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United States Deep Space Programme
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received any proposals from the United States Air Force to station any electro-optical deep space surveillance equipment in the United Kingdom as part of the GEODSS programme, or any other programme.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I am not aware of any such proposals.
Boscombe Down Airfield
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-funded construction in support of United States forces that has taken place at Boscombe Down airfield funded from each of the last five North Atlantic Treaty Organisation funding slices ; and if he will list similar construction that is scheduled to be funded from future North Atlantic Treaty Organisation funding slices.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is not our practice to publish information of this kind.
RAF Feltwell (Tracking Station)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current status of the proposed deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 3 February 1989 at column 449.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which portions of the electromagnetic spectrum will be used by the proposed deep space tracking station at RAF Feltwell.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is not our practice to publish information of this kind.
US Central Command (Hythe)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 1988, Official Report, column 267, if he will list in tabular form the quantities of materials that have been stored at Hythe, Hampshire, in support of United States Central Command in each of the last five years.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No materials have been stored at Hythe, Hampshire in support of the United States Central Command.
Wayne Beal
Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons were recruited with Wayne Beal into 2nd Queen's Regiment ; and how many completed the course.
Mr. Neubert : There were 32 others recruited along with Wayne Beal ; 19 of these successfully completed the training course.
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Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will investigate why the adjutant turned away key witnesses at the court martial of those accused of bullying Wayne Beal.
Mr. Neubert : I will write to my hon. Friend.
Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain and make available a transcript of the court martial proceedings in the case of those accused of bullying Wayne Beal of 2nd Queen's Regiment, Bassingbourne barracks.
Mr. Neubert : A transcript of the presiding judge advocate's summing -up will be made available as soon as possible.
Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek a report on the reasons why an adjournment in the court martial of those accused of bullying Wayne Beal to enable medical evidence to be obtained was refused.
Mr. Neubert : I will write to my hon. Friend.
Nuclear-powered Warships Safety Committee
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members there are on the nuclear-powered warships safety committee ; and how many of them had previously worked (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) on a commission basis for his Department.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are currently 23 permanent members of the nuclear-powered warships safety committee (NPWSC), excluding the secretariat of two. Of these, five are currently employed full-time by this Department. A further seven MOD officials, who are not members of the committee, may attend or be represented at its meetings if the agenda includes items within their area of interest. Of the 18 external NPWSC members, five have previously worked as full-time MOD officials. The other external members have not worked for this Department, either part-time or on a commission basis.
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the running costs of the nuclear-powered warships safety committee are met.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The running costs of the NPWSC are met from public funds. In general, these costs are paid by the Ministry of Defence, although the expenses of the eight NPWSC members who are full-time employees of other public bodies are paid by their employers.
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the membership of the nuclear-powered warships safety committee.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is not considered appropriate to release the names of individual committee members, for reasons of personal security.
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the nuclear-powered warships safety committee receive payment or expenses for their work from his Department.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Those members of the Nuclear-Powered Warships Safety Committee who are not
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employees of the Ministry of Defence or other public bodies receive a fee in line with those laid down in the scale of daily fees payable to members of Royal Commissions, advisory committees and similar bodies. All members may claim travel and subsistence expenses.Ha'burn (Sinking)
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the fishing boat Ha'burn in the Firth of Clyde.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : On the morning of Friday 30 June the fishing vessel Ha'burn, while fishing in the Clyde approaches, caught a mine-like object in its nets. The vessel informed HM Coastguard and proceeded to Troon on the Ayrshire coast. The Royal Navy base at Faslane was also informed, and an explosive ordnance disposal team was despatched to the scene and indentified the object as a German world war II ground mine.
The skipper of the Ha'burn agreed to take the mine to deep water, where the Royal Navy team were to dispose of it by a controlled explosion. When the vessel had reached a suitable location, a demolition charge was attached to the mine which was then lowered to the sea bed. A safety fuse was set and the vessel began to retire to safety. The charge, however, detonated prematurely and before the Ha'burn had time to clear the area.
The vessel was holed by the resulting explosion and later beached some 500 yards from Great Cumbrae island. The crew, who were unhurt, were rescued by an inshore lifeboat from Largs. A board of inquiry has been convened. The owners of the Ha'burn have been informed of the procedures for submitting a claim for compensation.
Birkbeck College
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment of security at Birkbeck college was made prior to awarding the contract for the study of the recruitment and selection of Royal Navy personnel to the college.
