Previous Section Home Page

Column 772


           |£ millions           

---------------------------------

1989-90    |5,395                

1990-91    |5,525                

1991-92    |6,018                

1992-93    |6,580                

1993-94    |7,086                

1994-95    |7,492                

1995-96    |7,716                

1996-97    |<1>7,880             

1997-98    |<1>8,020             

<1> Rounded to the nearest £10   

million.                         

The Northern Ireland total is mainly the result of the application of the comparability principle which automatically adjusts the NI total in line with movements in comparable GB programmes in proportion to relative population. Full account has been taken of Northern Ireland's special needs in setting its overall public expenditure total.

The peace process is still at an early stage and it would not be helpful to speculate on the likely quantum of savings. In setting public expenditure totals for Northern Ireland full account will be taken of Northern Ireland's special needs.

Secret Files

Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) top secret and (b) secret files his Department holds.

Sir John Wheeler: Of the number of files held centrally in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments, 57 are top secret and 4,661 are secret.

Textile Industry

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has concerning interests of the chairman of the Northern Ireland industrial development board in the textile industry; and what assessment he has made of the objectivity of the consideration given by the board to the application by the Hualon Corporation for a grant of £61 million for new textile facilities in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Ancram [holding answer 24 November 1994]: All members of the Industrial Development Board are required to register interests which could impinge on their work as Board Members. The chairman has registered interests in two Northern Ireland clothing companies, Cooneen Textiles Ltd. and Regatta Fashions Ltd. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has the fullest confidence in the objectivity of the advice given by the board to officials and Ministers on this and all other cases.

Industrial Development Board

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been undertaken by his Department to examine the propriety of links between the chairman of the Northern Ireland industrial development board and the Hualon Corporation.

Mr. Ancram [holding answer 24 November 1994]: Neither my right hon. and learned Friend nor the chairman of the Industrial Development Board is aware of any links which should be investigated. Mr. McGuckian has met


Column 773

Hualon on three occasions, supported by officials, in his capacity as chairman, which is the full extent of his contacts with the corporation.

Forum for Peace and Reconciliation

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to oppose the appointment of Mr. John McGuckian to the chairmanship of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ancram [holding answer 24 November 1994]: The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation is entirely a matter for the Irish Government. The chairman is Judge Catherine McGuinness.

Hualon Corporation

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Hualon Corporation has to date honoured all commitments relating to the payment of monies into its Northern Ireland subsidiary in connection with the projects for which the Northern Ireland Industrial Development Board has approved the payment of a £61 million grant; if he will specify what those commitments were and the date by which they should have been and were honoured; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ancram [holding answer 21 November 1994]: Hualon Corporation's commitments to its Northern Ireland project are contained in the agreement with the Industrial Development Board, the details of which are commercially confidential.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will identify every occasion upon which members of the Northern Ireland Industrial Development Board (a) met, and (b) received hospitality from individuals associated with the Hualon group.

Mr. Ancram [holding answer 21 November 1994]: Over the five- year period during which discussions with Hualon have been conducted, the chairman of the Industrial Development Board, has met with executives of the Hualon Corporation on three occasions. On two of these occasions, during visits to a number of locations in Asia, discussions with Hualon executives in Malaysia extended over dinner provided by the company. On the other occasion, in Northern Ireland, IDB hosted a working dinner.

Tourist Board

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during what period Lord O'Neill served as chairman of the Northern Ireland tourist board; by whom he was appointed; and what were his given reasons for resigning.

Mr. Ancram: Lord O'Neill was appointed chairman of the Northern Ireland tourist board on 1 October 1975 by the Department of Commerce. He served until 30 June 1980, when his term of office expired.

DEFENCE

Canadian Forces Base, Suffield

Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom service personnel


Column 774

were (a) killed and (b) injured at the Canadian forces base, Suffield in each year since 1972; what was the cause of death or injury; and whether a board of inquiry was held in each case.

Mr. Soames: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. member.

Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1972 the safety procedures of the British Army training unit at the Canadian forces base, Suffield have been reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames: All aspects of safety at the British Army training unit, Suffield are kept under constant review. The range safety inspection team conducted a review earlier this year, in keeping with this continuous process. In addition, particular attention is paid to any recommendations for the improvement of safety procedures which may arise from inquiries into specific incidents.

