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17 Jun 2009 : Column 336W—continued
Ex-servicemen: Suicide
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission further research on (a) the incidence of suicide among former service personnel and (b) the merits of psychological autopsies in cases of suicide among such personnel. [278836]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Department has no plans at present to commission research into the incidence of suicide among veterans, including psychological autopsies.
We do however take a close interest in the health of those leaving the services. In 2003, the Department commissioned Kings College, London, to undertake a study of the health outcomes for some 20,000 personnel deployed to Iraq or in a non-deployed comparator group. This includes analysis of mental health outcomes which so far shows that generally there is not a higher incidence of mental health problems among those deployed. We will continue to monitor carefully the research, which has now been extended to cover in addition personnel deployed to Afghanistan. In addition, scrutiny of international peer reviewed literature takes place when it is published.
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) freight and (b) passenger capacity is of (i) the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft and (ii) each commercial air-to-air service provider. [280002]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft was selected in competition and uses a fleet of modified Airbus A330 aircraft to achieve the technical and military capability requirements.
The freight capacity is 43 tonnes, or 136 cubic metres. The passenger capacity is 291.
There are no commercial air-to-air service providers with approval to operate on the UK civil or military aircraft registers with which to make a comparison.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the fuel off-load capacity is of (a) the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft and (b) each commercial air-to-air service provider. [280060]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) is required to deliver a capability measured through operational analysis against war fighting scenarios. The capacity of the individual aircraft is therefore of secondary importance to its capability, and the fleet has been sized to meet the operational requirement. No direct comparison can be made with another aircraft. Additionally, there are no commercial air-to-air service providers with approval to operate on the UK civil or military aircraft registers.
The maximum fuel capacity is 111 tonnes. The fuel offload capacity is related to the radius of action, aircraft fuel consumption and the time on station at the refuelling location. For FSTA this fuel capacity relates to a standard sortie scenario of 500 miles radius of action, 140 minutes on station and a fuel offload of 60 tonnes to 20 different receiver aircraft.
Military Aircraft
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what trials his Department has undertaken with commercial air-to-air refuelling service providers in the last three years; and what assessment he has made of the results of those trials. [280001]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence has undertaken no trials with private sector air to air refuelling service providers in the last three years. A commercial service has been used by the RAF in the US, under extant bilateral arrangements with the US Military but this was not a formal trial.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the airworthiness of the (a) TriStar and (b) VC10 fleets. [280066]
Mr. Quentin Davies: RAF TriStar and VC10 aircraft are designed and certified to strict airworthiness and safety standards. The structural integrity of the aircraft is maintained by adherence to the procedures detailed within military airworthiness regulations. The review of airworthiness and safety of the aircraft is a routine and continual activity. It includes a comprehensive maintenance and repair process that covers routine flight servicing before and after each flight.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters are in service in the armed forces; and what the (a) target and (b) actual number of each type of helicopter fit for purpose is. [279950]
Mr. Quentin Davies: “In Service” has been taken to mean the effective fleet which covers all aircraft barring those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal.
“Fit for Purpose” aircraft are those in the forward fleet ie available to Front Line Commands for operational and training purposes (including those that are classed as “short term unserviceable”) that are considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date.
The number of helicopters “Fit for Purpose” varies from day to day due, primarily, to routine maintenance requirements. Therefore, the figures in the table are averages for May 2009:
| Helicopter type/mark | In-Service( 1) (effective fleet) | Fit for Purpose—target | Fit for Purpose—actual( 2) |
| (1) As at 1 June 2009 (2) Averages for May 2009 | |||
Operational capability is measured in terms of flying hours rather than the number of airframes available. All rotary wing operational requirements are currently being met.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the replacement of the Royal Navy's fleet of Lynx helicopter at the end of its service life. [280087]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Wildcat will replace the current Army and Royal Navy Lynx helicopter fleets from 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of his Department's contract for the upgrade of Puma helicopters; and if he will make a statement. [280088]
Mr. Quentin Davies: No contract for the upgrade of the Puma helicopters has been placed.
Military Bases
Mr. Garnier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated (a) market value and (b) area is of (i) DCSA Inskip, Preston, (ii) RAF Church Fenton, Tadcaster, (iii) RAF Syerston, (iv) RAF Watton, (v) TAC Worcester, (vi) Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot, (vii) Aldershot Garrison, (viii) RAF High Wycombe,
(ix) HMS Daedalus, Gosport and Fareham, (x) Anzio Barracks, Leek, (xi) HMS Forest Moor, Harrogate, (xii) RAF West Raynham, (xiii) RAF Newton, (xiv) RAF Alconbury, (xv) RAF Halton, Wendover, (xvi) RAF Brize Norton, Bicester, (xvii) DMC Dean Hill, West Dean, (xviii) RAF Chilmark, Salisbury, (xix) Connaught Barracks and (xx) Roussillon Barracks; and which of these sites is (A) redundant (B) expected to become redundant. [280444]
Mr. Kevan Jones:
The potential market value of sites is usually only assessed when they become surplus.
However, it is our practice not to release the estimated sale value of surplus sites as to do so might influence the market.
The MOD’s long-term Defence Estate Development Plan (DEDP), which can be found on the MOD internet at
classifies the Department’s sites in three categories; core, retained, or disposal estate.
The other requested information for the sites listed is as follows:
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