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RAF Finningley
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the level of expenditure by RAF Finningley on supplies and services from the local area.
Mr. Soames: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) total and (b) mean annual salary cost of service personnel located at RAF Finningley.
Mr. Soames: My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what developments, improvements, equipment upgrades or other physical works have been undertaken at RAF Finningley in the past five years; and what has been the cost of each of these works projects.
Mr. Soames: Details of works expenditure at RAF Finningley for financial years 1990 91 to 1994 95 are as follows:
|£
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property Management (including maintenance and minor works) |12,808,000
Officer Married Quarter refurbishment |5,200,000
New Air Navigation School |4,660,000
Airman Married Quarter refurbishment |4,600,000
Barrack Block refurbishment |1,242,000
Supply Hanger |772,000
New Motor Transport Facility |745,000
100 Squadron Accommodation |580,000
Station Heating upgrade |274,000
|-----
Total |30,881,000
These figures include estimated expenditure of £2,423,000 for the current financial year.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the existing facilities at RAF Finningley could be used for civilian aviation purposes.
Mr. Soames: If the proposed closure of RAF Finningley goes ahead, and the site is disposed of, the runway, taxiway, hangarage, parking and handling areas could, subject to planning approval, be used for civilian aviation purposes.
Fixtures such as radar and air traffic control equipment would be removed by the RAF prior to disposal. If the RAF continued to use Finningley as at present, and capacity for civil use of the airfield was identified, only the runway and taxiway would be available for use by civil aircraft on a regular basis.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvement works are required at other bases to which it is proposed that existing RAF Finningley
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activities will transfer in order that the facilities at RAF Finningley are matched; at which RAF stations the works are required; and what is the estimated cost of these improvement works.Mr. Soames: The detail requested will be covered in a consultative document concerning the proposed closure of RAF Finningley. That document will fully explain the rationale behind the proposal, including financial considerations, and will be issued shortly.
Public Opinion Surveys
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each public opinion survey commissioned by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies since 1 October 1992, showing for each, the subject, objectives, total cost, the period in which it was conducted and the organisation from which it was commissioned.
Mr. Soames: The information requested is as follows:
Period |Commissioned by |Subject
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992
November |Army |ACIO Research
December |Army |Army Officer Creative Development Research
1993
March |RAF |Recruitment Advertising Strategy Research
May |Army |Officer Advertising, Creative Development Research
December |MoD |NECL Creative Development Research
December |Army |Soldier Slogan Research
1994
February |RN |Advertising Strategy Development Research
March |MoD |University Finalists Survey
March |MoD |NELC Research
May |Army |Slogan Confirmation and Creative Development Research
June |Army |Army Recruitment Targeting Research
June |RN |Asians Language and Communication Survey
August |MoD |NECL Tracking-Autumn 94
September |Army |Army Recruiting Advertising Tracking
The objectives of the research are to monitor the effectiveness of advertising and attitudes of members of the public towards a career in the armed forces. The cost of the studies and the name of the successful contractor is commercially confidential information. The commissioning of public opinion surveys by my Department's agencies is a matter for the chief executives of those agencies. I can confirm, however, that none of the chief executives has commissioned such work since 1 October 1992.
Low Flying
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to introduce height-recording equipment in all fast jets included in low-level and ultra-low level training flights.
Mr. Soames: We have no plans to introduce such equipment.
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Nuclear Submarines
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to date for the decommissioning of each nuclear-powered submarine withdrawn from service; and what information his Department has sought from the Defence Ministries of the United States, France and Russia on their respective experience in such submarine reactor cores and hulls.
Mr. Freeman: The approximate costs of undertaking the defuelling, de -equipping and lay-up preparation process for those nuclear-powered submarines which have been taken out of service to date are as follows:
S Submarine |DDLP costs £ million ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HMS Swiftsure |11.5 HMS Warspite |11.3 HMS Churchill |11.2 HMS Conqueror |10.6 HMS Courageous |10.8 HMS Revenge (SSBN) |18.7 HMS Valiant and HMS Resolution have not started their DDLP process yet.
Those costs do not include the costs of final disposal, the policy for which is still under consideration. It is also not possible to provide costs on the decommissioning of HMS Dreadnought, which was the first nuclear submarine to be withdrawn from service in 1982 and the information requested, in so far as it may be available, could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
A regular exchange of information between the United States and the United Kingdom Governments continues on all nuclear matters under the 1958 mutual defence agreement. No detailed discussions have taken place with France or Russia on these matters.
Gordon Foxley
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has undertaken a study of the costs to the Government arising from acts of corruption for which Gordon Foxley has been convicted.
Mr. Freeman: My Department's study of Gordon Foxley's corrupt activities has been unable to establish specific costs to the Government arising from these.
South Africa
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa regarding allegations of sales of arms by British companies to the former South African Government in breach of the United Nations arms embargo; and if he will make a statement.
Ministry of Defence Headquarters
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the costs of constructing the new MOD headquarters at Abbey Wood; and what are the expected running costs.
