Parliamentary Answers – to 16 June 2011

This is a regular round up of Parliamentary questions and answers from ministers relevant to defence issues In addition to oral questions, MPs and Peers can ask government ministers questions for written answer. These are often used to obtain detailed information about policies and statistics on the activities of government departments. In the House of Commons ‘ordinary’ questions do not have to be answered on a specific date. An MP will date a written question for two days after they have tabled it (ie, submitted it for answer via the Table Office). The convention is that the MP can expect it to be answered within seven days of the question being tabled.

Question

Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who advised his Department on the terms of the exclusion zone for flights during the London 2012 Olympics.

Answer

Theresa Villiers (Minister of State (Rail and Aviation), Transport; Chipping Barnet, Conservative)

The proposed temporary airspace restrictions have been developed by the Government, based on work undertaken by the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Transport, with advice from the Civil Aviation Authority, NATS and others.

 

 

Question

Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have visited or contacted their counterpart in (i) the Falkland Islands and (ii) countries of South America since May 2010.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

Between May 2010 and 1 June 2011, the following visits to South America and the Falkland Islands were undertaken by Ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

The Minister for International Security Strategy (Mr Howarth) visited Brazil in September 2010 and in April 2011.

The Chief of the Navy Staff visited Chile in September 2010.

The Chief of the Air Staff visited Brazil in March 2011.

The Commander in Chief Air Command visited Chile and the Falkland Islands in March 2011.

In addition to these visits, there is constant formal and informal contact between MOD officials at all levels with their South American counterparts. Details of this contact is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Routine contacts between the United Kingdom and South American nations are conducted through the United Kingdom Defence Attaché posts in Argentina (with non-resident accreditation to Uruguay), Brazil, Chile and Colombia (with non-resident accreditation to Peru). Moreover, regular contact is undertaken with the Defence Attaches from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela who are based in London.

There is, of course, constant communication between the Falkland Islands Government and the staff of Headquarters British Forces South Atlantic Islands which is based at Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.

 

 

 

Question

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 388-9W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, when he expects pre-deployment training on cultural and gender awareness to be available to members of the armed forces.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

As stated in the answer of 23 May 2011, Hansard, columns 388-89W, all personnel deployed to any operational theatre already undertake law of armed conflict training which covers the status of protected persons including women and children and some cultural awareness training as part of their pre-deployment preparation.

In accordance with the UK National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, the Ministry of Defence is committed to continuously developing and delivering its pre-deployment training on cultural (including gender) awareness for the UK armed forces. Training is regularly reviewed and updates will be incorporated as and when they are appropriate.

 

 

Question

Paul Flynn (Newport West, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the terms of reference are for the review of licences for the export of military equipment to the middle east and North Africa; who is undertaking the review; and when it will report.

Answer

listair Burt (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Afghanistan/South Asia, counter terrorism/proliferation, North America, Middle East and North Africa), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) has commissioned a review of Government policy and practice with regard to the export of equipment that might be used for internal repression, in particular crowd control goods. Although this review was originally commissioned in response to events in the middle east and north Africa, any conclusions will apply to our procedures for arms exports to all countries. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is leading this internal review in close consultation with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The Government will be reporting back on the review to Parliament. This will take place once the Secretary of Sate has fully considered the findings of the review.

 

 

Question

Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many potential army recruits were referred from army selection centres to Cardiac Report Ltd in each of the last five years; what the cost to the public purse was of the contract with Cardiac Report Ltd in each such year; and how many of those recruits who were referred were subsequently declared fit following their visit to the company.

Answer

Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)

Cardiac Report Ltd provides specialist pre-employment screening services for the Army. Any Army applicants identified with having a possible cardiac abnormality at Army development and selection centres are referred for detection and evaluation.

