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DEFENCE
Senior Officers
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) field marshals, (b) admirals of the fleet, (c) air chief marshals are currently on (i) the active list and (ii) the retired list ; at what cost in each case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : All admirals of the fleet, field marshals, and marshals of the Royal Air Force--five-star officers--remain on the active list. Normally, only the Chief of the Defence Staff, currently a marshal of the Royal Air Force, is actually a serving officer. Unusually, we have two serving officers at this level at present. The other is chairman of the NATO military committee, an international appointment. They are on a salary of £112,084.20.
The remainder are in effective retirement. Those promoted in the early 1980s to date are in receipt of a pension of 48.5 per cent. of active service pay--£54,361. Those promoted before then receive pension or half pay--£56,042.
Current numbers of five-star officers are:
|Full pay |Half pay |48.5 per cent.|Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Navy |- |5 |3 |8
Army |1 |- |7 |8
RAF |1 |- |5 |6
|-- |-- |-- |--
Total |2 |5 |15 |22
These figures do not include His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who holds five-star rank in all the armed forces, and His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, who holds the rank of field marshal.
Horizon 2000
Mr. Wilkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention that foreign-built hulls will be permitted in tenders for the future anti-aircraft frigate--Horizon 2000 project ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : The intention for the future air defence frigate is that each nation will build its own ships in its own country.
Landing Platform Helicopter
Mr. Wilkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds the bidding of foreign hulls was excluded from the tendering arrangements for the landing platform helicopters.
Mr. Aitken : In the absence of progress towards the opening of the market for warship building within the EC on a fair and equitable basis, we decided the most appropriate course was to restrict invitations to tender to United Kingdom shipyards.
Minehunters
Mr. Wilkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds foreign-built hulls were permitted as part of the last invitation for Sandown class single role minehunters ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Aitken : The last competition for Sandown class single role minehunters in 1990 permitted prime contractors to include foreign-built hulls in their bids to ensure as wide a competition as possible in order to maximise value for money for the defence budget and the taxpayer.
Mr. Wilkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention to permit foreign-built hulls in the forthcoming tender for a further batch of Sandown class minehunters ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : We expect to make an announcement on future orders for the Sandown class shortly.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's minehunting capability.
Mr. Hanley : The Government are committed to retaining a capable and effective mine countermeasure fleet. We therefore intend to continue over the next decade with our modernisation programme, which will entail the procurement of further Sandown class single-role minehunters and a mid-life update for the Hunt class. The 1993 Statement on the Defence Estimates makes clear our intention to build up to a fleet of 25 of these highly capable vessels. We expect to make an announcement on future orders for the Sandown class shortly.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to issue an invitation to tender for a further batch of minehunters.
Mr. Aitken : We expect to make an announcement on future orders for the Sandown class shortly.
Glass-reinforced Plastic
Mr. Wilkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what in current prices has been his Department's total investment in glass- reinforced plastic in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Aitken : My Department has invested a total of £6 million in capital facilities for the production of GRP mine countermeasure vessels. This has been offset by receipts due under various agreements which total £4.7 million to date. Both figures are at current prices.
Submarine Movements
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which VHF station will broadcast details of the movements of submarines to the fishing fleet in Irish seas area VIIA ; and if he will make a statement about arrangements for this service in this submariner exercise area.
Mr. Hanley : I have been asked to reply.
Irish sea area VIIA north of 54 deg. north forms part of the Clyde exercise areas and is covered by the Subfacts scheme, under which advance notification of dived submarine movements is broadcast in certain coastal areas. Changes in the existing broadcasting arrangements for Subfacts are being planned and consultations about these changes have taken place with representatives of the fishing industry, including the Northern Ireland Fishermen's Federation. I hope to make an announcement soon.
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Trident
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if it is his Department's policy to restrict the explosive firepower of Trident to that deployed on the Polaris force prior to Polaris having been updated with Chevaline ;
(2) if it is his Department's policy to restrict the explosive firepower of Trident to that of the Polaris/Chevaline force currently deployed.
Mr. Hanley : The Government's policy is to deploy the minimum nuclear capability necessary to provide an effective deterrent in the circumstances of the time. On current plans, the total explosive power to be carried on each Trident submarine when they enter service will not be much changed from the total explosive power currently deployed, following the Chevaline development, in each Polaris submarine.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department has reached its calculation that when Trident is fully in service the explosive power of the United Kingdom's operational nuclear inventory will be more than 25 per cent. down on the 1990 figure.
