| Previous Section | Home Page |
Security Staff
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of private sector security staff commissioned by his Department on each of the past three years to guard Ministry of Defence establishments in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : The number of private security guards employed at MOD establishments is variable. The totals in the last three years were approximately :
|Number
----------------------
1986-87 |200
1987-88 |200
1988-89 |250
Thermal Imaging
Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what examination he has made of the effects of installing thermal imaging equipment at those high security military bases where firearms, ammunition, missiles and warheads are stored.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Security at all Ministry of Defence establishments is under continuous review and the
Column 223
use of thermal imaging equipment has been considered, together with other aids to physical security which have become available through advances in technology. The cost-effectiveness of such equipment has to be taken into account in our response to the assessed security threat at any particular establishment.Security
Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the security arrangements at RAF Honington and at the United States airbases at RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath ; whether he has any proposals to improve the present levels and methods of preventing or detecting access by unauthorised personnel ; how the guarding duties of the RAF Regiment, the auxiliary air force, the Ministry of Defence police and the civil police are co-ordinated ; and under which senior officer's direct command they are.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The security of a military establishment is the responsibility of its commanding officer, who is normally responsible for any necessary liaison with the civil police. In the case of bases made available to United States forces, the RAF commander is responsible for liaison with the civil police. Security at RAF Honington, as at other Ministry of Defence establishments, is kept under continuous review--and I understand that the same applies to RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath--but it is not our practice to comment in detail on such matters.
A90 Project
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from Mr. Michael Phillips of Haden Young on developments in the A90 contract.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment had been made of the progress of the A90 project prior to its amendment to a cost-plus basis.
Mr. Sainsbury : I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 10 appendix 4 of the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General--"Control and Management of the Trident Programme"--HC 27.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed with Sir Ronald Mason the role of managers and scientists at AWE Aldermaston in the development of the A90 construction project ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to basing the design and construction techniques used for the A90 project closely on similar projects in the United States of America.
Mr. Sainsbury : In response to a report in 1978 by an independent expert, Sir Edward Pochin, which highlighted deficiencies in existing aging facilities at AWRE, MOD instituted a study to examine the available options to
Column 224
ensure the retention of nuclear warhead research and development and fissile component manufacturing capabilities. This study concluded that the best course would be to build a new facility based on the TA55 plutonium facility at Los Alamos scientific laboratory. In 1980 the then Secretary of State approved the construction of the new facility together with associated minimum remedial work essential for the United Kingdom location.Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any allegations have been received by him concerning the conduct of the A90 project by any participating contractors ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : I assume the hon. Member has in mind the allegations made in the recent "World in Action" programme. The contract in question is the responsibility of the Property Services Agency which I understand is currently investigating the claims made in the programme.
EMP Simulators
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the largest vehicle which can be subjected to test by the EMP simulators at Aldermaston atomic weapons establishment.
Mr. Sainsbury : The working dimensions of the EMP simulators at AWE are 25 m long, 11 m wide, and 6 m high. The facility will accommodate all current service land vehicles.
Procurement
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met members of the Defence Manufacturers Association to discuss matters relating to procurement.
Mr. Sainsbury : On 6 December 1988 at a meeting of the National Defence Industries Council.
Aviation Medicine Training Centre
Mr. Latham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the proposed move of the Royal Air Force aviation medicine training centre from RAF North Luffenham, Rutland, to RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth, which was originally notified to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton by ministerial letter D/US of S(AF) RNF 19/2/11 of 27 January 1987.
Mr. Neubert : I shall write to my hon. Friend.
No. 144 Signals Unit
Mr. Latham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his intention to move the RAF No. 144 Signals unit from RAF Wattisham to RAF North Luffenham, Rutland, in early 1989, as originally notified to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton by ministerial letter D/US of S(AF) RNF 4844 of 10 March 1988 ; and whether he will give details of the number of personnel who will be transferred in such a move.
Mr. Neubert : The move of No. 144 Signals unit from RAF Wattisham to RAF North Luffenham is being reviewed following a reassessment of the unit's role.
Conscription
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost of conscription for
Column 225
an 18-month period of (a) all males and (b) both males and females of 18 years of age ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Neubert : The Government have no plans to reintroduce conscription.
