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Mr. Archie Hamilton : As at 31 March 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, 467 of the 2,858 service married quarters in the Plymouth area were vacant. Of these, 82 were undergoing modernisation, 61 were allocated to incoming service families and eight were in the process of being sold on the open market. There are plans for 170 dwellings to be sold to a housing association and a further 40 married quarters form part of the Ministry of Defence contribution to the Plymouth urban development corporation package. In addition, seven of the 12 civilian properties in the Plymouth area were vacant.
Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme
Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his intention to continue the armed forces parliamentary scheme in the current Parliament.
HMS Swiftsure
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether HMS Swiftsure is to receive a second refit.
Mr. Aitken : No. Swiftsure is not required to sustain our plan for a long-term force level of around 12 nuclear-powered submarines, and she was consequently paid off in April this year.
Redevelopments
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how much the estimated final costs of recent redevelopments at (a) Ballykelly Shackleton barracks, (b) Plymouth Citadel and (c) Hollywood have risen from original estimates ; and why.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I will write to the hon. Member.
Nuclear Weapon Transporters
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in providing armoured nuclear weapon transporters and containers to Russia : at what cost ; under what vote and subhead the expenditure falls ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 9 March 1992. Specifications for the vehicles and containers have been discussed with Russian officials, and proposals for procurement are being prepared. It is our intention to deliver the equipment at the earliest possible date.
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Northern Ireland
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the deployment of additional infantry battalions to Northern Ireland in January and February 1992 has had on his previous estimate of the extent to which the minimum emergency tour length target interval of 24 months will be met in 1993-94 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The additional infantry battalions were deployed for only nine weeks and seven weeks respectively. Such short-term deployments are not included in the calculation of emergency tour plot intervals and do not affect the previous estimate for 1993-94.
Trafalgar Submarines
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in defining the characteristics of followon Trafalgar class submarines.
Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) on 22 May. The design studies into a batch 2 Trafalgar class submarine are progressing satisfactorily and we expect to begin consideration of the results early next year.
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 May, Official Report , column 258 , for how many batch 2 Trafalgar class hunter killer submarines he intends to invite tenders for design and construction ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : No decision has yet been made regarding the number of batch 2 Trafalgar class submarines required.
Mr. Hutton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 May, Official Report , column 258 , whether he intends to restrict tenders for the design and construction of batch 2 Trafalgar submarines to VSEL ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : We procure defence equipment through competition wherever practicable. In this case we would expect to invite tenders from any company willing and able to compete for the prime contractorship of the design and construction stage.
Submarine Training
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarine service trainees are currently awaiting part III training berths in submarines ; how many have been waiting for over six months ; and what steps he proposes to take to reduce the backlog.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Of the 359 ratings currently undergoing part III training, 100 are currently awaiting billets at sea ; 12 have been waiting for a sea billet for more than six months. Measures that have been taken to improve this situation are :
(a) Additional time within the submarine programme has been allocated to part III training ;
(b) Part III training is now also carried out in submarines in harbour ;
(c) Part III training is now co-ordinated centrally and is given a higher priority in all submarines' programmes.
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Bloodhound Missiles
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the replacement of Bloodhound missiles.
Mr. Aitken : Consideration is being given to procurement of future medium surface-to-air missile system although this will not be a direct replacement for Bloodhound.
Iserlohn Military Hospital
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent since 1986-87 to date on the extension and improvements to British military hospital Iserlohn ; what was the original estimated cost in real terms ; when the hospital will be closed ; and what steps he is taking to recover the value of the improvements made.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The expenditure to date on the major works services at BMH Iserlohn is £45.935 million against an original estimate of £34.635 million. On current plans the unit will cease functioning as a hospital on 31 March 1994 and the buildings will be handed over to the German authorities in November 1994.
Discussions are taking place with the German authorities concerning the future use of the property. The outcome of these discussions will decide whether there is a basis for a claim.
Press and Public Relations
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year up to and including 1991-92 ; and if he will give an estimate for 1992-93.
