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Chemical Defence Programme
Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United Kingdom chemical defence programme is in compliance with the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention; and if he will make a statement. [40119]
Dr. Reid: The Chemical Weapons Convention, with which the United Kingdom is fully compliant, permits activities which protect against the use of chemical weapons. The UK chemical defence programme has been constructed to meet that need. In order to re-emphasise our commitment to openness, a copy of the 1997 summary outlining the UK chemical defence programme, which has been forwarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in the Hague, has been placed in the library of the House.
Astra Group
Mr. Browne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the quantity and content of files relating to the Astra Group taken by Ministry of Defence Police from RAF Weathersfield and returned to
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the Receiver subsequent to the conclusion of the Scott Inquiry; and what assessment the Government have made of the relevance of this material to the conclusions of the Scott Inquiry. [38780]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 20 April 1998]: MOD Police Fraud Squad Officers seized documentation, between 1990 and 1992, from the Astra group of companies during the course of an investigation into corruption involving those companies. All the seized documentation that belonged to the Astra group of companies was returned to their Receivers in June 1993 and June 1995.
Documentation held by the Astra Group's Receivers was examined by Sir Richard Scott's Inquiry and is catalogued at Appendix A Part C of the Inquiry Report; which is available in the Library of the House. Sir Richard Scott dealt with the relevance of the documentation to his Inquiry at paragraph D7.59 of his Report.
Mr. Browne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that files relating to the Astra Group taken by Ministry of Defence Police from RAF Weathersfield and returned to the Receiver subsequent to the conclusion of the Scott Inquiry are made available for scrutiny by interested parties. [38781]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 20 April 1998]: MOD Police Fraud Squad Officers seized documentation, between 1990 and 1992, from the Astra group of companies during the course of an investigation into corruption involving those companies. All the seized documentation that belonged to the Astra group of companies was returned to their Receivers in June 1993 and June 1995.
The availability of that documentation for scrutiny is a matter for the Receiver.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down drew up its strategy and proposed work programme for its research into Gulf War Syndrome; if this document has been approved by his Department; and if he will place a copy of this document in the Library. [38929]
Dr. Reid:
Outline proposals were drawn up at MOD's request by CBD Porton Down in May--July 1997 for a research programme into the possible health effects of the combination of vaccines and tablets given to troops in the Gulf to protect them against the threat of biological and chemical warfare. The proposals were described in the policy statement "Gulf Veterans Illnesses: A New Beginning" published on 14 July 1997.
The proposals were subsequently developed into a programme document and detailed protocols which were submitted to an Independent Panel established to oversee the programme, prior to its first meeting on 18 December 1997. Some modifications have been made to the research proposals in the light of advice received from the Panel and further advice is expected in due course on other aspects of the programme. The programme documentation is, therefore, evolving. Our intention is to agree with the
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Panel a document summarising the revised programme and to place a copy in the Library of the House as soon as this has been done.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the cost of the C-17 aircraft; what tendering rules have been drawn up for the C-17; and what assessment he has made of the benefits to British industry of the project. [39565]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 5 November 1997, Official Report, column 255 and 19 January 1998, Official Report, column 415. We are still considering with partners how a competition involving other aircraft might be organised. I can assure my hon. Friend that any decision on future airlift will be subject to normal procurement rules and will take account of industrial issues as well as other relevant factors.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contact Mr. Stephen Kock had with DESO between 1985 and 1991. [38862]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 20 April 1998]: DESO may have had contact with Mr. Kock during this period in the course of its normal function of providing advice and support for defence exporters. However, DESO is not aware of any record of these contacts.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the current expected cost to completion of the Challenger II programme and the change which represents in real terms over the original estimated cost of the programme. [39269]
Mr. Spellar:
The current estimate of the cost of completion of the Challenger II programme is £2,156 million, compared with the original estimated cost of £2,162 million, both at 1996-97 prices. A detailed breakdown of these figures is contained in Appendix 1 of "Major Projects Report 1996", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many TA centres are also used by the cadet forces. [39498]
Dr. Reid:
As at 1 April 1998, there were 376 TA Centres that are also used by the cadet forces. I have arranged for a detailed list to be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has obtained of the effectiveness of the fifth year rate of bounty in improving the rate of turnover in the Territorial Army. [39627]
Dr. Reid:
The Fifth year bounty for the Territorial Army was introduced in April 1996 and turnover figures since then are available only for the year 1997. It is too early to draw any meaningful conclusions on the impact of this bounty on retention.
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Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Auxiliary Air Force aircrew for Hercules squadrons have been recruited in each month since February 1997; and if he will make a statement. [39620]
Dr. Reid:
30 reservist aircrew have so far been recruited for the Hercules aircraft since February 1997 as follows:
| Year | Month | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | February | 0 |
| March | 0 | |
| April | 0 | |
| May | 8 | |
| June | 1 | |
| July | 3 | |
| August | 2 | |
| September | 2 | |
| October | 3 | |
| November | 5 | |
| December | 2 | |
| 1998 | January | 1 |
| February | 1 | |
| March | 1 | |
| April | 1 |
Air Refuelling Tanker Fleet
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the date for replacement of the air refuelling tanker fleet. [39771]
Mr. Spellar: Plans to replace the RAF's air refuelling tanker fleet are at an early stage. Current planning assumptions, however, are that we will start to replace the fleet early next century.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Sick Children
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance is issued by his Department to local education authorities concerning the management of children with ME/CFS. [39864]
Ms Estelle Morris: Guidance on good practice in arranging provision for sick children is contained in DfEE Circular 12/94, "The Education of Sick Children". Circular 14/96, "Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs in School", sets out schools' legal responsibilities for pupils with medical needs. Good practice guidance was also made available in October 1996 to help schools put policies and procedures in place.
New Deal (Chesham and Amersham)
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people are eligible in Chesham and Amersham for the New Deal. [39893]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
I have placed in the Library a list of the client planning assumptions for each New Deal unit of delivery which the Employment Service is using to plan provision for young unemployed people aged 18-24.
27 Apr 1998 : Column: 25
The table shows that the planning assumption for the Slough unit of delivery, which includes the Chesham and Amersham constituency, is that 1,042 young people could be eligible to join the New Deal in 1998-99.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many companies in Chesham and Amersham have signed up for the New Deal. [39904]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Since the national launch of New Deal for 18-24 year olds on 6 April, three companies in the Chesham and Amersham constituency have signed formal agreements for the employment option. There has been positive interest from other employers in the area who are expected to sign up for New Deal shortly.
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