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Honours System
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to make an announcement on his review of the honours system.
The Prime Minister : An announcement will be made shortly.
Crown Immunity
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions Her Majesty's Government have used Crown privilege in criminal cases in the last three years.
The Prime Minister : Crown privilege is now described by the courts as public interest immunity. No central records of such claims are maintained. On 1 February 1993 at column 18 my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General provided particulars of cases conducted by the prosecuting authorities superintended by him, in which claims had been supported by ministerial certificates.
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Southwark (Visits)
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister how many official visits he has made to Southwark since he became Prime Minister ; and if he will give details of the date and purpose of each visit.
The Prime Minister : I visited Guy's hospital on 24 July 1991.
DEFENCE
Aldermaston
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the role and function of building A1.1 at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the role and function of building A41 at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.
Mr. Aitken : Although we have provided information on the new A90 complex it is not our general policy to disclose the role and function of individual buildings at atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about the death of Walter Mallin from injuries received at Aldermaston ; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident ; in what part of the site the accident took place ; and how many other persons were injured in this accident ; (2) if he will make a statement about the death of Terence Bishop from injuries received at Aldermaston ; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident ; in what part of the site the accident took place ; and how many other persons were injured in this accident ;
(3) if he will make a statement about the death of Norman Adams from injuries received at Aldermaston ; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident ; in what part of the site the accident took place ; and how many other persons were injured in this accident ;
(4) if he will make a statement about the death of Douglas Whittaker from injuries received at Aldermaston ; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident ; in what part of the site the accident took place ; and how many other persons were injured in this accident ;
(5) if he will make a statement about the death of Peter Allen from injuries received at Aldermaston ; what operations were being carried out at the time of the accident ; in what part of the site the accident took place ; and how many other persons were injured in this accident ;
(6) how many workers have died from injuries sustained in accidents at Aldermaston, listing for each worker his or her name and the date of the accident.
Mr. Aitken : AWE records show that a total of seven fatalities among the AWE work force or contractors employed by AWE have occurred as a result of incidents on the Aldermaston site. The dates of each incident and the names of those who died are listed :
11 December 1957 ; Mr. D. Whittaker died as a result of injuries received when he was sprayed with molten metal which was accidentally released from the equipment on which he was working in a research area of AWE. Five other workers were injured.
26 February 1959 ; Mr. T. Bishop and Mr. J. W. Malin sustained fatal injuries as a result of the accidental
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detonation of a conventional high explosive which they were transporting on an electric vehicle in an explosives area. One other worker was injured.13 May 1959 ; Mr. N. Adams, an employee of a firm contracted to do work associated with the construction of pressure vessels, died as a result of being struck by a metal plate which blew out from the high pressure line on which he was working. The accident occurred in a nuclear reactor building prior to commissioning. There were no others injured.
14 September 1973 ; Mr. T. Hughes, a contractor's employee, died as a result of a fall from a boilerhouse chimney stack which he was inspecting. There were no others injured.
23 July 1979 ; Mr. P. Allen died as a result of an explosive charge detonating close to or on his left temple. The incident occurred within the explosives area, but in a room which was not authorised for explosives detonation. The inquest recorded an open verdict. There were no others injured.
25 November 1986 ; Mr. R. Preston, a contractor employed as a night watchman, died as a result of injuries received in a road accident on the Aldermaston site. There were no others injured.
In addition, a contractor was killed on 2 November 1985 as a result of falling from scaffolding whilst carrying out construction work on a new boilerhouse at Aldermaston. The boilerhouse was not, however, under AWE management control at the time and therefore the incident is not a matter for detailed AWE recording.
The hon. Member will be aware that my Department did not assume responsibility for AWE, Aldermaston until 1973 and that the earlier accidents occurred when it was within the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. We sympathise with all of the bereaved families who have had to live through these sad experiences, and I am sure that no useful purpose would be served by making further statements on individual cases.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the start of construction of building A1.1 at AWE Aldermaston ; on what date construction was completed ; on what date the building was declared operational ; and how long he expects the building to remain operational.
Mr. Aitken : Construction of building A1.1 began in the second half of 1950 and was completed in 1951. It became operational in 1952, and is expected to remain operational for some years.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which buildings at AWE Aldermaston will be removed from operational service once (a) the A90 complex and (b) the A91 complex are declared operational.
Mr. Aitken : A90 and A91 are planned to replace current facilities which will then be taken out of use and decommissioned.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost, so far, in constructon and commissioning of (a) the A90 complex and (b) the A91 complex at AWE Aldermaston ; and what is the estimated expenditure required for completion.
Mr. Aitken : It is not our practice to disclose cost details of individual buildings at Aldermaston.
Arms Transfers
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) of 22 January,
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Official Report, column 464, when he intends to place in the Library the British contribution to the United Nations register of conventional arms transfers.Mr. Aitken : The British contribution to the United Nations register of conventional arms transfers will be placed in the Library as soon after its compilation as possible. It is due to be forwarded to the United Nations by 30 April 1993.
Amphibious Helicopter Carrier
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in making a decision on orders for the proposed amphibious helicopter carrier.
Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 January to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) at col. 840.
Portland Naval Base
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisations and individuals responded to his consultation on the future of Portland naval base ; what was the consensus of the responses to the consultation ; when he expects to make a final decision ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Responses have been received from the Ministry of Defence industrial and non-industrial trade unions, the Portland Joint Trade Union Action Committee, Dorset county council, Weymouth and Portland borough council and Plymouth city council. My hon. Friends the Members for Dorset, South (Mr. Bruce) and for Dorset, West (Sir J. Spicer) have made valuable contributions to the consultation process. In addition there have been a number of letters from members of the public. These responses are currently being considered and I expect to make a decision shortly.
Redundancies
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate for the number of service redundancies that have, and are likely to arise, as a result of the implementation of the "Options for Change" cuts and of the overall cost of redundancy payments involved.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : To date, 5,969 service personnel have been selected for redundancy as a result of the restructuring of our armed forces. In addition, approximately 6,400 army personnel are due to be notified later this month of their selection for redundancy. For these 12,369 personnel, the estimated cost of redundancy payments--special capital payments--is £363 million All three services are considering carefully what further redunancies will be necessary.
Drugs Offences
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have been discharged from the services as a result of drugs-related offences in each of the last 10 years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The number of personnel dismissed from the services following court martial or
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summary proceedings for offences of importing, supplying or possessing drugs since 1986, the earliest date for which the information is available, is :
|Number
---------------------
1986 |58
1987 |55
1988 |59
1989 |68
1990 |116
1991 |160
1992 |-<1>
<1> Not yet
available.
In addition, the numbers of Army and Royal Air Force personnel administratively discharged for drug offences, since 1982, are as follows :
|Number
----------------------
1982-83 |36
1983-84 |31
1984-85 |57
1985-86 |49
1986-87 |13
1987-88 |24
1988-89 |9
1989-90 |31
1990-91 |38
1991-92 |82
1992-93 |<1>287
<1> to 4 February
The Royal Navy record administrative discharges as dismissed only and do not refer to the specific offence.
The armed forces have a comprehensive drug abuse prevention programme and the measures taken to combat drug abuse are regularly reviewed.
Nuclear Submarines
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those nuclear submarines that have been removed from service and are awaiting disposal, indicating the location of each submarine, and stating whether (a) the reactor fuel and (b) the reactor core of each submarine has been removed.
Mr. Aitken : The reactor core and the fuel are one and the same thing. The information requested is as follows :