Latham Report

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he is having, and with whom, on the possible effects of the Latham report on his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames: My Department is a major customer of the construction industry, and we are keen to pursue any initiatives which may improve the efficiency of the industry and deliver better value for money. Accordingly, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has agreed with Cabinet colleagues that officials from our Department should participate in both the efficiency scrutiny, which the Prime Minister recently announced, and the follow-up work to the Latham report which is being co-ordinated by the Department of the Environment.

RAF Scampton

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the joint arms control implementation group, the trade management training school and the Rapier carderisation unit will be moved to if RAF Scampton closes; and what will be the cost of these relocations.

Mr. Soames: Details of these moves and the associated costs may be found in the consultative document on the proposed closure of RAF Scampton which was issued on 17 November. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Indonesia

Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence matters were discussed when the Chief and Vice Chief of Defence Staff visited Indonesia last year.

Mr. Soames: Neither the Chief of the Defence Staff nor the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff visited Indonesia in 1993. The Chief of the Defence Staff visited in October 1994 and the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff visited in February 1994. During their visits, they discussed defence and security matters of mutual interest. As is usual, details of their discussions are confidential.

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he became aware that talks were taking place


Column 775

between the Indonesian armed forces commander and the United Kingdom for Scorpion light tanks.

Mr. Freeman: My Department first became aware of Indonesian interest in Scorpion in about August 1992.

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all current military contracts for military equipment, vehicles and weapons to Indonesia, including the number of such items involved and monetary amounts.

Mr. Freeman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 28 November 1994, Official Report, column 501.

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training, advice or information have been given to the Indonesian armed forces at any time since 1979.

Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom has provided training, including developmental and technical courses, for Indonesian students. Details of training, including the numbers involved, are not normally disclosed as they are regarded as confidential between Governments. Ministers and officials have met representatives of the Government of Indonesia to discuss defence and security matters of mutual interest.

Aircraft Accidents

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of repair to the aircraft which crashed on landing on the island of Islay on 29 June; what percentage was met from public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames: The cost of repairs to BAe 146 ZE700 as with all other similar work is commercially confidential. All costs will be met from the Defence budget.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of the repair work undertaken on Chinook ZA717 following its accident in the Falkland Islands in July 1989; on what date the decision was taken not to complete the repair work; and for what purpose the aircraft is currently being used.

Mr. Soames: The damage to the Chinook ZA717 was such that the aircraft was judged, on 4 August 1989, to be beyond economic repair. Since no repairs were initiated, no repair costs were incurred. The aircraft is used at present for battle damage repair instruction.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all accidents to Royal Air Force Tornado aircraft in 1994, indicating the damage category in each case; and if he will make a statement on the accident rate in respect of Tornado aircraft in 1994.

Mr. Soames: There have been six accidents involving RAF Tornados in 1994, as follows:


                 |Date            |Damage category                  

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Tornado F3       |7 June          |Cat 5                            

Tornado F3       |8 July          |Cat 5                            

Tornado GR1      |19 July         |Cat 5                            

Tornado GR1A/GR1 |1 August        |GR1A-Cat 5; GR1-                 

                                  | Cat 3                           

Tornado GR1A     |1 September     |Cat 5                            

Tornado GR1A     |19 September    |Cat 5                            

We have had an extremely low loss rate over the Tornado's 19 years of service. The 1994 Tornado accident rate will be published in due course in the 1995 edition


Column 776

of United Kingdom Defence statistics along with annual accident rates of other military aircraft.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those aircraft types in Royal Air Force service which are fitted with an accident data recorder.

Mr. Soames: RAF aircraft fitted with accident data recorders are: Andover

BAe 146

Harrier GR7

Hawk

Nimrod

Sentry

Tornado GR1

Tornado F3

Tristar

Tucano

VC 10 C1

Defence Export Services Organisation

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total administrative cost of the Defence Export Services Organisation in 1992 93, 1993 94 and projected for 1994 95, both in full and also net of any offsetting administrative arrangements.

Mr. Freeman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 22 November 1994, Official Report , column 139 .

