House of Commons Hansard Debates for 26 Jun 1989

Mr. Sainsbury : The improved United Kingdom air defence ground environment, IUKADGE, is being progressively introduced over a number of years, in accordance with a plan that takes account of the need to maintain a continuous operational capability as the transition from the old to the new is accomplished. Some elements of the system are already in service use. The element known as the IUKADGE command and control system has been delayed and, with the agreement of the prime contractor, UKADGE Systems Ltd., is currently subject to an independent audit and review. It would be premature to comment further before the outcome of that audit has been assessed.

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NFR 90

Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the project definition phase for the NFR 90 programme will be completed.

Mr. Sainsbury : The contract for the project definition study is due to complete early in 1991.

There will then follow a period in which the results will be assessed and decisions taken with the other Governments involved.

Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British companies have been consulted as part of the project definition phase for the NFR 90 programme.

Mr. Sainsbury : Regular contact is maintained with British industry through several mediums including the Defence Contracts Bulletin, the Defence Industries Council, the NFR United Kingdom Industrial Advisory Panel, made up of the principal defence trade associations and interested companies, and with the nine member companies of Supermarine Consortium Ltd., the United Kingdom shareholder in the international joint venture company undertaking the project definition study.

EH 101 Helicopter

Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the project definition phase for the tactical support variant of the EH 101 helicopter will be completed.

Mr. Sainsbury : The formal project definition phase is being undertaken in two stages, the first of which will run for one year from April this year, although the essential analysis of alternatives will be available at the end of December this year. No timetable has been set for the second stage of project definition.

Nuclear Submarines

Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether design work on the next generation of nuclear-powered submarines has been completed.

Mr. Sainsbury : Design work on SSN 20, the first of class of the next generation of nuclear-powered fleet submarines, is at an early stage.

Z-berths

Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present state of negotiations between local authorities and his Department on the proposed Z-berths at Swansea.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : After our initial discussions with local authorities, a feasibility study was carried out, and this is now under consideration within the Ministry of Defence. If the results prove favourable, further discussions will take place.

Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present state of negotiations between local authorities and his Department on the proposed Z-berth at Tilbury.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms. Gordon) on 5 May at column 277.

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Housing (Dunoon-Sandbank)

Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many additional houses for United States navy personnel are planned in the Dunoon-Sandbank area ; what is the estimated cost of their construction ; and what military functions will be performed by the occupants of the additional housing.

Mr. Neubert [holding answer 22 June] : I understand that the United States navy is in the process of leasing up to 50 buildings in the Dunoon-Sandbank areas to house United States naval and civilian personnel involved in maintaining support for the ships and facilities in Holy loch. Some work will be required to bring the buildings up to the required standard and to facilitate use of United States domestic appliances. The United States navy also intends to investigate the possibility of leasing a further 44 houses. The details and costs of this programme are a matter for the United States Government.

44. Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many boys, the sons of service personnel, have attended Crookham Court School on Ministry of Defence grants since 1974.

Mr. Archie Hamilton [pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1989, c. 59, and the reply, 12 June 1989, c. 321] : There are presently six children of service parents at Crookham Court school.

CIVIL SERVICE

Mr. Bernard Ingham

80. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will arrange for Mr. Bernard Ingham to give a lecture at the Civil Service college.

Mr. Luce : In February this year, Mr. Ingham gave an informal talk to senior civil servants on a top management course, run by the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service, held at the college in Sunningdale.

WALES

National Museum of Wales

55. Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit the national museum of Wales.

Mr. Peter Walker : I hope to visit the national museum of Wales later this year.

Water Pollution

Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many inspections of waste outfalls from factories were carried out on the Ely and Glyn rivers in Mid Glamorgan by Welsh water authority inspectors or bailiffs over the past 12 months.

Mr. Grist : This is a matter for the Welsh water authority.

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Rivers (Fish Loss)

Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the causes of the recent loss of stocked fish in the rivers Ely and Glyn in Mid Glamorgan.

Mr. Grist : This is a matter for the Welsh water authority.

European Parliament

Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next proposes to visit the European Parliament ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Walker : I have no immediate plans to do so.

Epilepsy Association

Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much assistance his Department intends to give to the Wales Epilepsy Association for 1989-90 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Grist : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 26 May 1989 at column 762.

Valleys Initiative

Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the projects and their costs funded by his Department as part of the Valleys initiative.

Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the projects and their costs funded by his Department as part of the Valleys programme ; and if he will make a statement.

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Mr. Peter Walker : A full list of the very many projects taking place in the Valleys could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. I shall be making a progress statement on the Valleys programme shortly.

Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the starting date of the Valleys initiative.

Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the starting date of the Valleys programme of his Department, and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Walker : The Valleys programme was formally launched on 14 June 1988.

NHS Reform

Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations will be held with (a) the staff and (b) the local authority representing the catchment area of any general hospitals that apply for self-governing status ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) what consultations will be held with local communities in the catchment area of any general hospitals in Wales that apply for self-governing status ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Grist : Any application for self-governing status will be the subject of consultation with interested parties, including in particular health authorities concerned, staff at the hospital, general practitioners, community health councils and the local community. My right hon. Friend will consider any responses alongside the application.

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