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3 Feb 2009 : Column 1110W—continued
Defence
Armed Forces: Compensation
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2008, Official Report, column 328W, of the 38 personnel who were very seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007 and whose claim for compensation had been registered by 13 November 2008, what the (a) 10th, (b) 25th, (c) 50th, (d) 75th and (e) 90th percentiles were for the amount awarded in respect of the claims that were settled by 13 January 2009; and how many of the claims had been determined by 13 January 2009. [249580]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Unfortunately Defence Analytical Services and Advice are currently unable to provide information on compensation amounts paid out to personnel that were very seriously injured in Afghanistan during 2006 and 2007. However, I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.
Of the 38 personnel who were very seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, and whose claim for compensation had been registered by 13 November 2008, all have had their claims determined as at 13 January 2009.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2008, Official Report, columns 327-8W, of the 42 personnel who were seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007 and whose claim for compensation had been registered by 13 November 2008, what the (a) 10th, (b) 25th, (c) 50th, (d) 75th and (e) 90th percentiles were for the amount awarded in respect of the claims that were settled by 13 January 2009; and how many of the claims had been determined by 13 January 2009. [249581]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Unfortunately Defence Analytical Services and Advice are currently unable to provide information on compensation amounts paid out to personnel that were seriously injured in Afghanistan during 2006 and 2007. However, we will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.
Of the 42 personnel who were seriously injured in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, and whose claim for compensation had been registered by 13 November 2008, 40 have had their claims determined as at 13 January 2009.
Armed Forces: Scotland
Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in discussions with the Scottish Executive on the repatriation of members of the armed forces killed in action abroad and whose families wish an inquest to take place in Scotland under the fatal accident inquiry system; and if he will make a statement. [250664]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 26 January 2009]: The then Defence Secretary wrote to Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Communications, on 27 March 2008 seeking a way forward to enable investigations to take place in Scotland into service deaths overseas. We received a response on 19 November. I wrote to Mr. MacAskill on 15 January with proposals for resolving this issue quickly. I have received a constructive reply and I hope we will now be able to find a way forward without further delay.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Operating Costs
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost per track/road mile, excluding crew costs, of operating the (a) Warrior, (b) Bulldog and (c) Mastiff armoured vehicles. [252863]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The estimated cost per track kilometre, excluding crew and fuel costs, for financial year 2009-10 is as follows:
| £ per kilometre | |
These costs include first and second line repair costs of equipment in the Field Army, together with equipment support costs.
Information on operating costs for wheeled vehicles is not held in a format that would enable an estimate per kilometre to be made, therefore no costs are available for Mastiff.
Cyprus: Military Bases
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence since the creation of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, how many Cypriot civilians have been forcibly resettled in the region. [252904]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: No Cypriot civilians have ever been forcibly resettled in the sovereign base areas.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to protect the infrastructure in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia against risks of (a) earthquakes and (b) adverse weather conditions. [252905]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Since 1992, all new buildings in the sovereign base areas (SBA) have been required to comply with the Seismic Code for Reinforced Concrete Structures in Cyprus and the European Community regulations covering buildings in areas vulnerable to the risk of earthquakes.
Responsibility for buildings and civil infrastructure outside the SBA military camps is delegated to the Republic of Cyprus (RoC). As such, all SBA villages are included in the RoC’s earthquake and disaster plan. Officials from the SBA meet twice a year with the RoC to discuss contingency plans and the provision of support in the event of a disaster.
Officials from the SBA also participate twice a year in European Community civil protection exercises. These are hosted by the RoC and are aimed at both improving co-ordination between the relevant agencies, and ensuring the suitability of contingency plans in response to natural disasters and emergency situations on the island of Cyprus.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy maintains a permanent presence in the Mediterranean. [252906]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy’s permanent presence in the Mediterranean consists of the squadrons based in Gibraltar and Cyprus who operate two Maritime Patrol Vessels each. In addition, the Royal Navy routinely undertakes maritime security operations and NATO taskings in the region.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for the future of the medical facilities of Princess Mary’s RAF Hospital at Akrotiri. [252907]
Mr. Kevan Jones: A project is currently under way to consider the future provision of secondary health care in Cyprus. A range of options is being considered. None have yet been ruled out. Final implementation is expected to take in the region of two years.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Cypriot civilians inhabiting the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. [252910]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The civilian population of the sovereign base areas (SBA) is determined by census undertaken by the Republic of Cyprus. The last census, conducted in 2001, confirmed the following figures:
Cypriot civilians in Akrotiri: 4,329
Cypriot civilians in Dhekelia: 2,642
The Republic of Cyprus is due to conduct its next census in 2011.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often he has met the Foreign Secretary in the last 12 months to discuss events in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. [252913]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In the last 12 months, the Secretary of State for Defence has not met the Foreign Secretary specifically to discuss the sovereign base areas; although they have met regularly, discussing a wide range of topics including exchanges on Cyprus.
