House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 Jun 1990

Mr. Neubert : I hope to make a statement as soon as possible on the outcome of the procurement executive airfields study. There will be full consultation with interested parties.

Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proposals have been put to him by United Parcel Services of the United States for the running of the airfield and facilities at Thurleigh ;

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(2) how many groups have approached him about the possible commercial use of the airfield at Thurleigh for freight movement.

Mr. Neubert : There have been a number of informal, preliminary inquiries about the possible commercial use of the airfield at Thurleigh. This has included an approach from United Parcels Service (UPS). Discussions are continuing. The details are a confidential matter between the parties concerned.

Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintaining and administering the airfield at Thurleigh.

Mr. Neubert : The annual cost of operating the airfield at RAE Bedford is approximately £2 million.

Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what time scale he proposes to privatise the wind tunnels and related facilities at Thurleigh.

Mr. Neubert : There are no plans at present to privatise the wind tunnels and related facilities at Thurleigh.

Military Aircraft (Flying Levels)

Sir John Farr : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum flying level for military aircraft in Britain and other countries in Europe.

Mr. Neubert : I refer my hon. Friend to the evidence on this subject which my Department presented during the recent Defence Committee inquiry into low flying and which is printed at page 168 of the Committee's fifth report for the Session 1989-90 (HC 120).

Territorial Army

Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish recruitment targets for the Territorial army on a regional basis for the next 10 years.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : We have no plans to set recruitment targets for the Territorial Army on a regional basis.

Air Force Training

Mr. Speller : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training role for air force students from Europe or overseas he plans for the period 1992 onward ; and what scope he envisages for RAF establishments to train non-service pilots.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The MOD has no present plans post-1992 to relinquish its long-standing role to train students from other NATO or friendly overseas air forces. I would envisage only limited scope, at most, for training of non-service pilots.

Defence Spending

Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for future reductions in defence spending outlays.

Mr. Tom King : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 24 May 1990 at column 373.

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Military Sites (Environmental Impact)

Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has any plans to establish an environmental impact report programme at military sites ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Neubert [holding answer 14 June 1990] : The MOD well recognises the potential for conflict between defence activities and the environment and the importance of monitoring our practice to ensure that adverse effects are avoided or minimised. Examples of such monitoring are environmental impact assessments, which are undertaken

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in the case of appropriate new projects, and the programme of noise surveys being undertaken at 40 military airfields.

Toxic Waste

Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to review the present safety of all seabed disposal areas used for (i) surplus explosives, (ii) surplus chemical and biological weapons and (iii) surplus radioactive materials arising from defence activities.

Mr. Neubert [holding answer 13 June 1990] : Ministry of Defence seabed locations were chosen to ensure the safe disposal of the materials concerned. There are no grounds for a further review at present.

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