HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 cc131-2W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many laptop computers were used by(a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement. [97503]

Dr. Moonie

Information regarding the number of laptop computers used within the Ministry of Defence in any given year is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The same applies to information regarding any items recorded as lost. With regard to the number of laptop computers suspected of being stolen, reported cases are recorded centrally on a summary basis only. Those records relate to items suspected of being stolen and so it cannot be assumed that theft actually applies in every case. Information regarding stolen laptop computers is only readily available from 1997–98 and is here related to cases where the value of suspected loss exceeds £1,000.

Year Total (£)
1997–98 18 38,010
1998–99 3 6,885

Mr. Ingram

The 14 Civil Contingencies Reaction Forces (CCRFs) are not grouped in a single formation with a separate headquarters. They form force elements which may be called on, alongside regular units, by the established chain of command (Ministry of Defence, Land Command, Divisional HQs and Regional Brigades) in the event of a request for military assistance by the civil authorities.

New Volunteer Reserve posts have been established at Brigade and Divisional level to reinforce existing command and control arrangements for all military assistance operations, whether or not CCRFs are involved.

Each CCRF is parented by a Territorial Army infantry battalion. Additional posts have been established within these battalions to support CCRF staff and training activities.

Recruitment for these new posts is in progress, with the aim of filling all posts by 31 December 2003.