Both MOD and FCO maintain a keen interest in the sovereign base areas, which receive regular visits by Ministers. I visited both Akrotiri and Dhekelia in December 2008; the former Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Derek Twigg) visited in May 2008 and the former Secretary of State my right hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Des Browne) visited in April 2007.
Departmental Training
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on digital media training courses provided by the Internet Advertising Bureau in 2008; how many such training sessions were held in 2008; and how many staff in his Department attended at least one such training course. [252266]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Defence indicates that MOD had no direct contracts with the Internet Advertising Bureau in 2008. Defence agencies, top level budget areas, trading funds, joint headquarters, single service commands and individual military units may have placed locally arranged, low value contract, with the Internet Advertising Bureau. Details of these are not be held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
EU Common Foreign and Security Policy
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what European Security and Defence Policy missions are in the pre-operational planning stage. [253364]
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to increase the number of its (a) military personnel and (b) civilian staff attached to the (i) European Union military staff and (ii) European Defence Agency. [253365]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We have no plans at present, but would consider opportunities as they arise and if and when resources are available.
Dr. Fox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of providing (a) military personnel and (b) civilian staff attached to the (i) European Union military staff, (ii) European Defence
Agency, (iii) European Union Military Committee and (iv) other EU institutions in 2008. [253367]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The total cost to the Department of the military personnel and MOD civilian staff attached to the European Union Military Staff, European Union Military Committee and other EU institutions was £1.9 million in 2008.
Military personnel and MOD civilian staff attached to the European Defence Agency (EDA) are paid directly by the EDA from its functioning budget, which covers all of the operating costs of the Agency. The UK’s contribution to the EDA’s functioning budget was €4.1 million (£3.94 million) in 2008.
EU Rapid Reaction Force
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 26 January 2009, Official Report, column 39W, on the Small Scale Focused Intervention Force, what the difference in capability between the Small Scale Focused Intervention Force and the Small Scale Contingent Battle Group is. [253370]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Small Scale Contingent Battle Group can undertake the same range of tasks as the Small Scale Focused Intervention Force that it replaced.
The unit currently undertaking this role, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, also provides an enhanced capability for the Small Scale Contingent Battle Group to undertake air assault operations.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 712W, on the Helsinki Headline Goal, what the expected maximum percentage is of troops offered by the UK under the Helsinki Headline Goal which will be infantry. [253387]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor on 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 712W, to the hon. Member for Congleton (Ann Winterton).
Falkland Islands
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent in total by his Department on operations in the Falkland Islands in each of the last five years. [253218]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 2 February 2009]: In each of the last five years the costs to the Chief of Joint Operations, who is responsible for maintaining UK forces in the Falkland Islands, are as follows:
| Financial year | Cost (£ million) |
The reason for the much lower figures in the most recent years is because, as a consequence of a change in MOD accounting policy, the Chief of Joint Operations is no longer responsible for reporting fixed asset depreciation costs and the cost of capital on fixed assets.
Future Rapid Effect System
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's expenditure to date has been on each variant on the Future Rapid Effect System programme; and if he will make a statement. [253341]
Mr. Quentin Davies: As at the end of December 2008, expenditure on the FRES programme, inclusive of VAT was as follows:
| £ million | |
Injured Personnel
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department makes available to service personnel injured on operations. [252612]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 2 February 2009]: Service personnel injured due to service on or after 6 April 2005, including those injured due to service while on operations, receive compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). This provides both a tax-free lump sum payment of up to £570,000 that can be paid during service, and for the more seriously injured a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP), which is tax-free, index-linked and payable from discharge for the rest of their life. The total compensation received can therefore exceed £1 million.
The War Pension Scheme (WPS) provides compensation and a range of allowances to service personnel disabled as a result of their service, up to and including 5 April 2005, payable after discharge. These include a basic war disablement pension based on the degree of disablement, supplementary allowances and allowances for dependents.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2009, Official Report, column 35W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of co-operation between his Department and the Department for International Development during Operation Telic One. [253818]
Mr. Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 February 2009, Official Report, column 876W.
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