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detailed collaborative programmes will be agreed in the course of this year. The precise extent of United Kingdom funding will then become clearer and will come from moneys voted for defence research.Greenham Common
15. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his latest plans for the future use of RAF Greenham common.
116. Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his latest plans for the future use of RAF Greenham common.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The remaining ground-launched cruise missiles are due to be withdrawn from RAF Greenham common by May 1991. After that date the station will remain available to the United States Air Force and revert to its former role as a standby operating base. In addition the station will continue to provide support to RAF Welford and under the terms of the INF treaty it will remain subject to short-notice inspection by the Soviet Union until the year 2001. It will also remain the designated point of entry to the United Kingdom for Soviet inspection teams wishing to visit either Greenham common or Molesworth.
Conventional Forces in Europe
16. Mr. John P. Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of an elimination of the imbalance of conventional forces in Europe for the procurement of theatre nuclear weapons.
93. Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of an elimination of the imbalance of conventional forces in Europe for the procurement of theatre nuclear weapons.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of an elimination of the imbalance of conventional forces in Europe for the procurement of theatre nuclear weapons.
Mr. Tom King : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen).
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European Fighter Aircraft
17. Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current position regarding Ferranti's interest in the contract for radar to be fitted to the European fighter aircraft.
32. Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the reasons for his Department's choice of the Ferranti radar system for the EFA project.
Mr. Alan Clark : At this stage I have nothing to add to the information I gave the House during the Adjournment debate on 23 January 1990, Hansard, col. 869-72.
26. Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the European fighter aircraft.
Mr. Alan Clark : I have nothing to add to what I told the hon. Member on 23 January, col. 869-72.
81. Mr. Alexander : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluation he has made of the need for the European fighter aircraft following the reduction of tension in Europe in the past year.
Mr. Alan Clark : While we welcome moves towards a reduction in tension in Europe, there will be a continuing need to ensure the future air defence of the United Kingdom and of British forces wherever they may be located. We expect EFA to play a key role in this.
Property Services Agency
18. Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the security of military installations of privatisation of the Property Services Agency.
52. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the security of military installations of privatisation of the Property Services Agency.
89. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the security of military installations of privatisation of the Property Services Agency.
101. Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has give to the future of defence security following the privatisation of the Property Services Agency ; and if he will make a statement.
119. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the security of military installations of privatisation of the Property Services Agency.
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the security of military installations of privatisation of the Property Services Agency.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The arrangements for the security of military installations will not be adversely affected by the privatisation of the Property Services Agency.
Ambulance Services
19. Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of the armed services covering civilian ambulance services.
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95. Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of the armed services covering civilian ambulance services.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Up to 31 December 1989 extra costs in the region of £1.9 million have been reported for recovery by the Ministry of Defence from the Department of Health, the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Welsh Office.
Flying Accidents
20. Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians have died as the result of Royal Air Force flying accidents in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years.
Mr. Neubert : One civilian has died as a result of Royal Air Force flying accidents in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years. The fatality occurred during a search and rescue mission.
Trident
21. Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his American counterpart to discuss the development of the Trident missile system.
Mr. Tom King : As I mentioned earlier in my answer to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett), I met the United States Defence Secretary in the course of my visit to the United States last week. I expect to meet him again during this year at NATO ministerial meetings.
79. Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) defective and (b) successful test firings there have been of the Trident D5 missile ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan Clark : In 1989 the United States navy completed a series of 19 land-based Trident II D5 development test firings, of which 16 were successful (one partial), one was destroyed in error by the test range authorities, and two were unsuccessful. The United States navy is currently undertaking a series of submarine-launched test firings of the Trident II D5 missile of which there have been six successful and two unsuccessful flights. The causes of all unsuccessful flights have been diagnosed and corrected.
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement on progress on the Trident programme.
56. Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress being made on the Trident programme.
Mr. Alan Clark : I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 31 January at columns 207-08, and to the detailed report on Trident which was placed in the Library of the House on the same day.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the cost of the Trident programme.
41. Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the cost of the Trident programme.
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65. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the cost of the Trident programme.
110. Mr. Heffer : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the cost of the Trident programme.
Mr. Alan Clark : I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 31 January at columns 207-08.
Defence Manufacturing
22. Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of employment in defence manufacturing industry he estimates there will be in the year 2000.
Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of employment in defence manufacturing industry he estimates there will be in the year 2000.
37. Mr. Fatchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he estimates there will be in the number of jobs in the defence manufacturing industries over the next five years ; and if he will make a statement.
76. Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of employment in defence manufacturing industry he estimates there will be in the year 2000.
92. Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of employment in defence manufacturing industry he estimates there will be in the year 2000.
Mr. Alan Clark : It is not for my Department to make general estimates of the future level of employment in private companies.
Nuclear Test Veterans
23. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart about compensation for nuclear test veterans.
38. Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart about compensation for nuclear test veterans.
58. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart about compensation for nuclear test veterans.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for the Armed Forces met a member of the Australian Federal Government last October to discuss a number of issues, including the question of compensation being sought for nuclear test veterans.
64. Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about compensation for nuclear test veterans.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about compensation for nuclear test veterans.
122. Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart about compensation for nuclear test veterans.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Government have had no discussions with the United States authorities on this issue.
Air Defence
24. Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department is making of Britain's future air defence needs.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The future air defence needs of the United Kingdom are kept under constant review.
Nuclear Weapons
25. Mr. Boateng : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to reduce the number of scientists employed in nuclear weapons development and construction.
78. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to reduce the number of scientists employed in nuclear weapons development and construction.
85. Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to reduce the number of scientists employed in nuclear weapons development and construction.
62. Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of total accumulated defence expenditure, actual and anticipated, on nuclear weapons, including associated research in the years 1988 to 1991.
70. Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of total accumulated defence expenditure, actual and anticipated, on nuclear weapons, including associated research in the years 1988 to 1991.
87. Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of total accumulated defence expenditure, actual and anticipated, on nuclear weapons, including associated research in the years 1988 to 1991.
Mr. Alan Clark : Estimated expenditure for 1987-88, 1988-89 and 1989 -90 on the strategic nuclear force is shown in table 2.3 of volume 2 of the 1989 Statement on the Defence Estimates. Estimated expenditure for 1990-91 will be published in the 1990 Statement on the Defence Estimates.
Expenditure Reductions
27. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has identified any possible savings in defence expenditure over the next five years.
34. Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has identified any possible savings in defence expenditure over the next five years.
45. Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has identified any possible savings in defence expenditure over the next five years.
102. Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has identified any possible savings in defence expenditure over the next five years.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : In the 1980s major improvements have been achieved in procurement practices, in the cost- effective use of manpower and in reducing other operating costs through measures to increase efficiency. Savings from these and further such measures will continue to increase the value we get from the defence budget. I refer the hon. Members to the essay on the new management strategy on pages 43-44 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989, vol. 1 (Cm. 675-1).50. Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence spending of the recently announced United States defence budget.
71. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence spending of the recently announced United States defence budget.
75. Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence spending of the recently announced United States defence budget.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The plans for United Kingdom defence expenditure in the years to 1992-93 reflect our assessment of the sums necessary to maintain our security and sustain our responsibilities within the NATO Alliance. The United States defence budget proposals now before Congress do not alter that assessment.
United States Secretary for Defence
28. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet the United States Secretary for Defence ; and what subjects he proposes to raise.
118. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet the United States Secretary for Defence ; and what matters he intends to discuss.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend had discussions with Secretary Cheney in Washington on 30 January on a range of matters of mutual interest. He expects to meet him again later this year at NATO ministerial meetings.
Racial Discrimination
29. Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken in response to the Commission for Racial Equality report on racial discrimination in the Army.
97. Mr. Caborn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken in response to the Commission for Racial Equality report on racial discrimination in the Army.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I am not aware of a report by the Commission for Racial Equality on racial discrimination in the Army. The hon. Members may have in mind the report commissioned by my Department into ethnic minority recruitment into the armed services--a report which we have recently made widely available. I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the
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Member for Stamford and Spalding (Mr. Davies) on 23 January which set out in detail the action we shall be taking on therecommendations in the report.
Defence Establishments (Security)
30. Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate an inquiry into security measures at defence establishments.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Security measures at our defence establishments are regularly reviewed.
Volunteer Reserves
31. Mr. Wood : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the volunteer reserves make to the United Kingdom defence capability.
115. Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the volunteer reserves make to the United Kingdom defence capability.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer my hon. Friends to the essay at page 28 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989, vol. 1, Cmnd. 675-1.
Disablement Pensions
33. Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to increase the levels of pension for the war disabled.
67. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to increase the levels of pension for the war disabled.
108. Dr. Moonie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to increase the levels of pension for the war disabled.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No. The levels of pensions for the war disabled are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.
United Nations Forces
Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part British service personnel play in United Nations international peacekeeping and monitoring activities.
99. Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part British service personnel play in United Nations international peacekeeping and monitoring activities.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw).
European Security
36. Mr. Burt : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the United Kingdom is making to confidence and security- building measures in Europe.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The United Kingdom is playing a full part, together with its allies, in the CSBM talks now under way in Vienna.
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Military Doctrines Seminar
39. Ms. Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the defence implications of the recent seminar on military doctrines involving NATO and Warsaw pact senior officers.
57. Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the defence implications of the recent seminar on military doctrines, involving NATO and Warsaw pact senior officers.
104. Mr. Buchan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the defence implications of the recent seminar on military doctrines, involving NATO and Warsaw pact senior officers.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the defence implications of the recent seminar on military doctrines involving NATO and Warsaw pact senior officers.
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