House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Dec 2000 (pt 1)

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 19 December 2000

DEFENCE

Sierra Leone

Mr. Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the training being provided for the Sierra Leone Army. [143683]

Mr. Hoon: The training is going well, and trainees completed the fourth short-term training team course on 15 December. Soldiers from 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles have now deployed to run the next course, taking over from 1st Prince of Wales Own Regiment. They will be deploying with additional trainers to conduct the continuation and refresher training that we announced in October.

In addition, we are making preparations for the short-term deployment of a surgical team to Sierra Leone to cover the possibility of a gap in medical cover due to the roulement of UN troops. We would hope to be able to continue to draw on the medical facilities provided by UNAMSIL, for whose support we are most grateful, but it is essential to ensure that emergency cover is in place. The team will be withdrawn as soon as possible once alternative arrangements are available.

Together, these deployments will mean an increase in UK forces on the ground in Sierra Leone to between 550 and 600.

Nuclear Submarines

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason four Upholder class nuclear- powered submarines were removed from active service between 1994 and 1995; what plans he has for these submarines; and if he will make a statement. [142172]

Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Lord Robertson, the then Secretary of State for Defence, gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (Mr. Healey) on 6 April 1998, Official Report, column 56W, and to my answers to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 23 October 2000, Official Report,

19 Dec 2000 : Column: 90W

column 30W, and the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) on 31 October 2000, Official Report, column 341W. The decision to dispose of the four Upholder class conventionally powered (diesel-electric) submarines was taken in 1993, following a reassessment of strategic requirements after the end of the cold war.

After an extensive marketing campaign an agreement was reached with Canada in the form of an eight-year lease with an option of outright purchase. The submarines will be refurbished (reactivated) prior to handover to Canada.

The first of the submarines was handed over to Canada on 6 October 2000 and the remaining submarines will follow over the next 18 months.

DERA

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in each of the past 12 months to 30 November the movements of private commercial aircraft at the DERA Boscombe Down airfield by (a) date, (b) type of aircraft, (c) owner, (d) operator, (e) origin of flight, (f) destination of flight, (g) number of passengers, (h) attendance of HM Customs and Excise, (i) attendance of Home Office Immigration and Nationality officials, (j) airport charges levied and (k) national airport taxes levied. [141361]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 12 December 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Robert Key, dated 19 December 2000:

I am replying to your Parliamentary question about the movements of private commercial aircraft at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) airfield at Boscombe Down.

The information that you requested, such that we are able to provide, is detailed in the attachment to this letter. We have not included civil aircraft using the airfield on MOD business since charges are not levied on these. Neither have private aircraft using the airfield for leisure or sporting purposes, such as those of the Boscombe Down based flying club, been included. We do not have information on the owners of aircraft, only their operators. The information on numbers of passengers is somewhat incomplete since we are only required to keep this information for six months. Customs and immigration tasks are undertaken on behalf of the authorities by designated DERA Boscombe Down staff on the understanding that the appropriate authorities are notified in advance of air movements. Airport charges are levied in accordance with Ministry of Defence instructions. There is no requirement to levy a national airport tax.

I hope the above explains the situation.

19 Dec 2000 : Column: 89W

Date Type/ registration Operator Origin Destination Number of PAX Customs Immigration Airport (£) Airport

23/12/1999 Gessna Citation G- West Jets Ltd. Staverton Inverness -- ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 124.44 ⁽¹⁾--

06/01/2000 Gulfstream 4 G-HARF Fayair Jersey Stansted Manston -- ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 604.44 ⁽¹⁾--

03/03/2000 HS125 G-OMGD Lynton Aviation Bristol Luton -- ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 231.11 ⁽¹⁾--

06/03/2000 Cessna Citation G- Chauffair Farnborough Harwarden Harwarden 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 106.66 ⁽¹⁾--

27/03/2000 Cessna Citation G- London Executive Harwarden Harwarden 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 134.92 ⁽¹⁾--

30/03/2000 Beech 200 G-BPPM Gamma Aviation Glasgow Aberdeen -- ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 106.66 ⁽¹⁾--

30/03/2000 Cessna Citation G- London Executive Harwarden Harwarden 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 134.92 ⁽¹⁾--

30/03/2000 Cessna Citation G- London Executive Harwarden Harwarden 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 134.92 ⁽¹⁾--

02/05/2000 Cessna 550 G-JCFR Chauffair Farnborough Harwarden Harwarden 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 84.83 ⁽¹⁾--

03/05/2000 Antonov 124 RA Heavylift Stansted St. Louis Shannon -- ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- 7,693.31 ⁽¹⁾--

12/05/2000 Piper PA 31 G-MAXI Centreline Air Charter Inverness Bristol Filton -- ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 63.74 ⁽¹⁾--

02/06/2000 Cessna 550 G-JCFR Chauffair Farnborough Northolt Blackpool 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 84.83 ⁽¹⁾--

05/06/2000 Gulfstream 4 G-HARF Hatfiad Aviation Stansted Stansted 0 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 604.44 ⁽¹⁾--

06/06/2000 Cessna 500 EC-HFY Premier Aviation Bournemouth Bale (France) 1 ⁽²⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 109.34 ⁽¹⁾--

12/06/2000 Jet Provost G-UNNY Plane Pictures Hatfield Hatfield 0 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 109.34 ⁽¹⁾--

