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1 Feb 2010 : Column 36W—continued
Turkey: EU Enlargement
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on negotiations on the accession of Turkey to the EU; and if he will make a statement. [314495] [Official Report, 24 February 2010, Vol. 506, c. 7MC.]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: In December 2009 the EU agreed to open the Environment Chapter of the accession negotiations with Turkey. Turkey has now opened 11 out of 35 accession Chapters.
The European Commission's most recent Progress Report for 2009 on Turkey's EU accession process noted several steps forward, for example in addressing the Kurdish and Armenian questions, a new judicial reform strategy, and improving energy security.
During my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe's visit to Istanbul he reiterated the UK's support for Turkey's EU membership and urged Turkey to continue making the necessary reforms and to abide by its commitments under the Ankara Protocol.
At the same time the report noted that renewed efforts on further reforms were needed and challenged Turkey to step up the pace of their reform programme and proactively contribute to a Cyprus settlement.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Commonwealth governments on the restoration of democracy in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [314423]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Zimbabwe with his Commonwealth counterparts at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which took place in Trinidad between 27 and 29 November 2009. Commonwealth Heads of Government welcomed the Global Political Agreement on power-sharing in Zimbabwe, and expressed the hope that this would be implemented faithfully and effectively. They looked forward to the conditions being created for the return of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth.
We are in regular contact with members of the Southern African Development Community, many of whom are members of the Commonwealth, as part of an ongoing dialogue.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2009, Official Report, column 88W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, whether the three helicopters were delivered to Afghanistan by 31 December 2009. [314322]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 29 January 2010]: The helicopters arrived in Afghanistan in early January 2010 and declared fully operational on 25 January 2010.
Aircraft Carriers
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department has incurred on the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers during the (a) initial and (b) main gate decision period for the two new carriers. [314305]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Costs incurred for the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers up to the end of the Assessment Phase were £110 million (CDEL, Outturn), with a further £174 million (CDEL, Outturn) incurred up to the end of the Demonstration Phase. Following Main Gate approval in July 2007, the QE Class Manufacture Contract was placed in July 2008, defining the end of the Demonstration Phase.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate his Department's research and development expenditure arising from its procurement of two new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. [314306]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers utilise mostly mature equipment and technology. As a de-risking measure we have spent around £20 million on shore-based test facilities in the areas of mission systems, power and propulsion and highly mechanised weapon handling.
Armed Forces: Deployment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are deployed at each overseas location on operations. [312660]
Bill Rammell: The following table shows the number of troops deployed on operations at overseas locations:
The precise number of personnel in each theatre fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including mid-tour rest and recuperation, temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, visits and a range of other factors. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed in theatre.
Armed Forces: Discharges
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the armed forces attending a medical discharge board are permitted to attend with a (a) nominated colleague, (b) friend and (c) legal adviser; and if he will make a statement. [305034]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 8 December 2009]: The single service medical boards encourage service personnel to bring with them someone with whom they feel comfortable and who can give support during the appointment. The person can be a service person from their workplace or unit, or a civilian family member if they prefer. At times social workers, other medical support staff, or (more rarely) legal advisers, have attended. If the patient wishes, this person can be with them during the consultations and administrative interviews.
Armed Forces: Driving
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many military driving licences were converted into civilian driving licences in each year since 2005; [314288]
(2) how many military driving licences were not converted into civilian licences as a result of processing errors in each year since 2005. [314289]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry Of Defence (MOD) does not have a 'military driving licence' but does have the legal authority to conduct the national driving tests on MOD personnel. Successful candidates receive their UK national licence for the categories tested on.
The number of successful driving test passes, in all categories, from 1 April 2005 to 26 January 2010 is as follows:
| Number | |
Prior to October 2005 all MOD personnel passing a UK national driving test through the military system would have been issued with a Driving Standards Agency pass certificate by the MOD Driving Examiner. The successful candidate was responsible for sending their pass certificate and existing driving licence to the DVLA within the two-year life of the pass certificate in order to have their licence amended. There is no information available as to how many MOD personnel failed to have their licences amended after having successfully passed a driving test.
Since October 2005 the confirmation of a successful driving test for MOD personnel has been transferred electronically to the DVLA via the Military Automatic Driving Licence Issue (MADLI) system. The DVLA then process the licence amendments and an upgraded licence is sent out within four days. There is no evidence of driver licence processing errors since MADLI was introduced.
Armed Forces: Health Services
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of running each service medical board of survey was in the latest period for which figures are available. [304871]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The total costs of running each single service medical board are not collated centrally. As well as staff costs of board members, the composition of which will vary according to the specific case, these will include such items as accommodation, utilities, travel and subsistence, reprographics and administration, both personnel and processing. Comprehensive and verifiable figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are assigned to the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy Medical Board of Survey. [304872]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Naval Service Medical Board of Survey (NSMBOS) is based at the Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke. Staff assigned to the board are as follows:
| Rank/grade | Number | Full/part-time |
| (1 )Approximately 2.5 days per week. | ||
Army Medical Boards are conducted as required at Army bases and units around the UK and in Germany, and are run by regional occupational health teams. The specific composition and staffing of these varies, although there are common denominators, such as a president who is a consultant occupational physician, usually a
colonel or lieutenant colonel, as well as a combination of clinical specialists as appropriate to the case, military and civilian medical officers, plus administrative staff.
The RAF Medical Board is based at RAF Henlow. Staff assigned to the board are as follows:
| Role | Rank/grade | Number | Full/part-time |
| (1) Three days per week. (2) Two days per week. (3) Four days per week. | |||
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