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Heritage Assets (Gibraltar)
42. Mr. Robert B. Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the preservation of heritage assets held by his Department in Gibraltar.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Property Services Agency, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, undertakes considerable preservation work on historic properties which are part of the defence estate in Gibraltar.
Disaster Relief
43. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disaster relief assistance the armed forces have undertaken in the last six months.
94. Mrs. Maureen Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disaster relief assistance the armed forces have undertaken in the last six months.
98. Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disaster relief assistance the armed forces have undertaken in the last six months.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer my hon. Friends to my reply of 24 October to my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Stevens) at column 430.
Challenger Tank
44. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will report on the progress being made in completion of the contract for Challenger II tanks.
Mr. Alan Clark : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter).
Defence Exports
46. Mr. Stevens : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the amount of defence exports achieved since 1979.
86. Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the amount of defence exports achieved since 1979.
Mr. Alan Clark : I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess).
Confidential Information
47. Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that confidential information held on individuals by all those for whom his Department is responsible is not passed on to other individuals or organisations who may do harm to the person concerned.
72. Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that confidential information held on individuals by all those for whom his Department is responsible is not passed on to other individuals or organisations who may do harm to the person concerned.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn).
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Naval Forces
48. Mr. Stott : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the possibility of reducing naval forces by negotiation.
95. Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the possibility of reducing naval forces by negotiation.
97. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the possibility of reducing naval forces by negotiation.
113. Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the possibility of reducing naval forces by negotiation.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with his NATO counterparts, at which a wide range of arms control matters are discussed. The Alliance's priority in conventional arms control is to achieve stability in conventional forces in Europe, with particular emphasis on the Warsaw pact's land forces with a capability for surprise attack and large-scale offensive action. Maritime forces are explicitly excluded from the mandate for the CFE negotiations.
United States Defence Spending
50. Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the United Kingdom's defence policies of possible United States defence cuts in Europe.
118. Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the United Kingdom's defence policies of possible United States defence cuts in Europe.
125. Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the United Kingdom's defence policies of possible United States defence cuts in Europe.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the United Kingdom's defence policies of possible United States defence cuts in Europe.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We remain committed to maintaining adequate and effective nuclear and conventional forces in Europe to underpin NATO's strategy of flexible response and forward defence. The United States Government fully share this view.
War Widows (Pensions)
51. Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the level of pre-1973 war widows' pensions.
63. Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the level of pre-1973 war widows' pensions.
84. Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the level of pre-1973 war widows' pensions.
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Mr. Neubert : I have nothing to add to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng).Nuclear Test Veterans
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will grant compensation to ex-service men who were involved in the atomic test on Christmas Island and who are now suffering from leukaemia as a result of their involvement.
52. Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will provide compensation for those ex-British service personnel whose health suffered as a result of their participation in British nuclear tests.
85. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will provide compensation for those ex-British service personnel whose health has suffered as a result of their participation in British nuclear tests.
Mr. Neubert : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Doran).
Recruitment and Retention
53. Mr. Wilkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the current levels of recruitment and retention in the armed services.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Overall, both recruitment and outflow are running at a slightly higher level than last year.
European Fighter Aircraft
54. Mr. John Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the order for the radar for the European fighter aircraft.
114. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the order for the radar for the European fighter aircraft.
Mr. Alan Clark : The decision on the choice of radar for the EFA will be announced as soon as possible. Discussions are continuing between the four partner nations, the international management agency and the international industrial consortium responsible for the development of the EFA.
Devonport Dockyard
55. Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to ensure that present arrangements ensure adequate work for Her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neubert : Devonport royal dockyard is allocated a core programme of MOD work, negotiated on a single-tender basis, which is kept under review, to ensure that it provides a viable basis for maintaining strategic capacity in the longer term.
Women Fliers
57. Mr. David Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are plans to increase the opportunities to fly with the Royal Navy.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are no current plans to do so, although various possibilities for widening the employment of the Women's Royal Navy Service, including in the field of aviation, are under review.
Chemical Weapons
58. Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he has had with his United States counterpart regarding the current (a) Soviet stockpile and (b) United States production of chemical weapons.
76. Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he has had with his United States counterpart regarding the current (a) Soviet stockpile and (b) United States production of chemical weapons.
87. Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he has had with his United States counterpart regarding the current (a) Soviet stockpile and (b) United States production of chemical weapons.
107. Mr. Wood : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any evidence that the Soviet Union has begun to destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons.
126. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any evidence that the Soviet Union has begun to destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We continue to maintain close liaison with the United States on all aspects of chemical weapons ; most recently during the meeting my right hon. Friend had with Mr. Cheney last month.
Common European Home
64. Mr. Eastham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the implications for current defence policies of the concept of a common European home.
103. Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the implications for current defence policies of the concept of a common European home.
119. Mr. Heffer : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the implications for current defence policies of the concept of a common European home.
120. Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the implications for current defence policies of the concept of a common European home.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is NATO's policy to pursue opportunities for dialogue with the East, and we welcome the commitment to greater co- operation implicit in the, as yet, undefined concept of a common European home. Any specific proposals for reducing the potential for confrontation, made in the conference on security and co-operation in Europe or other fora, will be given due consideration.
