§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Excess Vote of £19,585,348.43 for defence procurement is attributable to maintaining a garrison on the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. Ian StewartNone.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the sleeping conditions and facilities for crews of Rapier batteries in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. WigginFor operational reasons the conditions experienced by Rapier crews are more arduous than for other troops in the Falklands. This is recognised by the fact that they serve correspondingly shorter tours of duty.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he considers that additional Royal Engineers are required to build and repair roads in the Falkland Islands before the Antarctic winter.
§ Mr. WigginNo.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers in the Falklands have suffered from hypothermia.
§ Mr. WigginDuring the Falkland Islands conflict, two men suffered hypothermia requiring admission to Service medical units. Since the conflict ended, one man has suffered hypothermia requiring significant medical treatment. There have been other cases of transient hypothermia which have not required significant medical treatment, and for which figures are not available.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he makes of the cost of a second 'coaster floating hotel for soldiers living in unsatisfactory conditions in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. WigginThe cost of this purchase is confidential for commercial reasons.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that service men on duty in the Falkland Islands are getting adequate supplies of cigarettes and tobacco.
§ Mr. WigginCigarettes and tobacco are amongst the items available for purchase through mobile and static outlets of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps/Expeditionary Force Institutes—the uniformed branch of the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes.