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3 Dec 2007 : Column 818W—continued
Defence
Military Covenant
9. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had on the Government's observance of the military covenant. [169654]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Defence Secretary has had numerous recent discussions on this important subject with Cabinet Colleagues, ex-service organisations and others. As part of the recently announced Service Personnel Command Paper discussions are being held with key stakeholders from the charity sector, service families’ federations and across Government.
RAF Fylingdales and Menwith Hill
10. Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of RAF Fylingdales and Menwith Hill in ballistic missile defence systems. [169655]
Des Browne: The early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales will process and pass on tracking data into both the UK's own US ballistic missile warning system, the US ballistic missile defence (BMD) system. RAF Menwith Hill will continue automatically to route information from US satellites but will now also pass this data into the US communications network for BMD. This data will also alert our own missile warning radar at RAF Fylingdales as part of its long-standing UK mission to provide missile attack warning.
Royal Navy
11. Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Royal Navy in operations abroad. [169656]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy and Royal Marines are considerably engaged in the current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Royal Navy is also contributing to a wide range of standing and contingent military tasks, including the defence and security of overseas territories and contributing to the NATO Rapid Reaction Forces.
Royal Marines routinely deploy on land operations.
Afghanistan: Languages
12. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British armed forces personnel have been trained in Afghan Persian, Dari, Pashto, Turkic and other languages of Afghanistan. [169657]
Des Browne: There are around 39 languages spoken in Afghanistan. 188 personnel have received training in Pashto and 56 personnel have received training in Dari, the two most significant languages for UK deployments. One individual has received training in Balochi. No training has been given in the other languages.
Afghanistan: Helmand Province
13. Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by UK armed forces in Helmand Province over the last three months; and if he will make a statement. [169659]
16. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by UK armed forces in Helmand Province over the last three months; and if he will make a statement. [169662]
Des Browne: UK forces have continued to clear the Taliban from the Gereshk and Sangin Valleys, and to provide the Afghan National Army with the training needed to take increasing responsibility for operations.
Our forces are bringing security to an increasing proportion of Helmand's population and enabling the development work needed to improve their quality of life.
Armed Forces’ Veterans
14. John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve priority care for armed forces' veterans. [169660]
Derek Twigg: NHS priority treatment has been restricted to veterans with disablements accepted under our no fault compensation schemes as service-related. I am pleased to confirm the Health Secretary's announcement on 23 November that eligibility will now be extended to any veteran whose condition the general practitioner suspects is due to service. This will offer a significant enhancement to the veterans’ health care and I welcome the decisions in Scotland and Wales to follow this lead.
Defence Industrial Strategy
15. Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the second part of the Defence Industrial Strategy to be published. [169661]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We are currently reviewing the timetable for the publication of the updated Defence Industrial Strategy. I will inform the House of the rescheduled publication date in due course.
Submarine Fleet
17. Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future size of the submarine fleet. [169663]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Our judgment remains as set out in the 2004 Defence White Paper, ‘Delivering Security in a Changing World’, that a fleet of eight of the current classes of attack submarines will be sufficient in the medium term to meet the full range of tasks. We expect to reduce to a fleet of eight attack submarines by December 2008.
For the future, the more capable Astute submarines will represent a significant addition to the delivery of effects-based warfare. Our current planning assumption envisages an attack fleet of seven submarines after 2022, but this will remain subject to review. Over the next 15 years, attack submarine numbers will fluctuate between seven and eight as the Astute submarine replaces the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines.
Menwith Hill
18. Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of Menwith Hill for missile defence purposes. [169664]
Des Browne: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Goodwill).
21. Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information the Government will receive from the US Administration on the operation of the US missile defence system in the event of missile engagements taking place that are wholly or partly informed by data from the radar at RAF Menwith Hill. [169667]
Des Browne: There is no radar at RAF Menwith Hill. The satellite early warning information which is routed through RAF Menwith Hill, is shared by the US and UK.
HMS Lancastria
19. Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had on recognising the wreck of HMS Lancastria as a war grave. [169665]
Derek Twigg: During 2005 and 2006 the Ministry of Defence through the British embassy in Paris, discussed with the French authorities protection for the wreck of HMT Lancastria, which lies in French territorial waters and which we consider to be a military maritime grave. These discussions were positive and in the summer of 2006, the French authorities gave the wreck legal protection.
FRES
20. Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest in-service date is for the Future Rapid Effect System. [169666]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: It is our policy not to release or discuss planned in-service dates for equipment projects ahead of the main investment decision.
