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11 May 2009 : Column 614W—continued
Bomb Disposal: Northern Ireland
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions an Army bomb disposal squad has been called out (a) to deal with devices and (b) to respond to hoax calls in each district of Northern Ireland in each of the last 24 months; [272859]
(2) how many injuries members of Army bomb disposal squads have sustained in Northern Ireland in the last 18 months; [272860]
(3) how many military personnel are deployed on bomb disposal duties in Northern Ireland. [272898]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: As at 1 May 2009, 44 members of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Regiment were stationed in Northern Ireland. No EOD personnel have sustained injuries on duty in Northern Ireland in the last 18 months. The following table shows the number of times Army EOD personnel have been called out in Northern Ireland in the last 24 months.
| IED( 1) /Incendia ry( 2) /Find( 3 ) call outs | Hoax( 4) /False( 3) call outs | Total call outs | |
| (1) IED—The report of EOD action which results in the total neutralisation, disruption or dismantling of an Improvised Explosive Device. (2) Incendiary—The report of the functioning of an IED which is primarily designed to cause damage by burning. (3) Find—The report of explosives or bomb-making components, weapons, ammunition or tools found by the police or security forces and confirmed by the EOD Operator after full investigation. (4) Hoax—The report of an incident where, after full investigation, an object is discovered to be a simulated IED. (5) False—A report made in good faith of an object believed to be an IED which, upon full investigation, proves to be innocuous. | |||
The number of each call out type by district is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Furniture
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) his Department spent on furniture in 2008-09 and (b) his Department’s agencies spent on furniture in each of the last five years. [273747]
Mr. Kevan Jones: In 2008-09 the Department spent £18.1 million on furniture. This includes not only office furniture but furniture for messes, barracks, service family accommodation and ships. Information specifically relating to MOD Agency spend in each of the last five years is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The £18.1 million figure excludes expenditure relating to PFI/PPP projects where the furniture is supplied by the industry partner and forms part of the overall project costs.
Departmental Stationery
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on branded stationery and gifts for (a) internal and (b) external promotional use in each of the last five years. [273779]
Mr. Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on branded goods must be necessary, appropriate, cost-effective and an admissible charge to public funds.
East Midlands University Officer Training Corps
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions his Department has reached following its investigation of alleged inappropriate and far-right extremist costumes worn by members of the East Midlands University Officer Training Corps. [272845]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: An investigation was undertaken into the allegations of inappropriate costumes worn by members of the East Midlands University Officer Training Corps at a Unit Halloween party in October last year, to identify the facts of the incident and make recommendations to prevent similar occurrences.
The Ministry of Defence is satisfied that the individuals concerned have shown remorse and appropriate measures have been undertaken to ensure that all Officer Cadets at the establishment are made aware of standards regarding acceptable dress and behaviour at Unit functions.
Food
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an estimate of the (a) monetary value and (b) quantity of waste food disposed of from his Department’s premises in the last 12 months. [273440]
Mr. Quentin Davies: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Military Bases: Northern Ireland
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the security of UK army bases in Northern Ireland; [272957]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the future of UK military personnel based in Northern Ireland. [272967]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
There are regular Security Policy Meetings (SPM), chaired by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which discuss security arrangements in Northern Ireland, and the MOD are always represented. I recently visited Northern Ireland, where I had meetings with relevant security officials, and discussed the general security situation and more specifically the measures taken to protect the MOD bases and our people who will remain garrisoned there. I also met the Chief Constable.
We will continue the work to ensure that security of military bases and our people is as strong as possible while allowing our people to lead a normal life.
There have been no formal discussions between the Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, but they are regularly in touch and have many informal discussions.
RAF Cosford
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will put in place contingency plans for the use of RAF Cosford in the event that Operation Borona does not coincide with the vacating of RAF Cosford as part of the Defence Training Review Programme. [273412]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: RAF Cosford is currently the Ministry of Defence’s preferred location for 1 Signal Brigade and 102 Logistics Brigade returning from Germany under Programme Borona. There are currently no detailed contingency plans for the use of RAF Cosford, should our requirements under Borona no longer match the availability of the site. However, as RAF Cosford is a well found site that has enduring military utility, it has been designated a ‘Core Site’ and the alternative opportunities it offers would be considered should the need arise.
Rescue Services: Procurement
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2009, Official Report, column 1024W, on rescue services, when he expects to announce the result of the competition for the provision of the harmonised UK search and rescue capability. [273587]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The PFI competition is being conducted in accordance with European Union procurement regulations using the Competitive Dialogue process to progressively refine the search and rescue helicopter (SAR-H) requirement and develop industry solutions. The result of the competition will be announced when an appropriately mature solution has been established.
Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with the Comptroller and Auditor General to seek to ensure public access to the National Audit Office’s 1992 report on the Al Yamamah arms deal. [273106]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 7 May 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Secretary of State for Defence on 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1495W, to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone).
Swine Flu
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many courses of influenza chemoprophylaxis (a) are held and (b) have been ordered by the Defence Medical Services; [273427]
(2) which (a) members and (b) units of the armed forces would be provided with influenza chemoprophylaxis under the contingency plans of that service in relation to swine influenza; and in what circumstances such treatment would be given. [273429]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 7 May 2009]: Influenza chemoprophylaxis, in the form of antiviral drugs, would be provided to any service personnel who met the case definition of possible or probable cases of influenza A/H1N1 (swine variant), as defined by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), and close contacts of these cases.
All entitled patients in the UK will obtain antiviral treatment in accordance with Department of Health policy through local arrangements with primary care organisations. For entitled patients outside the UK for whom the DMS have responsibility, such as deployed personnel, overseas bases and RN ships afloat, around 22,000 courses of influenza antivirals (Oseltamivir) have been forward positioned, with a further 10,700 courses held by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) for operational use as required including further supplies for Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. These stocks provide sufficient for each of the overseas bases to be allocated stock to cover 25 per cent. of the entitled population at risk (PAR). The Department of Health is being approached with an order for uplift to 50 per cent. PAR.
We are also currently replacing our existing stocks of Oseltamivir paediatric suspension, for the use of children under 13, to reflect new dosage recommendations. Around 1,100 new courses have been issued to overseas bases already, and the Department of Health is being approached to uplift to 50 per cent. PAR.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) masks and (b) pairs of gloves (i) are held and (ii) have been ordered by the Defence Medical Services for the purposes of preventing the spread of swine influenza. [273428]
Mr. Quentin Davies [holding answer 7 May 2009]: The MOD follows Health Protection Agency (HPA) guidance in planning for an outbreak of pandemic influenza. In 2007, defence medical centres assessed their emergency requirements for infection control consumables, and around 275,000 masks and 150,000 pairs of gloves were distributed to centres in the UK and overseas bases. An additional three months’ stock, calculated at three months’ regular usage and amounting to around 8,000 masks and 48,000 pairs of gloves, is held by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA), to provide stock for operations overseas and ships afloat. This stock is replenished as items are consumed. Overall, these remain sufficient for our predicted emergency requirements, calculated on the basis of HPA advice.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the reserve forces have in the contingency plans of the armed forces in relation to a swine influenza pandemic; and what mechanisms are in place to protect members of the reserve forces against infection with swine influenza. [273430]
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