PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS FROM PS2 THE UK’S LEADING GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ORGANISATION
DEFENCE
Aircraft Carriers
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for ordering the new aircraft carriers. [176]
Mr. Ingram: The Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) project is in the Assessment Phase. Work continues to develop the detailed plans to take the project through to delivery.
Army Boots
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the different types of boots supplied to the Army; what the source of manufacture of each type of boot was; what the cost is of each type of boot; and what the life-expectancy of each type is. [385]
Mr. Ingram: Boots supplied to the Army are split into the following types of use: Combat, Parade/Ceremonial and Safety Footwear. Most boots are sourced through a prime contract placed for footwear, although some boots are procured on other contracts. Manufacture of boots is carried out world-wide, including the UK. Costs for each type of boot vary from item to item and fall within the following price ranges: Combat £15–£120, Parade/Ceremonial £45-£85 (although for Riding boots this varies from £150-£1,300) and Safety Footwear £8–£45. Life expectancy varies from boot to boot depending on their use and conditions, although in broad terms life expectancy is: Combat one year up to a shelf-life of five years (although Jungle Boots and Desert Boots may only have a life of six weeks or six months respectively); Parade/Ceremonial these boots are repairable and can last from one year up to five years plus; Safety Footwear six months to two years.
Iraq
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq referred to in a letter from the former Minister of State to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr submitted regular reports to his British superiors; [235]
(2) what the remit was of the British Deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq in relation to (a) detainees and (b) operational matters; [237]
(3) for what reasons and in what capacity Colonel Chris Terrington saw a version of the CJTF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance policy document in December 2003; [238]
(4) which (a) sections and (b) drafts of the interrogation and counter-resistance policy document were seen by the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq; and what comments he made; [239]
(5) whether the UK officer acting as Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq advised (a) the US authorities and (b) his supervisors in the chain of command that some of the interrogation techniques in the CJIF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy Document (i) were inhumane under UK case law and (ii) constituted a potential breach of the Geneva Conventions in the view of the Government; [271]
(6) whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq asked Major George O’Kane to investigate allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib; [273]
(7) whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq saw the International Committee of the Red Cross working paper based on a visit to Abu Ghraib in October 2003. [274]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the air accident inquiry into the RAF Hercules crash near Baghdad will be completed; and if he will publish the report. [403]
Mr. Ingram: The Board of Inquiry continues to work to determine the cause of this tragic event. Once the report has concluded, we will make available as much information as we can.
Joint Strike Fighter
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the first squadron of the Joint Strike Fighter to be declared operational. [177]
Mr. Ingram: The first squadron of Joint Combat Aircraft is currently expected to be oper