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Essex Training and Enterprise Council
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how much total funding has been made available for the Essex TEC expressed in cash terms and with the percentage change from the previous year for each financial year of its existence ;
(2) how much funding has been made available for the Essex TEC in 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94 expressed in cash terms and with the percentage change from the previous year for (a) youth training and credits, (b) training for work and the programme it replaced and (c) business start-up allowance ; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Widdecombe : The following table provides the information requested for each full year of the training and enterprise council's existence.
Funding for TECs is negotiated annually by officials from the Department who ensure that budgets are sufficient to meet priority local needs. Officials also ensure through regular reviews that TECs deliver quality training and enterprise support in a cost-effective way.
Essex TEC
|1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94
|£ million|£ million|£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Youth/training credits |13.712 |15.313 |16.712
Per cent. change |- |11.68 |9.14
Training for Work |5.637 |6.026 |6.133
Per cent. change |- |6.9 |1.78
Business start up allowance |0.424 |0.670 |0.863
Per cent. change |- |58.0 |28.8
|------- |------- |-------
Total |19.773 |22.009 |23.708
Note:
All figures except 1993-94 are based on actual spend.
1993-94 figures are estimated, based on contracted amounts.
TfW figures include the programmes replaced by TfW, including
Employment Training, Employment Action and HTNT.
BSU figures are based on the amounts paid for starts and survivors.
Figures do not include the following interest-free loans:
(i) a Working Capital Loan of £1,774K the balance of which was
repaid in 1992-93.
(ii) Fixed Asset Loans totalling £650K which are written off over
five years between July 1990 and July 1995. The balance of
these loans is currently £168K.
Jobcentre, Brixham
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will instruct his agents in Brixham to engage in the fullest consultation on the building of a new job centre in the old bus station site ; and what is his policy on (a) leasing or (b) building new buildings for the purposes of employment.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 3 February 1994 :
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about a new Jobcentre in Brixham, and about our policy on leasing or building new buildings.
For commercial reasons it is our policy not to comment on specific locations for prospective sites for new jobcentres. I can however, confirm that the Employment Service (ES) is considering a number of options in the Brixham area, and that all of these will be subjected to the fullest consideration and fully evaluated.
All options, including leasing and purchase of new buildings, will be subject to an investment appraisal in accordance with Treasury guidelines.
I hope this is helpful.
Job Shops
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his annual budget for running job shops in England ; how many staff are employed ; and how many of the premises are owned by his Department or leased by it and at what annual cost.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 3 February 1994 :
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the annual cost of running Jobcentres in England, the number of staff employed and how many offices are owned or leased.
The annual budget provided for running the Employment Service (ES) Local Offices' in England for 1993-94 was some £729 million, which includes premises operating costs of £122 million.
The ES employs around 43,000 staff in 1,021 offices in England. Of these buildings 607 are Departmental Estate properties, administered by the ES, and 414 are Common User Estate properties, administered by Property Holdings.
I hope this is helpful.
DEFENCE
Airmisses
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the date, location, altitude, aircraft types and joint airmiss working group determination of cause, for all category C airmiss reports involving military aircraft in the period from 1 January 1990.
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Mr. Hanley : A list of all category C airmiss reports involving military aircraft in the period from 1 January 1990 will be placed in the Library of the House.
Feedback"
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the current issue of the Royal Air Force inspectorate of flight safety publication "Feedback".
Mr. Hanley : No. "Feedback" is an internal Royal Air Force document for official use only. It is intended to provide early and practical guidance to service air and ground crews in their particular environment.
Harrier Jet (Wirestrike Incident)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the wirestrike incident involving a Royal Air Force Harrier in north Norway on 15 November 1993.
Mr. Hanley : The aircraft was on a routine training exercise and struck power cables while flying through a fjord at 335 ft. The aircraft suffered minor damage and was able to land at a diversion airfield. The cause of this incident is currently under investigation by an RAF board of inquiry.
Skyguard Radar
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of Royal Air Force Provost and Security Service monitoring by Skyguard radar of aircraft flying at altitudes higher than 2,000 ft.
Mr. Hanley : The purpose of deploying the Skyguard radar system in its low flying monitoring role is to observe military aircraft flying below 2000 ft. However, some tracking of military aircraft flying above 2000 ft is unavoidable. The Skyguard system comprises two radars ; a search radar and a tracking radar. Aircraft in the area of monitoring are picked up on the search radar initially before the tracking radar is set to observe a particular aircraft in detail. Only when the tracking radar has locked on to an aircraft can its height be established. Once an aircraft has been identified as flying above 2000 ft, attention is turned to monitoring other aircraft in the area.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the system for reporting of breaches of low flying regulations recorded by Skyguard radar ; to which units or offices such breaches are reported ; and what are the mechanisms for instituting disciplinary proceedings.
