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19 Feb 2008 : Column 566W—continued
Armed Forces: Uniforms
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) sets of body armour, (b) AK47 assault rifles, (c) underslung grenade launchers for AK47s and (d) 9mm pistols are owned by UK forces. [185180]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Since 2006 approximately 24,550 sets of Osprey body armour and 3,766 sets of Kestrel body armour have been procured. Like Osprey and Kestrel, enhanced combat body armour (ECBA) is composed of a number of components, but because it is available in a range of sizes, comes from various suppliers, and its individual component usage rates vary, it is not possible to say exactly how many complete sets have been procured. Records are not kept of the number of components lost or destroyed, and hence it is also not possible to say exactly how many sets are currently owned by UK forces.
However every person is issued with a complete set of ECBA prior to deployment on operations. To ensure that sufficient operational stock is always available we monitor our requirement closely. At present between 14,000 and 16,000 sets of ECBA are being issued to personnel entering operational theatres, every six months. Further stocks are also held in theatre for maintenance purposes.
In addition, there is a pool of approximately 8,000 sets of ECBA which is used for training purposes.
The MOD does not procure or support AK47 assault rifles or underslung grenade launchers for AK47s. However, UK forces own a number of AK47 assault rifles as specimens, museum pieces and such like. Information on the numbers owned are not held centrally.
Bowman Combat Radio System: Batteries
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the defects in Bowman batteries on (a) armed forces personnel and (b) civilians in operational theatres, broken down by incident; and for what reason the Bowman batteries were recalled. [186661]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There have been no known incidents involving Bowman battery defects that have impacted upon armed forces personnel or civilians in operational theatres.
However, in 2006, all Bowman high frequency (HF) mark 1 radio batteries were recalled when it became evident that an immersion requirement had not been met and water ingress could occur.
Fair Trade Initiative
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department’s policy is on the use of fair trade goods (a) in staff catering facilities and (b) at official departmental functions and meetings; and if he will make a statement. [183851]
Derek Twigg:
There are no mandatory policy requirements in place for the procurement of fair trade products. MOD catering services are usually provided
as part of a site multi-activity contract and may include a pay-as-you-dine requirement for catering services in military establishments. The MOD is committed to supporting ethical trading, wherever possible, subject to the need to obtain best value for money. Each catering contractor may choose to offer fair trade products in their tender for a contract but a bid cannot be rejected or considered non-compliant because it does not include any desired fair trade options. After contract award, contract documents can be used to make it clear that, where the winning tenderer is able to provide fair trade options, such products should be made available.
The requirements for official functions and meetings are usually procured through the on-site catering service.
Helicopters
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attack helicopters are owned by British forces; and how many are in active service in each location. [186307]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: British Forces own 67 attack helicopters of which 49 are in the forward fleet—i.e. available for use—in Wattisham, Middle Wallop and Afghanistan.
I am withholding a breakdown of the forward fleet numbers by location as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Influenza: Disease Control
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008, Official Report, column 48W, on influenza: disease control, if he will place in the Library copies of (a) Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic in the UK, (b) Use of Influenza Vaccines and Antivirals in the events of an Influenza Pandemic and (c) Pandemic Influenza—Infection Control Guidelines for Military Settings; what further guidance the Defence Medical Services Department plans to issue on pandemic influenza; what elements of business continuity the generic influenza exercise scenario is designed to test; whether the scenario has been used to test business continuity; and if he will make a statement. [184221]
Derek Twigg: I will place copies of the requested documents in the Library of the House. Currently the Defence Medical Service Department have no plans to issue further guidance. The Ministry of Defence follows the guidance of the Department of Health as the lead Government Department for pandemic flu planning.
On the issue of business continuity, the generic influenza exercise scenario is designed to test that business continuity plans are able to maintain (or recover) and deliver Defence critical outputs in the event of a pandemic, which may result in the long-term absence of staff. As a secondary issue, the exercise scenario helps to raise awareness among staff of the threat of a pandemic, and its associated potential impacts. The MOD used the influenza scenario to test the pan-Defence Flu Framework in March 2007. MOD
top level budgets and trading funds and agencies (down to business unit level) have also been encouraged to test their own business continuity plans using the influenza scenario.
Military Aircraft
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules 170 aircraft have foam suppressants fitted to their wing tanks. [186729]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the UK armed forces.
All Hercules C-130 aircraft that are routinely deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are now fitted with explosion suppressant foam.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any (a) replacement lifting gear and (b) temporary alternative arrangements were considered for those Chinook helicopters in theatre which had their winches removed. [183612]
Des Browne: I will write to the hon. Member.
