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|In work |Total number
|recipients |of recipients
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Housing Benefit, without Income
Support |288,000 |1,676,000
Council Tax Benefit without Income
Support |321,000 |2,233,000
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System, one per cent. sample, without
Income Support, at the end of May 1993.
Notes:
1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. The figures are where either the claimant and/or partner has declared
earnings, which may be part-time or full-time.
3. The figures are for benefit units which may be a single person or couple.
4. There will be an overlap in the figures, as many claimants receive both
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
DEFENCE
Military Vehicles
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the (a) numbers, (b) types, (c) ages and (d) manufacturers of vehicles in the current inventory of his Department's fleet of B vehicles.
Mr. Soames: My Department has some 92,900 B vehicles divided into around 15 generic categories. Examples of these are: motor cycles, cars, minibuses, coaches, vans, truck utility light/medium, truck utility heavy, 4 8 tonne trucks, 10 tonne plus trucks, recovery vehicles, fuel tankers, tank transporters, trailers and miscellaneous vehicles.
There are more than 150 manufacturers of B vehicles. Detailed information on the manufacturer and age is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Anti-missile Defence Programmes
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his policy on the establishment by the Western European Union of a European space-based defence system; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement about co-operation with (a) the United States Ballistic Missile Defence Organisation and (b) other member states of the Western
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European Union on the development of European anti-missile defence programmes.Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom continues to enjoy a close relationship with the US Ballistic Missile Defence Organisation and other United States authorities involved in ballistic missile defence issues. This relationship is founded on a 1985 US/UK memorandum of understanding. Additionally and more widely, ballistic missile defence issues are discussed with other allies in NATO forums and bilaterally. There are no plans for WEU to establish a European space-based defence system.
The UK is currently engaged on a two-year national programme of pre- feasibility studies into ballistic missile defence options for the UK. Once this is completed, we hope to be in a position to make a definitive decision on whether we have a requirement for such a capability.
European Armaments Policy
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the work of the informal group of Government experts of member states of the Western European Union, the Western European armaments group and the European Union to study options for a European armaments policy.
Mr. Freeman: The informal group of Government experts was set up in October 1994 to undertake a fundamental review of European armaments policies, centring on an examination of the means of ensuring security of supply within Europe and within the framework of a competitive industry; harmonisation of defence export policies; and standardisation of equipment requirements and procurement practices. The group has held three meetings to date and is expected to complete its work later this year.
Surplus Land
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the location of tracts of land owned by his Department which are surplus to requirements, noting the acreage at each such location; and which of these locations contain land which cannot be offered back into general civilian use because of unexploded munitions, radiation and chemical hazards.
Mr. Soames: Some 216 sites, totalling 11,779 acres, have been passed to the defence lands service for disposal. No sites have been identified on which the presence of unexploded munitions, radioactive material or chemical hazards would preclude their disposal. In accordance with current Government policy, the level of remediation required will depend on the proposed future use of the sites.
Officer Entitlements
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many two- star officers and above are entitled to a dedicated staff car and driver; where the officers are based; what make of car is provided, and what is the total annual cost in salaries, maintenance and car replacement.
