House of Commons Hansard Debates for 9 Jan 1990

Column 608

Proposal for a Council directive on the freedom to provide services in repect of motor vehicle liability insurance, submitted by the Commission on 3 January 1989.

The Government continue to attach a high priority to the achievement of a genuine single market in both life and non-life insurance and welcome the Commission's intention to put forward new proposals for this purpose in the next few months.

Directorships

Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the directors appointed by his Department under special share provisions, giving in each case the term of their appointment and the company to which they were appointed.

Mr. Redwood [holding answer 18 December 1989] : Following are the details of directors currently appointed or nominated as Government directors under the rights attached to special shares held by my right hon. Friend.

Mr. P. G. Bosonnet was nominated as a Government director on the board of British Telecom on 1 October 1986 for two years and was re-nominated in 1988 for a further two years. Mr. G. J. Mulcahy was nominated as a Government director on the board of British Telecom on 19 October 1988 for two years.

Mr. Keith Brown was appointed to the board of British Aerospace as the Government director on 16 March 1989 for a period of two years.

Tourism

Mr. Bevan : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will appoint a Parliamentary Commissioner with a permanent remit to investigate the inadequacies, insufficiencies and failures of travel, tourism and leisure both at home and abroad so as to provide a means of examining and redressing grievances.

Mr. Forth [holding answer 21 December 1989] : The Government have no plans to appoint an ombudsman in this area. However, the idea of a tourism ombudsman scheme set up by the industry to resolve disputes between consumers and the travel industry is one which merits serious consideration and which might be a logical extension of the work of the Association of British Travel Agents. If the industry comes up with workable proposals, these would be welcomed by Government.

DEFENCE

Western Europe

12. Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has commissioned regarding the defence of western Europe with lower troop numbers than at present.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : At the defence planning committee on 28-29 November, NATO agreed a work programme to ensure that the Alliance's defence and arms control objectives remain mutually reinforcing in support of the goal of enhanced security for all Allies at the lowest possible level of forces. The United Kingdom will play a full part in this work.

Column 609

31. Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies regarding the defence of western Europe with lower troop numbers than at present.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend met his NATO colleagues at the defence planning committee meeting in Brussels on 28-29 November, where a wide range of issues, including progress in the talks on conventional forces in Europe, was discussed.

Trident

14. Mr. Franks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the progress of the Trident programme.

Mr. Alan Clark : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will announce a revised estimate of the cost of Trident shortly, and at the same time submit a report on the progress of the programme to the Defence Committee. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.

24. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has recently received about the Trident programme.

Mr. Alan Clark : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has received a number of letters from individuals and organisations recently about the Trident programme.

25. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further discussions he has had about the Trident system with members of the United States Administration in the last two months.

Mr. Alan Clark : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has met the United States Defence Secretary on one occasion in the last two months, during which a variety of matters of mutual interest were discussed. He has not met any other members of the United States Administration.

Conventional Forces

15. Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the defence implications of reductions in conventional forces in Europe.

38. Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the defence implications of reductions in conventional forces in Europe.

49. Mr. Allen Adams : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the defence implications of reductions in conventional forces in Europe.

62. Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the defence implications of reductions in conventional forces in Europe.

Mr. Tom King : The Government are committed to seeking an agreement on conventional forces in Europe which will eliminate existing imbalances and establish

Column 610

security and stability at a lower level of forces. At the same time, we shall maintain the commitment to mutual defence entailed by our membership of NATO.

Chemical Weapons

16. Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress of verification of chemical weapon stockpiles.

28. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress of verification of chemical weapon stockpiles.

60. Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress of verification of chemical weapon stockpiles.

68. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress of verification of chemical weapon stockpiles.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Useful progress was made last year at the conference on disarmament in Geneva on a number of complex issues including verification during the negotiations for a chemical weapons convention. However, much further work is required before a comprehensive and effectively verifiable chemical weapons convention can be achieved. The United States and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have recently concluded a bilateral agreement for the exchange of data on chemical weapons, which we hope will throw much-needed light on the size and nature of the Soviet chemical weapons stockpile.

Berlin

20. Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are proposals to alter the United Kingdom's defence involvement in Berlin.

23. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any proposals to alter the United Kingdom's defence involvement in Berlin.

87. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any proposals to alter the United Kingdom's defence involvement in Berlin.

88. Mr. Litherland : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any proposals to alter the United Kingdom's defence involvement in Berlin.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : British forces will continue to fulfil our responsibilities for the protection of Berlin in conjunction with those of other Allies.

Fylingdales

21. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the status of contractorisation of the Fylingdales early warning system.

48. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the status of contractorisation of the Fylingdales early warning system.

84. Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the status of contractorisation of the Fylingdales early warning system.

Column 611

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett).

Ambulance Service

26. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to date of the forces' operation of the ambulance service ; and if he will make a statement.

51. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to date of the forces' operation of the ambulance service ; and if he will make a statement.

73. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to date of the forces' operation of the ambulance service ; and if he will make a statement.

89. Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to date of the forces' operation of the ambulance service ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Up to 30 November 1989, the latest date for which figures are currently available, extra costs in the region of £0.85 million have been reported for recovery from the Department of Health, the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Welsh Office.

