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Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the exposure limits to the vapours of chlorobutadine ; and whether those limits were exceeded in the recent spillage of chlorobutadine at the Du Pont factory at Maydown, County Londonderry.
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Mr. Atkins : Exposure limits to vapours of chlorobutadine have been assigned in United Kingdom and in the United States at 10 parts per million over an eight-hour working day/40-hour week. There is no evidence to suggest that these limits were exceeded.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the storage of chlorobutadine is covered by the regulations set out in Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland 1992 No. 401.
Mr. Atkins : No. These regulations--the Pollution of Waters by Dangerous Substances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992--do not relate to storage. They implement the requirements of a series of European Community directives on pollution caused by dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment. Chlorobutadine is not one of these substances.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish his Department's assessment of the dangers to human health and to the environment of chlorobutadine and the adequacy of a long-term exposure limit of 10 parts per million for this substance.
Mr. Hanley : The Department believes that the normal use of chlorobutadine within industry does not pose a significant risk to human health or to the environment. In terms of occupational exposure, the internationally accepted standard concentration in the air of 10 parts per million, calculated on the basis of an eight-hour day over a working lifetime, is considered to be safe.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the inspection carried out by his Department of the spill of chlorobutadine at the Du Pont site at Maydown, County Londonderry.
Mr. Atkins : My Department's officials have inspected the neoprene plant at Du Pont and have had discussions with the company's staff. The company has reviewed its alarm systems and has instructed its staff, if there is any suspicion whatsoever of a spillage, to stop processing immediately and divert the waste stream to an emergency holding facility.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the storage and transport of dangerous substances at the Du Pont site at Londonderry meet the standards set out in current regulations.
Mr. Atkins : The health and safety inspectorate of the Department of Economic Development inspects this plant regularly and is satisfied that the storage and transport of dangerous substances meet the requirements of the current health and safety legislation.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment his Department has made of whether the storage and transport of chlorobutadine on the Du Pont site at Maydown, County Londonderry, meets the standard set out in current regulations.
Mr. Atkins : The health and safety inspectorate of the Department of Economic Development inspects this plant
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regularly and is satisfied that the storage and transport of chlorobutadine meet the requirements of the current health and safety legislation.Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what surveys he has carried out to discover how many persons or animals suffered or appeared to suffer discomfort as a result of the spillage of chlorobutadine at Du Pont's site at Maydown, County Londonderry, in early October.
Mr. Hanley : No specific public health surveys have been carried out. However, the Western health and social services board was alerted to the spillage and the incident was widely publicised throughout Northern Ireland. To date, there have been no reports of discomfort or illness to humans or animals as a result of the incident.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the precautions taken against static discharges of dangerous substances at the Du Pont site at Maydown, County Londonderry are adequate.
Mr. Atkins : Du Pont has a consent from the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland DOE NI) under section 7 of the Water Act (NI) 1972 to discharge its trade effluent to Lough Foyle. All the effluent from the factory is discharged through a single outfall. Prior to the recent incident, DOE (NI) had been reviewing the Du Pont discharge consent and was on the point of finalising new tighter consent conditions. Du Pont is an environmentally responsible company and has consistently complied with the consent conditions. Improvements over the years in the factory processes have made it possible to impose more stringent discharge standards.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the storage and transport of dangerous substances at the Du Pont site at Maydown, County Londonderry, presently meet the standards set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Mr. Atkins : The provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 have not yet been extended to Northern Ireland. The storage and transport of dangerous substances at the Du Pont site meet the standards applicable under current legislation.
DEFENCE
Empty Houses
12. Mr. Ashton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many empty houses are currently owned by his Department.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As at 30 September 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, 9,388 MOD-owned dwellings were vacant of which 9,167 were service married quarters. The majority of the vacant properties were either undergoing or awaiting major modernisation work, or allocated to incoming service families. A total of 1,807 dwellings were in the process of being sold, and a number of others were being considered for disposal.
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Armed Forces (Commitments)
13. Mr. Ancram : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional commitments have been required of United Kingdom armed forces as a result of responses to international problems by the United Nations, the European Community, the Western European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation over the past 12 months.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : In the past 12 months, the armed services have been asked to contribute personnel to United Nations operations in the former Yugoslavia and Cambodia, and the joint NATO/WEU sanctions monitoring operation in the Adriatic. Military personnel are also filling headquarters and support posts in the EC monitor mission in the former Yugoslavia during the period of the United Kingdom's EC presidency. At the same time, the United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations force in Cyprus and the multinational force and observers in Sinai are reducing.
