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Publicity Campaigns
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.
Mr. Curry : MAFF has no plans to carry out television advertising campaigns. A touring exhibition is currently taking consumer information on a wide range of food safety and environmental issues to major shopping centres and agricultural shows ; and plans are in hand to revise the Department's range of publications on food.
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Thames Gravel
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment has been made of the impact of the proposed extraction of gravel from the Thames estuary on (a) juvenile fish stocks, (b) cockles and (c) whiteweed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : The proposal envisages the removal of a layer of silt material in order to extract aggregate from beneath it. In the Ministry's view this extraction process could create a plume of silt in the water column, which would be damaging to important commercial fisheries in the area.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the fishing industry on the proposed extraction of gravel from the Thames estuary by Civil and Marine Ltd.
Mr. Curry : I have received a number of representations objecting to the extraction of gravel from this area. I understand that in the light of consultations the company is not pursuing its application for a licence for experimental dredging.
DEFENCE
Army Act
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers he has under the Army Act to reconvene a board of inquiry with revised terms of reference.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Secretary of State for Defence has no direct powers under the Army Act 1955 to convene any board of inquiry. If it is necessary for a particular matter to be investigated by a board of inquiry, it will be convened by the relevant military authorities under the rules laid down in section 135 of the Army Act.
Training Exercises (Injuries)
Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for the last five years the number and type of injuries received by on -duty service personnel taking part in training exercises.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The following table lists, by category, the total numbers by type of injuries received by all service personnel, including Gurkhas, on duty training exercises which required confinement to bed for a period of 48 hours or more, for each of the last five years.
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Tri-service episodes of bedded sickness of 48 hours or more due to training injuries
(including deaths)
|1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aircraft accidents |38 |35 |31 |40 |38
Motor vehicle accidents |33 |41 |51 |33 |16
Other land transport accidents |0 |1 |0 |1 |0
Water transport accidents |2 |2 |1 |4 |0
Guns, explosives etc. accidents |24 |22 |18 |17 |7
Machinery, tools etc. accidents |184 |170 |167 |113 |82
Toxic and burning agents's accidents |21 |17 |20 |26 |24
Environmental factor accidents |137 |202 |172 |105 |83
Fall or jump etc. accidents |519 |403 |428 |359 |332
Other accidents |149 |151 |183 |178 |126
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |1,107 |1,044 |1,071 |876 |708
Note: Records of minor injuries which may have required medical attention are not
held centrally and are only recorded in the individual personal medical files.
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Asbestos
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) in each of the last 10 years what has been the cost of removing asbestos ; (2) in how many Ministry of Defence establishments asbestos has been removed ; and in how many establishments it is awaiting removal ;
(3) how many claims for compensation there have been against the Ministry because of exposure to asbestos dust since 1961 ; how many (a) have been rejected, (b) are being negotiated and (c) have been successful ; and, for those successful what compensation was paid.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Thurleigh Airfield
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Research Agency to use the airfield at Thurleigh for non-flying purposes ;
(2) what will be the role of the Ministry of Defence towards development on the Thurleigh airfield during the transfer of facilities to Boscombe Down and Farnborough up to about 1993 ; (3) how he proposes to reconcile a maximum return to Her Majesty's Government on the disposal of land and assets at Thurleigh with the need to safeguard existing residents against loss of amenity and environmental despoliation ;
(4) what instructions he has given his consultants covering the next phase of consultations with local authorities and other interested parties over the use of the airfield at Thurleigh ; (5) whether he proposes to agree planning use of the airfield at Thurleigh with Bedfordshire county council prior to the conclusion of any sale to prospective purchasers of the land ;
(6) if he will ensure that before any sale of the airfield at Thurleigh he will insist on an evironmental assessment being undertaken to cover the future use of the site ;
(7) whether he is prepared to compensate local residents against loss of amenity due to excessive noise in the event of a substantial increase in aircraft use of the airfield at Thurleigh ;
(8) if he will consider the disposal of the airfield at Thurleigh within a broad regional and national framework.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Following my announcement on 9 May concerning the collocation of research and experimental flying at Boscombe Down, detailed work has been set in hand to assess the options for disposal of the surplus airfields at Bedford and Farnborough.