Nuclear Submarines

27. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the safe decommissioning of nuclear submarines.

72. Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the safe decommissioning of nuclear submarines.

75. Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the safe decommissioning of nuclear submarines.

Mr. Alan Clark : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall).

Aldermaston

29. Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the contractorisation of Aldermaston.

58. Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the contractorisation of Aldermaston.

59. Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the contractorisation of Aldermaston.

82. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the contractorisation of Aldermaston.

Mr. Neubert : Since the announcement on the future of AWE by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 5 December, approximately 37 representations have been received from hon. Members and members of the public.

Aldermaston (Police Investigations)

30. Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the MoD police investigations into malpractice at Aldermaston.

Column 612

79. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the MoD police investigations into malpractice at Aldermaston.

Mr. Neubert : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies).

Frigates

32. Mr. Ray Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the United Kingdom withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation frigate replacement for the nineties project.

55. Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the United Kingdom withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation frigate replacement for the nineties project.

Mr. Neubert : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Mr. Lofthouse).

Tain Bombing Range

33. Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his proposed noise impact survey in the vicinity of Tain bombing range, with particular reference to the geographic area over which indicative readings will be taken and the proposed time scale of the survey.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The aim of the noise survey is to establish whether any homes in the vicinity of Tain bombing range are subject to noise levels of 70dB(A) or more averaged over a continuous 12-hour period. This is the qualifying level for the payment of insulation grants under the Department's existing noise compensation policy applicable to military airfields.

In advance of the survey, it will be necessary to determine the major approach and departure routes together with the numbers and types of aircraft which use the range. This information will allow the production of a computer-predicted 70dB(A) noise contour which will form the basis of the monitoring exercise.

Measurement sites will be carefully selected, in consultation with the local district council, to check the position of the computer predictions and to ensure that a representative picture of the noise environment is obtained.

It is planned that the noise survey will take place during spring this year but, as evaluation of the noise data is likely to take some time, the results are unlikely to be available before 1991.

Soviet Overflying

34. Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will waive any prohibition on defence grounds of Soviet overflying of British military facilities providing the waiver is reciprocal in an open skies agreement.

36. Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will waive any prohibition on defence grounds of Soviet overflying of British military facilities providing the waiver is reciprocal in an open skies agreement.

Column 613

39. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will waive any prohibition on defence grounds of Soviet overflying of British military facilities providing the waiver is reciprocal in an open skies agreement.

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will waive any prohibition on defence grounds of Soviet overflying of British military facilities providing the waiver is reciprocal in an open skies agreement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The detailed implementation of an open skies regime has yet to be negotiated. However, our general intention is that limitations to overflight should be made only on grounds of flight safety.

United States Defence Secretary

35. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the United States Secretary for Defence ; and what matters were discussed.

Mr. Tom King : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Michie).

Volunteer Reserve Forces

37. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in recruiting volunteer reserves into the defence services following the launch of the volunteer reserve forces campaign.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks), and others, on 24 October 1989 at column 435.

Prisoners of War

40. Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received during the past six months concerning the claims for compensation by former United Kingdom prisoners of war held by the Japanese at Mukden, because of germ warfare experimentation undertaken on them ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : During the period July to December 1989 the only representations to the Secretary of State for Defence about compensation for British prisoners of war held at Mukden have been those made by the hon. Member himself, my right hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Sir B. Braine) and the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley).

Nuclear Test Veterans

41. Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about providing compensation for ex- service personnel who took part in the nuclear testing programme.

67. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about providing compensation for ex- service personnel who took part in the nuclear testing programme.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Howarth).

Column 614

British Forces (Germany)

42. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any proposals to change the level of British armed forces based in Germany.

69. Mr. David Young : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any proposals to change the level of British armed forces based in Germany.

77. Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any proposals to change the level of British armed forces based in Germany.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) on 21 December at column 382.

Out-of-Area Commitments

43. Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are engaged in duties related to the United Kingdom's out-of-area commitments.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : On 30 June 1989 some 17,500 service personnel were deployed outside the NATO area including those on exercise and in ships at sea. Numbers may fluctuate considerably according to circumstances.

War Widows (Pensions)

44. Mr. Graham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the level of war widows' pensions since the statement of 11 December 1989.

56. Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received further to his recent statement on war widows' pensions.

63. Mr. Boateng : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the level of war widows' pensions since the statement of 11 December.

64. Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the level of war widows' pensions since the statement of 11 December.

Mr. Tom King : I refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie).

Eastern Europe

45. Mr. Heffer : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of United Kingdom's forces of the changing situation in eastern Europe.

80. Mr. James Lamond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the level of United Kingdom forces of the changing situation in eastern Europe.

81. Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment of defence needs he is making in the light of political change in eastern Europe.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Broadgreen (Mr. Fields).

Column 615

Defence Commitments

46. Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate an independent review of the United Kingdom's defence commitments.

Mr. Tom King : I have no plans to do so.

US Spending (Europe)

47. Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart regarding reductions in United States military spending in Europe.

54. Mr. Wall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart regarding reductions in United States military spending in Europe.

83. Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart regarding reductions in United States military spending in Europe.

Mr. Tom King : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Michie).

Next Section

Home Page