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Management Consultants (Fees)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total sum paid out in fees by his Department to management consultants in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his estimate for 1990-91 and budget for 1991-92.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Fees paid to management consultants engaged centrally by the Ministry of Defence for the years 1984-85 to 1990-91 are as follows :
FY |£ million ------------------------------ 1984-85 |0.604 1985-86 |1.787 1986-87 |6.203 1987-88 |5.140 1988-89 |3.109 1989-90 |5.292 1990-91 |3.935 1991-92 |<1>3.912 <1> Budget provision.
Figures for earlier years cannot be produced without disproportionate effort.
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Defence Equipment Exhibition
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries who are attending the defence component and equipment exhibition at the national exhibition centre, from 14 to 16 May.
Mr. Alan Clark : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 13 March at column 575.
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the officials of his Department who will be attending the defence component and equipment exhibition at the national exhibition centre, Birmingham, from 14 to 16 May.
Mr. Alan Clark : Various officials will attend as part of their normal duties.
The Gulf
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the water allowance received by troops during the recent conflict in the Gulf has now been withdrawn from troops serving in that area ; why certain categories of accommodation have also been withdrawn ; whether other facilities provided during the conflict are under consideration for withdrawal ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : It is normal practice for the provision of accommodation, allowances and facilities for service personnel to be subject to modification in the light of changed circumstances. The water allowance in the Gulf has not been withdrawn.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why reservists called up during the Gulf war received a smaller number of days leave than regular soldiers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Regular soldiers returning from the Gulf were granted 28 days' leave against their normal annual leave entitlement.
No reservist served for more than four months in the Army, and 21 days' leave was considered very fair.
Bloodhound Missile
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to start the development of a replacement for the Bloodhound missile.
Mr Alan Clark : It is currently intended to invite international industry to tender against a cardinal points specification for a future medium surface-to-air missile system.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place with NATO authorities regarding a possible replacement for the Bloodhound missile.
Mr. Alan Clark : We have consulted NATO authorities and our NATO allies on a number of occasions.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff have been involved in the study of a possible replacement for the Bloodhound missile.
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Mr. Alan Clark : This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what feasibility studies into a replacement for the Bloodhound missile have taken place.
Mr. Alan Clark : The United Kingdom has undertaken its own national medium surface-to-air missile system feasibility study and has also participated in an Independent European Programme Group study.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure has been incurred to date on the study of a possible replacement for the Bloodhound missile.
Mr. Alan Clark : The MOD incurred commitments of £1.5 million on extramural support for the national and international MSAM studies. Details of intramural expenditure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications have taken place with industry regarding a possible replacement for the Bloodhound missile.
Mr. Alan Clark : Industry was involved in the national and international MSAM system studies. It has also been consulted about our plans to issue an invitation to tender. In December 1990 an announcement was made in the MOD's contracts bulletin to coincide with the distribution to industry of a draft of the cardinal points specification for comment.
Defence Research Agency
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimates have been made of the possible reductions in employment at the Defence Research Agency resulting from the "Options for Change" study ;
(2) what arrangements have been made for the Defence Research Agency to carry out non-military work.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : This is a matter for the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the DRA, Mr. Nigel Hughes, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Service Personnel (Housing)
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his anwswer of 24 April, which local authorities he has consulted in the course of his examination of the housing needs of service personnel.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Until decisions on the future size and shape of the armed forces have been taken, it would be premature to discuss housing requirements with individual local authorities.