A specialist consultancy firm has been retained to assist in this phase and it will be continuing its discussions with local planning authorities and other interested parties with a view to submitting recommendations on the planning and marketing strategies to be adopted for the effective disposal of the airfield sites. As stated in my earlier announcement, our preliminary assessment is that Thurleigh airfield, Bedford could have potential as a commercial non-passenger airfield. It would be our intention to avoid a fragmented disposal of the site,
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if this were possible, and to offer it for sale in its entirety--save for a small MOD enclave which we envisage will be retained to house a simulator facility. Any proposals for other uses by either the MOD or the Defence Research Agency will need to be considered against the need to make the most cost-effective use of the defence estate, while at the same time maximising the return to the defence budget from the sale of surplus land.In disposing of Thurleigh, it is our intention to agree a development brief with the local authorities concerned, prior to effecting the disposal of the site. This use of the planning machinery will ensure that any relevant regional and national factors are taken into account in so far as they relate to the disposal of the airfield. In addition, this will allow the maximum return to the MOD consistent with legitimate local requirements. We are considering the preparations of an environmental impact assessment once our future disposal plans are clearer. The environmental impact arising from further development of the airfield, after disposal by the MOD, and any question of compensation that may arise would, of course, be for a new owner of the airfield to resolve.
The MOD will consider all proposals for development of Thurleigh airfield in the period leading up to disposal on their merits, subject to their not prejudicing the longer-term disposal strategy.
Iraq
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) of 20 June, Official Report, columns 314-15, whether any members of the armed services are serving in Iraq.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I can confirm that the answer I gave on 20 June at columns 314-15 did not include the members of the armed forces deployed to northern Iraq as a temporary measure to provide humanitarian assistance to Kurdish refugees. Members of the Royal Marines continue to operate in the areas providing reassurance and security to the Kurds.
Service Men Overseas
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) Official Report, 20 June, columns 314-15, if he will set out (a) the number of members of the armed services who are currently serving in each of the countries listed in the 1991 columns and (b) the reasons for their deployment in each country listed.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The latest detailed information available for deployment of United Kingdom manpower overseas, was at 30 June 1990, without incurring disproportionate cost, is as follows :
M
|Number
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Republic of Germany (stationed forces) |61,109
Elsewhere in continental Europe (stationed forces) |7,281
Gibraltar (garrison) |1,835
Cyprus (garrison and UNFICYP) |4,776
Elsewhere in Mediterranean, Near East and Gulf |<2>1,267
Hong Kong (garrison) |2,118
Elsewhere in Far East |453
Other locations (including Falklands and Belize garrisons) |8,357
Notes :
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1. The figures include personnel on loan to countries in the areas shown and personnel at sea in each area. Defence attaches and advisers and their staffs are included under "other locations". The figure for the Federal Republic of Germany includes personnel serving in Northern Ireland on emergency tours of duty but remaining under the command of the Commander-in-Chief BAOR. The figures exclude non-United Kingdom manpower, including Gurkhas and locally engaged personnel.2. Around 1,200 personnel are currently serving in Iraq and some 340 in Kuwait. Loan service personnel are employed on a variety of military assistance tasks for the following overseas governments (as at 31 March 1991) :
Antigua
Australia
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbadoes
Belize
Bermuda
Brunei
Colombia
Dominica
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Hong Kong
Jordan
Kenya
Lesotho
Malaysia
Mauritius
Namibia
New Zealand
Oman
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QatarSaudi Arabia
Singapore
St. Lucia
St. Vincent
Swaziland
Turks and Caicos Islands
United Arab Emirates
Details of tasks and numbers of loan service personnel are normally confidential between Her Majesty's Government and the Government concerned.
Panorama"
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the BBC "Panorama" programme on weapons development and arms sales, broadcast on 24 June.
Mr. Alan Clark : My Department has a copy of this programme.