Mr. Sainsbury : Since the work is not classified the question of security at Birkbeck college did not arise.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current security classification of the contract awarded to Birkbeck college for the study of the recruitment and selection of Royal Navy personnel.
Mr. Sainsbury : The work in question is unclassified.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to the security procedures concerning documents relating to the contract awarded to Birkbeck college for the study of the recruitment and selection of Royal Navy personnel since the contract was awarded ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : No. Papers were returned when they were no longer needed in accordance with normal procedures.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communication there has been between the governors of Birkbeck college and his Department concerning the security of documents relating to the contract for the study of the recruitment and selection of Royal Navy personnel awarded to the college.
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Mr. Sainsbury : No. Following the letter which the master of the college wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on Monday 3 July 1989, my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement met her on Tuesday 4 July 1989, but this was to discuss recent press reports.
Corporal Steven Smith
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the death of Corporal Steven Smith in Hanover ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Two under-car improvised explosive devices were placed under private vehicles belonging to service men, which were left-hand drive and carried United Kingdom type civilian number plates issued for use by the British Forces in Germany, and were parked in a married quarters area in Hanover. One device exploded at 18.15 hours local time on 2 July 1989, causing the death of Corporal Smith and injuries to his wife and four children. The second device was located and neutralised. Both were attached to the cars by magnets.
The Provisional IRA has claimed responsibility for both the devices. The German police are continuing their inquiries.
Security (West Germany)
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security arrangements are made for those service personnel who do not live inside Ministry of Defence barracks or bases whilst stationed in West Germany.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : All service men, United Kingdom-based civilians and their dependants are briefed periodically on the security situation and on the measures they should take for their own protection. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual security measures. Close liaison is also maintained with the Federal German authorities, who have primary responsibility for the prevention of terrorist crimes outside United Kingdom bases.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any areas in West Germany outside Ministry of Defence bases or barracks have ever been the subject of a co-ordinated test and evaluation of security.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The security of off-base married quarter areas in Germany is kept under constant review, in liaison with the appropriate local police authorities.
Iraq (Aircraft Sales)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy on the sale of Hawk aircraft to the Government of Iraq.
Mr. Sainsbury : It has been the consistent practice of successive Administrations not to comment on individual defence sales. Any overseas sale of Hawk would require an export licence and any prospect of such a sale to 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 450.
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Army Polo Teams
Mr. Marlow : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence,, if he will list those regiments in which regimental officers are required to make a regular subscription towards the regimental polo team.
Mr. Neubert : No officer is required to subscribe towards his regimental polo team.
IUKADGE Command and Control System
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 26 June, how long the delay in introducing the improved United Kingdom air defence ground environment command and control system will be.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 29 June 1989] : As I stated in my reply to the hon. Gentleman's question of 26 June at column 370, it is premature to speculate on the length of further delay to the introduction of the IUKADGE command and control system before the results of the independent audit have been assessed. We consider, however, that it should be possible to complete the work in the early 1990s.
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 26 June, when it was decided to seek maximum return from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation common infrastructure budget for the improved United Kingdom air defence ground environment command and control system by abiding by the rules of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation international competitive bidding.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 29 June 1989] : September 1978.
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional costs have been incurred as a result of the delay to the introduction of the improved United Kingdom air defence ground environment command and control system.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 29 June 1989] : The delay to the introduction of the IUKADGE command and control system will have some small cost implications, due for example to the need to run on the existing command and control system for somewhat longer than originally intended. The main contract with United Kingdom Systems Ltd is, however, fixed price ; the financial risks for the completion of the ICCS continue, therefore, to lie with the contractor.
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what organisation is carrying out the independent audit and review of the improved United Kingdom air defence ground environment command and control system.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 29 June 1989] : The independent audit of the IUKADGE command and control system is being carried out by a joint industry/MOD team led by SD Scicon Ltd.
Mr. Rogers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the independent audit and review of the improved United Kingdom air defence ground environment command and control system will be completed.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 29 June 1989] : The independent audit of the IUKADGE command and control system was completed at the end of June and will be fully assessed during the next few weeks.
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WALES
Urban Investment Grant
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the planned expenditure for urban investment grant for each of the next three years.
Mr. Grist : The provision for 1989-90 is £3 million (as shown in the supply estimates class XVII, vote 6 subhead B2). I have made no firm decisions on the distribution of the block resources beyond 1989-90.