Military Casualties
22. Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to improve continuity of care for wounded servicemen and women; and if he will make a statement. [169668]
Derek Twigg: We are always looking to improve the clinical, welfare and administrative care of wounded personnel. Earlier this year we created the Standing Joint Commander Medical post at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham to coordinate the operational patient pathway. A new Defence Patient Tracking System was launched on 8 October 2007 for patients evacuated to the UK, to ensure that they receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
Iraq
23. Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the capability of the Iraqi security forces in Basra province; and if he will make a statement. [169669]
Des Browne: Since taking on the primary role in providing security for Basra city, the Iraqi Security Forces have proved able to deal effectively and efficiently with security related incidents as they arise.
As the Prime Minister of Iraq announced in October, the formal transfer of Basra province to Iraqi control is expected to take place later this month. This is in no small part due to the increased capability of the Iraqi Security Forces.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what level in his Department the decision by British military commanders to support district centres in northern Helmand province was approved; and whether the Prime Minister was aware of Governor Daud's request prior to deployment of British forces in support of their district centres. [168859]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Decisions on how UK forces are deployed in the military conduct of the ISAF mission in support of the government of Afghanistan are an operational matter. These decisions are taken by the military command structure in theatre supported by the permanent joint headquarters (PJHQ) in the United Kingdom. Ministers are informed and fully briefed on all key operational decisions by PJHQ and the Ministry of Defence as appropriate.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new contributions to the International Security Assistance Force operational requirements of equipment, personnel and other resources have been provided since 19 September 2007 as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 1776. [167421]
Des Browne:
Since 19 September there have been a number of new contributions pledged and provided by
various nations. In the wake of the NATO Force Generation Conference (6-8 November) there have been renewals or further contributions made by 13 nations with a 14th pending political approval and a 15th under consideration. Capabilities committed have included Hercules transport aircraft, support helicopters and training teams for the Afghan National Army. The specific details are a matter for each individual country concerned.
Africa: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department’s financial contribution will be to the EU military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic under the 2004 ATHENA mechanism. [169453]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Force generation for the EU military mission to Chad/Central African Republic has not yet been completed; therefore the EU Special Committee ATHENA has not yet screened and agreed a budget. I am therefore unable to say how much the Department’s financial contribution will be to the mission.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when EUFOR Chad/RCA will reach its full operational capacity. [169458]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Planning for the EU military operation to Chad/Central African Republic is ongoing and the EU Force has not yet deployed. The Operation Commander’s assessment on obtaining Full Operational Capability cannot be made until the EU Force is established in theatre.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any EU members have placed caveats or national restrictions on their military contribution to EUFOR-Althea. [169462]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK has placed no caveats or national restrictions on our military contribution for Op Althea. Any national caveats by other EU member states are classified and not normally available within the public domain. Individual member states may make their caveats public (for example as part of their national parliamentary process), but details of such public notifications are not declared to the EU or to other member states as a matter of course.
Air Force: Cadets
Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for changes to the level of funding for the Air Cadets. [170115]
Derek Twigg: The MOD currently has no plans to change the funding of the Air Cadets.
Armed Forces: Cadets
Mrs. Villiers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely effect on expenditure on minibuses by army cadet groups of
the London low emissions zone in the first 12 months of its operation. [168658]
Derek Twigg: The minibuses operated by Army Cadet groups will not incur any additional charges in the first 12 months of the operation of the London low emissions zone. We are currently reviewing which vehicles may attract charges when charging for minibuses comes into effect in October 2010.
Armed Forces: Food
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average daily cost to the public purse was of food provided to a member of (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force in the most recent period for which figures are available. [168204]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The average daily cost, known as the daily messing rate (DMR), is based on a “basket” of nearly 100 basic catering items, and is calculated on a quarterly basis by applying prices obtained from the MOD's food supply contractor to the appropriate ration scale. The DMRs for 1 October 2007 to 31 December 2007 are as follows:
Army personnel: The DMR in their home posting is £1.63;
Royal Navy personnel: The DMR in port is £1.78 (unless on duty watch, when ‘at sea rates’ apply);
RAF personnel: The DMR at home bases is £1.63.
For personnel on active duty, such as on exercise, on operations or at sea, the rate can rise to £2.69 per day. These apparently low amounts are achieved by the scale of purchase of the 'basket items1 and the associated economy of scale. Furthermore, DMR is the cost of the raw materials only and does not include transport or other costs.
Armed Forces: Housing
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many substitute service family accommodation properties were rented in each year since 1997. [168871]
Derek Twigg: The following table shows the number of substitute service family accommodation (SSFA) properties rented in each year since 1997.
| Total number of properties rented during year | |
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