Mr. Hanley : Following any apparent breach of low flying regulations recorded by Skyguard, the RAF police conducts further inquiries to identify the aircraft concerned and interview the aircrew. A report is then passed to my Department's secretariat--Air Staff--and copied to other interested parties, including the commanding officer of the aircrew concerned. Where breaches of low flying regulations are not the subject of court martial or summary disposal proceedings under the service discipline Acts, responsibilty for action lies with the commanding officer of the aircrew.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment is carried by RAF police in covert
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monitoring of low flying without use of Skyguard radar ; how many aircraft have been observed by such non-radar covert monitoring in each year since 1990 ; and how many apparent breaches of low flying regulations were detected by these monitoring deployments.Mr. Hanley : Covert monitoring of low-flying aircraft without the use of Skyguard is carried out visually by experienced RAF Police observers following a survey of the chosen site. The relative heights and distances of local landmarks are taken into account when conducting the survey.
The number of aircraft observed using these methods since 1990 are as follows :
Year |Number of
|aircraft observed
------------------------------------------------------
1990 |177
1991 |533
1992 |276
1993 |347
Four apparent breaches of low flying regulations were detected during these covert monitoring deployments.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the changes in policy since February 1992 concerning the release of statistical information on the results of Skyguard monitoring of low flying ; and what were the reasons for those changes.
Mr. Hanley : Since November 1992 it has been my Department's policy to notify hon. Members in advance when Skyguard low flying monitoring is planned to take place in their general area and arrange for the equipment to be available for the public to see at the end of the deployment. The decision to release statistical information on the results of the monitoring flowed from the revised arrangements.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the equipment used by the RAF police on Skyguard radar deployments to monitor low flying includes radio equipment capable of receiving transmissions on the common radio frequency for the United Kingdom low flying system.
Flying Hour (Definition)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definition of flying hour is used in the recording of flight time by British military aircraft.
Mr. Hanley : British military aircraft record flight time as being from the moment an aircraft takes off to the moment it lands, as opposed to commercial aircraft where flight time includes the time the aircraft taxies for departure and on arrival.
Tornado Accident, County Durham
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the accident involving a Royal Air Force Tornado F3 aircraft in County Durham on 21 October 1993.
Column 898
Mr. Hanley : The aircraft, on a routine training sortie flying at 2,000 ft and 300 knots, suffered a major fuselage fuel leak and an associated engine flame-out. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft caught fire. Both crew members ejected safely. The cause of the accident is currently being investigated by a RAF board of inquiry and a summary of its findings will be produced in the normal way. A copy of the summary will be placed in the Library of the House.
Harrier Accident, Evesham
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the accident involving a Royal Air Force Harrier near Evesham on 14 January.
Mr. Hanley : The aircraft was on a routine training sortie when it crashed near the village of Aston Somerville. The pilot, a member of the United States Marine Corps on an exchange tour with the RAF, unfortunately died in the accident. An investigation into the cause of the accident is being conducted by an RAF board of inquiry.
Harrier Accident, Bristol Channel
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the accident involving a Royal Navy Sea Harrier in the Bristol channel on 5 January.
Mr. Hanley : The accident involved a Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS2 from 899 Squadron, based at RNAS Yeovilton. The aircraft was flying low over the sea when an engine malfunction caused the pilot to eject. The aircraft came down approximately 15 miles west of Chivenor. The pilot was uninjured. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.
Low Flying
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the current issue of the Royal Air Force publication "Low Flying Update".
Mr. Hanley : The document is classified and cannot therefore be released.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reports have been received from aircrew on operational low flying training sorties in the tactical training areas, of sightings of other military aircraft on non-operational low flying training sorties flying at less than 500 ft minimum separation distance.
Mr. Hanley : Central records of such reports are not maintained. However, the indications are that such reports have been received on only a very small number of occasions.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the nature of each of the breaches of low flying regulations listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 18 October 1993, Official Report , column 57 , and the height at which each aircraft was recorded as flying.
Mr. Hanley : All of the apparent breaches of low flying regulations listed in my answer to the hon. Member of 18 October 1993, Official Report , column 57 , were in respect of height, except for the following which were apparent breaches of an avoidance :
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Date |Location |Type of |Nationality
|aircraft
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 July 1991 |Eshott Airfield |F4 |German Air Force
2 July 1992 |Beverly/Linley Hill Aerodrome|Tornado |RAF
It is not my Department's policy to release detailed information such as the recorded height of aircraft involved in apparent breaches of low flying regulations.
British Goods
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the purchase of British-manufactured goods for the armed services.
Mr. Aitken : To achieve the best value for money, wherever possible, we place contracts by means of open competition. British companies have proved highly competitive to the extent that, over the past five years, we estimate that some 90 per cent. of defence equipment expenditure was spent with United Kingdom industry. My Department provides British defence industry with as much information as possible about its future procurement plans, and Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of defence industry trade associations.
Garelochhead Training Centre
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training man days were spent on the Garelochhead training area in each year since 1985.