Contractors
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now list in the Official Report the precise amounts paid to each of the contractors listed on page 15 of "Statement of the Defence Estimates 2", Cm 344-II, by his Department in the financial year 1986-87.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 27 February 1989] : The payments made to each of these companies in the year ended 31 March 1987 in respect of headquarters contracts were as follows :
Company |Payments £ million ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- British Aerospace plc (Aircraft) |320 British Aerospace plc (Dynamics) |610 The General Electric Co. plc |850 The Plessey Co. plc |365 Rolls Royce Ltd. |425 Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. |345 The British Petroleum Co. plc |100 Ferranti plc |200 Hunting Associated Industries plc |205 Racal Electronics plc |105 Royal Ordnance plc |245 Thorn-EMI plc |155 Vickers plc |115 Westland plc |135 British Railways Board |58 British Telecommunications plc |56 Dowty Group plc |66 ESSO United Kingdom plc |91 Lucas Industries plc |61 General Motors Ltd. |51 Pilkington Bros. plc |69 Philips Electronic and Associated Industries Ltd. |54 The "Shell" Transport and Trading Co. plc |52 Short Bros plc |67 STC plc |76 Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd. |77 Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd. |92 Austin Rover Group Ltd. |47 British Airways plc |33 BTR plc |27 Civil Aviation Authority |25 Digital Equipment Co. Ltd. |35 F R Group plc |37 GKN plc |38 Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd. |47 Paccar UK Ltd. |27 Smiths Industries plc |28 United Scientific Holdings plc |38 Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) Ltd. |38 Avon Rubber plc |10 BET plc |21 The British and Commonwealth Shipping Co. plc |13 British Shipbuilders |14 Cambridge Electronic Industries plc |16 Coats Viyella plc |18 Control Data Ltd. |10 Cossor Electronics Ltd. |21 Clanfield Institute of Technology |14 Cray Electronics Holding plc |12 DRG plc |22 Frazer-Nash Group Ltd. |12 Harland and Wolff plc |11 Hawker Siddeley Group plc |12 Hewlett Packard Ltd. |14 Honeywell Ltd. |12 Mobil Holdings Ltd. |11 Northern Engineering Industries plc |11 Petrofina (UK) Ltd. |10 RCA Ltd. |21 Remploy Ltd. |11 Singer Link Miles Ltd. |12 Systems Designers plc |13 UK Universities |12 United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority |13 The Weir Group plc |19 Yarrow plc |14 Apricot Computers plc |6 BBA Group |6 BMARC Ltd. |9 Bodycote International plc |5 Caledonian Aviation Group plc |5 CAP Group plc |7 The Charente Steamship Co. Ltd. |7 Chemring Group plc |7 Chloride Group plc |6 Commercial Shearing Inc. |5 CONOCO (UK) Ltd. |10 Courtaulds plc |7 David Brown (Holdings) Ltd. |5 F. L. Smidth and Co. (Holdings) Ltd. |7 Ford Motor Co. Ltd. |7 George Blair plc |8 Gibraltar Shiprepair Ltd. |7 Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (GB) Ltd. |8 Hall Russell Ltd. |8 Hogg Robinson Group plc |6 Humber Shiprepairers Ltd. |6 IBM United Kingdom Holdings Ltd. |8 Inchcape plc |9 J. C. Bamford Excavators Ltd. |9 John Brown plc |7 Logica plc |7 MacTaggart Scott (Holdings) Ltd. |5 M. L. Holdings plc |5 Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd. |5 Massey Ferguson Holdings Ltd. |7 Meggitt Holdings plc |6 Portsmouth Aviation Ltd. |5 The Rank Organisation plc |9 Readicut International plc |5 RFD Group plc |6 RHP Group plc |5 Ropner plc |9 Saft (UK) Ltd. |7 Schlumberger Measurement and Control (UK) Ltd. |7 Total Oil Holdings Ltd. |5 Tozer Kemsley and Millbourn Holdings plc |8 Watsham's plc |6 Waverley Electronics |6 Wills Group plc |5 Note: The figures below £100 million are rounded to the nearest £1 million and those above £100 million are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
SCOTLAND
Rating Reform
17. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the latest forecast about the impact of the community charge on single pensioners.
Mr. Lang : It is estimated that over 80 per cent. of single pensioner households in Scotland will benefit from the introduction of the community charge.
Column 227
24. Mr. Douglas : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the administration of the poll tax registers in Scotland, as regards variations adopted with regard to the furnishings of dates of birth.
Mr. Lang : Section 13(1)(d) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 1988, requires the community charges register for each registration area to specify the date of birth of each natural person registered therein. Statutory responsibility for compiling these registers rests with the community charges registration officer for each area and it is for them to decide, within the framework of the powers given to them, how best to carry out their functions.
48. Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from organisations and individuals seeking to have poll tax liability removed from all persons who are mentally or physically impaired.
Mr. Lang : My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations from Members of Parliament, interested organisations and individuals about the liability for the community charge of people with various forms of physical and mental disability.
51. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the level of community charge in Lothian region.
Mr. Lang : Since the beginning of this year my right hon. and learned Friend and I have received about 30 representations on the level of the community charge in Lothian region. All have expressed dismay at the unacceptably high level of charges imposed in Lothian region.
Storm Damage
18. Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what use is being made of the Bellwin scheme to help local authorities deal with the consequences of the storm damage in Scotland on 13 February.
Mr. Lang : It is too soon to say whether it would be appropriate to invoke the Bellwin scheme in relation to the recent storms.
32. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the cost of the clearing-up operations following the storm of 13 February.
44. Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce details of his response to local authorities and other interested parties within the Highlands and Islands on financial assistance following the flooding and storm damage of this winter ; and if he will make a statement.
47. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss the financial implications of the recent severe weather in Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : It is too soon to assess the full extent and cost of damage and restoration work arising from the
Column 228
recent flooding and storms. Rather than initiate discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, my right hon. and learned Friend has sought detailed reports directly from those authorities in the Highlands affected by the flooding, and from housing authorities, so that he can make an assessment of the situation as soon as possible. He made it clear in the House on 14 February that if other authorities make representations about excessive costs, he will consider these on the basis of principles for financial assistance well established in previous years. A decision on whether special financial assistance would be appropriate for any area will be made as soon as reports have been received and assessed.Procurator Fiscal Service
19. Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received on the National Audit Office report into the procurator fiscal service ; and if he will make a statement.
41. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received on the National Audit Office report into the procurator fiscal service ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Five representatives have been received by the Lord Advocate on the National Audit Office report on the prosecution of crime in Scotland and review of the procurator fiscal service. Since the report of the Public Accounts Committee has not yet been published, it would be inappropriate to make a statement.
Transport Links
20. Mr. Buchanan-Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the future adequacy of transport links between the central belt and the north-east of Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : I have received several representations about rail links about the future adversity of trunk road links between the central belt and north-east of Scotland. Over the last few years the Government have made it a major priority to upgrade the A94 to dual carriageway standard. That committment is now nearly fulfilled.
Alzheimer's Disease
22. Dr. Moonie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate for the number of people with Alzheimer's disease in Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Alzheimer's disease is one of a number of degenerative brain disorders which occur in later life. It is not possible to give accurate estimates of the numbers of people with these conditions because of the very gradual onset of symptoms and changes in the diagnostic classifications as a result of research in this area. Recent studies have, however, suggested that between 112, 000 and 160,000 people in Scotland may have dementia of varying severity in one form or another of whom between one half and two thirds may have Alzheimer's disease.
Column 229
Education (Renfrewshire)
23. Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has recently received in relation to the provision of school education in Renfrewshire ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from parents of pupils attending St. Aelred's high school, Paisley and others expressing opposition to a proposal by Strathclyde regional council to close the school. That proposal has been submitted by the education authority to my right hon. and learned Friend for his consent.
Tourism
25. Mr. Gregory : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applicants for section 4 grants under the Development of Tourism Act 1969, have been approved ; what was the value awarded for each year since 1980 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) on 16 February. Prior to 1984-85 the approvals were :
Financial year |Number of approvals|Value of assistance
|(£ million)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1980-81 |126 |2.2
1981-82 |165 |2.7
1982-83 |188 |3.3
1983-84 |250 |5.5
I have no statement to make on the operation of section 4 in Scotland.
Church of Scotland
26. Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from the church and nation committee of the Church of Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : None.
Claim of Right
27. Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received about the "A Claim of Right for Scotland" document.
35. Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received concerning the document "A Claim of Right for Scotland".
