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Mr. Curry : We do not keep records of the numbers of nets lost at sea. Our scientific advice is that floating nets lost soon sink and--like bottom-set nets which are lost--quickly become entangled on the sea bed. We have no evidence that such nets have any implications for the incidental capture of cetaceans or thus for their populations.
Oil Spills
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those vessels that carry or can be converted to carry oil spill dispersant which his Department operates.
Mr. Curry : Nine vessels of the Royal Navy fishery protection squadron, which carry out fishery protection duties for my Department, are equipped to spray oil dispersant. MAFF's two research vessels are not so equipped, but could transport drummed dispersant.
Knacker Industry
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the proposals he has put to the EEC on the knacker industry ;
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(2) what is the Government's policy on the knacker industry ; (3) what representations he has had from the United Kingdom's knackermen.Mr. Maclean : Commission proposals for the disposal of animal waste including dead and casualty stock have recently been presented to Council. They could have serious implications for the means by which casualty animals are disposed of in the United Kingdom. I will be seeking a solution which adequately reflects both the needs of the industries concerned and the requirements of animal and public health. Organisations representing the industry have been consulted on the proposals and are being kept fully informed of developments.
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Soft Fruit
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total tonnage of soft fruit imports by country to (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland in each of the past five years.
Mr. Curry : The total tonnage of soft fruit imports (mainly strawberries, raspberries and blackcurrants, both fresh and semi-processed) by country, for the United Kingdom in each of the past five years for which complete figures are available is listed in the table. No separate figures are available for Scotland.
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Country |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- France |712 |739 |1,370 |1,787 |1,553 Belgium/Luxembourg |492 |474 |999 |623 |1,310 Netherlands |7,365 |6,944 |8,172 |7,873 |10,051 Federal Republic of Germany |282 |148 |123 |238 |1,047 Italy |1,721 |1,890 |769 |760 |773 Ireland |1,347 |1,649 |1,554 |1,225 |2,169 Denmark |38 |188 |38 |40 |102 Greece |- |- |- |- |105 Switzerland |- |- |- |- |42 Portugal |163 |140 |288 |547 |283 Spain |5,862 |7,701 |9,838 |11,393 |9,481 Yugoslavia |822 |1,088 |1,236 |945 |1,098 Turkey |158 |350 |869 |1,161 |1,289 Poland |2,703 |3,858 |5,087 |6,851 |5,907 Czechoslovakia |0 |40 |39 |105 |92 Hungary |188 |83 |175 |547 |682 Romania |0 |0 |87 |95 |157 Bulgaria |0 |78 |183 |73 |95 Egypt |0 |1 |0 |17 |15 Kenya |66 |107 |200 |201 |435 Uganda |- |- |- |- |1 Zambia |49 |109 |102 |21 |7 South Africa |40 |84 |39 |48 |26 United States of America |216 |180 |324 |505 |715 Canada |- |- |- |- |5 Mexico |90 |21 |21 |65 |21 Guatemala |- |- |10 |- |5 Costa Rica |- |- |1 |1 |27 Colombia |- |- |1 |1 |4 Ecuador |7 |36 |29 |0 |13 Chile |19 |43 |40 |52 |492 Uruguay |- |- |- |- |1 Israel |492 |331 |147 |150 |168 United Arab Emirates |- |- |- |- |22 Sri Lanka |- |- |- |- |1 Australia |4 |0 |28 |79 |34 New Zealand |102 |208 |72 |84 |194 Source: Eurostat.
Fishermen
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what schemes exist under which fishermen who have lost employment following agreements with other countries on fishing grounds may be compensated.
Food Irradiation
Mr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to investigate further the national consequences and toxicological effects of irradiation on food prior to its introduction ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Gummer : No. International expert committees and our own advisory committee on irradiated and novel foods (ACINF) have advised that the irradiation of food up to an overall average dose of 10 kilograys presents no toxicological hazard and introduces no special nutritional problems. This view was reaffirmed by the ACINF in its further advice to Ministers given after considering technical representations made during consultation. However, the ACINF recommended that the consumption and nutrient content of irradiated food should be monitored. We have already made it clear that we intend to implement this recommendation.
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Meat Exports
Mr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries refuse to accept (a) imported beef or (b) imported cattle, respectively, from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 12 January 1990] : The information requested is as follows :
(a Japan (because of import regulations concerning foot and mouth disease) and Papua New Guinea (only fresh meat originating from Australia or New Zealand may be imported).
(b All EC Member States in relation to cattle born before 18 July 1988, Australia, Finland, Israel, New Zealand, Sweden and the United State of America (because of concerns about Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). In addition, Germany has imposed restrictive certification requirements on trade in beef from the United Kingdom which I do not believe are justified by Community rules.
Simplesse
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the low-calorie fat product Simplesse was not subject to clearance by either the committee on toxicity or the advisory committee on novel foods and processes.
Mr. Freeman : I have been asked to reply.
Simplesse is made from traditional food ingredients (egg and milk proteins) and as such is subject to the controls of the Food Acts. It was considered by the advisory committee on novel foods and processes at its meeting on 23 September 1989. The committee concluded that the product did not constitute a novel food since neither the raw materials nor the production process are novel. It was considered that the potential use of the product may have nutritional implications and these remain under consideration.
DEFENCE
Low Flying
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of the United States Air Force in Europe document entitled "USAF Tactical Fighter Low-level Flying Training in the Federal Republic of Germany Data Book" of December 1988 his Department has obtained ; what was their distribution ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neubert : Sufficient copies of this document are available to my Department and have been widely distributed. The contents of the document are a matter for the United States authorities.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low -flying sorties have been carried out
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by (a) the Royal Air Force and (b) other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air forces over the Don Valley constituency for the last year for which he has figures.Mr. Neubert : Records are not kept of the number of military low- flying sorties carried out over individual constituencies.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) for Royal Air Force aircrew and (b) other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air forces' aircrew, the chances of survival factors, when flying (i) under 100 ft, (ii) between 100 ft and 200 ft and (iii) over200 ft.
Mr. Neubert : While studies into the survivability of Royal Air Force aircraft in combat have been carried out by the Ministry of Defence, the results are classified. However, it is generally accepted throughout the NATO air forces that as height decreases, survivability against hostile defence forces increases ; and that survivability at very low levels is a balance between the risk from hostile defence forces and the risks arising from proximity to the ground and obstacles and that the latter risks can be reduced by adequate and realistic training to the extent possible in peacetime.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by type and mark the current jet aircraft used by the Royal Air Force in low-flying sorties.
Mr. Neubert : The strike-attack, offensive support and reconnaissance aircraft of the Royal Air Force listed in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989 Cmd. 675-I (page 59) have a primary low-level role. Other Royal Air Force jet aircraft may also need to carry out a proportion of their training at low level in peacetime.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year since 1984 (a) the percentage of low flying, (b) the percentage of sorties and (c) the average flying duration time, carried out by (i) Buccaneer, (ii) Jaguar, (iii) Tornado and (iv) Harrier aircraft, used by the Royal Air Force.
Mr. Neubert : The information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year since 1984 the number of confirmed cases of (a) unlawful low flying and (b) flying to cause annoyance by pilots of military jet aircraft ; and what action was taken in each case.
Mr. Neubert : There have been two cases since 1984, both in the Royal Air Force, of unlawful low flying and flying to cause annoyance by pilots of military jet aircraft. Both cases were dealt with by court martial ; the details are given in the following table :
|Year |Number |Section of |Charge
|of cases |Air Force Act
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |1 |51 |Unlawful low flying |£300 fine and severe reprimand
|52 |Flying in a manner likely to cause unnecessary annoyance
1989 |1 |51 |Unlawful low flying |Forfeitence of 18 months seniority and
|52 |Flying in a manner likely to cause unnecessary annoyance| severe reprimand
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Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the strategic requirements for Royal Air Force low-flying sorties during (a) daytime flying and (b) night-time flying ; and what restrictions are imposed.
Mr. Neubert : I refer the hon. Member to the background information on low flying training provided in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988 Cmd. 675-I (page 30).
Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of low-flying missions over Northumberland for each of the last five years for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neubert : Records are not kept of the number of military low- flying sorties carried out over individual counties.
Hunting
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by locations the actual sites where his Department's land is used for hunting with hounds.
