HC Deb 01 March 2001 vol 363 cc726-7W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) men and (b) women serving in (i) the Army, (ii) the Royal Navy and (iii) the Royal Air Force have died in active service in each month over the past 10 years; and how many of those listed were married at the time of death. [151011]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: The term "active service" is used wildly in connection with the Services, with various meanings in different contexts. However the Service Discipline Act contains specific definitions for the purposes of that legislation. In order to avoid a more restrictive interpretation than may be intended by the question, we set out figures based on a wide range of deaths on duty. The circumstances covered by the figures are explained more fully immediately after the table.

Between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 2000 there have been 394 service personnel who have died of injuries sustained on duty. Out of this total, 132 were married at the time of death. The table provides details of thasa deaths for each service;

Dr. Moonie

A comprehensive assessment of the threat to security at the Royal Ordnance sites was undertaken. It is not the practice to discuss threat assessments publicly for reasons of national security, but the threat assessment was taken fully into account in reaching the decision to withdraw Ministry of Defence police officers from Royal Ordnance sites.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost per annum to Royal Ordnance is of employing Ministry of Defence Police at(a) Bridgwater, (b) Chorley, (c) Glascoed, (d) Nottingham and (e) Radway Green; and if he will make a statement. [151590]

Dr. Moonie

I am withholding details of the sums paid by Royal Ordnance to the Ministry of Defence for the services of the MOD police under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information as they are a matter of commercial confidentiality.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence Police are deployed at the Royal Ordnance sites in(a) Bridgwater, (b) Chorley, (c) Glascoed, (d) Nottingham and (e) Radway Green; what plans there are to withdraw cover and on what dates; and if he will make a statement. [151591]

Dr. Moonie

There are 15 Ministry of Defence police (MDP) posts complemented at each of the five RO sites. MDP officers will be withdrawn from RO Bridgwater, Chorley, Glascoed and Radway Green on 31 May 2001. MDP officers will be withdrawn from RO Nottingham when the MOD weapons have been removed from the Pattern Room, which is currently expected to take place in February 2002.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the proposed withdrawal of Ministry of Defence police at Royal Ordnance sites will result in(a) compulsory and (b) voluntary redundancies within the Ministry of Defence police; and if he will make a statement. [151592]

Dr. Moonie

It is very unlikely that the withdrawal of the Ministry of Defence police (MDP) from the five RO sites will lead to any compulsory redundancies, unless officers substantiate a case for a Limited Mobility Waiver, and there are no other employment opportunities with the MDP in the local area. We anticipate that all will be offered alternative postings.

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers private security companies will have to(a) patrol beyond perimeters and (b) carry weaponry at Royal Ordnance sites once Ministry of Defence police protection is withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [151593]

Dr. Moonie

Once Ministry of Defence police protection is withdrawn, the deployment of company guards will be the responsibility of the Royal Ordnance. The guards will not have constabulary powers.

Private security company guards will not be armed. Section 54 of the Firearms Act 1968 limits the authority to carry firearms on duty to Crown Servants (which includes Service personnel and the Ministry of Defence police). The Firearms Act Amendment 1997 lists pistols as prohibited items, the carriage of which requires a personal licence issued by the local Chief Constable; no such licences are issued to private security companies. Home Department police will provide an armed response force, as required, at the RO sites.