Mastiff protected patrol vehicles have been delivered to Afghanistan and Iraq and are being used in operations.
I am withholding information on delivery schedules of numbers of vehicles on operations as it would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of armed forces.
(2) how many members of HM armed forces injured while serving in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq have been checked for post-traumatic stress disorder; and how many were in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force.
During the operational period from January 2003 to December 2006, 2,333 mobilised British military personnel (regular and reservists) who deployed to Iraq under Operation TELIC were assessed by, and received treatment from, the Defence Medical Services for mental health conditions thought to be related to their deployment. This represents around 2 per cent. of personnel deployed to Op TELIC over the same period.
Of this number, 363 servicemen fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder. This represents around 0.3 per cent. of personnel deployed to Op TELIC over the same period.
Information on the Service of each individual is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Since 2003 we have collated figures on the incidence of mental health diagnoses for Service personnel returning from Iraq. However, at a time when a growing number of personnel have been deployed to other operational theatres in addition to Iraq, it has become increasingly clear that it is difficult to attribute a subsequent mental health condition (which in many cases may not present itself until months or even years later) to Service on a specific deployment. We are currently, therefore, reviewing our methods of collating figures on Service personnel who are diagnosed with a mental health condition.
We aim to provide first-class medical care on deployed operations in the most challenging of circumstances and surroundings. Commanders and their medical staff can call upon mental health professionals who can provide assessment and care. Operational Theatres are regularly visited by consultant psychiatrists who audit the service provided by the in-theatre mental health professionals.
There are 15 military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) across the UK (plus satellite centres overseas), which provide out-patient mental healthcare.
The DCMH mental health teams comprise psychiatrists, mental health nurses, clinical psychologists and mental health social workers. The aim is to see referred individuals at their unit medical centre and, with the patient's permission, to engage with general practitioners and their chain of command to help manage mental health problems identified in personnel.
A wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments are available (including psychological therapies, environmental adjustment and medication) where appropriate. The Defence Mental Health Services have particular expertise in psychological treatments for mental health problems in general, and psychological injury in particular.
The "King's Centre for Military Health Research: Ten Year Report," published by Kings College, University of London on a decade's worth of research concerning the health of UK veterans, stated that:
Mental health screening after deployment is practised in other countries, but is not supported by evidence of benefit and is costly.