Lord Vivian: My Lords, will the Minister explain why there was no training and initially no cryptographic equipment accompanying the OSCA strategic communications system? What problems were encountered in fitting the strategic communications systems into the current communications structures?
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the total of Ministry of Defence resource assets in cash terms; how much the Ministry of Defence pays for these assets; and what is the surplus or shortfall in the Ministry of Defence budget in cash terms.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the establishment for nurses and for consultants in the Defence Medical Services; and what is the deficiency of these medical personnel.
Lord Vivian: My Lords, it is a great privilege for me to participate in this exceptionally important debate and I should like to thank all noble Lords for taking part in the assessment of the White Paper. I am also very pleased to see that the noble and gallant Lords, Lord Bramall, Lord Vincent of Coleshill, Lord Craig of Radley and Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, are all contributing to this debate. With...
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: How the joint enterprise with the United States administration on service veterans has benefited the United Kingdom.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: How many Challenger II tanks are currently battle-worthy; how many of them are undergoing first-line repairs; and how many second-line repairs.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the 10 per cent cut in defence research spending will affect the continuing research into undiagnosed illnesses in veterans of the 1991 Gulf conflict.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the impact on the future defence equipment requirement as a result of operations in Iraq.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What percentage of Her Majesty's Armed Forces still serving in Operation TELIC are reservists; and what has been the average period of absence from civilian employment by reservists during this campaign.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What will be the future of the staff when the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Catterick is closed.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What has been the effect of the £50,000 "golden hello" on the recruitment of consultants into the Defence Medical Services.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What improvements have been brought about in retention and recruitment in Her Majesty's Armed Forces as a result of the "Learning Forces" initiative and the educational opportunities available to those serving.
Lord Vivian: My Lords, I am most grateful to the Minister for repeating this Statement today. We welcome the fundamental thrust of the White Paper, which foretells very considerable change for the conduct of the Armed Forces' business across the board. Let your Lordships not forget that the Strategic Defence Review was never properly costed or funded, and the same must not be allowed to happen this time....
Lord Vivian: My Lords, can the Minister explain why the combined anthrax and pertussis vaccine was used to immunise troops in January, February and March 1991, given that the pertussis vaccine was not licensed for use in the United Kingdom and that the test results of the combined vaccine on mice resulted in severe weight loss, although guinea pigs showed no reaction? Furthermore, the then Deputy Chief...
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: How many calls and of what type have been received in the last month by the BFG Post-Operation TELIC Helpline and the Confidential Support Line operated by the Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What benchmarks they will set to convince the Iraqi people that they can trust the occupying forces both to establish law and order and to act within the law themselves.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: When the British and United States Governments will produce a coherent plan, with a clear timetable, for the political and physical reconstruction of Iraq.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What the Bremer administration is doing to restore the Iraqi police force, civil service, judiciary, armed forces and customs services; and what resources the Bremer administration has in Iraq to achieve these tasks.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: What resources Ambassador Bremer possesses to conduct the government of Iraq efficiently and effectively; what funds this requires; and where those funds will come from.
Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government: How much money has been allocated for Army recruits and their training in the financial year 2003–04; and how many people can be recruited.