| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Military Bases (Ministerial Visits)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the (a) RAF, (b) Royal Naval, (c) Army and (d) other military bases in the United Kingdom where US personnel outnumber UK personnel have been visited by Ministers from his Department since 1 May 1997; and what percentage this represents of the total number of each such base in the United Kingdom. [131330]
Dr. Moonie: Of the bases, all RAF, in the UK where US personnel outnumber UK personnel, two have been visited by Ministers from this Department since 1 May 1997. These are RAF Fairford and RAF Menwith Hill. This represents 25 per cent. of the total number of such bases.
Chinook Crash
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the simulation undertaken by the Defence Research Agency as part of the Board of Inquiry investigation into the crash of RAF Chinook ZD576 was able to determine the (a) precise indicated airspeed and (b) height of the aircraft 40 seconds prior to impact; [131525]
- (2) if DERA at Boscombe Down considered the FADEC system for the Chinook MKII to be flight safety critical at the time of the Mull of Kintyre crash in 1994. [131524]
Mr. Spellar: I will write to the hon. Member, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Air Accident Investigation Branch were given unrestricted access to all personnel and all information during the investigation into the crash of RAF Chinook ZD576. [131526]
Royal Irish Regiment
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will describe the deployment of each home unit of the Royal Irish Regiment on each day from 2 to 13 July. [130465]
Mr. Spellar: During the period in question, the six Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment were deployed at various locations around the Province on security duties in support of the RUC. Information about the specific deployment of each unit within each
20 Jul 2000 : Column: 250W
Battalion for each day in the period 2-13 July is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment in each unit (a) applied to take and (b) took leave from their duties on (i) 25 June, (ii) 2 July and (iii) 9 July. [130466]
Mr. Spellar: The dates mentioned fell within a period during which the Royal Irish Regiment were either preparing for, or actually engaged in, operations to support the RUC over the Marching Season. This precludes the taking of leave.
Special Investigations Branch
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2000, Official Report, column 449W, (a) in what circumstances this photograph was taken, what interpretation he puts on this photo-shoot and what assessment has he made of the impact of this upon community relations in the area, (b) what formal administrative action procedures have been initiated and what stage they are at now, (c) what body or rank of officer was responsible for considering whether to initiate disciplinary action against (i) the major and (ii) the warrant officer who took photographs, (d) what instructions have been issued subsequent to this inquiry concerning soldiers agreeing to pose for photographs with sectarian displays, (e) if the soldiers were under orders to pose for these photographs, (f) how many refused, (g) what attempts have been made to seek the return and destruction of these photographs, (h) if the flag was obtained with the consent of the Loyal Orange Lodge, (i) how the flag was transported to the Royal Irish Regiment barracks, (j) what the cost of printing 40 copies of the photograph was, (k) who paid this bill, (l) who owned the camera with which the photograph was taken, (m) how many companies of the Royal Irish Regiment have posed for regimental photographs with sectarian flags or banners in the current year and (n) if he will place a copy of the Special Investigations report in the Library. [130467]
Mr. Spellar: I will write to my hon. Friend, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Loyal Orange Order
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 15 March 2000, Official Report, column 204W, if he will review his decision not to deem the Loyal Orange Order a secretive organisation within the scope of the Joint Service Defence Council Instruction (JS DCI 75/99) on Membership of Societies such as Freemasons. [130468]
Mr. Spellar: I have no plans to review my decision.
Type 45 Destroyers (Procurement)
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will quantify the amount of work potentially available to yards other than those of BAE Systems and Vosper Thornycroft under the modular procurement system to be used for the purchase of Type 45 destroyers. [130632]
Mr. Hoon: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
20 Jul 2000 : Column: 251W
Letter from G. Beaven to Mr. Ben Chapman, dated 20 July 2000:
- I am writing in response to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence with regard to the amount of Type 45 work potentially available to yards other than those of BAE SYSTEMS and Vosper Thornycroft. This falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
- Subject to the completion of satisfactory negotiations, the order for the first three Type 45 destroyers is planned for placement later this year with BAE SYSTEMS, the Prime Contractor for the Programme. The first and third ship are planned to be assembled by BAE SYSTEMS Marine and the second by Vosper Thornycroft.
- The intended construction method distinguishes between 'assembly' and the 'manufacture' of modules which can be constructed at a number of different locations and brought together at a shipyard for final assembly. We intend that BAE SYSTEMS Marine and Vosper Thornycroft will, between them, undertake as a minimum about 50 per cent. of the manufacture of the first three ships with the remainder being competed widely within UK industry. This provides the opportunity for shipyards around the UK such as Cammell Laird to bid for work in this programme. If they wish to do so, it is important that they contact the Prime Contractor and register their interest.
- I expect an order to be placed around 2004 for the second batch of three Type 45 ships and we anticipate that the competition for sub-contracts to manufacture the modules for these vessels will rise to 100 per cent.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Expenditure
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what amounts were (a) budgeted for by her Department, (b) expended and (c) not spent in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000; and if the funds not spent in each of those years were carried forward. [130864]
Clare Short: Expenditure compared with Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) for the period in question is as follows:
| Total DEL | Total expenditure | Balance carried forward | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 1,595 | 1,592 | 3 |
| 1998-99 | 1,777 | 1,740 | 37 |
| 1999-2000 | 1,943 | (1)1,938 | 5 |
(1) Estimated, subject to confirmation by the National Audit Office.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
BNFL
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will request from BNFL copies of technical papers on the subject of the dry storage of previously wet stored magnox fuel and place them in the Library. [131364]
Mrs. Liddell: I understand that BNFL does hold technical papers which deal with this issue. These are the property of either BNFL or other companies. I have, therefore, asked the Chairman of BNFL to write to my hon. Friend directly in response to his request.
20 Jul 2000 : Column: 252W
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications of the agreement at the June 2000 OSPAR conference for BNFL's future business plan. [130866]
Mrs. Liddell: In planning its future business, BNFL will need to take account of the UK's commitments to OSPAR and in particular of the draft National Discharge Strategy published by DETR in June. BNFL has already stated that it welcomes that strategy document and has expressed its commitment to helping to achieve its aims.
Bereavement
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance the Government provide to people who have recently suffered a bereavement or who are considering funeral arrangements. [132231]
Dr. Howells: In conjunction with his ongoing inquires into consumer issues related to at-need funerals, the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading has published online advice to help anyone who is in the daunting position of planning a funeral. The website is at www.oft.gov.uk
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |