House of Commons Hansard Debates for 30 Oct 1990

35. Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance cover has been arranged for British service men and women in the Gulf in the event of accidents.

80. Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance cover has been arranged for British service men and women in the Gulf in the event of accidents.

82. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what insurance cover has been arranged for British service men and women in the Gulf in the event of accidents.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : All service personnel are eligible for benefits under the armed forces pension scheme in the event of attributable injury. Decisions to take out personal accident or life insurance cover are the responsibility of individual service men and women. A number of policies tailored to their needs is available and these are given publicity in the services. Where additional premiums are charged because of defined service risks a large part of the extra cost may be reclaimed from the Ministry of Defence.

39. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of British forces in the Gulf to the end of the financial year.

Mr. Tom King : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes).

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54. Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further assessment he has made of the implications for the defence budget of current events in the Gulf ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The full operating costs of the deployment in the Gulf area arising out of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, if this were to continue to the end of the financial year, without hostilities, would be expected to exceed £600 million.

A class I winter supplementary estimate to be presented shortly will seek an increase in provision partly to take account of expenditure in the Gulf.

67. Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated daily expenditure on British forces in the Gulf.

81. Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated daily expenditure on British forces in the Gulf.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 17 October 1990 at column 855.

78. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution is being made towards the costs incurred by western forces currently in the Gulf by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Both countries are contributing financially to the multinational effort in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In addition, the Saudi Government are providing various forms of support for forces deployed in Saudi Arabia.

Defence Export Sales Organisation

16. Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of the Defence Exports Sales Organisation in relation to his Department.

Mr. Alan Clark : The Defence Export Services Organisation will continue its very successful work of assisting United Kingdom companies, both large and small, to market and sell their defence products and services overseas.

US Forces

17. Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the future level of United States forces in the United Kingdom.

29. Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the future level of United States forces in the United Kingdom.

36. Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the future level of United States forces in the United Kingdom.

53. Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the future level of United States forces in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : My Department is in close contact with the United States authorities over the future

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level of United States forces in the United Kingdom. At present six main operating bases and 61 other facilities have been made available to the United States forces in the United Kingdom. However, arrangements are currently in hand for RAF Kemble to be returned to MOD control in 1992 and RAF Sculthorpe and the Martlesham Heath communications site in 1995. Further changes in the level of United States forces in the United Kingdom have yet to be decided.

27. Mr. Haynes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the future level of United States forces in Europe.

33. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the future level of United States forces in Europe.

69. Mr. Cunliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the future level of United States forces in Europe.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : President Bush has reaffirmed that the United States remains committed to maintaining a significant military presence in Europe for as long as European allies wish it to do so. However, the United States Government are reviewing their force levels in Europe in the light of changing circumstances. Following consultation with allies, Secretary of Defence Cheney has announced a rationalisation of United States bases overseas and a reduction of 40,000 United States military personnel in Europe over the next 12 months. Further proposals for reducing United States force levels in Europe are under consideration, consistent with President Bush's proposal for a 25 per cent. overall reduction in United States active forces by 1995. The United States Government have made it clear that any further reductions will be preceded by consultations with allies.

Contractorisation, Aldermaston

18. Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for contractorisation at Aldermaston ; and with what implications for safety and security.

49. Mr. Doran : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for contractorisation at Aldermaston ; and with what implications for safety and security.

60. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for contractorisation at Aldermaston ; and with what implications for safety and security.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : An interim management contract has been awarded to Hunting-BRAE Ltd. The contract began on 1 October. Our intention is to proceed towards full contractorisation ; safety and security will continue to be of the highest priority.

56. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the introduction of contractorised management at atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced in this House on

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5 December 1989 that full contractor operation would be introduced at the atomic weapons establishment. As an interim step, before the introduction of the necessary legislation, a management contract has been awarded to Hunting-BRAE Ltd., a consortium led by Hunting Engineering Ltd. and including Brown and Root (UK) and AEA Technology, formerly the UK Atomic Energy Authority. The contract began on 1 October. Safety and security will continue to be of the highest priority.

