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16 Jun 2008 : Column 716W—continued
Armed Forces: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2008, Official Report, column 64W, on armed forces: peacekeeping operations, whether the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
is involved with the analysis of member states' (a) training capacities and (b) training needs, to assess the potential added value of multi-national initiatives; and what co-ordination NATO will have in conjunction with the European Defence Agency on this issue. [210911]
Des Browne:
NATO is fully involved in this work. The initial survey and analysis of Allies' helicopter capabilities was conducted by NATO, including at an expert workshop at NATO HQ. The survey and workshop identified insufficient and inadequate training as a main factor limiting the number of deployable helicopters.
NATO and the European Defence Agency are co-ordinating their efforts to remedy these shortfalls through the EU NATO Capability Group.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) target and (b) actual recruitment to the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy, and (iii) Royal Air Force was in each year since 1997. [210696]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the recruitment targets form 2000-01 to 2007-08 and the actual recruitment from 1997-98 to 2007-08 to the UK regular(1) forces by service.
| 1997-98( 4) | 1998-99( 4) | 1999-2000( 4) | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | ||
| n/a = not available (1) UK regular forces includes nursing services and excludes full time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. It includes trained and untrained personnel. (2) Actual recruitment (intake from civilian life) figures are taken from table 3 in TSP1, the latest edition is available at www.dasa.mod.uk. (3) Recruitment target figures have been provided by the single services. (4) Recruitment targets are not available pre financial year 2000-01. (5) Denotes provisional and subject to review due to ongoing data validation of the joint personnel administration system (JPA). Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: DASA (Quad-Service) | ||||||||||||
Armed Forces: USA
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008, Official Report, column 379W, on the armed forces: USA, on how many occasions since 1997 visiting US personnel have been (a) prosecuted under UK law and (b) dealt with under US law for offences committed in the UK; and what information his Department holds on the results of such cases dealt with by the US military authorities. [211098]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 June 2008, Official Report, column 67W.
Armed Forces: Vehicles
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have lost their lives in road traffic accidents involving a Land Rover TUM/TUL HS Wolf since it entered service in April 1997; and how many of these accidents have been attributed to excess speed. [210380]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 12 June 2008]: As at 31 May 2008,17 UK regular armed forces service personnel have died in road traffic accidents in Land Rover TUM/TUL HS Wolf since it entered service in April 1997.
Information is not held centrally on the causes of these incidents and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Working Hours
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many unsociable hours as defined by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (a) armed forces, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Army and (d) Royal Air Force personnel undertook in each of the last five years. [210651]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) carry out a continuous sample survey of working patterns of service personnel.
The 2006-07 Survey of Continuous Working Patterns report provides estimates of the average number of unsociable hours worked per week. A five year time series by service is provided on page 10 of this report a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
The 2007-08 report is currently being compiled and is expected to be ready towards the end of 2008.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of (a) armed forces, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Army and (d) Royal Air Force personnel worked excessive hours as defined by the Defence Analytical Services Agency in each of the last five years. [210652]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) carry out a continuous sample survey of working patterns of service personnel.
The 2006-07 Survey of Continuous Working Patterns report provides estimates of the proportion of personnel working excessive hours per week. A five year time series by service is provided on page 11 of this report a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
The 2007-08 report is currently being compiled and is expected to be ready towards the end of 2008.
Burma: HMS Westminster
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role HMS Westminster is playing in the international relief effort for Burma. [207810]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: At the request of DFID, on 15 May the MOD deployed the closest available vessel to international waters near Burma as a contingency to assist with the humanitarian response if needed. HMS Westminster's capabilities include fresh water production (up to 50 metric tonnes per day), two sea boats for the transport of personnel and equipment, communications liabilities and a Merlin helicopter which could be used for reconnaissance or to transport personnel and equipment. In addition, the ship's company of around 150 personnel are trained in disaster relief.
To minimise the disruption to the ship's planned tasks, on Sunday 25 May HMS Westminster was relieved by HMS Edinburgh, which has a similar capability for delivery of humanitarian assistance.
You will be aware that the Burmese authorities formally declined the offer of assistance from naval vessels so none of these capabilities have been utilised. Following discussions with the French and US, and in the light of the UN/ASEAN Cyclone Nargis International Pledging Conference on 25 May, the decision was taken on 28 May to withdraw HMS Edinburgh to allow her to return to other tasking. The MOD, DFID and FCO continue to keep under review how the UK may best contribute to relief efforts as the consequences of Cyclone Nargis become evident.
DFID has so far committed £17 million for emergency cyclone relief, in addition to its normal funding programmes in Burma. The International Development Secretary attended the 25 May donor conference in Rangoon and gave strong support to the UN Secretary-General's efforts to press the regime to give full co-operation to the international aid effort.
Caribbean: Drugs
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of rotary wing support for British forces operating in the Caribbean on counter-narcotics operations. [210743]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We do not deploy military assets dedicated specifically to counter-narcotic activities. Military forces are, however, made available upon request, when operational commitments and resources allow, to support the counter-drugs activities of the law enforcement agencies, in this case, the Joint Inter Agency Task Force. Sufficient helicopters are available to fulfil that tasking.
Caribbean: Navy
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy ships are serving in the Caribbean on counter-narcotics operations. [210676]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy has deployed one Frigate and one Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tanker to the Caribbean for the 2008 Hurricane season from June 2008 to November 2008. Outside of the core hurricane season, the RN deploys one Royal Fleet Auxiliary ‘Bay’ Class Landing Ship Dock. In both instances, the primary roles of the ships are to provide reassurance to the Overseas Territories as well as Humanitarian and Disaster relief training to local organisations, and Humanitarian and Disaster relief as co-ordinated with FCO and DFID. Concurrently, RN units contribute to the counter-narcotics and all periods at sea are devoted to Maritime Security in the round.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters of each type served in the Caribbean on counter-narcotics operations in each month since June 2006. [210677]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We do not deploy military assets dedicated specifically to counter-narcotic activities. Military forces are, however, made available upon request, when operational commitments and resources allow, to support the counter drugs activities of the law enforcement agencies, in this case, the Joint Inter Agency Task Force.
The following table shows British helicopters deployed with Atlantic Patrol Task (North) which covers the Caribbean. It should be noted that the primary purpose of this task is the promotion of British interests in the region and the security of the overseas territories rather than counter-narcotics operations.
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