| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
6 Oct 2008 : Column 239W—continued
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of a referendum in Western Sahara on independence; and if he will make a statement. [223125]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 10 September 2008]: The UK continues to support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his staff to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self determination of the people of the Western Sahara.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted UNSC resolution 1813 on 30 April 2008 which extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. There are no plans for a referendum to be held in the near future. However, the resolution also called for both sides to maintain their commitment to the ongoing negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. The UK welcomes the four rounds of talks held between the parties and hopes that a further round will be held later this year.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on (a) the EU granting advanced status to Morocco and (b) the political process in the Western Sahara. [223776]
Dr. Howells: The UK welcomes closer co-operation between the EU and Morocco, including the proposal for an advanced status agreement currently under discussion between EU member states, the European Commission and Morocco. These discussions cover a range of issues, including economic and commercial issues, justice and security, regional co-operation, cultural and educational co-operation and human rights. The issue of Western Sahara, while not discussed within the context of the advanced status, remains part of the political dialogue between the EU and Morocco, which will be strengthened as part of the advanced status. Western Sahara will also be discussed as part of the political dialogue at the next Association Council in October.
The UK continues to believe that progress towards a negotiated solution to the dispute in Western Sahara providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, is best achieved under the auspices of the UN. To this end and in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1813 of 30 April, the UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his staff and the negotiation process currently underway. We hope a further round of talks will take place later this year.
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Mr. Peter van Walsum's briefing to the UN Security Council, UN Doc. S/2006/817 on 16 October 2006, with particular reference to its references to the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [223917]
Dr. Howells: In his report to the UN Security Council (UNSC) of 16 October 2006, Peter van Walsum, the then Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to the Western Sahara, recommended that both parties
“enter into negotiations without preconditions, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political situation that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara”.
This view was subsequently endorsed by UNSC Resolution 1754 (April 2007).
The UK continues to believe that progress towards a negotiated solution to the dispute in Western Sahara providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, is best achieved under the auspices of the UN. To this end and in accordance with UNSC Resolution 1813 of 30 April, the UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his staff and we have called on the parties to engage in the negotiation process currently underway.
Defence
Afghanistan: Ammunition
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds have been fired by British forces in Afghanistan since October 2007, broken down by type of ammunition used. [224450]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The amount of ammunition used by UK forces in Afghanistan between October 2007 and 30 September 2008, the latest date for which data is available, is set out in the following table:
| Type of Ammunition | Total |
This data has been rounded to the nearest 100 rounds and includes rounds used in training and on operations.
Afghanistan: Casualties
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen have been wounded in Afghanistan as a result of (a) friendly fire, (b) accident and (c) enemy action in each year since 2001. [224510]
Mr. Hutton: The numbers of service personnel injured while serving in Afghanistan are published on the departmental website at fortnightly intervals, two weeks in arrears, at the address given below.
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/DoctrineOperationsand DiplomacyPublications/OperationsInAfghanistan/OpHerrickCasualtyAndFatalityTables.htm.
For convenience, the figures to 15 September, the latest available, are reproduced in the table. It is not possible to provide confirmed figures separately for
casualties caused by enemy action and blue-on-blue incidents as in a small number of cases it is not possible definitively to determine whether wounds have been caused by enemy, Afghan or coalition forces. Operational accidents, including road traffic incidents, form approximately 23 per cent. of reported casualties.
| Casualties (Very seriously or seriously injured) | |
| (1 )To 15 September | |
Afghanistan: China
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chinese nationals fighting alongside the Taliban have been killed or taken into custody as part of UK military operations in Operation Herrick. [223920]
Mr. Hutton: No individuals killed or detained by UK forces operating in Afghanistan have been confirmed as having Chinese nationality.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the security of the China-Afghanistan border against (a) drugs, (b) arms and (c) people smuggling. [223921]
Mr. Hutton: We recognise that Afghanistan’s neighbours have an integral role to play in helping Afghanistan to manage her borders. Given the United Kingdom’s engagement in Afghanistan border security is regularly discussed with the Afghan authorities. My predecessor also discussed this among a range of issues relating to Afghanistan with the Deputy Chief of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Staff when he met him in June of this year.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK nationals have been taken into custody following military operations as part of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. [223226]
Des Browne: As I stated in the answer I gave on 9 June 2008, Official Report, column 66W, to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie), the Ministry of Defence is undertaking a review of its detention records. I will write to the hon. Member when the review has completed.
Substantive answer from Des Browne to Mark Pritchard:
I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question of 10 September 2008, Official Report, column 1806W, concerning UK nationals being detained in Afghanistan.
No individuals with confirmed UK nationality have been detained by UK forces as part of Op HERRICK.
Aircraft Carriers
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost for fuel for the recently ordered aircraft carriers in the first 12 months of their operation; and what cost of oil per barrel this calculation assumes. [222521]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The estimated cost of fuel for 12 months is some £12.5 million. This calculation was based on a marine fuel price of £0.47 per litre which corresponds to a Brent crude oil price of approximately $114.60 per barrel.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is intended to man both the Future Aircraft Carriers simultaneously. [224454]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The currently assumed operating pattern for the future carriers requires both ships to be available for operational tasking and therefore fully manned concurrently.
Armed Forces: Compensation
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sources of funding there are for the increase in compensation payments outlined in the Service Personnel Command Paper. [222070]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme is funded from the defence budget, which was detailed to the House in the comprehensive spending review settlement announced by my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Defence, on 25 July 2007.
Armed Forces: Deployment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many UK personnel were deployed on operations on the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by location; [222310]
(2) how many UK armed forces personnel were deployed on operations at the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by location of operation. [223848]
Mr. Hutton: The following table shows the number of UK service personnel deployed on operations by location at 15 September 2008. The number of personnel in theatre will naturally fluctuate on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including leave (rest and recuperation), temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which tasks have been completed by 7 Regiment Air Army Corps in the last six months. [222494]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 July 2008, Official Report, column 299W.
Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on the practice of beasting in the Royal Welsh Regiment; which senior officers (a) have been admonished and (b) are the subject of disciplinary action arising from the practice of beasting in the regiment since 3 July 2006; and if he will make a statement. [223905]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: No personnel from any of the three Royal Welsh battalions have been admonished or subject to disciplinary action arising from allegations over the practice of beasting in the regiment since 3 July 2006.
Now that the trial of three individuals from the 2(nd) Battalion the Royal Welsh Regiment for the manslaughter of Private Gavin Williams on 3 July 2006 has concluded, the Royal Military Police have begun to investigate whether there has been any breach of military law. Once this investigation and any subsequent proceedings have concluded, an Army Board of Inquiry will be held to examine the circumstances surrounding Private Williams’ death. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |