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Mr. Hanley : The headquarters organisation of the Army's inspector general doctrine and training has collocated in Upavon from eight separate locations in the United Kingdom. The primary role and purpose of the organisation is to formulate a coherent military doctrine ; to ensure the translation of that doctrine into training policy and the implementation of individual training and training support to meet it.
Flying Hours
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average number of flying hours flown per aircrew per year in RAF front-line strike/attack/reconnaissance units in each year since 1987.
Mr. Hanley : The information is as follows :
< Year |Strike/Attack |Reconnaissance ------------------------------------------------------------ 1987 |434 |228 1988 |469 |245 1989 |457 |241 1990 |463 |251 1991 |398 |218 1992 |447 |235 <1>1993 |375 |199 <1> to end of Oct 93
Nimrod
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Nimrod aircraft was first certified to carry nuclear weapons ; and whether this certification applied to the United Kingdom as well as United States weapons.
Mr. Hanley : The Nimrod aircraft was certified for carriage of American nuclear depth charges from its entry into service in 1969. It has never been certified to carry British nuclear weapons.
Combat-ready Aircrew
Mr. Llywd : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if instructor aircrew in the Harrier, Jaguar, Tornado and Hawk reserve squadrons are required to maintain combat-ready status.
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Housing
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December, Official Report , column 173 , (1) on what consideration he bases his policy of not revealing the future expenditure plans of MoD budget holders at the level of detail requested ;
(2) whether he has considered changing his policy regarding the release of detailed information on the future expenditure plans of MoD budget holders ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The 10-year costing of the defence programme, known as the long-term costing, upon which details of future expenditure plans are based, is designed for internal planning purposes only. Approval to commit expenditure is subject to separate procedures and endorsement by Ministers as appropriate. To avoid giving a misleading impression as to the firmness of our plans, therefore, we would not normally provide such details. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to change this policy.
Defence Costs Study
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December, Official report , column 176 , if he will list each of the aspects of support that he will be looking at as part of the defence costs study ; and if he will provide detailed information on their current functions and costs.
Mr. Aitken : At this stage, I have nothing to add to my previous answer.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December, Official Report , column 176 , how long the defence costs study will take ; and if he will publish a declassified copy of their work once it has been completed.
Mr. Aitken : No overall timetable has been set, since the time needed to look at different areas of defence support will vary considerably. Work is, however, being taken forward as quickly as possible. We will decide how best to make public the results of the study as soon as we have had the opportunity to consider them.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December, Official Report, column 176 , what are (a) the current headquarters costs, (b) the current manpower costs and (c) current procurement practice ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : Details of defence expenditure are given in the publication "UK Defence Statistics : 1993 Edition". Table 1.3 gives planned expenditure for 1993-94 in each of the management areas. The total figure for MOD headquarters and centrally managed expenditure is £1,886.3 million. Table 1.2 shows that anticipated expenditure on service and civilian personnel this year is £9,716 million. The fullest and most recent description of current procurement practice is in "Britain's Defence Procurement", a booklet published by my Department in July 1993. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December, Official Report, column 176, how many staff will be employed on a full-time basis on the defence costs study.
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Mr. Aitken : A secretariat with eight full-time members has been established to co-ordinate work on the study. The work itself will be carried out by a number of small study teams, each looking at different areas of support business. Some staff will work full-time on the study as members of these teams.
Married Quarters
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money he has spent over the last two years on upgrading the physical condition of married quarters ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Atomic Weapons Establishment, Cardiff
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received and what consultations he has had in relation to the setting up of a local liaison committee for the atomic weapons establishment, Cardiff ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : I have received one representation from the director of environmental services, Cardiff city council, concerning the setting up of a local liaison committee for AWE Cardiff. I am pleased to announce that following an exploratory meeting with local authority representatives the inaugural meeting of the local liaison committee for AWE Cardiff is scheduled for 24 January 1994.
Nuclear Warhead Convoy (Breakdown)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the breakdown on the M25 of the nuclear warhead convoy vehicle on 9 December.
Mr. Hanley : A military convoy stopped on the M25 on 9 December to allow the inspection of a suspected mechanical defect on one vehicle. As a precautionary safety measure, the civil police cordoned off the inner lane of the motorway.
Following the inspection, the tractor unit of one of the vehicles was changed and the convoy continued its journey and arrived safely at its destination. It is a long-standing policy neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any particular place or time.
Spent Polaris Warheads
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines he has agreed for the transportation by road, rail and shipping for spent Polaris nuclear warheads from Faslane to the atomic weapons establishment, Burghfield and for warheads of parts thereof to AWE Aldermaston and Cardiff ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : Nuclear warheads, and their components, can be transported by road, sea or air. Appropriate safety and security procedures are applied to all such movements.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many shipments have taken place from Faslane to atomic weapons establishments at Burghfield, Aldermaston and Cardiff of spent Polaris nuclear warheads for decommissioning, decontamination and disposal; what
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proposals he has for future programmes of this kind; and if he will make a statement on his proposals for amendments to the relevant nuclear site licences.Mr. Aitken : It is not our policy to discuss movements of nuclear warheads. The question of licensing under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 does not arise : under the AWE Act 1991, AWE sites are not subject to such licensing.
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Customs and Excise
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Customs and Excise controls are exercised on the entry of aircraft or warships.
Sir John Cope : I have been asked to reply.
Crew and any passengers on military aircraft and naval vessels declare goods as required and pay any charges due. Declarations are also provided of any cargo and stores. Customs and Excise perform selective anti- smuggling checks in conjunction with the relevant naval or military body.
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