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Mr. Hanley : No decisions have been taken about a further roulement of British forces in Bosnia in April-May next year. As a matter of sensible contingency planning, however, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment has been identified and warned off as a possible replacement for 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, if a further six months deployment were to be undertaken.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information on alleged war crimes committed in Bosnia has been gathered by British forces deployed in the area ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Any information British forces come across during the course of their duties is passed to the relevant United Nations authorities for investigation.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy developments have occurred in relation to the provision of assistance by British forces in the investigation of allegations of war crimes in bosnia in the last 12 months ; and if he will make a statement.
Defence Support Agencies
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the criteria that he uses to assess the quality of work carried out by defence support agencies.
Mr. Hanley : The quality of the service delivered by defence agencies is measured in a number of ways which are tailored to the particular circumstances of each agency. Typically, these include key performance targets and agency reports and accounts, all of which are published annually, and the close involvement of the end user either through customer satisfaction surveys or formal boards, where representatives can ensure that their requirements are met and highlight any concerns. In some cases, defence agencies have achieved accreditation to BS5750 or have adopted a total quality approach to their activities-- both giving my Department additional measures or quality or performance.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a list of all the performance targets that have been established for defence support agencies.
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Mr. Hanley : This is a matter of public record.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence support agencies he intends to establish in the next 12 months.
Mr. Hanley : Areas under review for defence agency status in the next 12 months are the Ministry of Defence police ; RAF Training Group ; the Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation ; the Naval Marine Services Organisation ; Army Logistic Information Systems ; Army Engineer Services ; RAF Signals ; test and evaluation ; Sales (Disposals) ; Service Children's Schools abroad but outside the Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) defence agency. This process will involve, inter alia, consideration of operational implications and of prior options, including privatisation and contracting out. Final decisions will be taken case-by- case if it is clear that the best solution is to retain the activity within the Ministry of Defence.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the weighted number of allied quality assurance publication non- conformances by the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation defence support agency in 1992-93 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : This matter falls within the responsibilities of the chief executive of the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation defence agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Captain D. Symonds, Royal Navy, to Dr. David Clark dated 7 December 1993 :
In response to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the weighted number of allied Quality Assurance publication Non-conformances by the Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation Defence Agency (NARO DA) in 1992-93 :
The weighted number of allied Quality Assurance publication non-conformance by the NARO DA in 1992-93 was :
|Number
-------------------------
Fleetlands |548
Almondbank |124
NARO Total |672
The ratio of weighted
non-conformances per
audit showed a 19.6 per
cent. improvement over
the year in 1992-93.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy developments have occurred in respect of defence support agencies in the last two years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : In 1992 the Department conducted an internal review of next steps in the Ministry of Defence. Four main conclusions were reached : that greater attention needed to be paid to the Department's ownership role vis-a-vis its agencies ; that programmes of training and education needed to be developed ; that reviews for agency status should place much greater emphasis on strategic and management planning ; and that resources should be provided for the development of agency accounting and management information systems. Action has been taken or is in train under each of these headings. In addition, it was decided that the distinction
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formerly drawn between executive agencies in defence and defence support agencies had become counterproductive as it meant that agencies were viewed as falling into one or the other and as defence support agencies report to the Secretary of State through military or management channels of command rather than directly, this led to the retention of unnecessary central control. Accordingly, all next steps agencies in defence are known as defence agencies.Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of all of the penalties that he has imposed on defence support agencies for non-performance in each of the last two years.
Mr. Hanley : Each year all the defence agencies are set clear and challenging key targets. They are required to demonstrate their performance against targets in their annual report. In the assessment of performance and setting of revised targets a judgment is made by agency owners as to whether the targets set for the previous year have been too demanding or not challenging enough. The question of imposing penalties has not arisen.
Devonport and Rosyth
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he intends to take decisions about ownership restrictions relating to the sale of Devonport and Rosyth dockyards ;
(2) if he will publish full details of ownership restrictions relating to the sale of Devonport and Rosyth dockyards ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : I have nothing to add to my answer of 2 November to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson), Official Report, column 132 , and my right hon. and learned Friend's comments to the House on 18 October, Official Report, column 41.
Ammunition and Propellant
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which foreign companies currently supply the armed services with ammunition and propellant.
Mr. Aitken : My Department does not procure propellant separately. Overseas companies who currently supply the Ministry of Defence with ammunition are :
GIAT, France ;
Hirtenberger, Austria ;
Muiden Chemie, The Netherlands ;
Simmel, Italy ;
Borletti, Italy ;
De Kruithoorn, The Netherlands ;
Nico, Germany ; and
La Crox, France.
Married Quarters
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence married quarters were empty on (a) 30 September 1993, (b) 30 September 1992, (c) 30 September 1991, (d) 30 September 1990 and (e) 30 September 1989.
Mr. Hanley : The number of vacant Ministry of Defence married quarters on the dates requested was as follows :
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|Vacant Service MQs|Surplus MQs in the
|process of sale
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 September 1993 |10,124 |1,106
30 September 1992 |9,167 |1,560
30 September 1991 |9,834 |1,461
30 September 1990 |10,934 |1,711
31 July 1989<1> |13,505 |1,798
<1> Figures in 1989 were collected over a different reporting period.
The majority of vacant quarters at any one time are either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation, held for future developments or already allotted to service families who are due to move in shortly.
Operation Deny Flight
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of British participation in Operation Deny Flight.
Mr. Hanley : The additional cost to the Defence budget for this financial year is currently estimated to be about £30 million.
NAAFI
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 686, what (a) management and (b) disciplinary action was taken as a result of the letter to Aims of Industry sent by James Rucker of 14 March 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : None. Mr. Rucker's letter indicated correctly that NAAFI is a non-political organisation and could have no relationship with Aims of Industry.
Mine Clearance
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were trained by the British Army mine clearance training team during its participation in the recent United Nations operation in Cambodia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The United Kingdom's mine clearance training team trained a total of 42 Cambodians. The United Nations assigned the team to an area dominated by the Khmer Rouge, which withdrew its co-operation with the United Nations operation at an early stage and refused to permit further training. By the time the United Kingdom team had been relocated, this first training stage of the United Nations mine clearance operation was largely complete. The United Kingdom team was, however, able to participate fully in the subsequent United Nations supervision of mine clearance work by Cambodian teams which cleared over 45,000 mines and pieces of unexploded ordnance.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of deploying the British Army mine clearance training team as part of the recent United Nations operation in Cambodia.
Mr. Hanley : It is not possible to identify costs for specific elements of the British contingent deployed to Cambodia. The final cost of the United Kingdom deployment is not yet available, but to the end of September, some £2.5 million has been reported for the current financial year.
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Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the source of financing for the deployment of the British Army mine clearance training team as part of the recent United Nations operation in Cambodia.
Mr. Hanley : The cost of British military involvement in the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia is in accordance with established interdepartmental arrangements whereby the Foreign and Commonwealth Office meet the extra costs of any deployment for the first 12 months and the full costs thereafter. The United Nations has overall financial responsibility and reimburses admissible national costs.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the future deployment of mine clearance training teams ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The Government remain ready to consider requests for help with mine clearance training, as with all other forms of assistance in peace support operations.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with United Nations officials about the level of international demand for mine clearance training teams ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : None, but the United Nations has appointed a demining expert with whom the military adviser to the United Kingdom mission to the United Nations has had general discussions, as have officials from my Department and their counterparts at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Morale
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of changes in general service morale over the last three years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : There is no evidence of any significant change in service morale over the past three years. This has been a period of considerable uncertainty for service personnel, but they continue to carry out their duties in a thoroughly professional manner. We aim to relieve uncertainty by making early announcements, whenever possible, of decisions concerning their future.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the current state of morale amongst the chiefs of staff ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The chiefs of staff accept the need for changes in the size and shape of our armed forces, and the reasons behind those changes. They recognise the considerable challenges posed by the changes and have a number of understandable concerns about the magnitude of the task and the uncertainties for their services. They are nevertheless fully committed to the Government's objective of preserving front-line capability through improvements to the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of its support.
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Officers and Other Routes
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the change in the ratio between officer and other ranks between 1980 and 1992 ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what was the ratio of officers to other ranks in each of the three armed services in 1970 and 1979.
Mr. Hanley : The ratios of officers to other ranks on the dates specified are as follows :
Date |RN |Army |RAF |All ----------------------------------------------------- 1 April 1970 |1: 6.60|1: 7.79|1: 4.55|1: 6.25 1 April 1979 |1: 6.23|1: 8.11|1: 4.92|1: 6.54 1 April 1980 |1: 6.10|1: 8.33|1: 5.06|1: 6.64 1 April 1992 |1: 5.15|1: 7.43|1: 4.71|1: 5.92
These figures exclude locally enlisted personnel.
The ratios are based on strengths and reflect the requirement for officers and other ranks at the particular time. In the 12 years between 1980 and 1992 there has been a substantial restructuring of the armed forces to reflect changing requirements, notably those arising from the end of the cold war. This restructuring continues and further proposals may result from the defence costs study which is currently examining all aspects of support to the front line. The Ministry of Defence does not use officer : other ranks ratios as a control mechanism.
