ex
|
UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
AIR CADRE 06-1
|
Cyprus
|
Joint
|
Revised priorities
|
|
AIR WARRIOR 05-10 PX
|
USA
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
ASWEX 05
|
UK
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
BALTOPS 05
|
Baltic
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
BASS ROCK
|
Canada
|
Land
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
CATT 05
|
UK
|
Land
|
Operational priorities
|
|
CROSS CHECK 05
|
Canada
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
CYGNET GOLD
|
France
|
Land
|
Cancelled due to MOU issues
|
|
CZECH PINEAPPLE
|
Czech Republic
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
DANEX
|
Denmark/North Sea
|
Maritime
|
Savings measure
|
|
DRUIDS DANCE
|
UK
|
Land
|
Savings measure
|
|
EAGLES FLIGHT 06
|
UK
|
Air
|
Rescheduled as EAGLES EYE 06
|
|
EAGLES RESOLVE
|
UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
EAGLES RESOLVE-Air
|
UK
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
FIDAE 06
|
Chile
|
Air
|
Operational commitments;
|
|
FINGALS CAVE
|
Canada
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
FLOTEX SILVER
|
Norway
|
Maritime
|
Savings measure
|
|
FLYCATCHER 05-2
|
UK
|
Joint
|
Revised priorities.
|
|
FWIT05
|
Norway
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
GRUFLEX 05
|
Spain
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
INITIAL LINK 05
|
Bahrain
|
Air
|
Rescheduled
|
|
IRON ANVIL 05
|
Canada
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
JOINT FALCON 06
|
UK
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
JTP 05-5
|
UK
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
KIMMONS POST
|
Cyprus
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
KLEIBER
|
France
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
LEMON PEEL 05-2
|
UK
|
Joint
|
Operational commitments
|
|
LONE CHEETAH 05
|
France
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
LONE CIVET 05
|
Europe General
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
LONE EAGLE 05
|
Spain
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
LONE EGRET 05
|
Slovakia
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
LONE FEAT 05
|
Europe General
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
LONE FLAP 05
|
Norway
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
LONE KESTREL 05
|
Poland
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
17 Oct 2007 : Column 1121W
17 Oct 2007 : Column 1122W
|
LONE KITE 05
|
Europe General
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
LONE KNOT 05
|
Europe General
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
LONE OSPREY 05
|
Ukraine
|
Air
|
Cancelled due insufficient time to resolve Ukrainian requirements
|
|
LUCKY SENTINEL 05
|
Canada
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
MEDICINE MAN
|
BATUS Canada
|
Land
|
Savings measure
|
|
MEDOC
|
UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
NOMAD 05
|
UK
|
Air
|
Cancelled due to withdrawal of 3 nations
|
|
PATHFINDER
|
Czech Republic
|
Land
|
Cancelled by mutual consent: operational commitments
|
|
QUICKSAND 05
|
Africa
|
Joint
|
Operational commitments
|
|
RED CORVETTE 06
|
UK
|
Joint
|
Revised priorities.
|
|
SMART SEARCH 05
|
USA
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
SNOW CHUTE 06
|
Norway
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
SNOW GOOSE 05-2
|
Norway
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
SNOW LEOPARD 06
|
Norway
|
Air
|
Operational priorities
|
|
SWORDFISH 05
|
Mediterranean
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
TARGET FLAME 05-3
|
Cyprus
|
Air
|
Operational priorities (OPEVAL)
|
|
TEMPLAR FORGE 05-1
|
Cyprus
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
TEMPLAR FORGE 05-2
|
Cyprus
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
TEMPLAR FORGE 05-3
|
Cyprus
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
TRIDENT DOOR 05
|
Mediterranean
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
WYCOMBE WARRIOR 05-07 day 1
|
UK
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
WYCOMBE WARRIOR 05-07 day 2
|
UK
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
| | | | |
|
Exercises cancelled in financial year 2006-07
|
|
1 ACC WTI 06
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
AATTC06-1
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
AIRLIFT RODEO 06
|
North America
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
ALBERT'S RAPPORT 06-1
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
ALBERT'S RAPPORT 06-2
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
ALGONQUIN ROCK 06-1
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
ANATOLIAN EAGLE 06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Cancelled by host nation
|
|
APHRODITE 06/07
|
Cyprus
|
Land
|
Revised priorities
|
|
AQUATIC ADVENTURE
|
UK
|
Joint
|
Revised priorities
|
|
ASSEGAI EYES 06
|
United Kingdom
|
Joint
|
Operational commitments
|
|
ASTERIX 2-06/07
|
FR/UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
ASTERIX 3-06/07
|
FR/UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
BALD EAGLE 06/07
|
USA
|
Land
|
Revised priorities
|
|
BARBARY AIR 06-2
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
BLUE CYPRIOT
|
Cyprus
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
COCKFIGHT 2/06
|
UK
|
Joint
|
Operational commitments
|
|
COMBINED STRENGTH 06-1
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
COSSACK STEPPE 06/07
|
Ukraine
|
Land
|
Cancelled due to insufficient time to resolve Ukrainian requirements
|
|
CYPRUS FORUM 06
|
Cyprus
|
Joint
|
Revised priorities
|
|
CZECH PINEAPPLE 06
|
Czech Rep
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
DAPEX 06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Cancelled by host nation
|
|
DRAGONS NEST 06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
EAGLES EYE 06/07
|
UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
ETAM 06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
EXPRESS THREE 06/07 (RUSSIAN EXPRESS 06)
|
Russia
|
Land
|
Cancelled due to coordination issues with host nation
|
|
FINGALS CAVE 06/07
|
Canada
|
Land
|
Cancelled by host nation
|
|
FLYING RAPPORT 06
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
FROZEN STAR 07
|
Norway
|
Air
|
Revised priorities
|
|
FWIT06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
GAULISH 1-06/07
|
France/UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
GAULISH 2/06
|
Not Specified
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
GAULISH 4-06/07
|
France/UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
GAULISH 5-06/07
|
France/UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
GLOBAL GOLD 07/08
|
Kenya
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
17 Oct 2007 : Column 1123W
17 Oct 2007 : Column 1124W
|
GRAND PRIX 1-06/07
|
Kenya
|
Land
|
Savings measure
|
|
GRAND PRIX 3-06/07
|
Kenya
|
Land
|
Savings measure
|
|
HEAVY FERRY 06/07
|
Germany
|
Land
|
Revised priorities
|
|
JAGGED FLAME 06-1
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Savings measure
|
|
JAVELIN 06/07
|
Nepal
|
Land
|
Revised priorities
|
|
JRTC06-1
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
JTP 2-06/07
|
UK
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
KELP FIRE 05/06
|
Falklands
|
Joint
|
Operational priorities
|
|
LION STAR 1-07/08
|
Cyprus
|
Land
|
Savings measure
|
|
LOG PROVIDER 06
|
United kingdom
|
Joint
|
Revised priorities
|
|
LONE FIN 07
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Revised priorities
|
|
LONE FLAP 06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
LONE FOIL
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
LONE FRAME 06-1
|
Rest of World
|
Air
|
Rescheduled
|
|
LONE KNOT 06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Postponed by lead nation
|
|
LRIF06-1
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
MAPLE FLAG 39-1
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
MAPLE FLAG 39-3
|
North America
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
NIGHT HAWK 2/06
|
Denmark
|
Joint
|
Operational commitments
|
|
NOBLE AVENGER 06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Cancelled by host nation
|
|
PAPER CHASE 06/07
|
Germany
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
PATH FINDER 06/07
|
Czech Rep
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
PRAIRIE BRAVE 06/07
|
Canada
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
RAINBOW SERPENT 06/07
|
Australia
|
Land
|
Ex reduced in scope due to Australian operational commitments
|
|
READINESS CHALLENGE 06/07
|
USA
|
Land
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
ROCK CHALLENGE
|
USA
|
Joint
|
Savings measure
|
|
SNOW FALCON 07-1
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Revised priorities
|
|
SOLENZARA AIR EX 06
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Operational commitments
|
|
SPONTEX06-1
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Revised priorities
|
|
TARGET FLAME 06-3
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Revised priorities
|
|
TRIPLEX FLAME 06.1
|
Europe
|
Air
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
TUNUK WARRIOR 06/07
|
Turkey
|
Land
|
Cancelled by lead nation
|
|
TWENTY SEVENTH SHOT 05/06
|
Gibraltar
|
Land
|
Operational commitments
|
|
WET GAP 06/07
|
Germany
|
Land
|
Revised priorities
|
|
WYCOMBE WARRIOR 09-06 Days 1 and 2
|
United Kingdom
|
Air
|
Cancelled by NATO
|
