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19 Nov 2008 : Column 494W—continued
| Outflow | |||||||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |||||||
| Attack helicopter | Lynx | Gazelle | Attack helicopter | Lynx | Gazelle | Attack helicopter | Lynx | Gazelle | |
RAF inflow to trained strength from training, between August 2005 and August 2008 is as follows:
| Inflow | |
RAF outflow between April 2003 and March 2006 was some 100 helicopter pilots.
Armed Forces: Self-mutilation
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken at the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital to ensure that medical staff are trained in the procedures to be employed following an assessment that military personnel about to be discharged back to barracks may be at risk of self-harm. [236185]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital was closed in 2003 as part of the Defence Medical Services’ move (in accordance with clinical best practice) towards providing treatment regionally, primarily through enhanced out-patient facilities and the contracting-out of in-patient treatment. The military community treatment capability was enhanced and the Defence Medical Services provide service personnel with speedy access to skilled and effective help and treatment that is flexible and based around their individual needs. A military Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) is located a short distance from the old hospital ward.
Defence Medical Services mental health personnel undertake the same training, and obtain the same qualifications as their civilian counterparts. Psychologists and social workers who work for the defence mental health services are directly recruited fully trained, and all personnel engage in continuing professional development as recommended by the various professional bodies (such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists; Nursing and Midwifery Council and British Psychological Society). All training is conducted under the direction and administration of the Defence Postgraduate Medical Deanery and this organisation is advised by the Defence Consultant Advisor in Psychiatry.
The military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs) assess all service personnel referred to them for risk in accordance with NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) Clinical Guidelines which include the identification of clinical and demographic features known to be associated with risk of further self harm and/or suicide. An appropriate care plan is agreed with the individual, in consultation with the unit medical officer and appropriately supervised treatment is implemented, and similar procedures take place where individuals are being discharged from in-patient care.
Mental health practitioners will also alert the chain of command where there is clear risk of death or serious harm to the patient or others, or where reasons underpinning the suicidal intent may also impact on others, balancing the issues of confidentiality and consent against the duty of care to the patient, as well as to others who might be harmed by a suicide attempt.
Army
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the relative costs of a Gurkha infantry battalion and an English line infantry battalion in light of current policy and recent legal judgments. [231763]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The cost of a Gurkha infantry is broadly in line with that of British line infantry battalion.
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made on 8 March 2007, Official Report, columns 141-42WS which explained that Gurkhas are now treated exactly the same as their UK recruited counterparts and receive the same benefits, with certain exceptions to satisfy the Nepalese Government.
The recent legal judgments in relation to pensions and immigration have had no impact on the cost of serving Gurkhas.
Departmental Aviation
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many flights have been taken by his Department’s civil servants of each grade in (a) first class, (b) business class and (c) economy in each month of 2008; [237286]
(2) how much (a) first class, (b) business class and (c) economy class air travel for his Department’s civil servants cost his Department in the last 12 months; and what criteria are used to determine the class in which such staff fly. [237287]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All travel is conducted in accordance with the guidelines in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 800: Defence Movements and Transportation Regulations, Volume 2, Passenger Travel Instructions which sets out the criteria to be applied, dependent upon rank and the length of the flight involved.
Departmental Electronic Equipment
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies have spent on (a) flat screen televisions, (b) DVD players and (c) stereo equipment in each of the last three years. [237434]
Mr. Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We apply the same principles to buying televisions, DVD players and stereo equipment that we do to buying all goods or services. These principles include securing best value for money, ensuring probity and accountability, enabling competition wherever possible, and ensuring compliance with the relevant provisions of UK and EU law.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) work and (b) provide assistance for his Department. [232972]
Mr. Kevan Jones: There are currently 108 full-time press officers listed in the Chief Office of Information's White Book for the Ministry of Defence not including those in agencies.
Press offices include civilian and military staff working across the Department (including within the single services) and are defined as those who directly interface with national or regional media on news issues.
Departmental Land
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of the overseas estate is in each grade, broken down by location. [235430]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Of the overseas estate, only living accommodation is graded for either condition or charge. Grade for charge (GfC) is an assessment of the chargeable condition of accommodation, along with other factors such as its size, location and closeness to amenities.
Other than GfC no separate assessment is made of the condition of all 71,000 service family accommodation (SFA) properties worldwide. Overseas SFA is at the following GfC:
| G1fC | G2fC | G3fC | G4fC | |||||
| Country | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage |
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