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31 Oct 2006 : Column 330W—continued
Environmental Policies
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recycling facilities are provided to army barracks and bases (a) in the UK and (b) overseas for the use of (i) armed forces’ personnel, (ii) catering staff and (iii) civilian personnel. [90323]
Derek Twigg: Where possible, both in the UK and overseas, a range of recycling facilities are provided to army barracks and bases for use by armed forces and civilian personnel. Continental bins, closed box skips and large skips may be provided to facilitate the segregation and recycling of waste material. Where possible paper, glass, cardboard, wood, scrap metal and tyre waste is recycled.
In the UK and overseas the provision of catering services is outsourced to various commercial catering companies who in most cases take responsibility for the recycling and disposal of their own waste products. This is in line with contract requirements that state that the contractor shall manage waste in accordance with UK waste management legislation and departmental policy to reduce, re-use and recycle.
Eurofighter Typhoon
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timescale is for the delivery of Typhoons to the Royal Air Force squadrons following the successful bid by BAE Systems for the supply of Eurofighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia. [93590]
Mr. Ingram: The negotiations on the supply of Eurofighter-Typhoon aircraft to Saudi Arabia have yet to be concluded. The final Tranche 1 Typhoon aircraft will be delivered to the Royal Air Force in September 2007. Tranche 2 aircraft deliveries commence in 2008 and will continue until 2013-14.
Health and Safety at Work (Prosecutions)
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prosecutions for offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 have been taken against his Department's personnel since 1976; how many prosecutions were successful in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage this represents of total prosecutions of his Department for such offences in this period. [94236]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence is only aware of two such prosecutions over the past five years, one of which was successful. Beyond that the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Housing
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider allowing ex-military personnel to occupy empty homes on military bases in the UK. [97011]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 25 October 2006]: Other than properties which are vacant pending families moving in, for work to be done or for administrative purposes, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not retain unused dwellings. The MOD sold the vast majority of service family accommodation (SFA) in England and Wales to Annington Homes Limited (AHL) in November 1996, with the arrangement that the Department would lease-back from them the accommodation we needed to house service families. When properties are no longer required, they are returned to AHL for them to dispose of as they see fit.
In order to help with adjusting to civilian life or for the purpose of house-hunting, recently retired or
redundant service personnel may apply in accordance with Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations (Joint Service Publication 464) for surplus SFA located outside secured areas for a maximum period of six months on payment of the market rate for such accommodation.
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make service families accommodation regulations consistent with regulations for civilian property. [91756]
Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Medical Services
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are on waiting lists for treatment at NHS hospitals. [94487]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 17 October 2006]: Service personnel who return with serious injuries from operational theatres are treated immediately. In addition, the MOD pays NHS Trusts to expedite elective secondary-care treatment ahead of typical NHS time scales where there is an operational benefit.
On average, about 4,200 personnel across all three services will be in the process of being seen as either an in-patient or out-patient in the NHS Trusts which host Ministry of Defence Hospital Units, the majority of whom remain employed during this process. A small number of military personnel will receive treatment at other NHS hospitals, but this information is not held centrally and could only be obtained by examining all individual medical records.
The MOD runs its own rehabilitation units (for military patients with a range of musculo-skeletal conditions) and community-based psychiatric facilities, and has a contract with the Priory Group for the provision of in-patient psychiatric treatment. Such patients will therefore not need treatment in NHS facilities.
Mental Health
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where departments of community mental health are located; what services they provide; and if he will make a statement. [91295]
Derek Twigg: The MOD has 15 Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs) in the UK at the following locations:
Kinloss (Inverness)
Leuchars (Edinburgh)
Faslane
Aldershot
Brize Norton
Catterick
Colchester
Cranwell
Marham
Plymouth
Portsmouth
Tidworth
West Midlands (Donnington)
Woolwich
Lisburn (Northern Ireland)
We also have satellite centres at the following overseas locations:
Germany—Community Health Teams (CHT) at:
Wegberg (including in-patient facility)
Paderborn
Gutersloh
Osnabruck
Hohne
Gibraltar (CHT)
Cyprus (CHT)
DCMH teams comprise Psychiatrists and Mental Health Nurses, with access to Clinical Psychologists and mental health social workers. The aim is to see referred individuals at their unit medical centre and, with the patient’s permission, to engage with GPs and the patient’s chain of command to help manage any mental health problems identified. The full range of psychiatric and psychological treatments are available including medication, psychological therapies and environmental adjustment where appropriate, provided by 25 Consultant Psychiatrists and around 120 Registered Mental Health Nurses working in the Defence Medical Services. For PTSD our treatment meets the standards set by the independent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Middle East
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which UK (a) air and maritime assets and (b) other military facilities are being used in support of UN operations in the Lebanon; [97149]
(2) whether the UK plans to provide any further support to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force; and if he will make a statement. [97151]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 26 October 2006]: The UK provided HMS York to a UN-sponsored temporary maritime task force in early September. This task force was replaced by a follow-on force under UNIFIL command on 15 October; we do not plan to provide any further maritime support. We have offered to provide support in other areas, including use of our sovereign base areas on Cyprus, and provision of a naval logistician to assist the UN. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UK pays a premium contribution to the costs of UN operations.
Military Personnel
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the (a) actual and (b) establishment figures are for each regiment of the British regular infantry; [89635]
(2) what the (a) current and (b) establishment infantry manning levels are, broken down by (i) division and (ii) battalion. [91297]
Derek Twigg:
Establishment figures for the Infantry are not generally compiled in terms of regiment (the description of the organisation beyond a single cap
badge). The following table shows the currently recorded strengths and establishments of the Infantry by battalion, the fighting unit, and Infantry Division but does not include those members of the regiment serving outside the battalion.
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