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29 Nov 2007 : Column 576W—continued
Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Contracts
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Land Rover has been invited to participate in the tender process for the new defence vehicle; how many vehicles are included in the tender; what the size is of the vehicle in the tender; and which companies were included in the tender process. [168644]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 27 November 2007]: It is envisaged that up to 16,000 vehicles could be procured under the Operational Utility Vehicles System (OUVS) programme to replace the in-service light utility vehicle capability currently provided by truck utility light, truck utility medium, truck utility medium (heavy duty) and truck utility heavy. The exact user requirements have yet to be fully defined, but it is expected that a range of vehicles will be required, providing payloads of between one to six tonnes.
OUVS is currently in the concept phase and an invitation to tender has not yet been issued. An expression of interest advertisement was published in both the European Official Journal and the Defence Contract Bulletin in September 2007, which has attracted over 50 responses from industry, including Land Rover.
Bosnia: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the (a) Crisis Management Concept, (b) Military Strategic Options, (c) Initiating Military Directive, (d) Status of Forces Agreement, (e) Status of Mission Agreement and (f) Rules of Engagement for (i) Operation Althea and (ii) the EU military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic. [165884]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Status of mission agreements apply to civilian led missions only, and therefore do not apply to either Operation ALTHEA or the forthcoming mission to Chad and the Central African Republic as they are/will be military missions.
The forthcoming EU military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic is still in the planning stage and the status of forces agreement and the rules of engagement have not yet been agreed.
Operation ALTHEA followed on from the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia Herzegovina and the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) before it. As a result, United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1551 and 1574 established that the Status of Forces Agreements contained in Appendix B to Annex 1-A of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina apply with respect to the EU mission. The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found on the Office of the High Representative and EU Special Representative to Bosnia Herzegovina website and on the NATO website:
I am withholding the other information requested as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Departmental Conditions of Employment
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in his Department earned a salary over £100,000 in each year since 1997. [167190]
Derek Twigg: The number of staff, including UK-based civilian staff, staff of trading fund agencies and the armed forces, earning annual basic salary of £100,000 or more is as follows:
| Number | |
| (1 )Less than 10 Note: Numbers are shown in tranches to allow for slight differences in the basis for data from different payroll systems | |
Departmental Correspondence
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of inquiries received by his Department from the public were responded to within (a) one week, (b) 14 days, (c) 28 days, (d) two months and (e) three months; and in what percentage of cases it took (i) over three months and (ii) over one year to respond. [167382]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence has only been able to record this information since 12 September 2006 when a new database was introduced. However, figures are only available for 60 per cent. of correspondence received and only for correspondence answered within 20 working days. The figures below are for correspondence received between 12 September 2006 and 31 October 2007.
41 per cent. answered substantively within five working days;
59 per cent. answered substantively within 10 working days;
85 per cent. answered substantively within 20 working days.
The MOD undertakes to answer all correspondence within 15 working days and 80 per cent. was answered substantively within that target.
The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The Report for 2006 was published by way of a written ministerial statement on 28 March 2007, Official Report, column 101WS. Information for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the calendar year.
Departmental Health Insurance
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies have private health insurance provided as part of their employment package. [167934]
Derek Twigg: None. Private medical insurance does not form any part of the remuneration package offered by the Ministry of Defence or its agencies.
Departmental Information
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many reports have been made to his Department's nominated officers under paragraph 16 of the revised civil service code since its publication on 6 June 2006; [162465]
(2) how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been reported to his Department by departmental staff since 6 June 2006; [162466]
(3)when his Department's whistleblowing procedures were reviewed to reflect the provisions in the revised civil service code. [162467]
Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Cabinet Office Minister for the East Midlands on 19 November 2007, Official Report, columns 596-97W.
Departmental Land
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what land surplus to his Department's requirements it is (a) selling, (b) leasing and (c) intending to (i) sell and (ii) lease; and what the size and name of each relevant site is. [168854]
Derek Twigg: A list detailing surplus sites throughout the UK that the Department is either presently selling, or intending to sell in the future, is available in the Library of the House. The list was last updated in August 2007.
Exservicemen: Military Decorations
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans resident in Gloucestershire have applied for the Veterans badge. [168910]
Derek Twigg: The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency records have identified that a total of 4,128 veterans lapel badges have been issued to residents who have included Gloucestershire in their address.
Hercules Aircraft
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Hercules fleet have been fitted with explosive suppressant foam; and if he will make a statement. [167637]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: All Hercules aircraft that are routinely deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are now fitted with explosion suppressant foam.
I do not intend to give regular updates on progress with this programme as to do so would ultimately reveal the total number of Hercules aircraft equipped with this capability and this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security of the UK armed forces.
Iraq: Defence Equipment
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the availability of reconnaissance equipment for operations in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan. [167474]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The provision of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance equipment is regularly and routinely assessed by the permanent joint headquarters in liaison with commanders in theatre. There are sufficient assets available for our current commitments. As the operational environment continues to evolve we make adjustments where necessary, including through the urgent operational requirements process. I am withholding any further information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Military Aircraft
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) aircraft, broken down by type and (b) tanks were withdrawn from service in each year since 1997. [165066]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The following table provides details of the numbers of main battle tanks withdrawn from service with the armed forces in each year since 1997:
| Equipment | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
|
(1) 20 CR2 MBT are being used as a source of spares. A further 20 remain in storage pending a disposal decision | |||||||||||
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