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19 Nov 2007 : Column 479W—continued
Guinea-Bissau: EU Defence Policy
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the status is of the proposed European Security and Defence Policy mission to Guinea Bissau; [164426]
(2) what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on a European Security and Defence Policy mission to Guinea Bissau. [164435]
Des Browne: There have not yet been discussions at ministerial level within the EU of a possible European Security and Defence Policy mission to Guinea-Bissau. There have, however, been preliminary discussions at official level, based on the report of a recent joint Council/Commission fact-finding mission. No decisions have yet been taken.
Ilois: Resettlement
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to offering Chagos Islanders employment within the UK military attachment on Diego Garcia. [164815]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK military does not employ any civilian workers on Diego Garcia.
Iraq Conflict
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many studies his Department has (a) started and (b) completed into the consequences of the Iraq war for his Department and lessons learnt; and if he will place copies in the Library. [165031]
Des Browne: The Ministry of Defence has conducted five studies into the ongoing operation in Iraq. Of these, “Operations in Iraq: First Reflections” published in July 2003; and “Operations in Iraq: Lessons for the Future” published in December 2003; are already available in the Library. The Directorate of Operational Capability has to date produced three volumes of its Lessons Report on Operation TELIC. I am withholding these reports as their release would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.
Iraq: Armed Forces
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops he expects to be assigned roles in (a) training and (b) mentoring Iraqi forces following the drawdown of forces in Basra in spring 2008. [163073]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In spring 2008, security responsibility in Basra will have transferred to the Iraqis and our primary focus will be on mentoring and training. The process of refining our more detailed plans is currently ongoing and for this reason we are unable to provide a breakdown in numbers.
Iraq: Civilians
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi civilians who have worked for the British Government in Iraq will be eligible for the assistance package he announced in his written ministerial statement on 30 October 2007, Official Report, column 30WS, on Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [163414]
Des Browne: We estimate some 280 Iraqi civilians currently employed and some 400-500 formerly employed by the British Government (Ministry of Defence, Foreign Office and Department for International Development) may be eligible for assistance. In addition, there are some 320 staff currently employed who may become eligible in the future.
Iraq: Military Equipment
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British personnel have roles in (a) training and (b) mentoring Iraqi forces. [163072]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: A battlegroup of approximately 600 based on the 1st Battalion Irish Guards are dedicated to delivering the training, mentoring and monitoring of the Iraqi security forces in Basra and in Baghdad. A small number of naval personnel are also based at Umm Qasr mentoring the Iraqi Navy.
Other elements of the British forces based in Southern Iraq carry out training and mentoring to different elements of the Iraqi security forces, where it is considered that their expertise is most appropriate for the task.
Surface-to-air Missiles
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what surface-to-air missile defence assets are in use by British forces in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan. [162511]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: All UK aircraft operating in conditions where they are in range of surface-to-air missiles are equipped with appropriate defensive aid suites.
I am withholding further information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Private Military Security Companies
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures govern the access of private military security companies employed by the Government for British armed forces medical resources and services in Iraq and Afghanistan. [162883]
Des Browne: In common with other MOD contractors, the employees and sub-contractors' employees of private military security companies are provided, free of charge, medical treatment and emergency dental treatment equivalent to that provided to military personnel whilst deployed.
Joint Service Publication 567 lays down the policy enabling the use of civilian contractors in an operational area. DEFCON 697 sets out the medical treatment liability to be incorporated into contracts. I am arranging for copies of both documents to be placed in the Library of the House.
Telephone Allowance
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the telephone allowance is in minutes per week for civilian staff posted to (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan. [164531]
Derek Twigg: All MOD civil servants deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan receive the same 30 minute free telephone call per week entitlement as service personnel on operational duty.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many joint strike fighters will be operationally deployable by 2015; [163035]
(2) how many joint strike fighters he estimates will be in service by 2015. [163037]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 3 May 2007, Official Report, column 1854W.
Marines: Taunton
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to relocate 40 Commando from Norton Manor Barracks in Taunton constituency; and if he will make a statement. [165747]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are no plans to relocate 40 Commando Royal Marines from Norton Manor Camp.
Military Bases: Closures
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military bases will be closed over the Christmas period; and how many were closed for Christmas 2006. [163746]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: No regular military bases were completely closed over the Christmas period last year and none will completely close this year. Support to current operations and security of bases remain priority tasks and a core of staff will remain on duty over the period to fulfil these tasks.
Military Bases: Finance
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the financial position of each (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy base is. [163745]
Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
MOD’s top level budgets (TLBs) do not uniformly set separate budgets for military bases within their area of responsibility. Some may hold a proportion of their budgets at TLB level with other costs incurred at a local level. The most consistent level of budgetary visibility is at TLB level. Details of each TLB’s expenditure is published annually in MOD’s Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
Navy: Manpower
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the percentage of gapped posts was recorded for a ship at sea in the last 12 months; and what the percentage was in each case. [164433]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 November 2007, Official Report, column 129W.