Contract and Job Losses

19. Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about contract and job losses associated with his Department's future programme ; and what action he has taken upon these representations.

20. Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about contract and job losses associated with his Department's future programme ; and what action he has taken upon these representations.

Mr. Alan Clark : A number of representations has been received. These and any more formal discussions will be taken into account as further work on the future defence equipment programme continues.

74. Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about contract and job losses associated with his Department's future programme ; and what action he has taken upon these representations.

Strategic Arms Reductions

2. Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, when he last met the Secretary General of NATO, he discussed with him the question of strategic arms reduction.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : A wide range of topics was discussed at my right hon. Friend's last meeting with Dr. Woerner in May at the NATO defence planning committee.

55. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for his Department's forward planning of the forthcoming completion of the strategic arms reduction talks.

68. Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for his Department's forward planning of the forthcoming completion of the START talks.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Grant).

Trident

23. Mr. Ray Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he now expects the Trident production programme to be completed ; and what was his Department's original date for expecting completion.

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Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he now expects the Trident production programme to be completed ; and what was his Department's original date for expecting completion.

Mr. Alan Clark : Trident remains on programme to enter service as planned in the mid-1990s. There has been no slippage in the in-service date since the decision to proceed with Trident II was announced in March 1982.

Conventional Forces

24. Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department are engaged on work relating to the CFE talks.

37. Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department are engaged on work relating to the CFE talks.

42. Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department are engaged on work relating to the CFE talks.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to my answer of 26 July to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill), Official Report, columns 538-39, which gives details of the establishment of the Ministry of Defence's central policy branch for all arms control issues, the defence arms control unit. Staff from other areas are involved in the work as necessary.

83. Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the defence implications for the United Kingdom of the forthcoming completion of the CFE talks.

84. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the defence implications for the United Kingdom of the forthcoming completion of the CFE talks.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock).

Options for Change"

25. Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his timetable for the implementation of his "Options for Change" proposals.

38. Mr. Terry Fields : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further consideration has been given to "Options for Change".

43. Mr. Eastham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his timetable for the implementation of his "Options for Change" proposals.

58. Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further consideration has been given to "Options for Change".

66. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his timetable for the implementation of his "Options for Change" proposals.

76. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his timetable for the implementation of his "Options for Change" proposals.

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Mr. Archie Hamilton : As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State indicated during his statement to the House in July, the "Options" study identified ways in which our armed forces might be restructured by the mid- 1990s. There is a great deal of work still to be done in refining these proposals and the pace at which they will be implemented will be influenced by our consultations with NATO and allies, and by CFE.

Aircraft (Saudi Arabia)

30. Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will review the number of military aircraft being deployed in Saudi Arabia ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : All United Kingdom force levels in the Gulf are kept under review.

Greenham Common

31. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been removed from Greenham Common since the byelaws were declared invalid.

77. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been removed from Greenham Common since the byelaws were declared invalid.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short).

NATO

34. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he is planning to hold with his NATO colleagues regarding the alliance's area of operations.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Following the London declaration, a wide- ranging review of NATO strategy is in hand, and I expect to discuss the process with my colleagues in the defence planning committee meeting in December. Under article 4 of the North Atlantic treaty, alliance members consult together on threats to their territorial integrity, political independence or security, and this has been brought into play recently in respect of the Gulf situation.

Nuclear Radiation

40. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reassessment he has made of the effect of nuclear radiation upon service men and women, ex-service men and women, and others employed by or fulfilling a contract with his Department.

72. Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reassessment he has made of the effect of nuclear radiation upon service men and women, ex-service men and women, and others employed by or fulfilling a contract with his Department.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The MoD, along with the rest of the United Kingdom nuclear industry, relies on the estimates of radiation risk derived by the International Commission for Radiological Protection. This body is in process of completing a re-evaluation of levels of risk.

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Beryllium Oxide Gas

41. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to safety and security arrangements in plants in the United Kingdom which produce beryllium oxide gas in connection with his Department's weapons production programme.

79. Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to safety and security arrangements in plants in the United Kingdom which produce beryllium oxide gas in connection with his Department's weapons production programme.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : None. Beryllium oxide is an extremely stable material which is used commercially as a protective coating for metals exposed to very high temperatures. It is not used, however, in the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons programme.

Nuclear Non-proliferation

44. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with NATO colleagues about the fourth five-yearly review conference on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty held in Geneva from 20 August to 15 September.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The United Kingdom attaches great importance to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and non-proliferation issues are discussed regularly with our colleagues in NATO.

Local Government Finance

63. Mr. John Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the involvement of armed forces officers in enforcing collection of the poll tax from armed service personnel refusing to pay.

45. Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the involvement of armed forces officers in enforcing collection of the poll tax from armed services personnel refusing to pay.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

46. Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has or will set up a register of all sales of arms and defence equipment by private firms to foreign governments.

Mr. Alan Clark : No.

Israel

47. Dr. Michael Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his counterpart in Israel to discuss matters of mutual interest to Israel and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has not met his Israeli counterpart.

Low Flying

48. Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is planning to take measures to reduce noise pollution from low-flying aircraft.

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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Ministry of Defence is well aware of the disturbance caused by low-flying aircraft and the regulations governing the United Kingdom low-flying system are already designed to minimise the impact of noise by spreading low flying as widely as possible and by strict controls on the heights and speeds used. A series of studies related to aircraft noise is also currently in train as set out by my predecessor in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) earlier this year, Official Report, column 517-18.

65. Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the consequences for the volume of low-level flying in the United Kingdom of the recent decisions by Belgium and West Germany to ban low-level training.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The United Kingdom regrets the new restrictions placed on low flying in Germany and on low flying by non- Belgian aircraft in Belgium, but each country must make its own judgment of training needs based on its own particular circumstances. These restrictions will not lead to any increase in the total volume of low flying in the United Kingdom.

Atomic Weapons Establishment, Llanishen

50. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with (a) South Glamorgan county council public protection committee, (b) South Glamorgan health authority and (c) South Wales police regarding emergency planning and public health and safety at the atomic weapons establishment, Llanishen, Cardiff since the fire and explosion at Ust-Kamensgorsk, Kazakhstan, USSR.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : None. The recent reported incident in Kazakhstan is understood to have involved production processes in which beryllium metal is obtained from ores. Such processes are not carried out at AWE (Cardiff).

Devonport Dockyards

51. Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the existing arrangements governing the allocation of the core programme and commercial tendering work for Devonport dockyards ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The arrangements governing the commercial management of Devonport royal dockyard are kept under review both in regard to work which is allocated, known as the core programme, and that which is offered to the ship building and repair industry at large on a competitive basis for which DML is free to quote. The Government's declared aim when establishing the two contractorised dockyards was to place, by the end of the first term contract, a significant proportion of the annual workload with the unallocated programme. Subsequently the Government have had to take into account the much faster than anticipated reduction in the Royal Navy repair and refit programme and the need to make economic use of the resources available in the two dockyards. This year there have been significant changes in the planned programme at Devonport, both as a result of the announcement by my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, on

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31 July and the need to support operations in the Gulf. In consequence, it is intended, subject to the agreement of satisfactory terms, to place an early contract with DML for the refit of RFA Fort Austin, which was not previously in the Devonport core programme. In addition a substantial package of work on RFA Argus in support of Gulf operations should make a worth while contribution towards maintaining the company's workload.

United Kingdom Forces (Europe)

52. Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to discuss the role of United Kingdom forces in Europe.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : My right hon. Friend last met Dr. Woerner at the ministerial meeting of the defence planning committee in May. A range of defence issues was discussed.

Dartmoor National Park

57. Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he is making with regard to the renewal of licences from the Duchy of Cornwall for live firing in the Dartmoor national park ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : We are in regular contact with officers of the Duchy of Cornwall over the administration of the licence which governs our use of Duchy-owned land on Dartmoor for military training. The current licence does not expire until 29 September 1991, and discussions over its renewal have therefore only just begun.

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