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will be the new head of the Defence Export Services Organisation; what is the duration of his contract; and what is his annual salary.

Mr. Freeman: Mr. Charles Masefield took up his appointment as Head of Defence Export Services on 1 September 1994. He joined the Ministry of Defence on secondment from British Aerospace for an initial period of three years, following his selection through an open recruitment competition.

Mr. Masefield's salary in this appointment is £140,000 per annum and be can earn an additional non-pensionable bonus, subject to performance, up to a maximum of £21,674.

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed within the Defence Export Services Organisation; what is the breakdown of their posts; and how many staff are employed in London.

Mr. Freeman: The Defence Export Services Organisation staff allocation for 1994 95 is 708. A total of 414 of these staff are located in London. The breakdown is as follows:


                                  

----------------------------------

Marketing assistance      |137    

Military advice           |119    

Export policy and control |47     

Disposal Sales Agency     |118    

Project management        |287    

                                  

Total                     |708    

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff of the Defence Export Services Organisation are seconded from industry; and what functions they perform.


Column 777

Mr. Freeman: Two members of the Defence Export Services Organisation are seconded from industry, one is the head of the organisation, the other is the offset advisor. In addition, the post of international finance adviser is filled by an individual from the private sector on short-term contract with MOD.

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the overseas offices of the Defence Export Services Organisations are situated; when each office was established; how many staff are currently employed; and what is the annual running cost of each.

Mr. Freeman: The information requested is as follows:


                              |Estimated cost                              

Location       |Staff Numbers |1994-95 £000  |Established                  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Riyadh         |2             |138           |1984                         

Kuwait         |3             |102           |1988                         

New Delhi      |6             |86            |1984                         

Kuala Lumpur   |5             |197           |1986                         

Seoul          |3             |110           |1988                         

Canberra       |2             |88            |1989                         

Jakarta        |3             |72            |1991                         

Bangkok        |3             |101           |1992                         

Ankara         |2             |78            |1988                         

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the functions of the RAF air defence advisory team and the British defence advisory team; and if he will indicate in each case their relationship to the Defence Export Services Organisation, when the team was established and its annual budget in each of the last three years.

Mr. Freeman: The RAF air defence advisory team--ADAT--was established in 1983, within the Defence Export Services Organisation, to provide advice and assistance on air defence systems, equipments, operations and training to friendly overseas Governments, British defence attache s and British industry. The British defence advisory team--BDAT--is not separately established. It is usually headed by the ADAT leader, and comes together for short periods to provide overseas Governments with on- site studies into single or multi-service roles. The annual budget for ADAT in the last three years is: 1992 93 £0.354 million, 1993 94 £0.346 million. The estimate for the present financial year 1994 95 is £0.411 million. BDAT does not have a separate budget.

VSEL

Mr. Gallie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to use his VSEL golden share to ensure that no company wishing to take over the company could accumulate more than 15 per cent. shareholding until its takeover offer became unconditional.

Mr. Freeman: Under the articles of association of VSEL plc, it is for the board of the company to ensure compliance with the present 15 per cent. limitation on individual shareholdings. The relevant provisions of the articles of association cannot be amended without the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend as holder of the special share in VSEL. Amendments to these provisions which would be required in order to permit the acquisition of VSEL by either British Aerospace or GEC have been approved at extraordinary general meetings of


Column 778

VSEL, but have not yet received the consent of the special shareholder. My Department previously confirmed to both British Aerospace and GEC that the special shareholder would give his consent to these amendments if they were approved by VSEL shareholders, subject to the relevant regulatory approvals and his being satisfied that his order rights as special shareholder would continue to be protected.

Low Flying

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the crews of the Italian Air Force Tornados involved in a breach of the Hill House riding school avoidance area on 22 July 1993 were from the same unit as those involved in a breach of the same avoidance area on 17 June 1993.

Mr. Soames: No.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the minimum authorised altitude for the flight by two German Navy Tornados which infringed the Midland Gliding Club avoidance area on 16 July 1993; and at what height the aircraft were flying at the time of the breach.