Yugoslavia
16. Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's current contribution to peacekeeping in Yugoslavia ; and if he will make a statement.
17. Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an update on the level of the British commitment to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Yugoslavia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind : A main party of about 1,800 personnel is expected to be operational in Bosnia by mid-November. In addition, 400 extra troops, mainly Royal Engineers, will be involved in order to assist in the initial stages of deployment. This brings the total number to be deployed initially to 2,400, including headquarters troops. We have also provided United Nations observers, a field ambulance and an RAF Hercules has been taking part in humanitarian airlift operations into Sarejevo.
Forces in Europe
18. Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of British forces currently stationed in Europe, broken down by countries.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The total strength of British forces currently stationed in Europe outside of the United Kingdom as at 1 July 1992 was 62,643. The distribution by country was :
|Number
--------------------------------
Germany |53,488
Cyprus |4,722
Gibraltar |1,045
Belgium |692
Italy |669
Holland |611
Denmark |366
Norway |344
Former Yugoslavia |305
France |206
Portugal |105
Turkey |59
Switzerland |31
Trident
19. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the Trident programme.
Mr. Aitken : The Trident programme continues to progress to time and within budget towards its in-service date of the mid-1990s. The first Trident submarine, Vanguard, left Barrow-in-Furness for her contractor's sea trials on 23 October.
30. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the cost of Trident ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : The currently estimated cost of the Trident procurement programme is £10,518 million at 1991-92 prices and £1 = $1.59.
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
20. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in arrangements for NATO forces to undertake a peacekeeping role for CSCE.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : NATO is considering ways in which it might support CSCE peacekeeping operations if called upon to do so. Allies have, in addition, provided valuable support to the United Nations deployment in the Balkans as well as deploying forces for sanctions monitoring in the Adriatic.
Turkey
21. Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on British forces deployment in eastern Turkey.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The United Kingdom contribution to the coalition deterrent force in south-east Turkey comprises eight Jaguar and two tanker aircraft plus ground support. These forces have played and continue to play a major part in helping to ensure the safety of Iraqi citizens in northern Iraq. The continuing presence of British coalition forces demonstrates our determination that renewed repression will not be tolerated.
Eastern Europe
22. Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet other NATO Defence Ministers to discuss NATO defence policy in relation to eastern Europe.
Mr. Rifkind : I will next see my alliance colleagues at meetings of European Ministers and the defence planning committee in Brussels from 9 to 11 December 1992. I expect our discussions to cover a range of current alliance business.
Zimbabwe
23. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy regarding United Kingdom military assistance for Zimbabwe.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The United Kingdom provides a range of military training for the Zimbabwean armed forces, including places on defence-related courses in the
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United Kingdom and the provision, since independence in 1980, of a resident British military advisory and training team (BMATT). The size and nature of our military assistance programme are kept under regular review.Defence Expenditure
24. Mr. Gunnell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of 1991-92 defence expenditure spent (a) in the south-east region and (b) in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
Mr. Aitken : Information on Ministry of Defence expenditure by standard United Kingdom region is only available for equipment expenditure. In 1990-91, the latest year available, we estimate that the Ministry of Defence spent £2,900 million in the south-east region and £150 million in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
Low Flying
25. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on changes in the occurrence of low-flying training since 1 January 1990 ; what changes he proposes in the near future ; and what changes he proposes in the arrangements to inform the public and deal with complaints.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : We expect to cut the amount of jet low flying in the United Kingdom by about 30 per cent. by the end of 1994. The appointment earlier this year of regional community relations officers for the Lake district and the Borders has provided the public in those areas with a focal point for their inquiries on low-flying matters. The management of the United Kingdom low-flying system is kept under constant review and changes are made when necessary.
Nuclear Deterrence
26. Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on nuclear deterrence.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Government intend that our independent nuclear deterrent should continue to provide the ultimate guarantee of our security in the decades ahead, as it has for decades past.
Korean War
27. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the result of his inquiries into the position of British soldiers captured during the Korean war, who may have been held in the Soviet Union.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No evidence has been received that supports allegations that British soldiers captured during the Korean war were held in the Soviet Union.
Iraq
28. Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by the United Nations peacekeeping forces, with the involvement of United Kingdom troops, towards implementing the United Nations resolution relating to the disposal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Significant progress has been made with substantial United Kingdom involvement.
