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24 Mar 2004 : Column 852W—continued
Supermarket Code of Practice
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister of the National Assembly on the effectiveness of the Supermarket Code of Practice; and if he will make a statement. [162510]
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Mr. Touhig: Responsibility for monitoring the Supermarket Code of Practice rests with the Office of Fair Trading. It published its first annual review of the operation of the Code on 20 February 2004. The review found a widespread belief among suppliers that the Code was not working effectively. However, suppliers did not provide any hard evidence to support their view. The Office of Fair Trading is therefore carrying out a further compliance audit to establish how supermarkets deal with suppliers under the Code.
DEFENCE
Bowman Radio System
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Bowman radio system will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement. [162838]
Mr. Ingram: The Bowman tactical communication system will achieve its full operational capability incrementally. Following the programme's planned delivery into service in 2004, the aim is for the first brigade converted to Bowman to undertake a further 15 months of unit and collective performance training to achieve warfighting operational readiness. Based on current progress, this will be in 2005.
Brimstone Missile
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with what (a) short range air-to-air, (b) beyond-visual-range air-to-air, (c) precision anti-armour and (d) other stand-off weapons the Future Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) will be equipped; and for what reasons the requirement for (A) advanced short range air-to-air missiles and (B) Brimstone systems was removed from the JCA programme. [162643]
Mr. Ingram: No final decisions have been taken on the weapons fit for the Joint Combat Aircraft, beyond the requirement that it will have a precision bombing capability and an air to air capability when it enters service.
Weapons systems that we are considering integrating on JCA as the requirement evolves include:
- Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile
- Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
- Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (Meteor)
- Paveway IV
- Storm Shadow
- Brimstone
Our considerations will cover which weapons should be carried internally and which should be carried externally on JCA. Under current plans, it is not considered cost or operationally effective for JCA to carry ASRAAM and Brimstone externally, but the internal carriage of these weapons remains an option.
Deepcut Barracks
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of Brigadier Evans 1995 review of Phase 2 training system at Deepcut barracks. [162271]
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Mr. Ingram: Yes. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recommendations were of the 3 December 2002 Final Report of the Deputy Adjutant General on the Deepcut investigation; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [162275]
Mr. Ingram: The Deputy Adjutant General made the following recommendations in his Final Report:
- the establishment at Deepcut should be revised in order to provide a supervisory ratio of approximately 1:38, and the resultant requirement for an increment of up to 12 officers and 50 NCOs be funded in the Short Term Plan 2003 (£2.2 million);
- the supervisory ratios across the entire Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA) should be reviewed and brought to appropriate levels in line with a clearly defined and endorsed policy for all training establishments and which can be carried forward into the Defence Training Review;
- performance Indicators and Targets placed upon the ATRA should be reviewed and reordered to prevent inconsistency with the best interests of the trainees and the reduction of Soldiers Awaiting Trade Training;
- the routine security and guarding of the Deepcut site should be taken over by MPGS as soon as practicable at a cost of £1.7 million;
- a common induction training package for ATRA Phase 2 instructors and supervisors should be implemented in order to raise standards towards those prevailing in Phase 1;
- the detailed observations and taskings in the Joint Surrey Police/Army Learning Account should be implemented forthwith.
Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.
Defence Employment (Essex)
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Ministry of Defence civilian personnel and (b) servicemen and women were employed in bases and establishments in Essex (i) in 1992, (ii) in 1997 and (iii) on the latest available date. [162873]
Mr. Caplin: Reliable data on civilian personnel are only available at Government Office region. The number of Ministry of Defence civilian personnel located in the eastern region in 1993, 1997 and January 2004 were as follows.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1 April 1993 | 5,430 |
| 1 April 1997 | 5,910 |
| 1 January 2004 | 5,860 |
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Reliable data are not available for 1992.
The number of Service personnel located in Essex in 1992,1997 and 2002 were as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1 July 1992 | 3,800 |
| 1 July 1997 | 3,190 |
| 1 July 2002(5) | 3,710 |
(5) Location data as at 1 July 2002 are the latest available.
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
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Figures are for UK Regular Forces (including both Trained and Untrained personnel), and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, mobilised reservists and Naval Activated Reservists.
End-to-End Review
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will determine its response to the End-to-End Review; and if he will make a statement. [162990]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 23 March 2004]: The aim of the End-to-End Review was to find ways to improve logistics support to the armed forces, and to do this more efficiently. The End-to-End Study reported on 1 July 2003 and an 18 month Demonstration Phase commenced on 8 September 2003. A summary of the findings from the Review has been placed in the House Library.
The Demonstration Phase is using pilots to test End-to-End principles and to reduce risk. In parallel, the efficacy of some of the recommendations are being assessed and subjected to thorough investment appraisals prior to full implementation. I will make a more substantive statement on the implementation of the End-to-End Review when appropriate.
Eurofighter
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the US Administration on whether Eurofighter could bring potential benefits to the United States Air Force. [162148]
Future Rapid Effects System
Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an announcement on the future of the Future Rapid Effects System before the Easter recess. [162772]
Mr. Ingram: I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the way ahead shortly, but this will not be before the Easter recess.
Service Suicides (Reports)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions were reached by Lieutenant Colonel Hawley in his October 1998 report that scoped the scale and nature of psychological morbidity among Army recruits; what recommendations were made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [162273]
Mr. Ingram: Lieutenant Colonel Hawley's paper on A Study of Attempted Suicide in the Army: 10 Years of Experience 1987 to 1996 came to the following conclusions:
- a prospective cohort study should be undertaken over a period of five years to confirm the findings of this scoping study and to extend the analysis;
- a review of the current selection criteria for entry into the Army should be undertaken in order to help select individuals appropriately;
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- a formalisation of the criteria for dealing and disposing of individuals who have attempted suicide should be completed;
- training in the identification of individuals at risk should be introduced to all leadership courses.
This paper was not commissioned by the Army but produced as a result of private academic research in 1998. The report was not seen by the Chain of Command at the time and no action was taken. It coincided with a more major body of official research, the Walton Report. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of Lieutenant Colonel Hawley's paper in the Library of the House.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions were reached by the 1996 Walton report on circumstances relating to unnatural deaths in the Army; what recommendations were made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [162272]
Mr. Ingram: Dr. Suzy Walton's research into Suicide in the British Army resulted in a report that was published in five parts during the period December 1996 to September 1998. All recommendations have been acted upon. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.
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