House of Commons Hansard Debates for 9 May 1989

74. Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's current proposals to modernise short-range nuclear forces.

Mr. Younger : Along with their allies, the British Government believe that to support the strategy of flexible response NATO requires a mix of nuclear forces, including

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short-range systems, and that these need to be kept up to date and effective where necessary. However, specific proposals on modernisation are made by the appropriate NATO authorities, not by individual nations.

20. Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the development, procurement and deployment of short-range attack missiles with a nuclear capability.

57. Mr. Sedgemore : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the development, procurement and deployment of short-range attack missiles with a nuclear capability.

58. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the development, procurement and deployment of short-range attack missiles with a nuclear capability.

97. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the development, procurement and deployment of short-range attack missiles with a nuclear capability.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : We are currently considering the options for a possible delivery system for a replacement for the United Kingdom's theatre nuclear weapons, including a derivative of the American short-range attack missile II, the SRAM(T). The SRAM(T) has already been selected by the Pentagon as the basis for a United States nuclear stand-off missile programme.

28. Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what short-range nuclear air-launched weapons the Warsaw pact has discontinued operating during the 1980s.

60. Mr. David Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what short-range nuclear air-launched weapons the Warsaw pact has discontinued operating during the 1980s.

68. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what short-range nuclear air-launched weapons the Warsaw pact has discontinued operating during the 1980s.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what short-range nuclear air-launched weapons the Warsaw pact has discontinued operating during the 1980s.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : We have no evidence to indicate that the Warsaw pact has discontinued the use of any of its air-launched nuclear weapons since 1980. Indeed, there are signs that the variety of these weapons held by the Soviet air forces has been increased.

30. Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from his Belgian counterpart about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the modernisation of short-range nuclear weapons.

36. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from his Belgian counterpart about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the modernisation of short-range nuclear weapons.

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56. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from his Belgian counterpart about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the modernisation of short-range nuclear weapons.

Mr. Younger : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Eastham).

31. Mrs. Gillian Shephard : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what short-range nuclear missiles the Warsaw pact has discontinued operating during the 1980s.

43. Mr. Maples : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what short-range nuclear missiles the Warsaw pact has discontinued operating during the 1980s.

101. Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what short-range nuclear missiles the Warsaw pact has discontinued operating during the 1980s.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : We do not believe that the Warsaw pact has discontinued the use of any short-range missile systems during the 1980s. It retains a massive 16 : 1 superiority over NATO in short-range nuclear- capable missile launchers in Europe. The FROG-7 missile, with a range of 70 km has been replaces by the SS-21 missile, with a range of 120 km, in the forward area. We have no indication that the FROG-7s withdrawn have been destroyed. The SS-1 SCUD has been upgraded and remains in service with the Warsaw pact.

39. Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the most recent proposals for new nuclear artillery shells.

50. Mr. Ray Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the most recent proposals for new nuclear artillery shells.

62. Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the most recent proposals for new nuclear artillery shells.

Mr. Younger : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike).

80. Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what short-range nuclear artillery the Warsaw pact has discontinued operating during the 1980s.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : There is no evidence that Soviet artillery pieces capable of firing nuclear rounds have been removed from service in the 1980s. On the contrary, the Soviet Union has improved both quantitatively and qualitatively its nuclear-capable artillery with the introduction of new weapons systems : the 152mm 2S5, the long-range 203mm 2S7, and the 240mm 2S4 mortar. These new systems provide much greater mobility and firepower.

MOD Police

19. Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy toward the deployment of members of the Ministry of Defence police on land outside his Department's responsibility.

46. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy toward the deployment of members of the Ministry of Defence police on land outside his Department's responsibility.

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98. Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy toward the deployment of members of the Ministry of Defence police on land outside his Department's responsibility.

Mr. Sainsbury : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

Armoured Vehicles

22. Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what armoured vehicles have been ordered by his Department for the Army since 1979.

