HC Deb 04 December 1990 vol 182 cc104-5W
23. Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the additional costs to his departmental budget caused by the Gulf crisis.

Mr. Tom King

Revised Winter Supplementary Estimates being submitted to the House for approval include £480 million for additional costs so far identified arising from the Gulf crisis.

24. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current situation of British forces in the Gulf.

30. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the role of the British troops in the Gulf.

Mr. Tom King

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply that I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind).

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what boots are being worn by British forces serving under desert conditions in the Gulf;

(2) whether desert boots have been issued to British forces serving under desert conditions in the Gulf.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Normal issue combat boots are being worn by British forces in the Gulf for duty purposes, while lightweight boots have been issued for off duty wear. In addition, limited quantities of a new desert combat boot have been trialled, and are currently in production. They will be issued as supplies become available.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British forces serving under desert conditions in the Gulf are required to purchase desert boots for their own use.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

No.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of fatalities involving British forces serving in the Gulf.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Two.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, giving such information as is available, those accidents that have occurred so far to British service personnel in the Gulf.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: The pilot of a Jaguar aircraft was killed when his aircraft crashed on 13 November. On 30 November a Royal Army Medical Corps corporal serving with 33 field hospital was killed in a shooting incident. There have been a number of other accidents, including one other involving the loss of an aircraft, in which service personnel have been injured, but it would not be practicable to provide a detailed list.