Racial Harassment
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he holds centrally of the number of complaints of racial harassment in the armed forces ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The Army and Royal Air Force maintain central records of complaints of racial discrimination and ill-treatment involving a racial element. During the period 1 January 1993 to 30 November 1993, there were five such complaints in the Army and two in the Royal Air Force. One complaint in the Army has been resolved and the remaining four are under investigation. Neither of the complaints in the Royal Air Force was substantiated. The Royal Navy expects to introduce a system to record complaints involving a racial element by spring 1994.
Expenditure
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy regarding the release of information on future expenditure plans ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Defence expenditure plans are published annually in the Financial Statement and Budget Report and cover the next financial year and the two following.
Arms Transfers
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith), of 29 November, Official Report, column 370, what criteria have been agreed with the EC and P5 concerning the export of defence equipment ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Aitken : Copies of the EC criteria and P5 guidelines concerning the export of defence equipment have been placed in the Library.
Release of Information
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy developments in relation to the release of information have occurred in the last 18 months.
Mr. Hanley : The Ministry of Defence is committed to the open Government initiative, and releases as much information into the public domain as possible without compromising security. Major examples include : the December 1992 announcement that, in future, service board of inquiry reports will be released to next of kin ; the ongoing review of closed departmental records to assess suitability for release to the Public Records Office--some 2,500 have been released to date--and the implementation this August, in conjunction with members of the media, of a new defence advisory notices system, replacing the old D notice system. This year's Statement on the Defence Estimates, "Defending Our Future", also represents a significant step forward in increasing openness, giving unprecedented access to the defence planner's perspective and to the way in which force structures are determined.
Light Armoured Vehicles
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the planned procurement of a new range of light armoured vehicles ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : Our future light armoured vehicle programme is still in its early stages. Feasibility studies are currently being carried out by three consortia for a new tactical reconnaissance armoured combat vehicle-- TRACER. Our requirements and procurement strategies for other future vehicles have yet to be determined.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his officials have had with foreign companies regarding the planned procurement of a new range of light armoured vehicles ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : The most recent discussions about our future light armoured vehicle programme, involving representatives of foreign companies, have been progress meetings between officials and the consortia who are carrying our feasibility studies for the tactical reconnaissance armoured combat equipment requirement--TRACER.
Reserve Forces
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of all of the representations he has received relating to his proposals on new legislation for the reserve forces ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : Our consultative document "Britain's Reserve Forces : A Framework for the Future" was published on 12 October 1993. The period for responses closed on 23 November, but late replies are still arriving. By Monday 6 December, some 133 responses had been received. Many of the letters reveal the private addresses
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and service affiliations of individuals, and it would therefore be inappropriate to publish them. I will, however, arrange for a factual summary of the responses, supported by appropriate extracts from the replies themselves, to be placed in the Library.Separately, more than 400 further replies have been received by Sir Alexander Graham, the chairman of the National Employers' Liaison Committee for the Reserve Forces, in response to a request from him to employers for views. He has undertaken to prepare a consolidated response from NELC which will also be placed in the Library.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding the policies of other NATO countries towards their reserve forces ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The policy of NATO countries towards their reserve forces is a matter for their respective Governments. All member countries, except Iceland which has no armed forces, are able to mobilise their reserve forces in times of crisis and war. There are, however, regular exchanges of views between representatives of the reserve forces of member countries under the auspices of the Confederation Inter-Allie e des Officiers de Re serve, and between the respective heads of the reserve forces in the National Reserve Forces Committee.
Conservative Party Conference
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what costs were incurred on defence votes in respect of staff from non-Defence Ministers' private offices visiting Blackpool during the Conservative party conference ; and if he will make a statement.
Ethnic Origins
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to monitor the ethnic origins of those leaving the armed forces.
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Mr. Hanley : The ethnic origins of personnel leaving the armed forces will be monitored as part of the ethnic monitoring of all regular serving personnel.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), Official Report , 29 November, column 364 , if his proposed survey of the ethnic origins of serving personnel will provide a detailed breakdown of (a) rank and (b) regimental or other unit affiliation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : It will be possible to produce a breakdown of the ethnic origins of serving personnel by rank, regiment or unit from the information obtained in the ethnic origin survey. It is our intention to publish a breakdown by service and rank in defence statistics in due course.
Nuclear Tests
Sir Paul Beresford : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what announcements he has to make about nuclear tests following the United States Government's anouncement on 7 December.
Mr. Aitken : The United Kingdom has carried out no secret nuclear tests. However, a British nuclear test at the Nevada test site on 25 September 1964 did not proceed as planned and did not produce a nuclear yield. For this reason it has not been included in lists of nuclear tests carried out by the United Kingdom.
RAF Training (Germany)
Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current training arrangements for the RAF based in Germany, what training areas are used ; how many flying hours are planned per month and how many are achieved ; how often and where alternative training takes place ; and how often training runs fail to take place due to shortage of spares.
Mr. Hanley : I will write to the hon. Member.
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