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Mr. Curry : The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has produced estimates of possible sea level rise on a global basis, amounting to about 20 cm by the year 2030 and 65 cm by 2100, but it is not yet possible to assess with precision likely sea level rise in particular localities. Based on this and other information, the Department has issued guidance to the National Rivers Authority and maritime district councils about allowances to be made for sea level rise and crustal movement in designing coastal defences. For the Anglian region, the recommended allowance is 6 mm a year. Although no specific studies have been made of the sites referred to by the hon. Member, it is not thought that either site will be affected by sea level rise.
Departmental Policies
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who is the Minister responsible for considering the environmental implications of all of his Department's policies ; when that person was appointed ; what actions his Department has taken since the appointment of a responsible Minister ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Gummer : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.State Veterinary Service
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of state veterinary service staff in each year since 1985.
Mr. Soames : Since 1985, the structure of the state veterinary service has changed several times. For example, the Central Veterinary Laboratory, which formed part of the state veterinary service attained agency status in April 1990. In order to allow direct comparisons, the figures provided relate to veterinary, technical and scientific staff in headquarters, the field and investigation services only.
As at 1 January 1985 --Figures not readily available.
As at 1 January 1986 --Total 768
As at 1 January 1987 --Total 689
As at 1 January 1988 --Total 711.5
As at 1 January 1989 --Total 707.5
As at 1 January 1990 --Total 767
As at 1 January 1991 --Total 800.5
As at 1 January 1992 --Total 798
Shellfish Farming
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sum of money has been made available by his Department to meet costs of hygiene testing at or near shellfish farming sites in pursuance of EC directive 492.
Mr. Sackville : I have been asked to reply.
The Department has made funds available in 1991-92 and 1992-93 to assist with the initial classification of shellfish harvesting areas in England and Wales required by this directive.
Funds have been allocated to the Public Health Laboratory Service to enable additional microbiological examinations of shellfish to be made without charge to local authorities. The Department has also offered assistance, to local authorities that request it, with the costs of collection of shellfish samples, contributing to such costs as boat hire and transport of samples. Local authorities are expected to meet their own manpower costs.
In the last two financial quarters--January to June 1992--total funding under these two schemes has amounted to £222,500. The Department will shortly be inviting bids from local authorities for the next quarter.
DEFENCE
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Willetts : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current position on the United Kingdom nuclear weapons at sea policy.
Mr. Rifkind : The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation confirmed last autumn that the sub-strategic nuclear capability remains essential to provide the link between conventional and strategic forces, but that significant reductions in sub-strategic nuclear forces were now possible. In addition to the reductions announced last autumn, the alliance has decided to terminate the deployment of US nuclear depth bombs on NATO maritime patrol aircraft.
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The Government are committed to maintaining the United Kindom's nuclear arsenal at the minimum level necessary for our deterrent needs. My predecessor announced last Septemberr that tactical nuclear weapons would no longer be deployed on Royal Navy ships in normal circumstances. The Government have now decided that this residual capability is no longer needed. Royal Navy ships and aircraft and Royal Air Force maritime patrol aircraft will therefore no longer have the capability to deploy tactical nuclear weapons. The United Kingdom weapons previously earmarked for this role will be destroyed. The United Kingdom's sub- strategic nuclear capability will therefore consist of Royal Air Force dual -capable aircraft with the WE177 free-fall bomb.Research Establishment, Dundrennan
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what complaints he has received about misuse of public property and personnel at the royal armament research development establishment, Dundrennan ; what action he has taken ; what has been the outcome ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : A number of allegations were made in August last year by a Transport and General Workers Union representative concerning misuse of official property and labour at the Kirkcudbright range. The allegations were investigated by the Ministry of Defence police who concluded that there were no grounds for proceeding with criminal charges against the individuals concerned. It was evident, however, that there were a number of management deficiencies that should be rectified. Action has been taken to ensure that such deficiencies will not recur.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent staff changes there have been at the royal armament research development establishment, Dundrennan ; what has been the reason for the change in each case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : Since 1 April 1992 two MoD industrial grade staff have retired on medical grounds. As part of the current MoD staff reduction exercise these staff were not replaced. Changes in the contractors' staff are a matter for the contractor.
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the ownership, management and staffing arrangements at the royal armament research development establishment at Dundrennan.
Mr. Aitken : The royal armament research development establishment at Dundrennan was transferred from the Defence Research Agency on 1 April 1992 to the directorate general of test and evaluation as part of the directorate of research facilities and ranges. It is therefore now an MOD establishment. The facility employs contractors for much of the work and the staff is therefore made up of both MoD and contractors' staff.