Mr. Aitken : The earliest year for which figures are available is 1982-83. Figures for the period 1982-83 to 1991-92 are as follows :
|£ million
------------------------------
1982-83 |5.1
1983-84 |6.3
1984-85 |6.8
1985-86 |6.7
1986-87 |7.3
1987-88 |7.0
1988-89 |7.1
1989-90 |8.0
1990-91 |8.4
1991-92 |9.1
The estimated expenditure figure for 1992-93 is £9.5 million. The figures provided include staff costs and expenditure on films, exhibitions, publications and equipment.
Management Consultants
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 up to and including 1991-92 ; and what is his estimate for 1992-93.
Mr. Aitken : Fees paid to management consultants engaged centrally by the Ministry of Defence for the years 1984-85 to 1991-92 are as follows :
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Financial |£ million year ------------------------------ 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 |5.700
Figures for earlier years cannot be produced without disproportionate cost and effort.
Under the Department's devolved management strategy, expenditure on management consultancy is now the responsibility of individual management areas. Plans are therefore not held centrally for 1992-93, but provisional forecasts indicate expenditure of about £6.8 million.
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since 1 November 1991.
Mr. Aitken : The opinion poll surveys conducted by, for, or on behalf of the Ministry of Defence since 1 November 1991 are as follows :
Service and subject
MOD--National Employers Liaison Committee Research Monitor Navy--Exhibition Response Research
Army--Advertising Evaluation and Development
Black Strategy Development
Signal New Recruits
Creative Development
MORI Finalists Survey
Officers Strategic Research
The purpose of these surveys was to monitor the effectiveness of advertising and attitudes towards careers in the armed forces.
Dunera
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to publish the documents relating to the voyage of the Dunera.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We have found no extant Ministry of Defence records relating to the voyage of the Dunera. The courts martial records of the British service men who were charged with offences against the passengers of that vessel were destroyed some years ago as they did not meet the criteria for permanent preservation. The Home Office has a small number of records concerning the Dunera. All are open to public examination, in class HO 215, at the Public Records Office. They include file No. 215/1, containing the Dunera passenger lists, which until very recently was closed.
Radiation Exposure
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown for (a) Rosyth dockyard, (b) Devonport dockyard, (c) Coulport RNAD, (d) HMS Defiance and (e) Clyde submarine base of individual radiation dose exposures for workers in the bands (i) 0 to 10, (ii) 10 to 15, (iii) 15 to 20, (iv) 20 to 30, (v) 30 to 40 and (vi) greater than 40 mSv for the years 1991 and 1992.
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Mr. Aitken : Information on radiation doses in 1992 is not yet available. The tables provide information on doses for 1991 at the locations specified. It is possible to split the band 0-15 mSv only for those workers covered by the assessments of approved dosemeters issued by the Defence Radiological Protection Service (DRPS). At Rosyth and Devonport dockyards many personnel are protected by separate local dosimetry arrangements.
Table E-Annual individual
radiation dose equivalents for
all
personnel at Clyde Submarine
Base-1991
|Figures
---------------------------------
0-10 mSv |1,182
10-16 mSv |26
15-20 mSv |3
20-30 mSv |1
30-40 mSv |0
More than 40 mSv |0
Table E-Annual individual
radiation dose equivalents for
all
personnel at Clyde Submarine
Base-1991
|Figures
---------------------------------
0-10 mSv |1,182
10-16 mSv |26
15-20 mSv |3
20-30 mSv |1
30-40 mSv |0
More than 40 mSv |0
Table E-Annual individual
radiation dose equivalents for
all
personnel at Clyde Submarine
Base-1991
|Figures
---------------------------------
0-10 mSv |1,182
10-16 mSv |26
15-20 mSv |3
20-30 mSv |1
30-40 mSv |0
More than 40 mSv |0
Table E-Annual individual
radiation dose equivalents for
all
personnel at Clyde Submarine
Base-1991
|Figures
---------------------------------
0-10 mSv |1,182
10-16 mSv |26
15-20 mSv |3
20-30 mSv |1
30-40 mSv |0
More than 40 mSv |0
Table E-Annual individual
radiation dose equivalents for
all
personnel at Clyde Submarine
Base-1991
|Figures
---------------------------------
0-10 mSv |1,182
10-16 mSv |26
15-20 mSv |3
20-30 mSv |1
30-40 mSv |0
More than 40 mSv |0
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown for (a) Aldermaston AWE, (b) Burghfield AWE and (c) Cardiff AWE of individual radiation dose exposures for workers in the bands (i) 0 to 10, (ii) 10 to 15, (iii) 15 to 20, (iv) 20 to 30, (v) 30 to 40 and (vi) greater than 40 mSv for the years 1990, 1991 and 1992.