15/06/2000 Beech Kingair F- Premier Aviation Paris Paris 1 ⁽²⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 109.34 ⁽¹⁾--

07/07/2000 Piper PA 34 G-WIZ0 Centreline Air Charter Bristol Inverness 2 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 36.35 ⁽¹⁾--

10/07/2000 Beechcraft G-SBAS Gamma Aviation Aberdeen Aberdeen Medevac ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 72.89 ⁽¹⁾--

03/08/2000 HS125 G/NCFR Chauffair Farnborough Hawarden Madrid 1 ⁽²⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 254.50 ⁽¹⁾--

10/08/2000 Cessna 550 G-JCFR Chauffair Farnborough Blackpool Blackpool 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 84.83 ⁽¹⁾--

17/08/2000 Cessna 550 G-JCFR Chauffair Farnborough Blackpool Blackpool 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 84.83 ⁽¹⁾--

24/08/2000 Cessna 560 G-CZAR Chauffair Farnborough Blackpool Blackpool 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 127.25 ⁽¹⁾--

12/09/2000 Cessna 501 G-FLVU AD Aviation Ltd. Harwarden Harwarden 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 117.84 ⁽¹⁾--

27/09/2000 Piper PA 30 G-AVUD FA Aviation Biggin Hill Biggin Hill 1 ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 44.94 ⁽¹⁾--

24/11/2000 Falcon CSDNP NET Jets Portugal Luton Isle of Man 2 ⁽²⁾-- ⁽¹⁾-- 273.36 ⁽¹⁾--

Date	Type/ registration	Operator	Origin	Destination	Number of PAX	Customs	Immigration	Airport (£)	Airport
23/12/1999	Gessna Citation G-	West Jets Ltd.	Staverton	Inverness	--	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	124.44	⁽¹⁾--
06/01/2000	Gulfstream 4 G-HARF	Fayair Jersey	Stansted	Manston	--	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	604.44	⁽¹⁾--
03/03/2000	HS125 G-OMGD	Lynton Aviation	Bristol	Luton	--	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	231.11	⁽¹⁾--
06/03/2000	Cessna Citation G-	Chauffair Farnborough	Harwarden	Harwarden	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	106.66	⁽¹⁾--
27/03/2000	Cessna Citation G-	London Executive	Harwarden	Harwarden	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	134.92	⁽¹⁾--
30/03/2000	Beech 200 G-BPPM	Gamma Aviation	Glasgow	Aberdeen	--	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	106.66	⁽¹⁾--
30/03/2000	Cessna Citation G-	London Executive	Harwarden	Harwarden	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	134.92	⁽¹⁾--
30/03/2000	Cessna Citation G-	London Executive	Harwarden	Harwarden	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	134.92	⁽¹⁾--
02/05/2000	Cessna 550 G-JCFR	Chauffair Farnborough	Harwarden	Harwarden	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	84.83	⁽¹⁾--
03/05/2000	Antonov 124 RA	Heavylift Stansted	St. Louis	Shannon	--	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	7,693.31	⁽¹⁾--
12/05/2000	Piper PA 31 G-MAXI	Centreline Air Charter	Inverness	Bristol Filton	--	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	63.74	⁽¹⁾--
02/06/2000	Cessna 550 G-JCFR	Chauffair Farnborough	Northolt	Blackpool	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	84.83	⁽¹⁾--
05/06/2000	Gulfstream 4 G-HARF	Hatfiad Aviation	Stansted	Stansted	0	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	604.44	⁽¹⁾--
06/06/2000	Cessna 500 EC-HFY	Premier Aviation	Bournemouth	Bale (France)	1	⁽²⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	109.34	⁽¹⁾--
12/06/2000	Jet Provost G-UNNY	Plane Pictures	Hatfield	Hatfield	0	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	109.34	⁽¹⁾--
15/06/2000	Beech Kingair F-	Premier Aviation	Paris	Paris	1	⁽²⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	109.34	⁽¹⁾--
07/07/2000	Piper PA 34 G-WIZ0	Centreline Air Charter	Bristol	Inverness	2	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	36.35	⁽¹⁾--
10/07/2000	Beechcraft G-SBAS	Gamma Aviation	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Medevac	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	72.89	⁽¹⁾--
03/08/2000	HS125 G/NCFR	Chauffair Farnborough	Hawarden	Madrid	1	⁽²⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	254.50	⁽¹⁾--
10/08/2000	Cessna 550 G-JCFR	Chauffair Farnborough	Blackpool	Blackpool	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	84.83	⁽¹⁾--
17/08/2000	Cessna 550 G-JCFR	Chauffair Farnborough	Blackpool	Blackpool	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	84.83	⁽¹⁾--
24/08/2000	Cessna 560 G-CZAR	Chauffair Farnborough	Blackpool	Blackpool	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	127.25	⁽¹⁾--
12/09/2000	Cessna 501 G-FLVU	AD Aviation Ltd.	Harwarden	Harwarden	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	117.84	⁽¹⁾--
27/09/2000	Piper PA 30 G-AVUD	FA Aviation	Biggin Hill	Biggin Hill	1	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	44.94	⁽¹⁾--
24/11/2000	Falcon CSDNP	NET Jets Portugal	Luton	Isle of Man	2	⁽²⁾--	⁽¹⁾--	273.36	⁽¹⁾--

⁽¹⁾ Not required

⁽²⁾ Informed

19 Dec 2000 : Column: 91W

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