Ministry of Defence Votes A
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's (a) ACO 85 and (b) Votes A returns for each month since 2005-06. [185718]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Copies of DASA (Army)'s ACO 85 and Votes A Return need to be collated. Once this has been completed I will place copies in the Library of the House. ACO 85 was last published in March 2007.
Missiles: Procurement
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) Aster 15 and (b) Aster 30 missiles will not now be purchased as a result of the forecast £30 million reduction in procurement costs; [186674]
(2) whether financial penalties will be incurred as a result of reducing the order for Aster missiles by £30 million. [186675]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: No final decisions have been taken on the numbers of missiles that will be required. As with all capability decisions, this will be considered in the context of defence requirements, affordability and value for money. Commercial and contracting strategies, including financial penalties, also form part of these considerations.
Peacekeeping Operations: Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the mine/improvised explosive device resistant vehicles in service with British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. [186359]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We continually keep the effectiveness of our vehicle fleet in Iraq and Afghanistan under review in order that UK forces are properly protected against the continually evolving threat, including that from mines and improvised explosive devices. I am withholding the detail of the relative protection of different vehicle types as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Reserve Forces: Job Satisfaction
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department carries out separate continuous attitude surveys for reserve forces. [164550]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Continuous attitude surveys are currently carried out annually by the Royal Navy to cover the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Marine Reserve, and by the Army to cover the Territorial Army. The Royal Air Force conduct surveys biennially and planning for the latest is currently under way. All of these surveys are aimed specifically at reserve forces.
Russia: Land Mines
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with his Russian counterpart on improving information on legacy mines to reduce mine casualties amongst UK armed forces personnel. [185250]
Des Browne: I and my NATO colleagues meet regularly with the Russian Defence Minister in NATO-Russia Council meetings to discuss issues of mutual concern.
Vector Aerospace
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has agreed to guarantee to Vector Aerospace a specified volume of work from his Department; and if he will set out details of the arrangements agreed with Vector Aerospace. [186309]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There has been no guarantee given to Vector Aerospace for a specified volume of work. The intention is to transfer the extant commercial contracts for DARA's Rotary and Components businesses to Vector Aerospace on the existing terms and conditions.
Vector Aerospace has legally undertaken to retain the operational capability currently provided in the UK and has given a full commitment to meet all employment and pension protections. Throughout the sale process, it has remained our priority to secure the best decision for Defence.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many live Child Support Agency claims there were in Peterborough in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [180860]
Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 21 January 2008]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 19 February 2008:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many live Child Support Agency claims there were in Peterborough in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [180860]
The attached table shows all live cases where the parent with care has a Peterborough address broken down to show their assessment type and whether any maintenance is due to be paid.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
| Number of Peterborough live cases being handled by the Child Support Agency | |||
| Interim maintenance assessment | Nil maintenance liability | Positive maintenance liability | |
| Notes: 1. Includes all cases with an assessment/calculation on both old and new scheme. 2. September data have been provided each year from 2003 onwards. Prior to this only quarterly data are available so August data have been used. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. Based on the postcode of the parent with care. | |||
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will commission research to establish how frequently Child Support Agency clients are advised by the Agency to contact their hon. Member to make progress on their case. [181103]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 19 February 2008:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will commission research to establish how frequently Child Support Agency clients are advised by the Agency to contact their hon. Member to make progress on their case. [181193]
The Agency does not gather data on the number of clients referred directly to Members of Parliament for resolution of their cases, as this does not form part of the Agency’s complaints process. Under the Agency’s Operational Improvement Plan, the Agency reviewed the complaints handling process, and designed
a new streamlined approach which focuses on earlier resolution through the introduction of specialist caseworkers responsible for resolving all aspects of our clients’ complaints.
Complaints Resolution Teams based in each of our main centres take responsibility for resolving all complaints. If having been through this process the client still remains dissatisfied, the Agency’s Complaints Review Team based at Durham House, Washington will review their case. This two stage process aims to promote earlier and complete resolution and reduce the number of complaints escalated to the Chief Executive, Ministers and the Independent Case Examiner (ICE).
The Agency therefore will advise clients of the options open to them should they be dissatisfied about how their case has been handled and this will include advising a client to contact their MP, should the client wish to take issue with current child support policy. It is however clearly inappropriate for the Agency to direct clients to their Member of Parliament if the Agency has mishandled their case.
Should the hon. Member continue to find that his constituents are advised to contact him, I would like to be informed.
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