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Mr. Aitken : The individual annual radiation dose data for AWE Aldermaston (A), Burghfield (B) and Cardiff (C) for the years 1990 and 1991 are as follows :
Numbers of workers in dose bands
|AWE (A)|(B) |(C)
--------------------------------------------
1990
0-10 mSv |3,388 |182 |136
10-15 mSv |4 |0 |0
15-20 mSv |0 |0 |0
20-30 mSv |0 |0 |0
30-40 mSv |0 |0 |0
Over 40 mSv |0 |0 |0
1991
0-10 mSv |3,383 |203 |155
10-15 mSv |4 |0 |0
15-20 mSv |0 |0 |0
20-30 mSv |0 |0 |0
30-40 mSv |0 |0 |0
Over 40 mSv |0 |0 |0
Annual dose data for the year 1992 are not yet available.
RNAD Trecwn
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part his Department is playing in the study into the feasibility of establishing a munitions decommissioning centre at RNAD Trecwn.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : My Department is investigating the possibility of alternative Ministry of Defence and other Government Department uses for the RNAD Trecwn site but our requirement for munitions disposal is small and would be best met by a storage site for which there is a continuing additional need. I am not aware of the existence of a feasibility study.
Nuclear Test Veterans
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the current study by the National Radiological Protection Board in relation to veterans of British nuclear tests to be completed ; if he intends to publish this ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Etherington) on 22 May 1992, column 290 .
IFF Technology
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Warrior vehicles hit by friendly fire from two American A-10 jets were fitted with IFF--identification friend-or-foe technology ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No. During the Gulf conflict, a secure and effective electronic identification system did not exist. The board of inquiry into this tragic incident recommended that a study be initiated to identify a suitable air recognition system for future use. In pursuit of that recommendation, the Defence Research Agency is undertaking a research programme aimed at assessing short-term solutions as well as options for the longer term.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for updating and improving current IFF--identification friend-or-foe technology.
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Mr. Aitken : The Government remain concerned about the inadequacies of existing IFF systems. We are currently engaged, in co-operation with France and Germany, in a programme of studies into the required characteristics of a next generation IFF system for aircraft. Close consultation is being maintained with Italy and with the United States Government, who have been reviewing their own future requirements following the cancellation of its IFF Mk XV programme in 1991. Firm decisions on the way ahead are not expected before 1993.Separately, the Government are carrying out studies into possible methods of improving the identification of ground forces (battlefield IFF).
Disabled Employees
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for defence what percentage of the total work force in his Department is registered as disabled ; what steps he is taking to encourage the employment of disabled people within his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : There are currently 1,164 registered disabled people employed in the MOD. This represents 0.9 per cent. of the total workforce. In addition, there are a number of staff with disabilities who have chosen not to register formally as disabled. The MOD takes very seriously its responsibilities as an equal opportunities employer, and has compiled a programme of action for people with disabilities, which is to be launched shortly.
RAF Brawdy
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown of the £2 million saving per year he estimates will be made to the defence budget when flying training ends at RAF Brawdy.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is continuing to look for alternative uses for RAF Brawdy within his Department when flying training ends there.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Investigations have so far revealed no alternative defence uses for RAF Brawdy.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what grade of official has represented his Department at meetings of the task force on the effects of the closures of RAF Brawdy and RNAD Trecwn ;
(2) what is the grade of the civil servant representing the MOD on the Secretary of State for Wales's Task Force for Pembrokeshire set up in connection with the ending of flight training at RAF Brawdy.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : MOD representation has been at grade 7 (principal) level, with the exception of one meeting at which, because of other commitments, representation was by an executive officer.
Nuclear Submarines
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the position on the consumption of alcohol on royal naval nuclear submarines.