Mr. Neubert : I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to him on 27 October 1989 (column 653 ). Records of actual sites where Ministry of Defence land has been used for hunting with hounds are not held centrally. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
RAF Display Teams
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the programmes for the (a) Red Arrows display team and (b) other Royal Air Force display teams and aircraft during 1990.
Mr. Neubert : My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member as soon as the finally agreed list is available.
Skyguard
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the service branch and units which are, and which will be, operating the Skyguard monitoring equipment.
Mr. Neubert : When the Skyguard fire control radar system is used in the low-flying monitoring role, it is operated by 2729 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment in conjunction with the RAF police. There are no plans to change these arrangements.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the results of the Skyguard monitoring of low-flying military jet aircraft ; what follow-up action will be taken ; and how often these reports will be published.
Mr. Neubert : No. It is not the intention to publish detailed reports on individual Skyguard deployments, on which may depend disciplinary action. Each deployment will, however, be followed up and appropriate disciplinary or other action taken where appropriate. Three deployments of the Skyguard radar system in the
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low-flying monitoring role took place in 1989, all in conjunction with the Royal Air Force police. These deployments were at : Knaresborough--27 to 29 June 1989Penrith--1 to 3 August 1989
Alnwick--3 to 5 October 1989
While further analysis of the results is continuing, no evidence was found during those deployments of any deliberate or flagrant breaches of the United Kingdom low-flying regulations and they confirmed that aircrew have a healthy respect for the regulations. Information on further deployments will be made available to the House from time to time.
Airfields
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list, by location, the number of joint military/civil airfields there are in the United Kingdom ;
(2) if he will list, by location, the number of joint military/civil airfields in the United Kingdom that are proposed or under consideration during the next five years ;
(3) if he will make a statement, in the light of the 1992 European single market, on expanding the use of joint military and civil airfields in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Neubert : The operation of joint military/civil airfields is not possible under United Kingdom aviation regulations. However, some use of civil airfields is made by military aircraft, and civil aircraft can use military airfields, in some cases on a regular basis, subject to such flights being compatible with operational considerations. A number of proposals for additional civil use of military airfields are under consideration at present, but it is unlikely that the single European market will have a significant effect upon this activity.
Combat Body Armour
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to in what circumstances combat body armour will be issued to service personnel.
Mr. Neubert : Combat body armour will be issued to service men as an item of personal equipment as supplies become available.
WE177 Free-fall Bombs
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the life expectancy of the United Kingdom's WE177 free-fall bombs, before they become unserviceable.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The WE177 is subject to regular inspection, maintenance and refurbishment. It will remain in service for as long as it meets requirements for safety and serviceability.
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of warhead development costs it is estimated would be spent in (a) the United States of America, and (b) the United Kingdom, for (i) the Trident warhead and (ii) the warhead for a tactical air-to-surface missile to replace the WE177 free-fall bomb.
Mr. Alan Clark : It has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal details of this nature. For a
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broad indication on Trident, I refer the hon. Member to the fifth report of the Defence Committee (Session 1988-89, pages 38 and 39). On a replacement for the free-fall bomb, no decision has yet been taken.RAF Finningley
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any plans to change the current restrictions on the weight of civil aircraft using RAF Finningley.
Mr. Neubert : There are no specific weight restrictions on civil aircraft wishing to use RAF Finningley, providing they come within the pavement load classification group of the runway and aircraft manoeuvring areas. The strength of these surfaces permits the operation of most types of modern aircraft.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any plans to change the flight paths of (a) military and (b) civil aircraft (i) taking off or (ii) landing at RAF Finningley.
Nuclear Warheads
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to assess the security of long-term supply of special nuclear materials for his nuclear warhead production programme.
Mr. Alan Clark : Arrangements for the supply of all special nuclear materials are kept under regular review to ensure that the requirements of defence nuclear programmes are fully met.
Mid-air Collision (Hexham)
Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will ensure that the findings of the board of inquiry into the mid-air collision near Hexham on 9 January will be made public ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if, in the light of the mid-air collision near Hexham, on 9 January, he will undertake a review of the training of air crews ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) if, in the light of the mid-air collision near Hexham, on 9 January, he will undertake a review of the effectiveness of RAF co-ordination and information of low-flying exercises over each area at any particular time ; and if he will make a statement ; (4) if, in the light of the mid-air collision near Hexham, on 9 January, he will ensure that every aircraft involved in a low-flying mission contains a device to monitor the height of the aircraft throughout the exercise, and that this is recorded for subsequent inspection ; and if he will make a statement ;
(5) when he expects the board of inquiry to report its findings on the mid- air collision near Hexham on 9 January ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Neubert : The board of inquiry into the mid-air collision near Hexham on 9 January 1990 will make its report as soon as it has completed its investigations. A summary of the board's findings will be published in the usual way. We shall take whatever action we consider necessary in the light of the board's report to minimise the risk of such an accident recurring.
