| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
13 May 2008 : Column 1517W—continued
The remainder of the defence budget is allocated to organisations that support the three services. It is not possible to break down their allocations by individual service.
Armed Forces: Medical Services
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given to the use of the SeQual Eclipse Oxygen System in British ambulance systems in theatre. [204606]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are no plans to replace the current oxygen system used by battlefield ambulances deployed on operations as this meets our present requirements. However, we do monitor developing technology for future applications.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many consultants in infectious disease and tropical medicine were retained by the British military establishment at the latest date for which figures are available. [200947]
Derek Twigg: Currently the Defence Medical Services have one consultant in infectious disease and one in microbiology/communicable disease control. In addition, there are four medical officers undergoing higher professional training (specialist registrars) in various aspects of infectious disease.
The Army ensures that all its young doctors attend a tropical medicine course which ensures a level of knowledge well above that within the NHS.
The MOD has also introduced funding for the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene which is now taken by most trainees in all branches of internal medicine, giving greatly enhanced skills in this area.
Armed Forces: Publications
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the joint service publications (a) JSP 383, (b) JSP 398, (c) JSP 400 and (d) JSP 448. [175419]
Derek Twigg: The information is as follows:
JSP 383: Joint Service Manual on Law of Armed Conflict
This is a commercial publication, published by the Oxford University Press, from whom copies may be obtained. The hardback edition (ISBN-13: 978-0-19-924454-6) was published on 1 July 2004 and is priced at £131.00. A paper back edition (ISBN-13: 978-0-19-928728-4) was published on 28 July 2005 and is priced at £39.95.
For copyright reasons there is no public electronic version. There have been two amendments since the original publication date, and I shall arrange for copies of these amendments to be placed in the Library of the House.
JSP 398: United Kingdom Compendium of national Rules of Engagement
I am withholding this publication as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.
JSP 400: Disclosure of Information
This publication is in the course of revision. I shall place a redacted copy in the Library of the House.
JSP 448: Guide to Official Service Residence (OSR) Management & Expenditure
A new version of this publication was issued in February 2008. I shall place a copy of it in the Library of the House.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the joint service publications (a) JSP 523, (b) JSP 524, (c) JSP 532 and (d) JSP 538. [175454]
Derek Twigg: The information is as follows:
JSP 523: “A Reservist's Guide to Employment Issues”
This publication is now out of date and no longer in print. It provides reservists with a basic guide to their rights under employment legislation, and to act as a guide for them in getting the support of their employer for both their training and deployment in the event that they are mobilised. It was first published in March 2003, and has not been amended or changed since. It is currently being re-written to take account of changes and developments in employment law. The new version is expected to be published later in the year. I shall place a copy of the most recent edition in the Library of the House.
JSP 524: Catalogue of Joint Army/RAF, Joint Service, and NATO publications
I shall place a copy of this publication in the Library of the House.
JSP 532: “Guidance for Reservists Returning to Civilian Employment”
This booklet is a guide to explain to a reservist what their rights are when returning from a period of mobilised service, how to protect those rights, and how
to exercise them should the need arise. It was published in 2003 and still in use. It is available via the MOD's SaBRE website:
I shall place a copy of this publication in the Library of the House.
JSP 538: Regulation of Nuclear Weapon Issue Programme
I shall place a redacted copy of this publication in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces: Schools
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many teachers (a) were recruited to and (b) left Service Children's Education in each year since 2001. [199491]
Derek Twigg: Due to changes introduced during 2003-04 in respect of the processing and recording of Service Children's Education teacher recruitment I am unable to provide accurate figures for the years 2001-03, without incurring disproportionate cost. I can however confirm that for the years 2004-07 the following teaching staff were recruited and left Service Children's Education:
| Numbers recruited | Numbers left | |
Armed Forces: Training
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Fighting in Built-Up Areas training facilities there are. [204575]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are eight Fighting in Built Up Areas training facilities at the following locations:
| Facility | Area | County |
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2008, Official Report, column 266W, on armoured fighting vehicles, how many days there were between the first and last shipping dates for the (a) Mastiff and (b) Bulldog to (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan. [204556]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is as follows:
Iraq
First shipment 4 December 2006
Final shipment 13 April 2008
496 days.
Afghanistan
First shipment 19 March 2007
Final shipment 9 November 2007
245 days.
First shipment 9 January 2007
Final shipment 10 May 2007
122 days.
Army: Recruitment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officer applications were received by the Army in each year since 2001. [204563]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Army has received the following officer applications since 2001:
| Financial year | Number |
Bombs
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which UK military engagements in which theatres cluster munitions have been deployed in the last 20 years; and what estimate he has made of the amount of unexploded British ordnance left in each of those theatres. [194426]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: UK forces have employed munitions carrying more than 10 sub-munitions in three operations since 1988: Operation Granby in Kuwait/Iraq in 1991; Operation Agricola in Serbia/Kosovo in 1999; and Operation Telic in Iraq in 2003.
Since then, military and civilian organisations have been engaged in clearing unexploded ordnance used by all parties in these conflicts. It is impracticable to provide an accurate estimate of how much progress has now been made in disposing of unexploded British ordnance originally fired by UK forces that remains in each of these theatres.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK's rapid reaction capability of deploying the Spearhead Land Element in support of the pan-Balkans Ready Battalion Operational Reserve Force to Kosovo. [204568]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: It is planned that 2 Rifles will deploy to Kosovo as the NATO Operational Reserve Force by 31 May 2008. They will not be deploying as the Spearhead Land Element; 3 Scots will replace them in that role before 31 May 2008. With a variety of force elements remaining assigned to the versatile Joint Rapid Reaction Force pool, the UK retains the ability to respond to both domestic and international contingent commitments.
Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms of reference and objectives issued to those responsible for achieving commodity cluster co-locations of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency and other commodities at Ensleigh. [203179]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The collocation of the Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (DC IPT) alongside other elements of the Commodities Cluster is part of the wider DE and S collocation project and supports the strategic intent to achieve business improvements by focusing acquisition related activities at Abbey Wood by 2012. The objectives for this overarching programme are well documented with all moves being conducted to align with this strategic intent. A guide to collocation for team leaders has been developed and outlines the key roles and responsibilities required and the actions to be completed to achieve successful team relocation. I shall place a copy of this document in the Library of the House.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the analysis carried out relating to the setting up of a co-located commodity cluster at Ensleigh; [203180]
(2) if he will place in the Library the study reports commissioned to assess the economics and efficiencies arising from the relocation of the Defence Clothing and Textile Agency from Caversfield to Ensleigh. [203181]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I shall place a copy of the relevant extracts of the internally approved investment appraisal for bringing forward the move of Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (DC IPT) in the Library of the House. This summarises the analysis undertaken including the assessment of savings associated with the move of the team to collocate with other elements of the commodities cluster in Ensleigh.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of the co-located commodity cluster operating from the three sites at Ensleigh, Foxhill and West Moors. [203182]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |