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20 July 2009 : Column 865W—continued
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
A combination of UK military and civilian charter aircraft are used to transport supplies to British forces in Afghanistan. Within Afghanistan, supplies are delivered to UK forces by UK Hercules and C17 aircraft, UK Chinook, Sea King and Lynx helicopters and by helicopters from troop contributing nations in Regional Command (South). Within Regional Command (South), helicopter support is provided from
a multinational pool of helicopters, to which the UK makes a significant contribution. The UK also makes use of a range of civilian helicopters through the NATO logistics supply contract and a UK contract for transporting non-sensitive stores.
We are not able to comment on the types of helicopter deployed by other nations in Regional Command (South) or on the nationality of the crews which operate them, since this is a matter for each individual nation. Contracts for helicopter assets are let for the provision of a capability. Consequently, the types of contracted helicopter and the nationality of those who operate them are a matter for the contractor.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maximum number of (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Air Force helicopters is which could be deployed in Afghanistan. [288238]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies) gave on 17 June 2009, Official Record, column 338W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).
Helicopters and crews from all three services continue to serve with distinction in Afghanistan. We have already deployed to Afghanistan the maximum number of helicopters that are both properly equipped for the challenges of the operational theatre, and that we can sustain on an enduring basis. While it would be possible to surge additional helicopters into theatre on a temporary basis, this would be unsustainable over time and would severely impact upon the achievement of harmony guidelines for helicopter air and ground crews and training of new and existing crews. We are working hard to increase the number of deployed helicopters but we need to do so sustainably. That is why we have been investing in additional aircraft and crews, logistics and infrastructure, as well undertaking significant modifications to our existing helicopter fleet to enhance their capabilities.
Helicopter capability is measured by flying hours rather than airframe numbers. The helicopter fleet is managed to ensure that our operational and other commitments are met, including an 84 per cent. increase in flying hours in Afghanistan between November 2006 and April 2009.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2009, Official Report, column 999, on armed conflict: Afghanistan, what his policy is on the introduction of a single, uniform system by which all members of the International Security Assistance Force investigate and provide compensation to civilian casualties. [283871]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: A civilian casualties tracking cell has been established by NATO ISAF to investigate reports, with the Government of Afghanistan, of alleged incidents involving ISAF in Afghanistan.
As detailed in my answer of 11 June 2009, Official Report , column 999W, compensation claims brought against the Ministry of Defence as part of the International Security Assistance Force are considered on the basis of whether or not the Department has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a proven legal liability, under UK law, compensation is paid.
Other members of the International Security Assistance Force will also assess liability when considering compensation claims though this will be against their own national law. This therefore precludes the implementation of a uniform system for providing compensation for civilian casualties.
Apache Helicopters
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what through-life upgrades are planned for the Apache helicopter; [288195]
(2) when he plans to start the Block 3 upgrade to the Apache helicopter. [288194]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The MOD plans to upgrade the Apache helicopter throughout its life to sustain the capability provided, through a Spiral Development programme, starting before 2017 when the US Army will stop operating their AH64D block 1 aircraft on which the Apache AH Mk1 is based. A number of options have been identified, which include utilising US Army block 3 technology. The UK assessment phase of the upgrade is scheduled to commence in financial year 2012-13.
Armed Forces: Afghanistan
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of all Afghan government military forces are based in Helmand province; and what efforts are being made to increase that percentage. [287272]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The number of Afghan National Security Forces in Helmand province is approximately 7,500, the total number of Afghan National Security Forces in Afghanistan is approximately 170,000.
The decision on where to deploy Afghan National Security Forces is a decision for the Afghan Government. The UK is working closely with the Government of Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force, and the Combined Security Transition Command to ensure that new Afghan National Security Force units are deployed where they are needed most.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have been killed or seriously injured while being transported in road vehicles on operations in Afghanistan in circumstances where helicopters would have been used for the transport if they had been available in each of the last five years. [287434]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence recognises the vital role that helicopters play in supporting operations in Afghanistan. There are also many tasks that can only be carried out by troops on the ground, and situations in which road vehicles are a more suitable or better means of transporting personnel than helicopters.
It is not possible to make an assessment of whether an incident in which a UK serviceman has been killed or sustained serious injuries could have been avoided should a helicopter have been used in place of a road vehicle. We constantly monitor and respond to the capability and protection requirements of our troops, and strive to ensure that our armed forces have the protection and mobility they need to do their jobs as safely and effectively as modern technology allows.
Armed Forces: Health Services
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many service personnel his Department has purchased accelerated access to (a) NHS and (b) private treatment in each region in each of the last 10 years. [282936]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Accelerated access is a term used by MOD in the context of physical illnesses and injuries. It is separate to the specific "fast track" arrangements for orthopaedic treatment; separate provision is also made for access to in-patient care for mental health conditions.
Secondary healthcare accelerated access for Service personnel is commissioned through the NHS. In England, contracts have been established with selected NHS Trusts in the locations shown in the following table. There are no such formal arrangements with private sector providers for physical conditions.
Patients based in the devolved Administrations who require accelerated access will have this provided through local commissioning arrangements with relevant NHS Trusts.
Comprehensive data for the last 10 years are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, during the period 2004-05 to 2007-08 a total of 100,112 treatments have been delivered through accelerated access arrangements in England. A detailed breakdown of this activity by hospital is provided in the following table.
| Derriford | Frimley Park | Northallerton | Peterborough | Portsmouth | RCDM( 1) | Royal Surrey | |
| 1 Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, hosted by University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust | |||||||
Final confirmed numbers for 2008-09 are not yet available.
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions his Department has arranged fast access to (a) NHS and (b) private surgery under the orthopaedic-fast track programme for service personnel in each region in each of the last 10 years; [283007]
(2) what the average waiting time for service personnel to receive physiotherapy (a) on the orthopaedic-fast track programme and (b) in each of his Department's regional rehabilitation units was in each of the last 10 years. [283006]
Mr. Kevan Jones:
The most common medical conditions in military patients are musculo-skeletal disorders. Since April 2004, for patients with these conditions, we have
arranged rapid access to diagnosis and, for the minority who are then found to need it, surgery in NHS facilities, thus enabling the services to respond to the current high operational tempo and return personnel to full fitness for task when this is clinically deliverable.
The following table shows how many referrals to fast-track surgery have been made by each rehabilitation
and recovery unit in the UK in each financial year since 2005-06. Details as to which medical facility each referral was made could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Figures for 2004-05 are not readily available.
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09( 1) | 2009 - 10( 2) | |
| (1) 2008-09 statistics subject to final analysis and confirmation (2) 2009-10 figures up to June 2009 | |||||
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