Mr. Soames: At two-star rank and above, there are 114 posts in the armed forces and my Department, including civilians, who are entitled to a dedicated staff car and driver. These are:
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Staff car and driver
Posts open to more |Offices
than one service
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5* Posts
1 Chief of the Defence Staff |London
2 Chairman of the Military Committee |Brussels
4* Posts
3 Vice Chief of Defence Staff |London
3* Posts
4 United Kingdom Military Representative |Brussels
5 Deputy Chief of Defence Staff
(Commitments) |London
6 Deputy Chief of Defence Staff
(Personnel and Programmes) |London
7 Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Systems) |London
8 Chief of Defence Intelligence |London
9 Surgeon General |London
10 Commandment Royal College of
Defence Studies |London
2* Posts
11 Commander British Forces Cyprus |Episkopi
12 Commander British Forces Falkland
Islands |P. Stanley
13 Head of British Defence Liaison Staff |Washington
14 Commandant Joint Services Defence
College |Greenwich
15 Commander Immediate Reaction Force
(Land) |Heidleberg
16 Commander Multinational Division
(Centre) |Brussels
17 Military Deputy/Head of Defence Export
Services |London
Royal Navy
4* Posts
18 Chief of the Naval Staff |London
19 Chief of Naval Home Command/2nd Sea
Lord |Portsmouth
20 Commander in Chief Fleet |Northwood
21 Controller of the Navy |London
3* Posts
22 Chief of Fleet Support |Bath
23 Deputy Commander in Chief Fleet |Northwood
24 Flag Officer Plymouth |Plymouth
25 Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England
and Northern Ireland |Pitreavie
26 Flag Officer Submarines |Northwood
2* Posts
27 Director General Naval Personnel
Strategy and Plans |Portsmouth
28 Flag Officer Portsmouth |Portsmouth
29 Flag Officer Training and Recruiting |Portsmouth
30 Flag Officer Surface Flotilla |Portsmouth
31 Commander British Forces |Gibraltar
32 Flag Officer Sea Training |Portland
33 Flag Officer Naval Aviation |Yeovilton
34 Naval Secretary |Portsmouth
35 Commander United Kingdom Task
Group |Portsmouth
36 Commandant General Royal Marines |Portsmouth
37 Medical Director General (Naval) |Gosport
Army
4* Posts
38 Chief of General Staff |London
39 Adjutant General |London
40 Commander in Chief United Kingdom
Land Forces |Wilton
41 Deputy Supreme Allied Commander
Europe
42 Quartermaster General |Andover
3* Posts
43 Master General of the Ordnance |London
44 Inspector General Doctrine and Training |Upavon
45 Commander United Kingdom Field
Army |Wilton
46 General Officer Commanding Southern
District |Aldershot
47 General Officer Commanding Northern
Ireland |Lisburn
48 Commander ACE Rapid Reaction Corps |Rhinedahlen
2* Posts
49 Director General Military Survey |Feltham
50 Engineer in Chief (Army) |Minley
51 Director General Land Warfare |Upavon
52 Director General Army Training |Upavon
53 Commandment Staff College |Camberley
54 Commandment Royal Military College
of Science |Shrivenham
55 Commandment Royal Military Academy
Sandhurst |Camberley
56 Director Royal Armoured Corps |Bovington
57 Director Royal Artillery |Woolwich
58 Director of Infantry |Warminster
59 Director Army Air Corps |M. Wallop
60 Military Secretary |London
61 Chief of Staff HQ Adjutant General
Corps |Worthy Downs
62 Director General Logistics Support
(Army) |Andover
63 Director General Engineering Support
(Army) |Andover
64 Director General Army Medical Service |Mychett
65 Commander Medical United Kingdom
Land Forces |Wilton
66 General Officer Commanding 2nd
Division |York
67 General Officer Commanding London
District |London
68 General Officer Commanding 5th
Division |Brecon
69 General Officer Commanding Scotland |Edinburgh
70 Commander 3rd Division |Bulford
71 Commander United Kingdom Support
Command Germany |Rheindahlen
72 Commander 1st Division |Hereford
73 Chief of Staff HQ ACE Rapid Reaction
Corps |Rheindahlen
74 Chief Combat Support Ace Rapid
Reaction Corps |Rheindahlen
75 Director Support Land Centre |Heidleberg
76 Commander British Forces |Hong Kong
77 Commander Land Forces Northern
Ireland |Lisburn
78 Chief of Staff HQ Quartermaster General |Andover
79 Governor of Gibraltar |Gibraltar
Royal Air Force
4* Posts
80 Chief of the Air Staff |London
81 Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ
Personnel and Training Command |Innsworth
82 Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ
Logistic Command |Brampton
83 Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ
Strike Command |High Wycombe
84 Deputy Commander in Chief Central
Europe |Brunssum
85 Controller Aircraft |London