Mr. Soames: The aircraft were authorised to operate down to 1, 000ft minimum separation distance. The RAF police concluded that it was impossible to establish the exact height of the aircraft as they passed over Long Mynd, but estimated the aircraft to be flying at approximately 900ft above ground level in the complaint area.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the crews of helicopters undertaking low flying below 100ft are required to carry 1:50,000 scale maps of the route.

Mr. Soames: There is no requirement for military helicopter aircrews to carry 1:50,000 scale maps, although such maps are carried whenever aircrews consider it necessary to do so.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the deployment of two United States F-117A aircraft to RAF Lakenheath from 3 to 21 October; how many sorties were flown by the aircraft in the course of their deployment, and how many of these involved use of the United Kingdom low-flying system; how many weapons were dropped by the aircraft, and at which ranges; and how many of the sorties involved use of the Spadeadam range.

Mr. Soames: Between 3 and 21 October 1994, two United States F-117A aircraft deployed to RAF Lakenheath. On 6 October, one of the two F-117As participated in a static display at Soesterberg air base in the Netherlands as part of an official Royal Netherlands Air Force ceremony. In addition, the two F-117As conducted 19 medium-level familiarisation sorties over the United Kingdom. The F-117As did not carry ordnance during these sorties and they did not use either United Kingdom ranges or the United Kingdom low flying system during their deployment.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the RAF Police investigation of the breach of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area at Caerlaverock by three Army helicopters on 8 December 1993 established whether any Army helicopters had booked in to low flying area 16 during the period of the incident.


Column 779

Mr. Soames: The investigation established that Army helicopters were booked into low flying area 16 during the period of the incident; however, the helicopters involved in the breach were not. This was because their crews had not intended to fly at low level; they were forced to do so because of poor weather conditions.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people complained about the seven breaches of the Lockerbie low flying avoidance area during 1993 listed in his Department's evidence to the Defence Select Committee --HC 314 of Session 1993 94 pp. 35 36; and how many other complaints were received during 1993 about low flying within the Lockerbie avoidance area.

Mr. Soames: Seven individuals made a total of 12 complaints about the seven breaches during 1993. A further seven complaints were received during 1993 alleging low flying within the avoidance area, but on investigation, these were not substantiated.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests have been received from foreign Governments since 1990 requesting permission for foreign military aircraft to fly over the United Kingdom at less than 250 feet.

Mr. Soames: One request has been received since 1990 from the US Government. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 15 December 1993, Official Report, column 475.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Harriers involved in breaches of the Royal Welsh agricultural show low- flying avoidance area on 19 and 21 July 1993 were flown by pilots from (a) the same squadron and (b) the same station; and what were the findings of the RAF Police investigation in relation to the availability of information on the avoidance at the bases concerned.

Mr. Soames: The aircraft in question were from both different units and bases. The RAF police found that notification of the temporary avoidance had been received at both bases. At one of these, however, a flaw occurred in their system for presenting details of the notification to aircrew. This has since been rectified.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the minimum authorised altitude for low-level sorties by German Air Force Tornados during its exchange visit to the United States 494 Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath during August.

Mr. Soames: One thousand feet minimum separation distance.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the foreign aircraft involved in low-flying avoidance breaches on 17 June 1993, 9, 16 and 22 July 1993, 23 August 1993, 21 September 1993 and 14 December 1993 were operating in company with Royal Air Force aircraft at the time of the breaches.

Mr. Soames: None. RAF aircraft took part in the sortie on 21 September 1993 but were not in company with the foreign aircraft at the time of the breach.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Royal Air Force Police standing orders governing the conduct of investigations into alleged breaches of low flying regulations require the investigators to interview both members of the air crew


Column 780

in cases where the aircraft involved in the alleged breach is a two-seat type.

Mr. Soames: No.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in investigating the low-level overflight of Hope under Dinmore on 23 February 1993 by a Royal Air Force British Aerospace 146 aircraft, as described in evidence to the Defence Select Committee, HC 314 of Session 1993 94, page 44.

Mr. Soames: No investigation was initiated since there was no evidence to suggest that any breach of flying regulations had occurred.

Subsequent inquiries have confirmed that no military BAe 146 aircraft flew in the vicinity of Hope-under-Dinmore on the day in question.


Next Section

  Home Page