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Europe
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the intentions of the Soviet Union to comply with the conventional forces in Europe treaty.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We and our NATO allies continue to press the Soviet Union to comply fully with the treaty. We do not accept the Soviet claim that treaty limited equipment resubordinated to naval command is excluded from the scope of the treaty. We are also seeking Soviet clarification of their intentions as regards the large numbers of equipment currently being stockpiled east of the Urals. This Soviet action, while not illegal under the treaty, is a cause for concern in that it creates a potentially threatening stockpile just outside the area of application.
Israel
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government still support United Nations resolution 242 ; what action he has taken in the past 24 months to enforce compliance with that resolution ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We continue actively to support UN Security Council resolution 242 as the basis for a comprehensive settlement of the Arab/Israel dispute.
Albania
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks have taken place with a view to restoring diplomatic relations with Albania.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : British and Albanian officials met in Rome on 5 and 6 November and in Geneva on 18 and
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19 December to discuss outstanding bilateral issues, including the possible restoration of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Albania.Iraq
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to provide food aid and medical support for the people of Sulaimanya, Arbil and Kirkuk in Iraq.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations agencies are making an assessment of requirements for humanitarian assistance throughout Iraq. We have already made a contribution of £2.5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its work in the Gulf area.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the use of chemical weapons against Iraqi minority groups and others within Iraq ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have no evidence that chemical weapons have been used in the current disturbances. We have made very plain to the Iraqis that we would view any use of such weapons very seriously indeed.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government on providing help to opposition forces in Iraq.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : It is not for us, but for the people of Iraq to choose the Government of their country, although we would have no regrets at the disappearance of Saddam Hussein's regime. We shall maintain our contacts with Iraqi opposition groups.
Israel
Mr. Ron Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received about the curfews imposed on the occupied territories by the Israelis ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : A number of human rights organisations and charities, honourable Members and the public have made
representations about the curfews imposed by the Israelis. We welcome the relaxation of the curfews since the end of the conflict.
Food Aid
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which EC budget the 350 million ecu of food aid for the Soviet Union, Bulgaria and Romania will be paid ; from which budget the United Kingdom's contribution will be paid ; and in what proportion.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The 250 mecu food aid for the USSR will be funded from savings in the 1990 agriculture budget. Of the 100 mecu assistance for Romania and Bulgaria, 70 mecu will be funded from savings in the 1990 agriculture budget and from the 1991 budget, 20 mecu for medical assistance from the Poland Hungary Aid for
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Reconstruction of the Economy budget and 10 mecu from savings being realised in the EC food aid budget because of low world food prices. The volume of food aid to developing countries will not be affected. The United Kingdom share of these amounts will form part of our contribution to Community own resources in line with all other EC budget expenditure.DEFENCE
Gulf Casualties
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy regarding the funding of any adaptations to injured armed forces personnel's homes and any specialist equipment needs they may have because of injuries received in the course of their duties.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Given the demands of service life, individuals are unlikely to remain in the armed forces if their injuries are such that they require specially adapted housing or specialist equipment. Those who are medically discharged because of injuries attributable to service are entitled to the benefits of the armed forces pension scheme and the war pension scheme. Local authorities have the main responsibility for providing any necessary financial assistance to adapt accommodation for disabled people including ex-service personnel who would also be eligible for assistance from the services' charitable organisations.
Hunting
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what services are provided to hunts that are issued licences to hunt on Ministry of Defence land.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The licences issued to hunt on Ministry of Defence land do not include the provision of any services.
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the procedure by which hunts may obtain a licence to hunt on Ministry of Defence land.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A hunt may obtain a licence to hunt on Ministry of Defence land by applying to the local defence land agent or the officer commanding the relevant establishment. If the application is approved, the defence land agent will discuss the terms of the licence with the hunt.
HMS Endurance
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the hydrographic output of HMS Endurance in the most recent year for which figures are available ; and what other source of Antarctic expertise is available to the Hydrographic Office.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : During the 1989-90 deployment to Antarctica and the south Atlantic, HMS Endurance completed the following hydrographic surveys :
a. Gull harbour (Falkland Islands),
b. Husvik harbour (South Georgia),
c. Neumayer channel to Butler passage (Antarctic peninsula), and
d. Antarctic sound northern part (Antarctic peninsula).
In addition, her helicopters carried out 24 aerial photographic sorties in South Georgia, South Orkney, the Antarctic sound, James Ross island and Anvers island.
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Some other national hydrographic offices, notably Argentina, the United States of America, the USSR, Chile, Brazil and Spain, carry out occasional hydrographic surveys in the vicinity of the Antarctic peninsula, and the results are received in the form of published nautical charts. Other information such as passage depth soundings and aerial photography is obtained from the British antarctic survey.Antarctic
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military presence is maintained in the Antarctic ; and what military presence is maintained by other Antarctic treaty signatory states.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : HMS Endurance deploys to Antarctica each austral summer. Three United Kingdom service personnel also assist the British Antarctic Survey with the servicing of aircraft.
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current peacetime role of HMS Endurance ; what other naval vessels have been identified which could fulfil that role ; and what information he has on the extent to which her capabilities are replicated by the new British Antarctic Survey vessel James Clark Ross.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 6 March 1991, at column 224 , on the duties carried out by HMS Endurance. Consideration is currently being given to the requirement for a replacement vessel, but no decision has yet been taken. Full account will be taken of the capabilities of vessels operated by the British Antarctic Survey.
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the meteorological output of HMS Endurance in the most recent year for which figures are available ; and what other source of Antarctic expertise is available to the Meteorological Office.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Whilst maintaining a presence in the British Antarctic Territory, HMS Endurance makes contributions to climate data records maintained by the Meteorological Office. During the 1989-90 season, HMS Endurance was in or near Antarctic waters for 100 days, during which time 350 sets of observations were logged and later sent to the Meteorological Office.
Weather observations are also made in the Antarctic by a network of stations operated by international agencies, including the British Antarctic Survey. Real time data from these stations are sent to the Meteorological Office through the World Meteorological Organisation's global telecommunications network. Combined with climatological data, this information is used in weather forecasting and climate prediction work.
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the costs of HMS Endurance are allowed for in his Department's latest long-term costings.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is not our practice to give details of the contents of long-term costings.
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the annual running costs of HMS Endurance, in manpower and other terms ; what is the current (a) service and (b) civilian complement ; and what costs are borne on his Department's vote.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : The approximate annual running costs of HMS Endurance are £2.4 million, excluding maintenance and refit. The current complement is 142, all of whom are service personnel. The entire cost of running HMS Endurance is met by the Ministry of Defence.Procurement Executive
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet reached a decision on the future of the three airfields owned by the Procurement Executive ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.
Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve
The Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether "Options for Change" will include the role of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve and an assessment of the impact on traditional recruitment patterns.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The future, size, role and structure of the Territorial Army are being examined under "Options for Change". However, the Territorial Army will continue to play an essential part in national defence and we do not envisage any changes to the basis of existing recruitment patterns.
The Gulf
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service women deployed in the Gulf have applied for maternity leave.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No service women applied for maternity leave while deployed in the Gulf. However, two service women in the Army were returned from the Gulf when they were found to be pregnant. One is now on maternity leave.
WE177
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, when making the decision over a WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb replacement, he intends to also consider a WE177 nuclear depth bomb replacement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I can confirm that our future requirement for nuclear depth bombs is under consideration, but no decisions are expected to be taken in the near future.
HMS Renown
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is intended to decommission HMS Renown in the next 12 months.
Shackleton Crash (South Harris)
Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the report into loss of life in the RAF Shackleton crash on South Harris in 1990 ; and whether
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the full review of operating practices to be implemented with additional staff inspections will be carried out in all heavy aircraft squadrons.Mr. Archie Hamilton : All the recommendations in the board of inquiry's report have been implemented, including the full review of the Shackleton squadron's operating practices. Similar reviews have not been carried out in other RAF squadrons, but lessons learnt from the Shackleton accident and review are being applied more widely across the RAF, where appropriate.
Signals Unit, Woolwich
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current demand for the services carried out by the special signals unit at RAF Woolwich Arsenal.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The work of SSU Woolwich continues to constitute an important part of the tasks carried out by the RAF Signals organisation.
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are currently employed at the special signals unit at RAF Woolwich Arsenal.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : SSU Woolwich currently employs some 180 industrial and non-industrial civilian staff.
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce a decision about the future of the special signals unit at RAF Woolwich Arsenal.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Northern Region
Mr. Trotter : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list his Department's support for companies in the Northern region for (a) exports and (b) preparations for the single European market, since 1987.
Mr. Leigh : Under the enterprise initiative, my Department provides a wide range of assistance to companies. In conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we are able to offer exporters access to market information facilities and a range of services designed to meet precisely the requirements of business. Our single market campaign has resulted in over 95 per cent. of businesses being aware of the implications of the single market and up-to-date advice and information is freely available to companies who wish to find out more about specific measures. Through the consultancy initiative, assistance may be available to companies that wish to use consultants to help prepare certain strategic areas of their business for the opportunities offered by exporting and the single market. The schemes operate throughout the United Kingdom, and separate figures are not readily available for take-up in the northern region.
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Energy Efficiency
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which of his Ministers has been given responsibility for energy use by his Department ; and what is his brief regarding energy efficiency.
Mr. Leigh : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has himself assumed responsibility for the Department's overall role in following up last year's Environment White paper, "This Common Inheritance". My noble Friend the Minister for Industry has responsibility for the promotion to business of the importance for competitiveness of environmental factors, including attention to energy efficiency and for energy management in the Department. On the latter, his brief is to achieve a saving of 15 per cent. in the Department's energy bill over the next five years.
Oil Spill Recovery Equipment
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has carried out any assessment of the total world market for oil spill recovery equipment and technology and of where the United Kingdom ranks in that market.
Mr. Leigh : No such study has been undertaken by my Department. However, one of my Department's executive agencies, Warren Spring laboratory, offers advice and expertise on oil spill clean up to the public and the private
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sectors. As far as specific opportunities are concerned, I see it as primarily for companies in this sector to assess these themselves and respond accordingly. Clearly, in the present situation the opportunities are significant.Manufactured Goods
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give for each year since 1979 (a) the United Kingdom share of world trade in manufactured goods and (b) United Kingdom companies' share of domestic consumption in manufactured goods.
Mr. Sainsbury : The United Kingdom's share of main manufacturing countries' exports of manufactured goods is published by the Central Statistical Office in table E1 of "The Monthly Review of External Statistics".
Information on non-United Kingdom based companies' share of domestic consumption in manufactured goods up to 1987 is published in table 12.2 of the CSO's "Annual Abstract of Statistics". Data for more recent periods are available in table 15.10 of the CSO's "Monthly Digest of Statistics". Figures for 1989 and 1990 are not available because of lack of data on principal product sales, but estimates based on available data suggest United Kingdom-based companies' share of consumption of manufactured goods is 62 to 63 per cent. in 1989 and 1990.
All publications referred to in this answer are held in the Library of the House.
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