108. Mr. Gregory : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what armoured vehicles have been ordered by his Department for the Army since 1979.

Mr. Sainsbury : I refer my hon. Friends to the answer which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell).

Baghdad International Exhibition

23. Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about defence sales arising from the Baghdad international exhibition.

25. Mr. Henderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about defence sales arising from the Baghdad international exhibition.

99. Mr. Terry Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about defence sales arising from the Baghdad international exhibition.

Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about defence sales arising from the Baghdad international exhibition.

Mr. Sainsbury : It is too early to know if the exhibition gave rise to any defence sales prospects to Iraq or other countries. Any overseas sale would require an export licence and any for Iraq would be considered against the guidelines announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 29 October 1985, at column 454.

Chemical Weapons

27. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about development in the United States of new types of chemical weapons.

40. Mr. Haynes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about development in the United States of America of new types of chemical weapons.

42. Mr. Graham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about development in the United States of America of new types of chemical weapons.

81. Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about development in the United States of new types of chemical weapons.

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Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with his United States counterpart on a wide range of defence issues. They last met at the nuclear planning group meeting in Brussels on 19 and 20 April.

Soviet Strategy (Maskirovka)

29. Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has that theSoviets are continuing to practise deception known as maskirovka, as part of their general strategy.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The concept of Maskirovka ("masking") is strongly emphasised in Soviet military writings, where it is held to have contributed to their successes in world war II. It embraces all concealment and deception techniques at every level from the strategic to the tactical. Maskirovka continues to be a key element in Soviet military doctrine and we have no evidence that its importance has diminished.

NATO

32. Mr. Couchman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received seeking the reduction of the United Kingdom's defence budget to the average North Atlantic Treaty Organisation level.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : None. The United Kingdom's defence expenditure and the extent of our contribution to the Alliance is substantially above the NATO median. The United Kingdom's defence budget is planned to rise in real terms over the period to 1991-92 and taking into account the latest reported budgetary plans of the other members of the Alliance, the United Kingdom is likely to remain amongst the leading contributors.

67. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet the Secretary General of NATO ; and what matters will be discussed.

Mr. Younger : I next expect to see Dr. Woerner at the meeting of NATO's defence planning committee next month. We shall discuss a wide range of subjects of mutual interest.

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the failures and, (b) the successes, of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation since 1959.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Since the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949, NATO has been outstandingly successful in keeping the peace in Europe during times of instability and rapid change in many parts of the world.

Malta

33. Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his Maltese counterpart ; and what subjects were discussed.

Mr. Younger : The Premier, Dr. Fenech-Adami, is the Minister with responsibility for the Maltese armed forces. We have held no substantive bilateral talks, although I met him during his visit to London last September.

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Education Support

37. Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training and education support is provided by his Department for Commonwealth and other friendly nations.

Mr. Neubert : Training and education support for Commonwealth and other friendly nations is provided by allocating places on United Kingdom service training courses to students from those countries and by sending service training teams overseas to assist our friends and allies in establishing their own training colleges and organisations in an effective and efficient way.

West Germany

38. Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement upon his recent discussions with his West German counterpart.

77. Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement upon his recent discussions with his West German counterpart.

Mr. Younger : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes).

95. Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet the Secretary of State for Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany ; and what matters will be discussed.

Mr. Younger : I expect to meet Dr. Stoltenberg to discuss a range of matters of mutual defence interest, at the meeting of NATO's defence planning committee next month.

Force Levels

41. Mr. Gow : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the Army, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Marines are below their established strengths ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Neubert : Shortfalls in service manpower are measured by comparing adult trained strengths against trained manpower requirements. As at 31 March 1989, shortfalls were Royal Navy 1,380, Royal Marines 43, Army 3,006, Royal Air Force 2,797. In order to encourage greater efficiency in the use of manpower, policy decisions have been taken to aim manpower plans at levels a little below the full requirement. Not all of these shortfalls are, therefore, unplanned.

