§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the postal service to troops serving in the Gulf; and what further measures his Department has taken to ensure the provision of a low-cost and efficient postal service.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonA number of representations have been received about the postal service to troops serving in the Gulf.
Forces concessionary rate mail, in addition to the forces free airletter facility, provides a low-cost and efficient postal service to the Gulf. I also welcome the initiative by United Parcels in helping to deliver parcels at low cost or free of charge to the defence postal and courier service depot in London. All forces mail to the Gulf is being carried by RAF aircraft which depart daily.
Over 1 million kilograms of mail has been moved to the Gulf from the United Kingdom, as well as over 100,000 kilograms from Germany. I believe that the postal service has performed well, often in difficult circumstances. The situation is regularly monitored, but at present I have no plans to introduce any change to current arrangements.
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§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United States armed forces contingency hospitals based at RAF Feltwell, Bicester, Little Rissington, Nocton Hall, Upwood, Kemble, Bordan, Newton and Waterbeach will be available for the treatment of United Kingdom armed forces casualties returning from the Gulf.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe United States armed forces have activated their contingency hospitals at RAF Little Rissington, Bicester and Nocton Hall. Although these contingency hospitals are primarily designed for the treatment of United States military personnel, casualties from any allied nation would be admitted in an emergency.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops there are in the Gulf from each allied country; and how many tanks and armed personnel carriers from each allied country are in the Gulf.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 25 February at column 389. The United Kingdom committed about 43,000 personnel to the operation in the Gulf.
§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the targets of British aircraft during each of the last three days of the war.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonRAF aircraft continued to attack military targets and facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait, particularly in support of coalition ground forces.
§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government will offer United Kingdom medical facilities in the Gulf to Iraqi non-prisoner wounded where capacity is available.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonNo injured or wounded person of any nationality would be refused emergency medical treatment in United Kingdom medical facilities in the Gulf.