House of Commons Hansard Debates for 14 Nov 1991

Menwith Hill Station

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security personnel he provides at Menwith Hill station and at Hunter's Stones post office tower ; at what cost in each of the past three years, to date ; and how many security staff are provided at each location.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : MOD police and civilian patrolmen are employed at Menwith Hill. Security at the Hunter's Stones site is not the responsibility of the MOD.

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people, in each of the last three years, to date, have been issued with summonses for trespass and other breaches of byelaws at Menwith Hill station ; in how many cases such people have been (a) fined, (b) found not guilty and (c) had summonses withdrawn.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

Depleted Uranium

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what health and safety guidelines have been issued to those service personnel whose duties will bring them into contact with depleted uranium ;

(2) what information has been given to service personnel deployed in Kuwait about the health and safety risks involved in clearing depleted uranium munitions ;

(3) what steps he has taken to minimise the health and safety risks associated with the clearance of depleted uranium munitions.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Existing service procedures and instructions cover the health and safety aspects of the handling, transport and storage of ammunition containing

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depleted uranium. In addition, specific advice on the detection and clearance of depleted uranium was provided to British forces involved in clearing ordnance in Kuwait.

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the health and safety risks resulting from (a) the chemical toxicity of depleted uranium and (b) the radioactivity generated by depleted uranium.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The explanatory memorandum on anti-armour ammunition with depleted uranium penetrators which was placed in the Library of the House in March 1979 makes it clear that depleted uranium has a chemical toxicity similar to that of lead and is a material of low radioactivity. The properties of depleted uranium have been taken into account in the procedures adopted for its transport, handling and storage.

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from the Atomic Energy Authority regarding the health risks associated with the use of depleted uranium during the Gulf conflict.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Ministry of Defence has a copy of a commercially produced, theoretical appraisal by Atomic Energy Authority Technology of the possible consequences of the use during hostilities in the Gulf of ammunition containing depleted uranium. The assessment of the situation in Kuwait is a matter for the Kuwait Government. Her Majesty's Government have not received a request for assistance with the production of such an assessment.

Armoured Divisions

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 November, Official Report, column 297, in what form information on the percentage change in capabilities of British armoured divisions is held.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Assessments of the percentage increase in 1st Armoured Division's future capability were carried out as part of the Ministry of Defence's examination of our defences for the 1990s. There is no requirement for a comparable historical analysis and, therefore, no information is held on the percentage change in capabilities of British armoured divisions.

Army Personnel

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current proportion of Army personnel who are (a) private soldiers, (b) non- commissioned officers and (c) officers, respectively.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : A total of 36 per cent. of the Army are currently serving as private soldiers, 52 per cent. are non-commissioned officers and 12 per cent. are officers.

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current proportion of Army personnel with (a) the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, (b) the Royal Corps of Signals and (c) the Corps of Royal Engineers.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : A total of 10 per cent. of the Army are currently serving in the REME and 10 per cent. in the Royal Engineers ; 8 per cent. are serving in the Royal Corps of Signals.

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Service Accommodation

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total maintenance backlog of (a) unavoidable and essential repairs and (b) urgent repairs for service accommodation as of 1 April.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Post-service Training

Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 November, Official Report, column 296, when work began on the production of a guide detailing services available to personnel after they have left the service ; and if he will place a copy of the guide in the Library when it is completed.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : Work on preparation of the guide began on 11 September 1991. I shall arrange for copies of it, and of the revised Employment Service booklets, to be placed in the Library when they are completed.

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Southern Africa

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel have been killed in southern Africa during the last five years ; and what were the circumstances of their deaths.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : There have been four deaths since 1 January 1986 ; a staff sergeant was killed in a climbing accident in Botswana in February 1986 ; two corporals were killed in a road traffic accident in Namibia in March 1989 ; a sergeant died in a further road traffic accident in Zimbabwe in September 1990.

Helicopters

Sir Eldon Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available to police forces helicopters that are surplus to the needs of the armed forces and encourage Army helicopter pilots who may be facing early redundancy to seek to transfer to the police service.

Mr. Archie Hamilton : We do not, at present, have surplus helicopters, nor do we expect to have to make Army helicopter pilots redundant.

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