The numbers of potential Army recruits referred by Army development and selection centres to Cardiac Report Ltd and those whose screenings were found to be normal for cardiac abnormalities over the past five calendar years are shown in the following table:

Number
	Applicants s een	Normal screenings
2006	1,198	1,048
2007	1,757	1,556
2008	1,749	1,592
2009	2,049	1,876
2010	1,292	1,198

Figures for those whose results were found to be normal after screening have been provided rather than those who have subsequently been declared medically fit for Army service. Applicants may be found to have other problems which preclude enlistment and it would take a considerable amount of work to cross check every record to see how they fared overall and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The cost of the contract with Cardiac Report Ltd over the past five financial years rounded to the nearest pound is shown in the following table:

Financial year	Cost (£)
2006-07	524,629
2007-08	936,707
2008-09	1,051,430
2009-10	1,149,533
2010-11	697,743

The overall cost to the public purse over the last five years has been £4,360,042.

 

Question

Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date each SBIRS radome at the installation at Menwith Hill is to become operational.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

The Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) facilities at RAF Menwith Hill are ready for operation.

The specific operational dates are a matter for the United States, although it is likely all SBIRS facilities at the base will be operational by the end of 2011.

 

 

Question

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the decision to deploy Apache helicopters as part of Operation Ellamy was made; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Liam Fox (Secretary of State, Defence; North Somerset, Conservative)

The decision to send Apache helicopters to Libya was taken on 26 May 2011, and came after careful consideration of the tactical and strategic advantages they offered and the associated risks. The issue was discussed on several occasions by the National Security Council at ministerial and official level, and between the UK and international partners, including the French, before reaching a decision.

UK Apache helicopters were declared officially to NATO at midnight on 31 May 2011. I subsequently authorised the active use of our Apaches in combat missions in support of Operation Unified Protector seeing their first use on 3 June 2011.

The mix of assets contributed by the UK to Operation Unified Protector is reviewed regularly by the Ministry of Defence and wider Government. UK Apache helicopters are employed under NATO command and control. It is not possible to say in advance exactly which targets they will be used against as this is an operational matter. All targets engaged will be in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.

 

 

Question

Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) (a) how many naval aviators are currently training with foreign navies, (b) with which navies they are training, (c) how many such personnel are qualified for carrier operations using catapults and traps and (d) which aircraft they are certified on;

(2) what rules of engagement apply in combat situations to Royal Navy aviators stationed on foreign aircraft carriers;

(3) when he proposes that Royal Navy aviators will be assigned to the air wing of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

There are currently two Royal Navy pilots undertaking fast jet training with foreign navies: both are under training with the US Navy. The two pilots are qualified for day catapult and arrestor carrier operations on the T/A-45 Goshawk aircraft. One further pilot has completed training and is both day and night qualified on the F/A-18E Super Hornet.

UK personnel operating with other forces would be subject to UK law, and applicable international law, at all times. We do not discuss specific rules of engagement as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Discussion between the Royal Navy and the French Navy remains ongoing regarding the timing, training and placement of Royal Navy aviators into the Charles de Gaulle in support of the UK-France Letter of Intent.

 

 

Question

cholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) what recent assessment he has made of the UK’s contribution to and involvement in NATO’s Istanbul co-operation initiative; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what recent assessment he has made of the UK’s contribution to and involvement in NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue.

Answer

Gerald Howarth (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (International Security Strategy), Defence; Aldershot, Conservative)

The United Kingdom supported fully the decision to make co-operative security with partners one of the three essential core tasks of NATO‘s 2010 strategic concept. In support of tackling common security challenges, we are engaged in the process of strengthening NATO’s co-operation with all partners, including the Istanbul co-operation initiative nations and the Mediterranean Dialogue nations, on the basis of a range of enhanced mechanisms agreed at the April 2011 NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting. It is encouraging that some nations involved in these initiatives are contributing to operations in Libya.

 

 

Question

Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel are active as part of Operation Ellamy; where each unit is based; and what the average (a) daily and (b) monthly cost of operating each such unit has been.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

As of 1 June 2011 there were around 900 RAF personnel deployed overseas on Operation Ellamy. We have made use of existing overseas bases such as Cyprus and maintain a small HQ presence within NATO in Naples and Poggio as well as having a small number of liaison officers deployed to the HQs of our allies. In addition a small number of personnel are deployed to Benghazi, Libya in support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office mission there.

