Oral Answers to Questions

Nick Smith Excerpts

Monday 5th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

We are seeing an increase in the number of American troops at the moment. As for the UK troops, it is not just the number but the relative force density that is important. That has improved in recent times and there is now a better match between our footprint and the size of the force. That happened under the previous Government and will continue to happen under the current Government until we are satisfied that we have an appropriate ratio.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

14. What steps he plans to take to ensure that injured service personnel are treated in dedicated military wards.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Andrew Robathan)]

Injured service personnel will be cared for in the best specialist hospital ward for their clinical condition. Operational casualties with multiple trauma injuries will usually be treated in the military ward at the new Queen Elizabeth hospital in Edgbaston, but all patients, wherever they are treated, are given the invaluable military welfare, care and support that can contribute so much to their well-being and recovery.

[Nick Smith]

Will the Government be proceeding with the four purpose-built recovery centres first proposed by the Labour Government?

[Mr Robathan]

We are indeed proceeding with personal recovery units as part of the Army recovery capability. That was a legacy of the previous Administration, and one that I praise.