United Kingdom-Soviet Military Meetings
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 April, if he will list the bilateral and multilateral fora at which United Kingdom and Soviet service personnel meet.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The multilateral fora in which United Kingdom and Soviet service personnel meet
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include : meetings under CSCE auspices ; the CFE negotiations in Vienna ; the conference on disarmament ; and visits to NATO at Evere. Occasions for bilateral meetings include : visits and exchanges ; annual discussions on the prevention of incidents at sea agreement ; contacts between United Kingdom attache s in Moscow and the Soviet Ministry of Defence and between Soviet attache s in London and my Department ; and contacts in third countries between United Kingdom service attache s and their Soviet counterparts.Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions have taken place with local authorities regarding the possible sale of land or property at the royal aircraft establishment at Farnborough ;
(2) what plans exist to dispose of land or property at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We announced in September 1990 our preliminary view that research and experimental flying, currently undertaken at Bedford, Boscombe Down and Farnborough, should be collocated at Boscombe Down. Since then, we have been in close consultation with a range of interested parties, including the local authorities. We are currently considering the results of these consultations and hope to make an announcement shortly. We have also announced recently a number of separate studies into a range of sites--including Farnborough--which go to make up the newly formed Defence Research Agency. These studies are at an early stage and decisions on them will not be taken for some time. A substantial presence will be retained on the Farnborough site.
Operation Haven
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what RAF resources are currently being used in Operation Haven.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There are three Hercules C-130 transport aircraft and 12 Chinook helicopters from the Royal Air Force based in Turkey undertaking relief operations.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of current RAF flights from the United Kingdom to Turkey is being used for the support of military operations ; and what proportion is being used for the transport of civilian relief supplies.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Initially, there were six flights carrying relief supplies to Turkey by RAF aircraft prior to the Overseas Development Administration chartering its own aircraft. Currently, all RAF flights between the United Kingdom and Turkey are in support of the deployment of 3 Commando Brigade and other units undertaking duties on Operation Haven. Civilian relief supplies from the United Kingdom to Turkey are currently packed at RAF Lyneham and are being delivered from Heathrow by a Boeing 707 chartered by the ODA.
Defence Technology Enterprises Ltd.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current staffing establishment of Defence Technology Enterprises Ltd. ; and what it has been in each year since the establishment of the company.
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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The staffing of Defence Technology Enterprises Ltd. is a matter for the company.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to changing the role or size of Defence Technology Enterprises Ltd.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The size and commercial strategy of DTE Ltd. are matters for the company. The MOD continues to have a formal relationship with DTE which is being reassessed to reflect the creation of the Defence Research Agency.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many licences or signed options to use Ministry of Defence technology have been arranged by Defence Technology Enterprises Ltd. in each year since its establishment.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The number of licences and signed options granted by DTE Ltd. is primarily a matter for the company. Cumulative totals were, however, quoted in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987 to 1989 inclusive.
RAF Reserve
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what encouragement is given to pilots who leave the RAF to participate in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the RAF Volunteer Reserve.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : All officers who leave the RAF are provided with resettlement literature which includes full details on both the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the RAF Volunteer Reserve ; those who show an interest are encouraged to contact their nearest Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron or RAF Volunteer Reserve flight.
Germany (Environmental Improvements)
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 April, what commitments have been entered into with the German authorities relating to environmental improvements.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We have a general commitment to respect host nation legislation in accordance with the NATO status of forces agreement. The supplementary agreement to the SOFA also provides for such matters as the avoidance of unnecessary exercise damage, the application of German regulations for construction, use of installations for defence purposes and public safety. We are constantly aware of the German authorities' concerns and have issued an environmental protection directive and taken other measures to prevent or minimise environmental damages.
NATO Rapid Reaction Force
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place with his NATO counterparts regarding possible command arrangements for a NATO rapid reaction force.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Proposals for changes in alliance forces, including the creation of a rapid reaction corps, are under discussion in NATO. No decisions have yet been taken.
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Nuclear Weapons
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any new safety features on British nuclear weapons have been introduced in the last 30 years ;
(2) whether any changes have taken place to procedures for the handling of nuclear weapons that have enhanced safety in the last 30 years.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) on 25 March, Official Report, column 302. Nuclear weapon safety is under continuous review, but the hon. Member will appreciate why I cannot reveal details of changes in design or procedures that may have arisen through this process.
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Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain a copy of the report of the panel on nuclear weapons safety commissioned by the United States Energy Secretary for the Ministry of Defence library.
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications have taken place with the United States Government regarding nuclear weapons safety.
Mr. Alan Clark : We have regular and frequent communications with the United States Government in this area.
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