RAF Review
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of the personnel who have prepared options for the review of the structure of RAF MOD establishments.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is not our practice to name officials in these circumstances. The options reflect wide consultation throughout the Air Force, the Office of Management and Budget, civilian personnel management and the Defence Works Services Organisation. The consultative document published on 4 June indicates the officials to whom comments and observations are to be directed.Political Literature
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how literature from the political parties promoting candidates at a general election is made available to serving members of the armed forces ; whether canvassing on military installations is encouraged together with the distribution of unsolicited leaflets ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Queen's regulations prohibit the distribution of literature about the programmes or policies of political parties through service channels. Where there is normal access direct from the public highway canvassers may visit married quarters and families' hostels. Where access is by service roads and there is no separate entrance, access to accommodation will be at the discretion of the commanding officer.
Defence Exhibition, Chile
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what help was given by the United Kingdom armed forces to British companies taking part in FIDAE 92 aerospace and defence exhibition in Chile in March.
Mr. Aitken : At the invitation of the Chilean air force, eight RAF aircraft were present at FIDAE 92. The RAF also co-hosted a reception.
Military Equipment (Promotion)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and places to be visited by HMS Invincible and the other Royal Navy ships taking part in the promotional tour for British military equipment ; what the cost of the tour is ; and whether all costs are being paid by his Department.
Mr. Aitken : HMS Invincible, escorted by HMS Newcastle, HMS Norfolk, HMS Boxer and two Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, is currently undertaking a six- month operational deployment to the far east, known as Orient '92. Although appropriate opportunities will be taken to help promote British defence exports, this is not the primary purpose of the deployment. Orient '92 is intended to demonstrate the continuing ability of the Royal Navy to operate in strength outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation area. It will provide the Royal Navy with valuable opportunities to practice operating as a task group in relatively unfamiliar environments, and to take part in bilateral and multilateral exercises with friendly navies. Ships from the task group have already visited Greece and Egypt. Further planned visits are as follows :
|Month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenya |June
Seychelles |June
Mauritius |June
Diego Garcia |June, October
Singapore |July, August, September
Malaysia |July, August, September
Hong Kong |July, August, September
Republic of Korea |July, August
Japan |July, August
Indonesia |July, September
Brunei |August
Thailand |September
Philippines |September
Australia |September, October
Oman |October
Bahrain |October
United Arab Emirates |October
Qatar |October
Egypt |November
The ships would, of course, have undertaken other tasks had they not been participating in Orient '92. It is therefore difficult to disaggregate the additional costs of the deployment. However, we expect them to be in the order of £4 million. All of these costs are being met by my Department.
Operation Gladio
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the public disclosure of information on the activities of and United Kingdom support for Operation Gladio since its inception.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on matters of this nature. This remains the policy.
Departmental Environment Policies
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is the Minister responsible for considering the environmental implications of all of his Department's policies ; when that person was appointed ; what actions his Department has taken since the appointment of a responsible Minister ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : In accordance with the Government's policy set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200), my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence is the nominated Minister responsible for considering the environmental implications of the Department's policies and programmes. My noble Friend assumed this responsibility in April.
Since the appointment of a nominated Minister responsible for environmental matters in September 1990, a network of environment committees has been established within my Department and the three services. The senior committee is the defence environment committee chaired by my noble Friend. The MOD environment manual, which gives practical advice on a wide range of environmental issues, was published in 1991 and has been distributed throughout my Department. At present, the MOD is carrying out a comprehensive environmental review of its activities in order to assess its performance on environmental matters. Further information and details of specific initiatives are contained in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991 (Vol. 1, Ch. 5).
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Hospitals
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by county and region his Department's hospitals in the United Kingdom which had consultant
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obstetric or general practitioner maternity beds in 1990-91, and give the number of beds of each type in each hospital.Mr. Aitken : The information requested is as follows :
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Service hospital |County |Regional Health |Number
|Authority |of beds<1>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridge military hospital, Aldershot |Hampshire |South West |58
Princess of Wales<2> |Cambridgeshire |East Anglia |<3>22
RAF hospital, Ely |<4>7
Princess Alexandra RAF hospital, Wroughton |Wiltshire |Wessex |16
Princess Mary's RAF hospital, Halton |Buckinghamshire |Oxford |10
<1> Only obstetric maternity beds are to be found in service hospitals.
<2> Obstetric unit closed in March 1991.
<3> January-October 1990.
<4> November 1990-February 1991.
Acoustic Net Pinger
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the development of an acoustic net pinger to assist submarines in locating the presence of fishing nets.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A contract is shortly to be placed with Graseby Dynamics Ltd. of Bushey, Hertfordshire for the supply of 100 acoustic net pingers. These pingers will be used in an extended sea trial to assess their effectiveness in a working environment. It is planned that the trial, which will be carried out in the Clyde submarine exercise areas in conjunction with the Clyde Fishermens Association, will begin in early 1993 and last for about 18
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months. This contract follows the completion of a technical specification by the maritime division of the Defence Research Agency for which competitive tenders were sought.EC Proposals
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the experts his Department consults on European Community proposals relating to defence matters.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Defence does not come within the ambit of the European Community. It does not therefore make proposals relating to defence matters.
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