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Drug Trafficking
67. Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution Her Majesty's forces are making to control drug trafficking.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : In response to occasional requests for assistance from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, the armed forces provide a variety of support to their operations in the United Kingdom and in home waters. The armed forces also provide anti-drugs assistance overseas. For example, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, training is being given to Colombia in VIP protection, bomb disposal and basic river boat skills, and non-lethal equipment is being supplied. In addition, the West Indies guardship provides surveillance assistance in co-ordinated anti -drugs patrols with the United States Coastguard.
Defence Spending
68. Mr. Norris : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the proportion of gross domestic product Britain spends on defence.
71. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the proportion of gross domestic product Britain spends on defence.
100. Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the proportion of gross domestic product Britain spends on defence.
111. Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the proportion of gross domestic product Britain spends on defence.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : During the current financial year, it is estimated that defence expenditure will be about 3.9 per cent of GDP.
Service Personnel (Radiation Exposure)
69. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the average level of radiation exposure suffered by (a) Her Majesty's armed forces personnel, (b) Australian service men and (c) American service men and women during involvement in nuclear testing in the 1950s.
Mr. Neubert : The committed effective doses equivalent, in millisieverts per person, sustained on average by participants in the whole programme of overseas atmospheric nuclear tests and experiments conducted by the United Kingdom Ministry of Supply within the period 1952 to 1967 inclusive has been professionally assessed to be approximately as follows :
All participants: Zero point four (0.4)
Participants who were citizens
of the United Kingdom: Zero point five (0.5)
Participants who were members
of Her Majesty's forces of
the United Kingdom: Zero point four (0.4)
Of which the division of work
led to respectively on average:
Commissioned Officers: Two (2)
Warrant Officers and other
ranks: Zero point one five (0.15)
Participants who were civilian
citizens of the United
Kingdom and supporting
roles: Two point five (2.5)
For comparison, individuals in the United Kingdom on average sustain in every year a dose of approximately 2.5 millisieverts from background radiations and radioactivity throughout their adult lives, and depending on location this level can be up to four or more times higher.
Details of the involvement of, and doses sustained by, citizens of other countries are matters for the Governments of the nations concerned.
Royal Navy (Recruitment)
73. Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the level of recruitment to the Royal Navy.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : In the last complete financial year, which ended in March, the achievement in relation to targets was 93 per cent. for officers and 91 per cent. for ratings. It is too soon to say what the achievement will be in 1989-90, but we are mindful of the fact that both economic and demographic conditions affect recruiting and we are accordingly increasing our efforts in this respect. The additional advertising in which we are engaging is producing an increase in applications, but we are by no means complacent.
Compensation Payments
74. Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation has been paid by the Ministry of Defence (a) to farmer Mr. Paul Adorian of Kirklington, Carlisle, Cumbria, for the death of one of his llamas attributed to a low-flying incident involving an RAF jet and (b) to the parents of Private Jason Winter of the 1st Battalion Light Infantry for the murder by the Irish Republican Army of their 19-year-old son while serving with the Army in Ulster.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence has paid £5,021 in compensation to Mr. Paul Adorian in respect of the loss of one of his llamas, as a result of low flying military aircraft activity. No claim has been received by the Ministry of Defence in respect of the tragic death of Private Jason Winter, although it is understood that a claim has been considered by the criminal injuries compensation division of the Northern Ireland Office.
Coastal Patrol Boats
77. Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fast coastal patrol boats are available to the Royal Navy.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are 25 patrol craft of various classes in service with the Royal Navy, as set out in annex A to the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989" (Cm. 675-I).
Training (Casualties)
78. Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of collapse due to excessive heat during training or exercises occurred this summer ; in
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how many cases was (a) medical attention and (b)hospitalisation required ; and how frequently the outcome was death or permanent disability.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information requested will not be available until the publication next summer of firm figures for the whole of 1989 in the "Service Annual Health Tables". These statistics will not, however, include casualties that required hospitalisation for a period of less than 48 hours. Figures will record deaths but not permanent disabilities which cannot generally be established until treatment is completed.
Submarines
79. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding recent incidents involving fishing vessels and submarines ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There have been six incidents this year involving submarines and fishing vessels, two of which involved United States Navy submarines. The Royal Navy regards the avoidance by submarines of fishing vessels and their nets as a matter of considerable importance and is establishing closer links with fishermen's associations in order to promote mutual understanding.
Recruits
89. Mr. Ashton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the new recruits to the armed forces last year were of Asian or Afro-Caribbean origin.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Provisional results of the ethnic monitoring survey of new recruits to the armed forces in the year ended 31 March 1989 show that 0.7 per cent. were black and 0.2 per cent. were Asian.
USAF Planes
90. Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the possible deployment of further United States Air Force F111s to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from right hon. Members, hon. Members and the public.
NATO Forces
91. Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the current balance between nuclear and conventional forces in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
101. Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the current balance between nuclear and conventional forces in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
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