The RAF personnel deployed in support of Operation Ellamy are a mixture of formed units and augmentees, the breakdown across the major deployed locations and the capabilities they are supporting as at 1 June 2011 is shown in the following table.

	Capability supported	Number of RAF personnel (1)
Gioia Dell Colle, Italy	Typhoon Aircraft	550
	Tornado Aircraft
Trapani, Italy	Sentry Surveillance Aircraft	150
	VC10 Tanker Aircraft
Naples, Italy	Headquarters staff	<50
Poggio Renatico, Italy	Headquarters staff	50
Akrotiri, Cyprus	Nimrod Surveillance Aircraft	100
	E3-D AWACS Aircraft
	Sentry Surveillance Aircraft
	VC10 Tanker Aircraft
Total deployed on Operation Ellamy		900
(1) Rounded to the nearest 50 personnel

The precise number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, visits arid a range of other factors. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed.

As I have said before, I expect the cost of the UK’s involvement in NATO operations over Libya to be modest in comparison to other operations such as Afghanistan. It is still too early to give a robust estimate of the final costs of the operation. I can, however, provide initial indications of average accommodation, allowances and fuel costs for the main deployed locations, for all three services and civilians.

Accommodation

The approximate average monthly cost, assessed up to 1 June 2011, for accommodation of all UK personnel at the main locations is provided in the following table. The costs for Akrotiri accommodation are the additional costs to support Ellamy personnel over and above the normal costs of accommodation at the base.

	Approximate monthly accommodation costs (£)	Approximate daily accommodation costs (£)
Gioia Dell Colle, Italy	1,000,000	30,000
Trapani, Italy	300,000	10,000
Poggio Renatico, Italy	150,000	5,000
Naples, Italy	60,000	2,000
Akrotiri, Cyprus	42,000	1,400

Allowances

There are two types of personal allowance paid to service personnel in Italy. Longer separation allowance (LSA) is paid on an accrual basis for military personnel separated from their families and will continue to be paid for the duration of the operation. The recorded costs of LSA for deployed personnel in Italy is around £600,000 per month or £20,000 per day.

Local overseas allowance (LOA) is paid for personnel on operations before a complete welfare package has been set up as is currently the case in Poggio Renatico and Naples. The recorded costs of LOA for deployed personnel in Italy and Cyprus is around £50,000 per month or £1,700 per day.

Fuel

Aviation fuel costs average around £1.2 million per month or £43,000 per day, although the costs vary week by week.

 

 

Question

Julian Huppert (Cambridge, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice his Department has (a) sought and (b) received on the implications of the Missile Technology Control Regime for the import of Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicles and associated technology from Israel.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

Where necessary the Ministry of Defence consults with other Government Departments on the implications that international agreements may have on our acquisition programmes. In this case there are no implications for the import of the Watchkeeper system to the United Kingdom. The Watchkeeper system is classed as a Category II system in that it does not have the ability to carry a 500 kg payload to a distance of at least 300 km. Exports of Category II systems are permitted under Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) guidelines in accordance with national export licensing arrangements.

Israel states that it voluntarily adheres to MTCR guidelines despite not being a member. In this context it is therefore Israel’s responsibility to have made an assessment of the Watchkeeper system against MTCR controls before approving its export.

 

 

Question

Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what vessels are leased by the Royal Navy; and what the cost to the public purse was to lease each such vessel in each of the last five years.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The Ministry of Defence leases three river class vessels (HMS Tyne, HMS Severn and HMS Mersey), one more capable modified river class vessel (HMS Clyde) and one ice breaker (HMS Protector). As the lease for HMS Protector began in March 2011, there are no historic costs.