Mr. Freeman: The estimated works cost of the Abbey Wood development, inclusive of site acquisition, construction, fitting out, professional works management fees and VAT is £254.136 million at 1993 prices. The construction programme continues to proceed within
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budget and against the planned time scale, which remains tight. Phased occupation of the accommodation is targeted to commence in autumn 1995, with the aim of completing by autumn 1996.We are in the process of inviting bids for facilities management at Abbey Wood. The core facilities management costs are projected to achieve savings in excess of 40 per cent. compared to existing accommodation, with energy costs estimated at one third of those for typical modern buildings.
Anti-personnel Mines
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what conclusions for United Kingdom policy he has drawn from the recent report commissioned by the United States Department of Defence concerning the military utility of anti-personnel mines to the United States armed forces;
(2) whether Her Majesty's Government will commission a report on the military utility of anti-personnel mines for the armed forces.
Mr. Freeman: We are not aware of any specific United States Government report concerning the military utility of anti-personnel mines for the United States armed forces. The need for, and the role of, land mines for the United Kingdom armed forces is assessed as part of overall military strategy.
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of Her Majesty's armed forces have been (a) killed and (b) injured by anti-personnel mines since 1980; in which countries, and with what effects on operations in which British armed forces have been involved.
Mr. Soames: Precise data are not available on the individual weapons systems responsible for deaths and injuries of service personnel.
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has conducted into the impact of anti-personnel mines on civilian populations; and what conclusions he reached.
Mr. Freeman: No such research has been carried out by the Ministry of Defence. The use of anti-personnel land mines by United Kingdom armed forces is fully in accordance with the laws of war, which prohibit the use of land mines against civilians.
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has conducted on the failure rates of anti-personnel mines with self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanisms; and if he will publish specific details of failure rates and the general conclusions of the research.
Mr. Freeman: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 18 April 1994, Official Report, column 416 .
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has conducted to compare the levels of military utility to the United Kingdom armed forces of anti-personnel mines and anti-tank mines; and with what conclusions.
Mr. Freeman: Anti-personnel mines and anti-tank mines have separate roles although they are often laid within the same area. The anti-tank mine is intended to prevent physically the passage of military vehicles with
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consequential effect on the enemy's fighting capability. Anti-personnel mines are intended to lower the enemy's general effectiveness. Consequently, the military utility of the two cannot be compared to useful advantage.DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Public Appointments
Dr. Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many public appointments (a) he is responsible for making and (b) require his approval including those not listed in "Public Bodies"; and if he will give this figure in terms of (i) appointments to executive bodies, (ii) appointments to advisory bodies and (iii) other appointments.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: In respect of his ministerial
responsibilities, my right hon. Friend is responsible for making 95 appointments to six executive bodies and 53 appointments on five advisory bodies. Ten further appointments to an advisory body require his approval. All of these are listed in "Public Bodies". In respect of his non- ministerial responsibilities for the Duchy of Lancaster, the Chancellor is also responsible for 186 appointments to 21 advisory bodies, and six appointments with a historical connection. These are not listed in "Public Bodies".
Dr. Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total number of public appointments made by Ministers, or requiring their approval, including those not listed in "Public Bodies"; and if he will give this figure in terms of (a) appointments to executive bodies, (b) appointments to advisory bodies and (c) other appointments.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: There are 42,606 public appointments listed in "Public Bodies 1993". Of these, 4,116 are appointments to executive bodies, 10,022 are appointments to advisory bodies, and 28, 468 are other appointments such as those made to tribunals and NHS bodies. Statistical information is not held centrally about other appointments not listed in "Public Bodies" which include the posts of utility regulators, and non- executive appointments to agency and departmental management boards.
Official Report
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the price per copy, in (a) real and (b) current prices of a daily copy of the Official Report in 1970, what it is at present; what has been the percentage change in the price since 1970; and what has been the change in the retail prices index over the same period.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The price of House of Commons daily Hansard in 1970 was 2s 3d, which adjusted by the percentage change in the retail prices index of 787 per cent. is equivalent to 87p today; the price since 1991 has been £7.50. The 1970 price was heavily subsidised by the taxpayer, and this is no longer the case. HMSO announced last year that prices for routine parliamentary publications, including the Official Report , would not be increased during the life of the present Parliament.
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to meet the officers of the
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Hansard Society to discuss their report on the decline in the sales of Hansard ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Robert G. Hughes: I have no such plans.
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to achieve maximum distribution of the Official Report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: Market research on the prospects for increasing sales of the Official Report has recently been undertaken by MORI on behalf of HMSO. The findings are currently under consideration.
Telephone Information Lines
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many telephone information lines have been established under the auspices of the citizens charter; and how many of these are currently in operation.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: Many public service organisations have set up and run their own telephone information lines to ensure that their customers can make easy contact with them. The Office of Public Service and Science does not hold central records of all these lines, but is aware of Government helplines in the following sectors: Agriculture--
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Helpline : 0645-335577. Local rates. 0900-1700 weekdays.
Customs and Excise--
Customs and Excise Helpline: 071-202 4227. Standard rates. 0900-1700 weekdays.
Education--
Department for Education Enquiries: 071-925 5555. Standard rates. 0900-1700 weekdays.