Birth Defects
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he has on the rate of birth defects among the children of (a) personnel who have served on board Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines and (b) personnel who have worked for the Atomic Weapons Establishment ;
(2) what is the total number of children of service men who have served on board Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr. Neubert : The information is not available in the form requested.
Atomic Weapons Research Establishments
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state what the current shortfall of staff is at the atomic weapons research establishments at Burghfield, Cardiff and Foulness among (a) administrative, executive, and clerical staff, (b) specialist staff, (c) craft industrials and (d) non-craft industrials.
Mr. Neubert : The current staff shortfalls at the AWE sites at Burghfield, Cardiff and Foulness broken down by category are as follows :
|Burghfield|Cardiff |Foulness
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative, Executive
and Clerical Grades |10 |10 |1
Specialist Staff |- |2 |30
Craft Industrials |34 |- |14
Non Craft Industrials |8 |- |13
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial criteria will be used to monitor the performance of the management contractors to be appointed at the atomic weapons research establishments.
Mr. Neubert : These details have yet to be decided.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the shortfalls of staff were at each of the four atomic weapons research establishments at the end of each year since 1980 for (a) administrative, executive and clerical staff, (b) specialist staff, (c) craft industrials and (d) non-craft industrials.
Mr. Neubert : The information is as follows :
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|Aldermaston|Burghfield |Cardiff |Foulness
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 January 1988
Administrative, executive and clerical |100 |12 |5 |1
Specialist |54 |- |2 |21
Craft industrials |29 |26 |- |5
Non-craft industrials |- |35 |- |-
1 January 1989
Administrative, executive and clerical |103 |14 |6 |1
Specialist |155 |5 |1 |21
Craft industrials |53 |33 |- |11
Non-craft industrials |52 |18 |- |6
1 January 1990
Administrative, executive and clerical |36 |10 |10 |1
Specialist |135 |- |2 |30
Craft industrials |72 |34 |- |14
Non-craft industrials |60 |8 |- |13
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which firms have expressed an interest in bidding for the initial management contract at the atomic weapons research establishments.
Mr. Neubert : To date, expressions of interest in the initial management contract at atomic weapons establishments have been received from British Aerospace (Dynamics) ; British Nuclear Fuels ; Brown & Root ; Vickers ; GEC ; Hunting Engineering and Rolls-Royce.
Trident
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the atomic weapons research establishment, Aldermaston, has the capacity to undertake production of warheads for the Trident programme and for the tactical air-to-surface missile replacement for the WE177 free-fall bomb simultaneously.
Mr. Alan Clark : No decisions have yet been taken on a replacement for the existing free-fall nuclear bomb. It would not be in the national interest to discuss in detail the production capacity of the atomic weapons establishment.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Confederation of British Industry
16. Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry.
Mr. Ridley : I look forward to a continuation of constructive dialogue with the president of the CBI on matters relevant to the well- being of British industry.
Information Technology
17. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what training his Department offers to its staff in the applications of information technology.
42. Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what training his Department offers to its staff in the applications of information technology.
Mr. Forth : A great deal of training on and about IT is available for all departmental staff. This includes general awareness, specific application skills, specialist and technical training, all of which is reinforced and supplemented by "at the desk" tuition.
64. Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the United Kingdom's current balance of trade in information technology.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : According to provisional figures published by the Central Statistical Office, the United Kingdom has a crude trade deficit (i) in electronics and information technology manufactured goods (ii) of £3.0 billion for the year to June 1989.
Notes :
(i) Exports (fob) less Imports (cif)
(ii) Principal Products of Activity Headings 3301, 3302, 3441, 3442, 3443, 3444, 3453 and 3454 of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1980).
61. Mr. Eastham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he proposes to support future academic research and development in information technology.
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