HC Deb 11 June 2002 vol 386 cc1163-4W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since June 2001, stating in each case the(a) number of respondents and (b) percentage of those specifically consulted who responded. [60143]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 10 June 2002]: Since June 2001 the Ministry of Defence has completed or undertaken the following public consultations: Armed Forces Pension Scheme Review Joint Compensation Review 2ndConsultation on the Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium MOD Police Quinquennial Review. The MOD also issued a public discussion document on the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) New Chapter during this period.

1,500 Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) Review and Joint Compensation Review (JCR) consultation documents were issued in March 2001 with a closing date of 31 July 2001 for responses. These were issued to all units of the three services and also sent to ex-service organisations such as the Forces Pension Society, Widows Associations and the Royal British Legion. 20,000 leaflets were also distributed to serving members of the armed forces and the consultation documents were issued on the MOD website. 203 responses were received in total, with some respondents commenting on both the AFPS and JCR. Responses were received from all the principal ex-service organisations specifically consulted.

The 2nd consultation on the Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium was issued in April 2001 with a closing date of 4 July 2001 for responses. A total of 21 responses were received by the Department and a full summary of the responses received is available on the MOD website.

I am unable to provide the requested information for the MOD Police Quinquennial Review in the time available. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

In addition, the SDR New Chapter public discussion document has attracted a wide range of constructive responses, some 315 to date. The closing date for responses was 15 March 2002 and all have been given full consideration in the continuing SDR New Chapter work.