Lease costs for the four river class vessels
£
	Financial year
	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
HMS Tyne, HMS Severn and HMS Mersey(1)	8.9 million	7.3 million	7.3 million	7.3 million	7.3 million

HMS Clyde	642,000	3.5 million	3.5 million	3.5 million	3.5 million
(1) The lease cost for the HMS Tyne, HMS Severn, HMS Mersey is a single charge for all three vessels.

 

 

Question

Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the decommissioning of HMS Endurance.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

Cost models for the different options for delivering the UK’s ice patrol capability will be developed to inform the decision-making process. I am withholding details of such costs as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

 

 

Question

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of leasing HMS Protector under sharing arrangements with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

The delivery of the UK’s ice patrol capability is funded solely by the Ministry of Defence and there are no cost sharing arrangements with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. HMS Protector has been leased, at a cost of £26million, from GC Rieber Shipping for an initial period of three years.

 

 

Question

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the safety implications for armed forces personnel of firing Hellfire missiles from Apache helicopters; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

Hellfire missiles, and all other munitions fired from the UK Apache helicopter, have had a complete safety and risk analysis undertaken to understand all aspects of the implications of their use prior to their introduction to service. This included assessments of the risks to service personnel and other operators of the aircraft, both in the air and on the ground.

 

 

Question

Lady Hermon (North Down, Independent)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the reserve forces in Northern Ireland were mobilised in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answer

Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)

The following table provides the total number of reserve personnel with a residential address in Northern Ireland who were mobilised in each of the last three financial years.

Financial year	Mobilised Reservists
2008-09	80
2009-10	200
2010-11	60

All numbers have been subject to rounding.

 

 

Question

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hellfire missiles have been fired by Apache helicopters in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

Detailed records for Apache attack helicopter firings of Hellfire missiles are only available since 2008 onwards, as shown in the following table:

	Number of Hellfires
January 2008 – December 2008	151
January 2009 – December 2009	164
January 2010 – December 2010	128
January 2011 – May 2011	108

This includes both operational and training firings.

The Hellfire missile has shown itself to be the weapon of choice for Apache attack helicopter operations, proving to be an accurate and reliable weapon system and providing airborne fire support to ground forces. This predominantly involves supporting troops in contact, in addition to providing cover for the emergency medical extraction of seriously wounded personnel.

 

 

Question

Bob Ainsworth (Coventry North East, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what planning the Stabilisation Unit in his Department has undertaken on post-conflict Libya.

Answer

Andrew Mitchell (Secretary of State, International Development; Sutton Coldfield, Conservative)

The Stabilisation Unit (SU) is co-owned by the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence. Working closely with partners across Whitehall, the SU has undertaken a number of planning exercises to support the Government’s preparedness for engagement on post-conflict Libya. Working to the Secretary of State for International Development, SU recently deployed a multi-national Stabilisation Response Team to Libya which will provide an assessment to inform UK and international support in the post-conflict period.

 

 

Question

Christopher Pincher (Tamworth, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on operations-specific personal protective (a) clothing and (b) equipment in the last 12 months.

Answer

Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)

During financial year 2010-11, the Ministry of Defence spent approximately £15 million on operational-specific personal protective equipment including body armour, pelvic protection and helmets. These costs include items issued to new recruits and the replenishment of stores in addition to supplies for personnel deployed.

Items of operational-specific personal protective clothing are contained within a number of wider clothing contracts. Costs for the last 12 months could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

 

 

Question

Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) how many Royal Air Force personnel are based at Gioia del Colle as part of Operation Ellamy;

(2) what the average (a) daily and (b) monthly cost of basing Royal Air Force personnel at Gioia del Colle has been to date.

Answer

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

holding answer 7 June 2011

As of 1 June 2011 there were 550 RAF personnel, to the nearest 50, based in Gioia del Colle as part of Operation Ellamy. These include UK personnel seconded to NATO for operation Unified Protector.

The precise number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including 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.

The average monthly cost, assessed on 1 June 2011, for accommodation of all UK personnel (including Royal Navy, army and civilians) at Gioia dell Colle is around £1 million. This equates to an approximate cost of £30,000 per day.