Business Establishment Grant
Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many companies in receipt of a cash grant from his Department to establish a business in Wales have discontinued such business within five years of establishment.
Mr. Peter Walker : Information in the form requested is not available. However, it is possible to provide information on companies which have received regional selective assistance. Since the introduction of the current guidelines for regional selective assistance in November 1984, two companies which received RSA towards establishing new businesses in Wales are known to have discontinued such business. These companies received some £20,000 in grant. Over the same period 80 projects received RSA to establish new businesses in Wales with associated expenditure to date of some £9 million.
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if his civil servants discussed with the Welsh Development Agency's west Wales senior executive management buy-out plans ; and if he will make a statement.
(2) if the Welsh Development Agency has had any discussions with outside consultants regarding the proposed privatisation of the Welsh Development Agency's west Wales region ; if he will publish the consultants' names ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : There have been no such discussions.
Forestry
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to control the spread of rhododendron in Forestry Commission and private woodland in Wales.
Mr. Peter Walker : The Forestry Commission controls rhododendron on its own land, where it is significantly affecting tree growth, by cutting and by application of herbicides. Owners of private woodlands are given advice on methods of controlling rhododendron, and the Commission is carrying out research into alternative methods of control, including methods of limiting regrowth after cutting.
Child Care Facilities
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to encourage the provision of child care facilities in the workplace in Wales ;
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what information he has on how many firms and Government offices currently provide these facilities in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Grist : New Government initiatives on child care provision were announced on 11 April by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, including measures to encourage employers to provide child care facilities using the tax reliefs available to them. No information is available on the provision of child care facilities by employers in Wales.
Water Privatisation
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes a promotional campaign to sell Welsh water authority shares abroad ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : I am considering how best to sell Welsh water authority shares so that privatisation will give the people of Wales the best possible opportunity to own Welsh Water.
Cervical Smears
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average time taken by each Welsh health authority to process cervical smear tests and provide the results for the patient and her general practitioner ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : Information for 1988-89 is currently being collected by the Department from Welsh health authorities. I shall write to my hon. Friend once the results have been collated.
BSE--Infected Cattle
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected cattle, at non-European Economic Community-approved slaughterhouses in Wales, have been identified.
Mr. Peter Walker : Four cases have been reported of which two proved positive and one negative ; on the other one the result of testing is still awaited.
Voluntary Organisations
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total available funding for 1989-90 for supporting voluntary organisations in Wales in the social services field under section 64 of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968 ; and what was the corresponding figure in each of the previous three years.
Mr. Grist : The information is as follows :
Year |£ ------------------------------ 1986-87 |1,126,202 1987-88 |1,145,680 1988-89 |1,133,998 1989-90 |1,696,653
Funds for voluntary organisations in the social services field are also available under section 26 of the Development of Rural Wales Act 1976. The figures are as follows :
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Year |£ ------------------------ 1986-87 |594,616 1987-88 |725,049 1988-89 |811,527 1989-90 |965,245
ENVIRONMENT
Lawn Tennis Federation Cup
Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide support to Nottingham for the running of the 1991 Lawn Tennis Federation cup.
Mr. Moynihan : All Government funds in direct support of sport are channelled through the Sports Council. Any requests for support for the running costs of the Federation cup should be addressed to the council.
Waste Disposal
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the county councils which have made representations to him arising from his consultation paper regarding the role and functions of waste disposal authorities ; and what views were expressed.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Representations have been received from the following county councils :
County of Avon
Bedfordshire County Council
Royal County of Berkshire
Buckinghamshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Cheshire County Council
Cleveland County Council
Cumbria County Council
Derbyshire County Council
Durham County Council
East Sussex County Council
Essex County Council
Gloucestershire County Council
Hampshire County Council
Hereford and Worcester County Council
Hertfordshire County Council
Isle of Wight County Council
Kent County Council
Lancashire County Council
Lincolnshire County Council
Norfolk County Council
Northamptonshire County Council
Northumberland County Council
North Yorkshire County Council
Nottinghamshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council
Shropshire County Council
Somerset County Council
Staffordshire County Council
Suffolk County Council
Surrey County Council
West Sussex County Council
Warwickshire County Council
Wiltshire County Council
The authorities expressed a range of views on the various issues raised in the consultation paper. These, and very many other responses, are being carefully considered.
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