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15 Dec 2008 : Column 328W—continued
Armed Forces: Animals
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals have been used in defence research projects in each of the last three years. [240970]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The majority of animal procedures undertaken over the last three years for Defence research were performed by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down.
Dstl Porton Down submits annual returns to the Home Office detailing the number of procedures undertaken which involve the use of animals as defined in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
In the years 2005 to 2007, the annual returns to the Home Office, broken down by species are detailed in the following table.
| G. Pig | Ferret | Mouse | Pig | Rabbit | Rat | Sheep | Non-human primates | Total | |
In addition, testing on live goats took place at QinetiQ Alverstone as part of MOD's Submarine Escape and Abandonment System (SMERAS). 64 procedures were carried out in 2005 and 60 procedures were carried out on a herd of approximately 40 goats until November 2006 when animal procedures stopped.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what current defence research projects involve the use of animal procedures. [241315]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Department is currently undertaking research into defence medical countermeasures, combat casualty care and trauma assessment programmes, which by necessity involve the use of animal procedures.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what type of animals are kept at public expense in each of the armed services. [243459]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The following table shows the numbers and types of animals kept at public expense in each of the armed services:
| Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force | |
For military working dogs, Army data are at 1 August 2008 (the latest date this information was captured). All other data are at 12 December 2008.
Regimental or unit mascots may be partially funded at public expense. However, many of them are funded to a varying degree from regimental funds in addition to the public purse. The Army currently has the following mascots: two Drum horses; one Indian Black Buck; one Irish Wolfhound; two Mountain goats; two Swalesdale rams; and three Shetland ponies. Neither the RN nor the RAF has any mascots.
Armed Forces: Dogs
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dog handlers are employed as (a) civilians and (b) servicemen in each of the three armed services. [243457]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Royal Navy has no military working dog handlers, the Army has 178, and the Royal Air Force has 252. Army data are at 1 August 2008 (which was the last time this information was captured) and RAF data are at 12 December 2008.
All Army and Royal Air Force military working dog handlers are service personnel.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dogs are kept by each of the armed services; and for what purposes. [243458]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Royal Navy has no dogs, the Army has 166 dogs and the Royal Air Force has 292 dogs. Army data are at 1 August 2008 (the latest date this information was captured) and RAF data are at 12 December 2008. Dogs are kept for the following purposes:
| Type of dog | Army | RAF |
Figures for military working dogs are a snapshot in time, and include those dogs being trained, those in service in the UK and those deployed on operations. It should be noted that the number of holdings may vary weekly according to training input and outflow, together with operational demand.
Armed Forces: Labour Turnover
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of (a) people in the armed forces, (b) new recruits to the armed forces and (c) people who have left the armed forces in each of the last five years. [242863]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Information on the number of people in the armed forces, the number of new recruits to the armed forces and the number of people who have left the armed forces in each of the last five years can be found in “Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 1—UK Regular Forces Strengths and Changes”.
TSP 1 is published on monthly basis and the latest information as at 1 October 2008 can be found at:
All copies of TSP 1 are available in the Library of the House and also at:
Armed Forces: Rescue Services
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training his Department provides to military personnel on responding to emergencies and natural disasters. [242881]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Those elements of the armed forces which provide specialist capabilities to the civil authorities are regularly trained and exercised for their role. These include explosive ordnance disposal and search and rescue teams, civil contingencies reaction forces and counter terrorist forces.
Other elements of the armed forces will not routinely be involved in responding to emergencies or natural disasters, although they might be used to support the lead responders in particularly difficult circumstances. They would be provided with such training as was necessary prior to any such deployment. Defence also takes part in the national exercise programme in order to ensure that it can provide any support required by
the lead responder. The Services chain of command in the regions of the UK is provided with regular training, education and exercising on the nature of military operations in the UK to ensure that they are prepared to command operations at short notice if required.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of UK's overseas military commitments on the ability of the armed forces to respond to a domestic emergency. [242882]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Department's current overseas commitments have not at any time prevented the MOD from providing military assistance to the civilian authorities where it has been requested.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured and protected Land Rovers were deployed to Iraq prior to October 2003; what the vehicle classification was in each case; how many of each were deployed; and when each was deployed. [242620]
Mr. Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 December 2008, Official Report, column 52W, to the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer).
Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the timetable is for delivery of the Future Rapid Effects System programme; [243411]
(2) what funding has been allocated for the Future Rapid Effects System programme; [243412]
(3) what his current estimate is for the in-service date of the Future Rapid Effects System; [243413]
(4) how many (a) utility, (b) reconnaissance, (c) fires, (d) manoeuvre support and (e) basic capability vehicles will make up the Future Rapid Effects System. [243414]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Future Rapid Effect System programme is in its assessment phase. The number of vehicles that will be needed to meet the requirement, the timetable for delivery, funding allocation and the in- service date will not be fixed until the main investment decision has been taken.
Biological Weapons
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources and procedures his Department has in place to respond to (a) a biological terrorist attack, (b) a chemical terrorist attack and (c) a nuclear or radiological terrorist attack. [241778]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
The MOD makes a number of specialist capabilities available to the civil authorities for dealing with CBRN terrorism. These include mitigation advice, specialist search, explosive ordinance disposal, detection, sampling and identification, and decontamination, as well as access to world leading research and development in this field through the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the
Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Some of these capabilities are held at high readiness and routinely exercise and operate with police forces.
Colombia: Armed Forces
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing training to members of the Colombian armed forces in each year since 2000. [242764]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In assisting the Colombian security forces in the areas of human rights and demining, the MOD spent the following approximate figures in each of the following financial years:
| £ | |
| (1) Denotes information that is incomplete. (2) Denotes estimated spend. Note: These figures do not include counter-narcotics assistance. | |
As well as these bilateral projects, the UK supports projects running through several UN agencies including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, that provide training to more than two thousand serving men and women.
Defence Equipment: Expenditure
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on equipment in each year since 1997. [242878]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Since 2003 equipment expenditure data are published annually in Table 1.4 of the UK Defence Statistics by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DAS A). Copies can be found in the National Statistics section of the DAS A website:
This shows that the proportion of the Ministry of Defence's budget spent on equipment over the past five financial years has been as follows:
| Percentage | |
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