DEFENCE
Defence Medical Information Capability Programme. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Don Touhig): I am pleased to be able to announce that a contract has been placed today with Logica CMG for the implementation of the information system component of DMICP. DMICP will for the first time provide a completely automated, integrated health record for all members of the armed forces. It will bring better access to patient records, and improve the management of patients under treatment, leading to more successful treatment, higher health standards and more personnel fit for task. It will also enable the Ministry of Defence to improve its understanding of the health status of the armed forces and generate more comprehensive force readiness information. It will enable the defence medical services to meet planned statutory clinical governance standards. The system will be fully compatible with the NHS connecting for health programme, and will therefore lead to much better communications between the defence medical services and the NHS, which is the secondary care provider to the armed forces in the UK. The system will be introduced progressively between now and 2010; all armed forces medical and
dental centres in the UK and in our permanent overseas bases should be equipped with the system by early 2008. I regard DMICP as the most important single component of the defence health change programme, and believe it will bring a step change in the effectiveness of the defence medical services. The improved links with the NHS will significantly improve the way the two organisations work with each other, and bring significant benefits to patients.
27 Apr 2006 Written Answers
Armed Forces: US Bases
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty’s Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 29 March (WA 112), how they are able to gauge whether military bases on United Kingdom soil but outside United Kingdom jurisdiction have adequate regard to the rights of United Kingdom citizens if no central record of reported incidents is kept. [HL5193]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): All military bases in the United Kingdom, including those made available to the United States Visiting Force (USVF) under the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951, are subject to UK law. The UK Ministry of Defence Police and local police forces have jurisdiction at all UK military bases in the UK, including those made available to the USVF. Similarly, all military bases in the
UK are within the jurisdiction of English courts, to which individuals may have recourse to vindicate their rights.
Aviation: RAF Ballykelly
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty’s Government: Whether security at RAF Ballykelly has been reviewed following the recent incident when a commercial flight landed there in error. [HL5178]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The security measures at Ballykelly military base are constantly reviewed in line with the current threat. I am satisfied that the response to the incident on 29 March 2006, when a Ryanair aircraft landed in error at the base, confirmed that the security measures already in place were effective and appropriate and that no additional review was needed.
20 Apr 2006
Armed Forces: Special Forces Support Group
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson):
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Dr John Reid) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
On 16 December 2004 (Official Report, Commons; col. 1798), as part of the wider programme to modernise the UK’s defence capabilities, the then Secretary of State for Defence, the right honourable Geoff Hoon MP, announced to the House the Government’s intention to create two new units that would significantly improve the specialist