Low Flying
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the crashes and fatalities that have occurred in Wales involving low- flying military aircraft in each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Between 1 January 1981 and 27 June 1991 there were the following aircraft accidents involving low-flying military aircraft in Wales :
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Date |Aircraft |Location |Fatalities ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 February 1982 |RAF Harrier |8 nautical miles South of Corwen |1 22 April 1982 |RAF Jet Provost |Nant-y-Moch Reservoir |0 13 May 1982 |RAF Hunter |2 nautical miles North West of Claerwen Reservoir|0 5 August 1982 |RAF Hunter |4 nautical miles North West of Carmarthen |0 20 April 1983 |RAF Gazelle |2 nautical miles North East of Snowdon |2 17 June 1986 |WGAF Tornado |Near Claerwen |2 24 July 1986 |USAF Phantom |St. Bride's Bay |2 24 June 1987 |RAF Jaguar |3 miles South East of Builth Wells |1 26 August 1987 |RAF Phantom |8 nautical miles South of Aberystwyth |2 6 February 1990 |USAF A10 |Capel-y-ffin |1 9 May 1990 |RAF Hawk |2 KM North West of RAF Valley |0 10 May 1991 |RN Sea Harrier |Near RAF Caerwent |0
Land Holdings (Scotland)
Mr. Douglas : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the amount of land owned or leased by the Ministry in Scotland on a regional basis.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As at 1 April 1991, the total area, in hectares, of land and foreshore owned or leased by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland by region was :
|Hectares
----------------------------------------
Highland |5,210
Strathclyde |5,200
Dumfries and Galloway |4,209
Grampian |2,207
Tayside |1,454
Western Isles |1,339
Fife |1,328
Lothian |1,160
Central |80
Shetland Islands |46
Orkney Islands |5
Borders |-
All areas of leased land included in the totals are subject to leases of three years or more : those of shorter duration are regarded as temporary and not recorded centrally.
Vacant Property
Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all those MOD properties in the Plymouth area, including Caradon, that are vacant at present ; what is the length of time that they have been unoccupied ; and what are his intentions for these properties.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As at 31 March 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, 486 married quarters and seven Ministry of Defence civilian properties in the Plymouth area, including Caradon, were vacant. Of the married quarters 435 had been vacant for less than a year, 15 had been vacant for between one and two years and 36 had been vacant for over two years. The seven civilian properties had all been vacant for over six months. In addition, 130 dwellings were in the process of being sold. It is our policy to dispose of all housing which is surplus to our long-term requirements. However, not all empty
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properties are surplus to requirements ; many are either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation and some are already allotted to service families who are due to move in shortly.Injured Grenadiers
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 25 June to the hon. Member for Bristol, East (Mr. Sayeed), what action had been taken, or will be taken, to prevent the recurrence of the accident in July 1989 to the Grenadier Guardsmen, Hicks, Povey and Ray ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are comprehensive arrangements for ensuring the safety of soldiers during live-firing exercises. The board of inquiry into this tragic accident considered that "no amount of procedures, order, practices or briefings could have prevented the accident"
and that
"the accident represents one of the dangers associated with training with live ammunition on any training range".
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that the pension arrangements of Guardsman Hicks will be adequate for his housing, transport facilities and other capital needs.
Mr. Archie Hamilton [holding answer 28 June 1991] : Mr. Hicks is receiving a pension under the armed forces pension scheme and a war disablement pension at the 100 per cent. rate, plus clothing allowance and mobility supplement ; the latter is to help specifically with the extra cost of getting about. In addition, constant attendance allowance and comforts allowance have been awarded. I understand that he is also receiving unemployment benefit. These payments total over £260 tax- free per week. He has also received lump sum payments under the armed forces pension scheme totalling £6,501.69.
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Stump Socks
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many special socks have been provided to Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray ; and if he will make it his policy to supply such special socks free on demand.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 24 June 1991] : Further to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence on 24 June, supplies of stump socks are available from individual health authorities on request. I am pleased to say that the men in question have used this service fully.
Advertising Campaigns
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence has carried out or is planning to carry out television advertising and other publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 on the following topics in the year ending 31 March 1992 :
Royal Navy
Production of a television recruitment advertising and television advertising campaign.
Army
Production of a television/cinema recruiting advertisement and television/cinema advertising campaign.
Territorial Army
1. A combined TV/Press recruitment campaign highlighting the range of weekend activities in the Territorial Army.
2. A press campaign to recruit specialist personnel.
Tri-Service
1. Press campaign to thank employers for releasing Volunteer Reserve Forces personnel for service during the Gulf crisis. 2. Campaign to increase public awareness of Volunteer Reserve Forces and employers' support for them.
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