Mr. Hanley : The calculation compared the explosive power of the United Kingdom's operational stockpile of Chevaline and WE177 warheads in 1990 with the explosive power of the planned future operational stockpile of Trident and WE177 warheads when Trident is fully in service.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department will demonstrate that it has not deployed more than 96 warheads on each of the Trident submarines when they enter service.
Mr. Hanley : In keeping with the practice of successive Governments, we do not make public the number of warheads actually deployed on our submarines. The question of verification does not arise.
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what negotiations or studies his Department is carrying out into possible future use of cruise missiles on board Trident submarines.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change took place in the explosive firepower of the deployed Polaris force in connection with the deployment of Chevaline.
Mr. Hanley : The introduction into service of Chevaline brought with it a reduction in the total explosive power deployed on each Polaris submarine.
Anti-ballistic Missiles
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of the ability to overcome existing anti-ballistic missile defences in determining the size of the United Kingdom's minimum deterrent.
Mr. Hanley : All relevant factors are taken into account in assessing the minimum level of capability necessary to provide effective deterrence.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the accuracy of a nuclear weapon is a significant factor in determining its destructive effectiveness.
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Mr. Hanley : Accuracy of delivery is a significant factor in determining the likely effectiveness of a nuclear warhead against its intended target and therefore has a bearing on our assessment of the minimum capability necessary to provide effective deterrence.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish an open government document on Her Majesty's Government's policy on nuclear weapons and non-proliferation following the speech he made to the Centre for Defence Studies on 16 November.
Mr. Hanley : No. A copy of my right hon. and learned Friend's speech has been placed in the Library of the House.
Military Vehicles
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the financial and administrative consequences of the non-established status of the 39 all-terrain mobile platforms held and maintained by 5 Airborne Brigade ; what dedicated Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and associated support is available ; when consideration of the future requirement for such vehicles for 24 Airmobile Brigade is due to be completed ; what vehicles capable of deployment by support helicopter are currently held by 24 Airmobile Brigade ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : There are no financial or administrative consequences resulting from the non-established status of the 39 all-terrain mobile platforms held and maintained by 5 Airborne Brigade.
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The brigade has a dedicated Combat Service Support Battalion comprising a general support squadron--which includes REME personnel--a close support squadron and a REME workshop. There are also REME personnel with the infantry battalions.We expect consideration of 24 Airmobile Brigade's all-terrain mobile platform requirement to be completed in the course of next year.
24 Airmobile Brigade currently holds the following vehicles capable of deployment by support helicopter :
Trucks Utility Light/Medium
Trucks Utility Heavy
JCB Rough Terrain Fork-Lift Trucks
Motorcycles
Four-Tonne Trucks
Trailers
Piers
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of piers previously owned by his Department which have been sold in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years ; and if he will list the the purchaser and the selling price in each case.
Mr. Hanley : Details of the piers previously owned by the Ministry of Defence which have been sold in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years and the purchaser in each case are set out in the table. The sale prices are commercial in confidence.
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Location |Purchaser |Date sold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chatham Dockyard |Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust |20 January 1988 Milford Haven |Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council|23 December 1991 Arrochar |Clydebank Developments |21 January 1993 Invergordon |The Bannerman Company |31 May 1993 Inveraray |I. Turner | 2 June 1993 Holy Loch (Ardnadam) |G. R. Thompson |11 June 1993
In addition, offers for the purchase of two further piers at Holy Loch-- Sandbank--and Gourock are at a ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships are currently in full-time service in the Royal Navy.
Mr. Hanley : On 30 November, there were 130 commissioned surface vessels and submarines in service with the Royal Navy. There are also 21 vessels in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, whose supporting role is essential to the provision of the Royal Navy's overall capability.
Manpower Service Personnel
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many air marshals are currently on full-time service in the Royal Air Force ;
(2) how many other ranks are currently on full-time service with the Royal Air Force ;
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(3) how many generals are currently on full- time service in the Army ;(4) how many other ranks are currently on full-time service with the Army ;
(5) how many admirals are currently on full-time service in the Royal Navy.
Mr. Hanley : I refer the hon. Member to the 1 October 1993 issue of the tri-service personnel statistics publication No. 9--TSP9--"Rank Structure of UK Regular Forces", which is available from the House of Commons Library.
