§ 24. Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the provision of full chemical and biological protection to soldiers serving in Iraq. [156752]
§ Mr. HoonEven though the threat from chemical and biological agents has reduced considerably since the end of hostilities, a full suite of chemical and biological protection is available for all Service personnel serving in Iraq.
This consists of a protection suit and respirator, issued as personal equipment; plus collective warning and detection devices for units, such as the Chemical Agent Monitor and the Man-portable Chemical Agent Detector. A number of medical treatments are also available. Most armoured vehicles operating in Iraq are fitted with NEC filters.
Sufficient stocks of all such protection equipment, including additional suits, are available in theatre.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether cluster bombs manufactured in Israel and packaged at the Royal Ordnance facility in Glascoed were used by British forces during the recent conflict in Iraq. [154891]
§ Mr. IngramThe cluster artillery shells fused and packaged by BAE Systems Royal Ordnance at Glascoed. following shell manufacture by Israel Munitions Industry, were not used in Iraq during the recent conflict. They have been put into store to maintain operational stock levels.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated replacement costs of military equipment damaged and destroyed owing to use in Iraq since the start of the war in Iraq is(a) in total and (b) for (i) tanks and other armoured vehicles, (ii) aircraft and (iii) helicopters. [154952]
§ Mr. IngramWe expect to spend some £50 million replacing equipment damaged or destroyed during Operation Telic. The replacement of two Sea King Mk7s lost in Iraq will account for around £35 million of this total. We do not intend to replace the Tornado GR4 aircraft, the Challenger 2 tank and other armoured690W vehicles that were destroyed since we have sufficient numbers within our existing fleets to meet future requirements.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical evacuations there have been of British military personnel in Iraq since 1 May 2003; and if he will give the reasons for each evacuation. [155783]
§ Mr. IngramThere have been 1.109 medical evacuations of British military personnel in Iraq between 1 May 2003 and February 2004. The evacuations took place for a number of reasons, ranging from trauma to routine medical complaints.