Employment--
Dial a Job: 071-287 0100. Standard rates. 0900-1700 weekdays. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Information Centre Helpline: 0742-892345. Standard rates. 0900-1700 weekdays. HSE Autofax: 0742-892333. Standard rates. 24 hours a day.
Redundancy Payments Service Customer Service Unit Helpline: 0800-848489. Free. 0900-1700 weekdays.
Work Permits Information Line: 071-273 5337. Standard rates. 0900-1700 weekdays.
Energy Efficiency--
Energy Efficiency: 071-276 6200. Standard rates. 0900-1700 weekdays.
Energy Action Grants Agency (grants for improving energy efficiency): 0800- 181667. Free. 0830-1730 weekdays.
Building Research Establishment Saving Money on Heating: 0923-664664. Standard rates. 0900-16.30 weekdays.
Environment--
National Rivers Authority Emergency Hotline for Environmental Incidents: 0800-807060. Free. 24 hours a day.
Air Quality Information: 0800-556677. Free. 24 hours a day.
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office--Foreign Travel Advice Unit: 071-270 4129. Standard rates. 0930-1600 weekdays.
Health--
Health Information Service (Information about health, local NHS services, waiting times, common diseases, conditions and treatments): 0800-665544. Free. 1000-1700 weekdays.
AIDS Helpline: 0800-567123. Free. 24 hours a day.
Home Office--
General Enquiries: 071-273 4599. Standard rates. 24 hours a day. Nationality and Citizenship Enquiries: 051-236 4723. Standard rates. 0900- 1600 weekdays.
Immigration Enquiries: 081-686 0688. Standard rates. 0900-1645 Monday- Thursday. 0900-1630 Friday. 24 hour recorded information for visitors: 081- 760 1600. Standard rates.
Students: 081-760 1622. Standard rates.
Work permit holders: 081-760 1644. Standard rates.
Au Pairs: 081-760 1666. Standard rates.
Home Office Publications Unit: 071-273 3072/2302. Standard rates. 0915-1700 weekdays.
Inland Revenue--
Taxback Information Line: 0800-660800. Free. 24 hours a day. Post Office--
Post Office Counters Helpline: 0345-223344. Local rates. 0815-1800 weekdays. 0830-1300 Saturday.
Social Security--
Social Security Freeline:
English: 0800-666555. Free. 0830-1630 weekdays.
Urdu: 0800-289188. Free. 0900-289188. Free. 0900-1600 weekdays. Chinese: 0800-252451. Free. 0900-1630 weekdays.
Punjabi: 0800-521360. Free. 0830-1630 weekdays.
Welsh: 0800-289011. Free. 0900-1630 weekdays.
Language line : Details available from Benefits Agency local offices.
Family Credit Helpline: 0253-500050. Standard rates. 0730-1830 weekdays.
Benefit Enquiry Line for people with Disabilities: 0800-882200. Free. 0830- 1830 weekdays. 0900 1300 Saturday.
Minicom: 0800-243355. Free.
Disability Living Allowance Customer Care Helpline: 0345-123456. Local rates. 0730 1830 weekdays.
Child Support Agency Enquiries: 0345-133133. Local rates. 0830 1800. weekdays.
Social Security Advice Line for Employers: 0800-393539. Free. 0900 1630 Monday Thursday. 0900 1600 Friday.
War Pension Agency Helpline: 0253-858858. Standard rates. 0815 1715 Monday Thursday. 0815 1630 Friday.
Minicom: 0253-859999. Standard rates.
Trade and Industry--
General Enquiries: 071-215 5000. Standard rates. 0830 1730 weekdays. Answerphone at other times.
Innovation: 0800-442001. Free. 0830 1730 weekdays. Answerphone at other times.
Business in Europe Hotline: 0272-444888. Standard rates. 24 hours a day.
DTI Services for Businesses: 0800-500200. Free. 24 hours a day. Transport--
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Customer Enquiry Unit (Drivers): 0792- 772151. Standard rates.0815 1630 weekdays. Customer Enquiry Unit (Vehicles): 0792-772134. Standard rates. 0815 1630 weekdays.
Cones Hotline: 0345-504030. Local rates. 24 hours a day. London Transport Travel Information: 071-222 1234. Standard rates. 24 hours a day.
The citizens charter unit has itself set up and run a number of telephone information lines:
(a) 0800 100101 sent out copies of guides to the Citizen's Charter White Paper. Calls to this line were free. The service ran from 22 July 1991 until 16 March 1994.
(b) 0345 300130 provided information about how to obtain copies of the follow-up charters produced by departments and agencies. Calls to this line were charged at a local rate. The service ran from 25 November 1992 until 16 March 1994.
(c) Charterline (0345 203040), a telephone information helpline service for local and national public services, was piloted in the East Midlands from 19 May 1993 until 6 May 1994. Calls were charged at a local rate.
(d) The Citizen's Charter Publication Line on 0345 223242 was set up on 16 March 1994 to send out copies of the Guide to Citizen's Charter White Papers; details of how to obtain the follow-up charters; the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information; Charter Mark Award Scheme information; Charter News; and Complaints Task Force information. The service is still running; calls are charged at a local rate.
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