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15 Jan 2008 : Column 1134W—continued
| 2006 | ||
| Vessel | Op time | Maintenance |
The figures given have been rounded to whole months.
The tables do not include leave, trials and work-up periods.
Ex-servicemen: Suicide
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will record the number of suicides of former UK military personnel who have served in either Iraq or Afghanistan. [177356]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 10 January 2008]: The Ministry of Defence currently publishes data on detailed causes of the mortality (including suicide) of veterans of the 1990-91 operation in the Gulf, together with comparative data for a matched cohort of personnel who did not deploy. We have also commissioned research from the University of Manchester into suicide between 1996 and 2006 among personnel who have left the UK armed forces using data from the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide; we expect this to report later this year.
We are currently considering whether we should undertake further research, into the detailed causes of mortality for those taking part in the current operations in Iraq (Operation Telic) and Afghanistan (Operation Herrick).
Hercules Aircraft
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the RAF Hercules transport fleet currently in service have been fitted with foam fire suppressant in the wings. [177888]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
All Hercules aircraft that are routinely deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are now fitted with Explosion Suppressant Foam.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department defines current operations in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan as small, medium or large-scale contingencies. [168904]
Des Browne: The operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are both classed as medium scale.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) telephones and (b) computer terminals are currently available to service members for welfare use in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan. [175448]
Des Browne:
There are currently 151 telephones and 136 computer terminals available solely for welfare purposes to personnel deployed in Iraq. There is, in addition, limited wireless internet coverage at the Contingency Operating Base in Basra. There are currently 213 telephones and 85 computer terminals available solely for welfare purposes to personnel deployed in Afghanistan. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 8 October 2007, Official
Report, column 24, work is in hand to expand these numbers and provide free wireless internet to both theatres.
Military Aircraft
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned out of service dates for all fixed-wing aircraft were in each year since 1997. [176842]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Full information on historic out of service dates for all fixed-wing aircraft is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Such information in respect of the current fleet as is readily available is provided in the following table. The table does not include commercially owned aircraft.
| Planned out of service date | |||||
| Aircraft | 1997 to 2003( 1) | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
| (1) Out of service dates (OSD) were unchanged during these years except where separately indicated below. (2) The C-17 aircraft was initially acquired on lease in 2000. An agreement was signed in 2006 to purchase the leased aircraft. (3) Aircraft entered service in 1999. (4) On current plans one Islander aircraft will remain in service until 2038. (5) OSD extended as a result of new aircraft entering service. (6) Comprehensive data is unobtainable in the time available. It is known that the OSD was 2006 in 1995. The Major Projects Report 2000 quoted an OSD of 2008. On 17 January 2002 an OSD of 2009 was given in response to a parliamentary question. (7) The OSD of Nimrod Rl is dependent upon Project Helix decisions and will be determined in due course. (8) Comprehensive data is unobtainable in the time available. Known OSDs during 1997-2003 are as follows: Tristar: OSD 2011 in 2002. VC-10: OSD 2007 in 2000, 2010 in 2001, 2011 in 2003 . | |||||
Military Bases: USA
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those (a) establishments and (b) parcels of land where the US authorities have been granted exclusive occupation by his Department. [178154]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The United States Visiting Force has never been granted exclusive occupation of UK bases; rather they are made available under the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951, and other arrangements. The following establishments in the United Kingdom are currently occupied by the USVF under the terms of the NATO SOFA of 1951:
Blenheim Crescent, London.
Joint Maritime Facility at RAF St. Mawgan, Cornwall.
RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire.
RAF Barford St. John, Oxfordshire
RAF Croughton, Northants.
RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire.
RAF Feltwell, Norfolk
RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.
RAF Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire.
RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.
RAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire.
RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire.
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