Mr. Hanley : Details for Garelochhead are available only from the financial year 1987-88 onwards :
(a) Armed Forces
|1979 |Latest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Navy and Royal Marines
Regulars |73,500 (1 January 1979) |57,427 (1 November 1993)
Reserves |35,300 (1 January 1979) |31,100 (1 April 1993)
|_______ |_______
Total |108,800 |88,527
Total percentage change |-19
Army
Regulars (including Gurkhas) |156,200 (1 April 1979) |130,900 (1 January 1994)
Reserves |59,400 (1 April 1979) |64,100 (1 December 1993)
|_______ |_______
|215,600 |195,600
Total percentage change |-10
Royal Air Force
Regulars |85,400 (1 January 1979) |78,900 (1 April 1993)
Reserves |30,600 (1 January 1979) |47,800 (1 April 1993)
|_______ |_______
Total |116,600 |126,700
Total percentage change |+9 |126,700
(Date of information in brackets).
The lower than average figure for 1993-94 is due to a reduction in capacity on account of works services.
Prescription Charges
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those categories of armed forces personnel whose national health service prescription charges are reimbursed from his Department's funds ; and what was the total cost of this provision in the latest year for which data are available.
Mr. Hanley : All armed forces personnel are entitled to free medical and dental treatment. As a part of this condition of service national health service prescription charges paid by service personnel based in the United Kingdom may be reimbursed from funds within my Department. Figures relating to the cost of this provision
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are not held centrally and could be obtained only atdisproportionate cost. The entitlement to free medical and dental treatment is one of the many factors taken into account by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body when comparing pay levels in the armed forces with those in civilian employment.
Glen Douglas Depot
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of the Glen Douglas armaments depot.
Mr. Hanley : The NATO armaments depot--NAD--at Glen Douglas is currently used for ammunition storage by the Royal Navy, the US and the Netherlands. Following the United States' decision to withdraw its holdings, it was announced on 2 December 1993 that the task of storing and maintaining RAF ammunition would be transferred from RAF Chilmark to NAD Glen Douglas. Work has already commenced on the transfer which should be completed, on current plans, by the end of 1994.
Hercules Accident
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the summary of the report on the accident to a Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft on 27 May 1993.
Mr. Hanley : A summary of the RAF board of inquiry's findings will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.
T80U Tank
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's receipt of a tank from Russia for research purposes.
Mr. Aitken : In 1992 a Russian T80U tank was imported for defence research and development purposes.
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any department of his Ministry has taken delivery of a T80U main battle tank.
Mr. Aitken : Yes. A Russian T80U tank was imported for defence research and development purposes.
Defence Cuts
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage reductions have been made in the total number of (a) armed forces, (b) military establishments, (c) naval craft, (d) aircraft, (e) munitions factories, (f) naval dockyards and (g) regiments since 1979 ; and what were the numbers in each case in 1979 and at the latest available date.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested is as follows :
Column 901
(a) Armed Forces
|1979 |Latest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Navy and Royal Marines
Regulars |73,500 (1 January 1979) |57,427 (1 November 1993)
Reserves |35,300 (1 January 1979) |31,100 (1 April 1993)
|_______ |_______
Total |108,800 |88,527
Total percentage change |-19
Army
Regulars (including Gurkhas) |156,200 (1 April 1979) |130,900 (1 January 1994)
Reserves |59,400 (1 April 1979) |64,100 (1 December 1993)
|_______ |_______
|215,600 |195,600
Total percentage change |-10
Royal Air Force
Regulars |85,400 (1 January 1979) |78,900 (1 April 1993)
Reserves |30,600 (1 January 1979) |47,800 (1 April 1993)
|_______ |_______
Total |116,600 |126,700
Total percentage change |+9 |126,700
(Date of information in brackets).
(b) Military Establishments. There are several possible definitions of the term "Military Establishment". On any definition, the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Records for 1979 are not held.
(c) Naval Craft. The figures for the number of major warships (vessels of frigate size and above) are as follows :
1979 |Latest --------------------- <1>103 |<2>65 <1>As at 1 January 1979. <2>As at 31 December 1993. Total percentage change: -37.
(d) Aircraft. Figures available for 1979 only cover squadrons, flights or regiments, and do not give numbers of individual aircraft. Because the numbers of aircraft within units has changed over the years, a percentage change figure based on the numbers of units would not be meaningful. The available figures are as follows :
Royal Navy
1 January 1979
13 squadrons plus 49 flights
1 April 1993
18 squadrons plus 34 flights
Army
1 April 1979
6 Army Air Corps regiments
1 January 1994
5 Army Air Corps regiments
Royal Air force
1 April 1979
14 Strike/Attack squadrons
5 Offensive Support squadrons
4 Maritime Patrol squadrons
5 Reconnaissance squadrons
16 Air Defence squadrons
1 Airborne Early Warning squadron
9 Air Transport squadrons
2 Tanker squadrons
2 Search and Rescue squadrons
Total : 58
1 February 1994
7 Strike/Attack squadrons
5 Offensive Support squadrons
3 Maritime Patrol squadrons
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