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Despite Iraqi obstruction much vital evidence has been uncovered, but more remains to be found. The process of destroying weapons and facilities is well advanced, with the majority of the proscribed items declared or discovered to date destroyed by the Iraqis under United Nations supervision.Naval Support Command
29. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the naval support command is to be situated.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Although some work remains to be completed, I hope to be able to announce the preferred location in the Bath area for the naval support command by around the end of the year.
Allivane Ltd.
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all contracts signed between his Department's logistics executive and Allivane Ltd. in the export of military equipment since 1987.
Mr. Aitken : My Department has no record of any contracts between the Army's logistic executive and Allivane Ltd. for the export of military equipment since 1987. One contract was signed in 1988 for the short-term storage in MOD facilities of ammunition subsequently exported by the company.
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report all addresses of Allivan Ltd. and Allivane International Group as registered by his Department as authorised exporters of military equipment during the period 1985 to 1989.
Mr. Aitken : I will write to the hon. Member.
Hazardous Waste
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the letter of reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent of 23 July in response to the written question on hazardous waste control policies of his Department.
Mr. Aitken : The text of my reply of 23 July was as follows : I undertook to write to you in response to your recent Parliamentary question concerning our procedures for the minimisation and disposal of toxic and radioactive wastes.
I should say at the outset that it is our overall policy to minimise or eliminate the use of toxic substances whenever this is practicable. Because discharges of such materials can occur at every stage of their manufacture, use and disposal the only method of reducing exposure to them is to restrict their use to essential applications or to phase them out altogether. Accordingly, special controls exist over the use of cadium, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), asbestos, arsenic, triorganotins and pesticides. The controls reflect the requirements of domestic legislation or EC Directives or both. They are outlined in the Department's Environment Manual together with information on minimisation of use and phasing out. Additional guidance on the use of toxic materials and disposal routes is contained in regulations issued by the Directorate of Defence Health and Safety and, also Health and Safety Executive Guidance notes. Waste residues containing such substances are defined as special waste and are subject to disposal procedures regulated by the Control of
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Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1988. It is our policy that special waste will only be disposed of at a properly licensed disposal facility and that the transport of special waste will follow strictly the prenotification, consignment note and recording requirements stipulated by the Regulations.The Department's policy is to dispose of radioactive waste through nationally available disposal routes wherever possible, in conjunction with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution in England and Wales and Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate for Scotland. Very low and low level waste are transported in purpose built containers and by approved methods for disposal at an authorised site which, for low level waste, is the BNFL site at Drigg in Cumbria. There is at present no national disposal route for intermediate level wastes and MOD, like the civil nuclear operators in the United Kingdom, has to store such waste under secure controlled conditions at the site of origin, pending the availability of the deep depository planned by UK Nirex Ltd. to be in operation in 2005. The increasing costs associated with the available disposal routes is an additional incentive to minimise the amount of waste generated by our activities over and above the obvious health and safety and environmental considerations. Accordingly, radioactive waste minimisation is, and will remain, a key element in our operating procedures.
I hope that this is helpful.
Nuclear Defence Expenditure
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the letter of reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent of 22 July in response to his written question on nuclear defence expenditure.
Mr. Aitken : The text of my reply of 22 July was as follows : I said I would write in answer to your question on 16 July about nuclear expenditure and 13 Figure of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1992 (CM 1981).
The figure shows in some detail how the Defence Budget is distributed to Top Level Budget Holders under the New Management Strategy. Expenditure on nuclear warhead testing and nuclear warhead design and development is included in the Chief of Defence Procurement's top level budget. A small amount is also included in the Chief Executive of the Defence Research Agency's top level budget.
British Aerospace
Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet the chairman of British Aerospace to discuss defence procurement.
Mr. Aitken : My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so.
Recruitment
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the forces have to change their recruiting techniques both for officers and for other ranks ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are no plans to change recruiting techniques. Although the reduction in the size of the armed forces has resulted in lower recruiting targets, there will be a continued need for new recruits during the drawdown period in order to preserve an appropriate balance of age and skills.
RAF Ascension Island
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, column 666 , if the detailed investment appraisal of
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the continuing charter of Maersk Ascension for bulk fuel storage for the RAF at Ascension island has been completed ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Archie Hamilton : The investment appraisal on bulk fuel storage for the RAF at Ascension island has been completed. My Department is now considering whether to go ahead with the project.