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Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the current ports allocated to Z-berths for nuclear submarines ; and if he has any plans to alter the list in the future.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Within the United Kingdom there are Z-berths, including buoys and anchorages, at the following locations : Barrow-in- Furness, Barry, Broadford Bay, Brodick Bay, Campbeltown, Cardiff, Coulport, Dales Voe, Dalgety Bay, Devonport and Plymouth Sound, Faslane, the Firth of Forth, Glen Mallan, Holy Loch, Lamlash Bay, Lerwick, Liverpool, Loch Ewe, Loch Fyne, Loch Goil, Loch na Beiste, Loch Striven, Loch Torridon, Portland, Portree, Portsmouth, Raasay, Rosyth, Rothesay, Southampton, Spithead, Thurso Bay and Torbay.
In addition, we have decided to establish a Z-berth at Swansea. The operational requirements for Z-berths are under continuous review but there are no current plans to alter this list.
Defence Review
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implementation of the defence review.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We have been restructuring our forces to ensure that, though smaller, they will be more flexible, more mobile and better-equipped than ever before. We will continue to keep the House fully informed of progress in implementing plans for Britain's defence for the 1990s.
Chemical Weapons
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the amount of chemical weaponry held by former Soviet Union countries ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The former Soviet chemical warfare stockpile, which the Russian authorities say is now held entirely within their territory, is the largest and most sophisticated in the world. We estimate that the stockpile is greater than the 50,000 tonnes of agent that the Soviet authorities claimed it to be. The chemical weapons convention in Geneva continues to make progress towards a global ban on these weapons.
Debt Payment
Sir Michael Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy guidelines are currently in place within his Department and the purchasing organisations for which he has responsibility in respect of the prompt payment of commercial debt, particularly as it relates to small business suppliers.
Mr. Aitken : Government Departments, and their executive agencies, are required to pay their bills promptly. In such matters the MOD does not differentiate between large, medium or small business suppliers and normally expects to pay its bills within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice as required by the contract.
To help encourage prompt payment of bills by Government contractors to their subcontractors all my Department's contracts will contain a clause requiring the supplier or contractor to pay its subcontractors promptly. In the absence of normal practice to the contrary for that
Column 537
type of contract or other special circumstances, the commitment should be to pay the subcontractor within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice or similar demand for payment as defined by the contract.Sir Michael Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what distribution has taken place within his Department and the purchasing organisations for which he has responsibility of the Department of Employment's publication "Making the Cash Flow--a Guide to the Payment of Commercial Debt for Buyers and Small Business Suppliers".
Mr. Aitken : "Making the Cash Flow" was prepared as guidance for the private sector and there was therefore no formal distribution to other Government Departments. However, in the light of my hon. Friend's question, I will make sure that the appropriate senior officials in my Department receive a copy. I can assure my hon. Friend that my Department has a good record on the prompt payment of its due bills to all contractors, including small businesses.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many nuclear free-fall bombs have been withdrawn from service to date ;
(2) how many nuclear free-fall bombs are currently deployed by the Royal Air Force.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It has been the practice of successive Governments not to specify publicly the size of our nuclear weapon holdings. The hon. Member will recall however that my right hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) announced on 14 October 1991, Official Report, column 58, that we should be making a substantial reduction in the numbers of our WE177 bombs in coming years. The process of withdrawing WE177 weapons from service in accordance with that announcement is under way.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how long the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent will be maintained by a combined force of Trident and Polaris submarines.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Trident will enter service progressively from the mid-1990s. It is not our practice to disclose details of operational deployments and decommissioning programmes.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans his Department has to alter the level of warhead deployment for the United Kingdom's minimum strategic nuclear deterrent before the end of the century ;
(2) if the criteria determining the level at which the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent is deployed will be different for Trident compared with Polaris.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It will remain the Government's policy to deploy the minimum number of warheads necessary to ensure credible and effective deterrence.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the implications for the continued
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credibility of the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent of the deployment of existing anti-ballistic missile systems around the world ;(2) what is his Department's assessment of the security implications for the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent of the acquisition by Russia of anti-ballistic missile technology and know-how from other states.
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