45. Mr. David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what further representations he has received about the "A Claim of Right for Scotland" document.
Mr. Rifkind : I refer the right hon. Member and the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) on 9 November 1988 at column 228. No further representations have been received.
Scottish National Party
28. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has recently received from the Scottish National party about the future government of Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 230
Scottish Constitutional Convention
29. Mr. Harry Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to meet the Scottish constitutional convention.
46. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to meet the Scottish constitutional convention.
Mr. Rifkind : I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudon (Mr. McKelvey).
42. Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had concerning the Scottish constitutional convention.
Mr. Rifkind : No representations have been received since my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) on 9 November 1988 at column 228. Both letters referred to in that reply advocated the establishment of a Scottish constitutional convention.
Scotland (Government)
30. Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will deposit in the Library copies of all the speeches he has made on the structure of government in Scotland.
Mr. Rifkind : No. Copies of speeches which I have made in the House on the structure of government in Scotland are recorded in the Official Report and are thus available for reference. I often refer on other occasions to aspects of the structure of government in Scotland, but no comprehensive record of these comments is available.
Forestry (Perthshire)
31. Mr. David Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of forestry projects currently taking place in Perthshire.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Between 1 April 1988 and 31 January 1989, the Forestry Commission has, under its grant schemes, approved 71 new applications for planting grants in Perthshire.
Legal Profession
33. Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the president of the Law Society of Scotland and the dean of the Faculty of Advocates.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend has at present no such engagement, but has had a recent meeting with the president of the Law Society and the dean of the Faculty of Advocates on Monday 19 December 1988.
Devolution
34. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for legislation to devolve power to an elected Scottish Assembly.
40. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to introduce legislation to devolve further powers to Scotland.
Column 231
60. Mr. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he intends to bring forward to improve the democratic accountability of government in Scotland.
Mr. Rifkind : I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Motherwell, South (Dr. Bray).
Forest Parks
36. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans are in progress to enhance public usage of forest parks.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : There are now 12 forest parks in Britain, the latest being Tummel forest park which was declared by the Forestry Commission last year. A free leaflet publicising the parks was issued by the commission last June. Plans for encouraging increased public use of the forest parks include the provision of further recreational facilities, the development of an attractive style of signing--already introduced at certain forest parks--and the production of a new series of forest park guidebooks.
Harbours
37. Mr. Couchman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of the number of harbour developments in Scotland funded by European Community assistance since 1979 ; what is the total level of funding associated with these developments ; and what is the cost associated with each development.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The number of harbour development projects in Scotland since 1979 which received financial assistance from the European Community totalled 144. The total cost of these developments amounted to £97.5 million to which the European Community contributed £34.7 million. A list of individual projects could be provided only at disproportionate costs, but projects ranged in cost between £10, 000 and £5 million.
Scottish Parliament
38. Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now take steps to assess the level of demand for a Scottish Parliament.
Scottish Assembly
39. Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly.
61. Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly.
Mr. Rifkind : I have received four letters since June 1987, culminating in October last year in representations about the claim of right document advocating the establishment of a Scottish constitutional convention.
Column 232
NHS White Paper
43. Sir Hector Monro : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has had from area health boards on the White Paper on the future of the National Health Service.
Mr. Rifkind : I received an encouraging and positive response at my meetings with health board chairmen, general managers and senior professionals, held at the time of the launch of the White Paper "Working for Patients" (Cm. 555), We shall now be working closely with health boards and others to ensure that the White Paper proposals are effectively implemented.
65. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a detailed analysis of the implications of the chapter of the Health Service White Paper "Working for Patients" which relates to Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : My right hon. and learned Friend will shortly be issuing to interested parties various working papers giving further details of our proposals for the Scottish Health Service set out in chapter 10 of the White Paper "Working for Patients" (Cm. 555). I shall ensure copies of these are made available in the Library.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he will be publishing working papers detailing the changes resulting in Scotland from the "Working for Patients" White Paper, similar to those issued by the Department of Health ;
(2) whether the consultation period on the "Working for Patients" White Paper will be extended in Scotland to take account of the current lack of working papers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The first in the series of six Scottish working papers will be published shortly. It is intended to complete the consultation process by the end of May, which we regard as a reasonable time scale.
| Next Section
| Home Page |