Nuclear Weapons
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings have taken place between UK and US officials on the research and development of new nuclear weapons, with particular reference to the reliable replacement warhead. [163044]
Des Browne:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Davies) on 12 September 2007, Official Report, column 2074W. This explained that there is no programme to develop a new UK nuclear warhead but referred to the work currently being undertaken to inform decisions, likely to be taken in the next Parliament, on whether and how we may need to refurbish or replace our current warhead. Some of this work is being undertaken with the United
States under the 1958 UK-US Agreement for Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence purposes and includes reference to the proposed US Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW). The UK remains committed to the principle that any future warhead developments are undertaken on a national basis. The RRW remains a US-only programme.
Remembrance Day
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to amend guidelines on the participation of serving members of the armed forces in acts of remembrance at the Cenotaph. [164691]
Derek Twigg: There are no guidelines regarding the participation of serving members of the armed forces in acts of remembrance specifically at the Cenotaph. The Army's Headquarters London District and the Royal British Legion are represented at meetings chaired by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to discuss detailed arrangements for the Remembrance Sunday service and march-past at the Cenotaph, including armed forces participation.
The general guidance in Queen’s Regulations with respect to the Day of National Remembrance is that
“Establishments and units are to conform generally to such arrangements as may be made by local authorities for the celebration of Remembrance Day services.”
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Royal British Legion on the participation of senior members of the armed forces in acts of remembrance. [164692]
Derek Twigg: The Secretary of State has not had recent discussions with the Royal British Legion on this question.
Throughout the year, senior members of the armed forces participate in commemorative events, across the world, some of which may involve discussions between the Department and the Royal British Legion about support, including armed forces participation; this includes for example the recent event to mark the dedication of the armed forces memorial at Alrewas in Staffordshire.
Each November, when the nation remembers the sacrifices of all those who served in HM armed forces and died in the service of their country, senior members of the armed forces are present at services of remembrance.
The Army's Headquarters London District also takes part in meetings chaired by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, at which the Royal British Legion are represented, to discuss detailed arrangements for the Remembrance Sunday service and march-past at the Cenotaph, including armed forces participation.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons soldiers recuperating at Headley Court were denied permission to take part in acts of remembrance on 11 November 2007. [164693]
Derek Twigg:
Responsibility for the organisation of the ceremony at the Cenotaph rests with the
Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and, for participation in the march-past, with the Royal British Legion (TRBL).
In the week before Remembrance Sunday, DCMS received an approach from TRBL, via the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, for up to six wounded service personnel and carers to view the ceremony at the Cenotaph. DCMS and TRBL made provision accordingly within a designated disabled viewing area outside the Treasury building; ushers were on hand to provide assistance if required and a disabled toilet was located nearby. On the day, two patients from Headley Court attended the Cenotaph service.
So far as I can establish, neither DCMS nor the Ministry of Defence was consulted about excluding applications from injured service personnel to attend the ceremony or to participate in the march-past.
Reserve Forces: Manpower
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) inflow and (b) voluntary outflow of personnel was from the (i) Territorial Army, (ii) Royal Marines Reserve, (iii) Royal Naval Reserve and (iv) Royal Auxiliary Air Force in the most recent period for which figures are available. [164432]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: It is not possible to provide Territorial Army figures by outflow reason. The following table shows total intake and outflow for Territorial personnel during the period 1 January 2006 to 28 February 2007.
| Inflow and outflow of the Territorial Army by calendar year | ||
| Calendar year | Inflow | Outflow |
| Notes: 1. The data exclude full time reserve service (FTRS), non-regular permanent staff (NRPS) and mobilised TA but includes the officer training corps (OTC). 2. The data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias. 3. Figures are for both officers and soldiers. 4. Inflow figures include all inflow e.g. intake from civil life and intake from other parts of the armed forces, but does not include the inflow of personnel returning from mobilisation. 5. Outflow figures exclude those personnel who became mobilised. 6. Due to ongoing data validation following the introduction of the new Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) System, there is no TA information available since 1 March 2007. | ||
It is not possible to provide Royal Naval Reserve or Royal Marine Reserve figures by outflow reason. The following table shows total intake and outflow for the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marines Reserve.
| Inflow | Outflow | |
| Note: The data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias. | ||
It is not possible to provide Royal Auxiliary Air Force figures by outflow reason. The following table shows total attestations and discharges in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force for the period 1 April 2006-30 September 2007.
| Financial year | Inflow | Outflow |
| Notes: 1. The data include part time volunteer reserves (PTVR) only. 2. Inflow figures include all inflow e.g. intake from civil life and transfers from other units within the armed forces. 3. The data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias. | ||
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