WEU Assembly

47. Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when next he intends to address the Western European Union Assembly ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Younger : I shall be addressing the Western European Union Assembly on 4 June. This will provide a welcome opportunity to report on the achievements of the United Kingdom Presidency.

Lance Missile

48. Mr. Brian Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is current NATO policy on the possible replacement of the Lance missile.

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52. Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is current NATO policy on the possible replacement of the Lance missile.

53. Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is current NATO policy on the possible replacement of the Lance missile.

107. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is current NATO policy on the possible replacement of the Lance missile.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : At their recent meeting in Brussels in the nuclear planning group, NATO Defence Ministers expressed their determination to maintain effective nuclear forces across the entire spectrum, including short-range missiles, and agreed that these forces must be kept up to date where necessary.

Z-berths

51. Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the declaration of further civilian port facilities as Z-berths.

65. Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy toward the declaration of further civilian port facilities as Z-berths.

69. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy toward the declaration of further civilian port facilities as Z- berths.

86. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy toward the declaration of further civilian port facilities as Z-berths.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Royal Navy's requirements for port visits by nuclear-powered submarines are continually under review. When a port appears suitable and practicable, the safety considerations are discussed with local civilian authorities before a final decision is taken.

Frigates and Destroyers

54. Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the procurement of frigates and destroyers for the Royal Navy.

59. Mr. Ted Garrett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the procurement of frigates and destroyers for the Royal Navy.

71. Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the procurement of frigates and destroyers for the Royal Navy.

79. Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the procurement of frigates and destroyers for the Royal Navy.

Mr. Sainsbury : The Government remain committed to maintain a force of about 50 destroyers and frigates and has plans for sufficient new orders to achieve this target. I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 28 April 1989 at column 686 of the Official Report for details of the recent invitation to tender for further type 23 frigates.

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Defence and the Environment"

55. Mr. Patnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in implementing the proposals outlined in his Department's booklet, "Defence and the Environment."

Mr. Neubert : "Defence and the Environment" was published in 1987 as part of the Department's contribution to the European Year of the Environment. It did not contain any specific proposals, but described the extent of conservation activity on the defence estate. We continue to place a high priority on conservation in the management of our estate and the number of local conservation groups has continued to increase. In January 1988, we concluded a joint declaration of intent with the Nature Conservancy Council with which we enjoy a close working relationship.

Contracting Out

61. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the estimated annual saving made by his Department since 1979 in contracting out defence support services.

Mr. Sainsbury : Since 1979 and up to March 1988, contracting out of defence support services, excluding the transfer of the royal dockyards to commercial management, has resulted in a net financial saving now running at some £50 million per annum and a reduction of over 13,000 mainly civilian public sector posts.

French Defence Minister

64. Mr. Carrington : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when next he intends meeting the French Defence Minister ; and what matters will be discussed.

Mr. Younger : I have no firm plans for an early meeting with M. Chevenement.

Guerrilla Warfare

66. Mr. Hanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part guerrilla warfare has in his Department's plans for the defence of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Greg Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part guerrilla warfare has in his Department's plans for the defence of the United Kindom.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : None. The defence of the United Kingdom is based upon our membership of the NATO Alliance and upon our possession, within the Alliance, of strong conventional forces and of a credible nuclear deterrent. By these means peace has been maintained within Europe for 40 years since the formation of NATO in 1949.

Low Flying

70. Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now consider establishing an independent inquiry into the need for low flying.

Mr. Neubert : No.

88. Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of low-flying sorties over

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the Tynedale area in Northumberland in 1988 ; what is the estimated number for 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Neubert : Central records are not held in a form which would enable the information requested for 1988 to be provided ; nor is it possible to estimate the level of activity that the Tynedale area will see during 1989. I can assure my hon. Friend, however, that the Government will continue to do all within their power to minimise the disturbance caused by low-flying training and to spread this activity as widely and fairly as possible throughout the country.

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