Plymouth Urban Development Corporation
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in determining the amount of (a) funds and (b) surplus land to be transferred from his Department's vote to the proposed Plymouth urban development corporation ; what are the mechanics of the transfer ; what progress has been made in determining the future of the Royal William Yard ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The MOD land identified for transfer to the proposed Plymouth urban development corporation (UDC) comprises Royal William Yard--and adjacent land at Western Kings--RAF Mountbatten and an area of Mount Wise. The precise nature of the intended conveyance remains to be resolved. In addition it is proposed that £20 million from MOD funds is made available to the proposed UDC through normal financial channels over a four-year period. The future of all the areas transferred will be a matter for the proposed UDC to determine.
Nuclear Weapon Transporters
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 530, what further progress has been made in the provision of armoured nuclear weapon transporters and containers to Russia.
Mr. Aitken : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) earlier today.
Fishery Protection
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy has been able to meet the requirement for fishery protection in 1992-93 ; which ships are currently assigned to the coastal division of the fishery protection squadron ; and what plans he has to fulfil the fishery protection requirement in 1993-94.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron is on target to meet the level of patrolling for 1992-93 agreed with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. HM ships Blackwater, Brinton, Sheraton, Berkeley and Brecon are currently assigned to the coastal division of the Fishery Protection Squadron. Plans for fishery protection in 1993-94 are still under consideration.
Options for Change"
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many battalions are now deployed in, or committed to, Northern Ireland ; and how that figure varies from the assumptions underlying "Options for Change".
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : There are currently 12 battalion-sized units deployed in Northern Ireland. Planning under "Options for Change" assumed that no less than 10 such units would be deployed but that the actual number would be revised from time to time in the light of the security situation.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the effect of the deployment of British forces with the United Nations in Bosnia on his Department's projections for military requirements under "Options for Change".
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The requirement to allow sufficient leeway to deal with the unexpected and to meet peacetime commitments without unacceptable strain was one of the major considerations underpinning our work on "Options for Change". The deployment of forces to Bosnia has had no impact upon our plans for the restructuring of the Army.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the projected interval between emergency tour deployments for infantry soldiers if current and planned deployments in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and elsewhere continue as well as amalgamations of battalions and cuts in infantry strength under "Options for Change" ; and if he will make a statement on the attainability of his Department's target of 24-month intervals between emergency tours for infantry soldiers under present circumstances.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The effect of current and planned deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia and elsewhere will be to reduce the projected interval between emergency tours for infantry battalions, although the impact will vary from case to case. The projected intervals for the 17 battalions due to undertake emergency tours during 1993-94 will range from 17 to 82 months.
It was always recognised that the non-availability of units undergoing amalgamation or redeployment would also affect tour intervals in the short term but once the restructuring process is complete, the target tour interval of 24 months will be achieved.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many infantry soldiers currently serving on emergency tours have returned to such duties after an interval of less than 24 months ; what is the shortest interval for an individual soldier ; and how many of those soldiers are involved in the amalgamation of battalions under "Options for Change".
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Of the infantry battalions currently serving on emergency tours none has returned to such duties after an interval of less than 24 months--this excludes deployment to the Gulf. Tour intervals for individual soldiers would usually reflect those of their parent unit unless they have been posted between battalions in the interim.
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of applications for redundancy by officers, non-commissioned officers and private soldiers in each infantry battalion which is commencing the process of amalgamation under "Options for Change" ; and how those figures relate to the reduction in personnel required under his plans.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : The closing date for applications for the second phase of the Army redundancy programme is 30 October. I will write to the hon. Member once this period is over and my Department has had an opportunity to assess the response.
Departmental Budget
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact on his Department's budget of the reduction in the value of sterling in relation to other European currencies and the dollar.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As explained in Supply Estimates 1992-93 (HC273-I), about 10 per cent. of the defence budget is to be spent in US dollars and deutschmarks during 1992-93. As in previous years, the MOD has bought forward the bulk of its estimated requirements for these two currencies through the Bank of England in accordance with government accounting practice. Recent changes in the pound's value should not therefore lead to significant additional expenditure in 1992-93. The requirement for other European currencies is less than1 per cent. of the total defence budget and any effect of the change in the pound's value is likely to be small.
European Fighter Aircraft
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the feasibility of continuing with plans to produce the European fighter aircraft without participation by Germany, Italy or Spain.
Mr. Aitken : The Government are making every effort to ensure the continuation of EFA on a collaborative basis. If these are unsuccessful, the Government believe that it would be technically feasible for the United Kingdom to continue the project alone but we would need to consider the cost and other implications.
Indonesia
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British armed services personnel are currently stationed in Indonesia.
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