Nuclear Shelters
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of (a) nuclear shelters, (b) nuclear bunkers, (c) command shelters and (d) command bunkers previously owned by his Ministry which have been sold in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years ; and if he will list the purchaser and the selling price in each case.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested less the sale prices, which are commercial in confidence, is set out in the table :
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Location |Purchaser |Date sold --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bowsey Hill, Warren Row, Berkshire (Temporary Regional Seat of Government- Bunker No. 6) |The Document Storage Co. Ltd.|31 August 1988 Sopley, Hampshire (Command Bunker) |The Document Storage Co. Ltd.|12 August 1993
RAF Greenham Common
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Russian Government still have inspection rights under the disarmament treaty at RAF station Greenham Common ; what was the date of their last visit ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The Russian Government will retain inspection rights at Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth under the intermediate range nuclear forces--INF--treaty until the year 2001. The last visit to RAF Greenham Common by a Russian inspection team took place on 16 April 1992.
Western European Union
Mr. Cash : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy when strengthening the operational role of the Western European Union to ensure that there is no weakening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or the transatlantic link ; what effect he expects his proposals to have on the course of the NATO summit on the future of NATO ; and what plans he has to publicise progress on his proposals for the Western European Union.
Mr. Hanley : It has always been United Kingdom policy that development of the operational role of the Western European Union should strengthen NATO, including the transatlantic link. Discussions are continuing with allies on the preparations for the NATO summit, which will provide an important opportunity for the alliance to continue and enhance its adaptation to the new security environment. Progress in developing the Western European Union is made public in a variety of ways, including communique s issued following meetings of the WEU Council of Ministers. The most recent of these took place in Luxembourg on 22 November.
Yugoslavia
Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional resources will be made available this winter to British service men serving in the former Yugoslavia.
Mr. Hanley : Additional resources for British forces in Bosnia include specialist arctic winter clothing for all troops, heaters for Warrior armoured vehicles and cold weather food supplements.
Nuclear Submarines
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all nuclear-powered submarines that have visited (a) Liverpool, (b) Southampton, (c) Cardiff, (d) Portsmouth, (e) Torbay and (f) Portland during the last 12 months ; and if he will list the dates concerned.
Mr. Hanley : The following nuclear submarine visits have been made over the last 12 months at the locations in question :
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Location |Names |Dates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool |HMS Spartan |28 April to 4 May
Southampton |- |-
Cardiff |- |-
Portsmouth |USS Flying Fish |10 to 15 March
|FS Amethyste |10 to 14 May
|USS San Juan |20 to 26 May
|HMS Spartan |13 to 18 October
|USS Pargo |22 to 27 October
Torbay |- |-
Portland |- |-
Search and Rescue
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what RAF operations the search and rescue service would be supporting from RAF Brawdy in the event of the search and rescue Sea Kings being based there from April 1994.
Mr. Hanley : I will write to the hon. Member.
Army Sales Team
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the function of the Army sales team ; when it was established ; and what was its budget in each year since then.
Mr. Aitken : The Army sales teams organise and conduct demonstrations, training and trials of British defence equipment in the United Kingdom and overseas ; and assist companies with sales promotion material and provide specialist advice. An Army sales team was first formed in the late 1960s. Budgetary details going back to that time could not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort. Their budget was £1.3 million in 1991-92, £1.4 million in 1992-93, and is forecast at £1.6 million in 1993-94.
US Submarine (Incident)
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring of foreign submarines he will introduce following the Department of Transport's marine accident investigation branch report of the snagging of the fishing vessel Lupina C by a United States navy nuclear submarine to ensure that submarines adhere to the submarine code of conduct when steaming through United Kingdom territorial waters ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The code of practice governing the conduct of submarines when operating in the vicinity of fishing vessels applies to all foreign submarines operating dived within United Kingdom territorial waters. Since the incident involving the USS Sturgeon, efforts have been made to improve foreign submarines' awareness of the code's requirements, and it is clear that they take these very seriously and observe the rules to the letter.
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Lesbians and Gay Men
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries he has made as to the effect of lifting the ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the armed forces of those countries in which the ban has been lifted ; and if he will name the countries concerned.
Mr. Hanley : We are aware that some countries allow homosexuals to serve in their armed forces and that the Australian and Canadian armed forces have recently lifted their ban on homosexuals.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the position of lesbians and gay men in the armed services ; when he will bring forward
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legislation to decriminalise homosexuality in the armed forces ; and if in the interim he will refrain from pursuing criminal proceedings in respect of homosexuality.Mr. Hanley : Homosexuals are precluded from service in the armed forces. The Ministry of Defence has accepted that homosexual activity of a kind that is legal in civil life should no longer constitute an offence under service law. The amendment to the law will be made as soon as the legislative programme allows. In the meantime, it is not intended to prosecute service personnel who engage in homosexual activity that is legal in civilian law unless there are other grounds for prosecution under service law. Personnel who engage in homosexual activity that is lawful under civilian law will, however, continue to be administratively discharged from the services.
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