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15 May 2008 : Column 1708W—continued
Armed Forces: Staff Turnover
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) inflow and (b) outflow was of staff in each regional rehabilitation unit in each year since 2005. [203208]
Derek Twigg: The inflow and outflow of staff for the MOD’s 15 RRUs is provided in the following table. The figures include staff deploying on, and returning back from, operational deployments.
| RRU | ||
| Inflow | Outflow | |
| (1) Figures are not known as the RRU was run by Sodexho Ltd. | ||
The RRU facility at Lichfield currently consists of a Multi-Disciplinary Injury Assessment Clinic, staffed by members of the unit Medical Centre. Separate inflow/outflow figures for the rehabilitation element are therefore not available.
Armed Forces: Training
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have obtained civilian qualifications issued by his Department in each of the last five years. [205308]
Derek Twigg: No civilian qualifications were issued by the Ministry of Defence to armed forces personnel during the last five years. For the purposes of issuing civilian recognised qualifications, Defence only became a national awarding body in February 2008 and intends to start certification from July 2008.
Armed Forces: Uniforms
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2008, Official Report, column 834W, on armed forces: uniforms, how much one complete set of Combat Soldier 95 uniform cost in each year since 2004. [205124]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are nearly 200 NATO stock numbers that are classified as Combat Soldier 95, and what is issued varies according to the role of an individual, and therefore, there is no single figure available. However, the approximate basic uniform cost, comprising jacket, smock, trousers, cold weather shirt, vest, thermal liners, waterproof jacket, overtrousers, gloves and gaiters (and excluding items such as helmets, boots and socks) is as follows:
| £ (excl. VAT) | |
| Year | Price |
| (1) Please note that some individual costs are not available for these years due to the transfer of contract. The price has therefore been assumed to be as per the next available year for the same item. | |
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2008, Official Report, column 834W, on armed forces: uniforms, how much has been paid to Cooneen Watts and Stone Ltd for the production of the Combat Soldier 95 uniform since 2004. [205125]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Cooneen Watts and Stone Ltd supply a large number of items to the MOD. Details of those items which form part of Combat Soldier 95 uniform are not recorded separately.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will re-evaluate the future rapid effect system project with particular reference to (a) the delivery schedule, (b) cost projections, (c) vehicle reliability, (d) the successful completion of all tests, (e) excessive weight, (f) excessive noise, (g) limited visibility and (h) reliability of the weapons system; and if he will make a statement. [204780]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Piranha V was announced as the provisional preferred design for the future rapid effect system (FRES) utility vehicle on 8 May 2008, Official Report, columns 39-40WS. This announcement followed completion of the MOD's assessment of the evidence gathered during the utility vehicle trials and the further work to fully understand the commercial implications of the three competing designs. It is because of our early recognition and understanding of many of the issues raised that we have decided to embark on a focused phase of risk reduction early in the FRES UV development to give the programme the very best chance of success.
The selection decision was made by following the guiding principles of a competitive assessment to select a design that best met the Army's requirement for a combination of value for money through life, timely delivery, high performance and growth potential. In common with all defence procurement programmes, we will re-evaluate the performance, time and cost parameters of the FRES programme right up to the point at which we take the main investment decision.
AWE Burghfield
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions his Department has asked AWE Burghfield to cease live nuclear work in the last 12 months; and for what reasons each such request was made. [205233]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are no occasions when the Ministry of Defence has asked AWE Burghfield to cease live nuclear work.
On 20 July 2007, AWE was affected by flooding resulting in temporary disruption. At that time, AWE plc., the nuclear site licensee, took a decision not to undertake live nuclear work until remedial work had been undertaken. This decision was made in consultation with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and with Ministry of Defence officials, and was consistent with our planned operational programmes. Live working has now resumed.
Bombs
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often CRV-7 weapons have been used in each year since 2000; and in which theatre they have been used. [193320]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: CRV-7 rockets of various types have only been used operationally in Afghanistan since 2000. As of 21 April 2008, some 2,506 rockets have been fired by Apache helicopters since that capability was deployed to Afghanistan in August 2006 and, as of 29 April 2008, some 3,731 rockets have been fired by Harrier aircraft since that capability was deployed to Afghanistan in September 2004. In none of these operational engagements was the CRV-7 MPSM variant, which can deploy a small number of sub-munitions, employed.
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