86 Commander HQ Allied Air Forces North
West Europe
3* Posts
87 Chief of Staff HQ Strike Command |High Wycombe
88 Chief of Staff HQ Logistic Command |Brampton
89 Deputy Commander Allied Air Forces
Central Europe |Ramstein
90 Director General Saudi Al Al Yamaha
Project |Saudi
2* Posts
91 Air Secretary |Innsworth
92 Chief of Staff HQ Personnel and
Training Command |Innsworth
93 Assistant Chief of Staff (Policy) |Mons
94 Air Officer Commanding Information
Systems |Brampton
95 Air Officer Engineering and Supply |High Wycombe
96 Air Officer Commanding 1 Group |Upavon
97 Air Officer Commanding 2 Group |Rheindahlen
98 Air Officer Commanding 11 Group |Stanmore
99 Air Officer Commanding 18 Group |Northwood
100 Air Officer Commanding 38 Group |High Wycombe
101 Air Officer Training |Innsworth
102 Air Officer Maintenance |Brampton
103 Commandant Staff College Bracknell |Bracknell
104 Commandant RAF College Cranwell |Cranwell
105 Director General Medical Services
(RAF) |Innsworth
106 Director General Policy and Plans |London
107 Air Officer Administration |High Wycombe
108 Director General Support Management
(RAF) |Brampton
MoD Civilians
109 Permanent Under Secretary of State |London
110 Chief Scientific Adviser |London
111 2nd Permanent Under Secretary of State |London
112 Chief of Defence Procurement |London
113 Deputy Chief of Scientific Adviser |London
114 Command Secretary Logistics
Command |Brampton
The total estimated cost of the driver posts for the financial year 1993 94 is approximately £2.3m. Entitled officers have the use of a Rover 800 car. The total costs of car maintenance are not separately identifiable, however, the available data suggests that the likely annual cost is in the region of £300 per vehicle per annum. The total annual cost of car replacement for the last three years is as follows:
Year |Vehicles bought --------------------------------------------------------- 1992-93 |131 costing £1.7m 1993-94 |7 costing £100k 1994-95 |0
Correspondence
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many letters were received in the Department from hon. Members last month;
(2) how many letters were sent to hon. Members last month by each Minister in the Department.
Mr. Freeman: During January, my Department received 657 letters from hon. Members on constituency business. Over the same period we sent 536 such letters
Column 255
to hon. Members. Letters on a number of other issues will have been sent to and received from hon. Members, including correspondence between Ministers in other Government Departments, but the number of these is not recorded.Security (Central Europe)
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the consequences of the US NATO Participation Act of 1994 on the security of central Europe.
Mr. Soames: Allied Heads of State and Government have made it clear that they expect and would welcome enlargement that would reach out to democratic states to its east, as part of an evolutionary process taking into account political and security developments in the whole of Europe. Active participation in the partnership for peace will play an important role in this. In common with other Allies, and in conjunction with partnership for peace, the US maintains its own bilateral co-operation programmes with states of central and eastern Europe; the US NATO Participation Act of 1994 provides for US assistance to appropriate partnership for peace countries to facilitate eventual transition to full NATO membership.
Partnership for Peace" Programme
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries participating in the NATO "Partnership for Peace" programme have requested the transfer of military equipment from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Soames: Albania has made a request for some limited logistic support equipment which is currently being considered.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what troops or logistical support he intends to provide for the proposed Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe peacekeeping force for Nagorno-Karabakh.
Mr. Soames: The OSCE is still planning a possible peacekeeping mission for Nagorno-Karabakh; a decision to deploy such a mission would be taken only after the conclusion of an agreement on a cessation of hostilities and an appropriate mandate. Any UK contribution would be judged against a range of factors including our other military commitments.
Baltic Peacekeeping Battalian
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military equipment he intends to provide for the Baltic peacekeeping battalion.
Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom's contribution to the Baltic peacekeeping battalion initiative comprises infantry training conducted by a team of Royal Marines and English language training provided by the British Council. English will be the working language of the battalion. We have no current plans to provide military equipment, though some is being provided by our partners in this initiative.
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The Army
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the numbers in the Army over the next three months.
Mr. Soames: The trained strength of the Army at 1 January 1995 was about 112,000. In line with post "Options for Change" restructuring and the outcome of the defence costs study, we expect the trained strength of the Army at 1 June 1995 to be about 108,000.
Haymes Garth
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. member for Fareham (Sir P. Lloyd) of 10 February, Official Report , column 466 , if he will identify the budget holder for Haymes Garth.
Mr. Soames: Since 1 April 1994, spending on Haymes Garth has been met from the top level budget of the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command. Before that date Air Officer Commanding RAF Support Command was the budget holder.
Manpower Reductions
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for further redundancies among senior Army officers.
Mr. Soames: There are no plans further to those announced in my answer to the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 19 December 1994, Official Report, column 870 .
Government Art Collection
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many paintings lent to his Department by the Government art collection have been officially classified as missing; if he will list them with their painters; what action is being taken to investigate how they have come to be missing; what is the estimated market value of the missing paintings; if they were insured; and what evidence he has of theft.
Mr. Soames: A list of 205 works of art which the Government art collection was unable to locate was circulated throughout my Department at the beginning of the year. I shall arrange for a copy of this list to be placed in the Library of the House.
The list was circulated with a request that individual members of staff check works of art for which they are responsible and report any which appeared on the list. As a result, 19 works have been located so far.
The Government art collection does not provide my Department with valuations of the works of art it lends. In accordance with Treasury guidelines on Government property, my Department does not insure these works of art.
The losses of 13 of the works on the list have been investigated by the Ministry of Defence police as apparent cases of theft. Unfortunately, in 12 of the cases the work has not been recovered, nor has the institution of criminal or disciplinary proceedings proved possible. A further case is under investigation.
Column 257
Golf Courses
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how much the golf courses at (a) Whittington barracks, Lichfield, (b) RAF Binbrook, (c) RAF Swinderby and (d) RAF Halton were (i) valued at prior to sale and (ii) sold.
Mr. Soames: It is not my Department's practice to disclose the sale price of sites which is commercial in confidence to the purchaser.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which aspects of military training involve the use of land on which golf courses are situated.
Mr. Soames: The training aspects carried out are: navigation and map reading, fieldcraft, distance judging, fitness training, low-level tactics and surveying techniques.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the composition by rank of each of the golf clubs sited on his Department's land;
(2) how many members are there at each of the golf courses sited on his Department's land;
(3) what is the management structure and what remuneration for management is involved in respect of those golf courses sited on his Department's land which are not leased out to private golf clubs; (4) how much is the subscription fee charged for membership of each of the golf clubs situated on his Department's land for (a) service personnel, (b) civilian staff and (c) civilians otherwise unconnected to his Department.
Mr. Soames: No central record is held of the membership details, subscription fees and management arrangements of the clubs which use golf courses sited on land owned by my Department. It will take a little time for this information to be assembled. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member when the information is available and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the golf courses sited on his Department's land in the United Kingdom are leased to private golf clubs; and, of these, how many cater exclusively for civilians otherwise unconnected with his Department.
Mr. Soames: Two of the courses sited on land owned by my Department, at Tenby and Canterbury, are leased to private golf clubs. The membership of those clubs is not a matter for my Department.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom the golf course at (a) Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, (b) RAF Binbrook, (c) RAF Swinderby and (d) RAF Halton were sold.
Mr. Soames: The course at Wittington barracks was sold to the Whittington barracks golf club; the course at RAF Binbrook was part of a larger site sold to S.U.N. (Binbrook) Ltd. and C. J. M. Cottingham Ltd., and the RAF Halton course was sold to the Chiltern Forest Golf Club Ltd. My noble friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member about the course at RAF Swinderby.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which golf courses are at present being considered for disposal.
Column 258
Mr. Soames: The courses at Tenby, North Luffenham and Strensall near York are being considered for disposal.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at how much each of three golf courses being considered for disposal have been valued.
Mr. Soames: It is not my Department's practice to discuss the commercial value of sites being considered for disposal as this could prejudice negotiations on their sale.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which section of his Department receives the £63,000 accrued from the leasing to private clubs of golf courses sited on his Department's land.
Mr. Soames: Receipts from lettings and licences for use of facilities on the defence estate accrue to the budget holder with management responsibility for the site.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names and locations of the 23 golf courses sited on his Department's land in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Soames: The following golf courses are sited on land owned by my Department in the United Kingdom:
Tidworth Garrison Golf Course, Tidworth, Hants
Upavon Golf Course, Upavon, Wilts
Canterbury Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent
Tenby Golf Club, Penally, Dyfed
Catterick Garrison Golf Club, North Yorkshire
York Golf Club, Strensall, York
Bassingbourne Golf Course, Royston, Herts
Waterbeach Golf Course, Cambs
Wattisham Golf Course, Ipswich, Suffolk
Wimbish Golf Course, Carver Barracks, Essex
Army Golf Club, Aldershot, Hants
Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment, Chertsey, Surrey
Royal Military College of Science Shrivenham, Swindon, Wiltshire RAF Benson, Oxon
Woodhall Spa, RAF Coningsby, Lincoln
RAF Cottesmore, Leicestershire
RAF Henlow, Bucks
RAF North Luffenham, Leicestershire
RAF Odiham, Basingstoke, Hants
RAF Waddington, Lincoln
RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk
Southwick Golf Course, HMS Dryad, Southwick, Hants
Royal Naval Aircraft Yard, Fleetland, Hants
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the security implications of allowing civilian golfers otherwise unconnected with his Department to use golf courses sited on land owned by his Department
Mr. Soames: I am satisfied that the security arrangements in place for the use of golf courses on my Department's land are satisfactory.
Expenditure Reductions
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the actions, together with their relevant savings, his Department is taking to reduce defence expenditure in 1996 97 by the sum agreed with the Treasury.
Mr. Soames: An extensive range of measures is being taken to contain the costs of defence while continuing to maintain and enhance the front- line capabilities of the armed forces. It is, however, our practice not to publish
Column 259
details of the contents of the Department's annual long-term costing. Major proposals and decisions that have been announced in Parliament are set out in the annual departmental report and the statement on the defence estimates, as well as in other publications, notably last year's report on the outcome of the defence costs study.Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimated percentage change in defence expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product between 1994 95 and 1999 2000.
Mr. Soames: Defence expenditure is expected to fall from 3.3 per cent. to 2.8 per cent. of GDP between 1994 95 and 1997 98. Defence expenditure plans beyond 1997 98 have not yet been set.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Milk Quota
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in the United Kingdom have (a) a milk quota but no longer have a herd
Column 260
of cows producing milk, (b) a milk quota larger than their actual production, or (c) sold their total quota or partial quota in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Jack: The Intervention Board keeps a record of individual producers' milk quota but not their milk production, so the information needed to answer (a) and (b) is not available. Since 1 April 1994, when the Intervention Board assumed responsibility for the administration of milk quotas, 2,280 producers in the United Kingdom have sold their quota, either in whole or in part.
Potatoes
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list details of the increases in the price of potatoes in the west Yorkshire area over the past six months.
Mr. Jack: Details of movements in retail prices are not available at an area level. The retail prices index represents the most accurate indicator available of price movements and is for the United Kingdom as a whole. Information on movements in the indices for potatoes for the period July 1994 to January 1995 is shown in the table.
Column 259
The retail prices index: potatoes
January 1987=100
|September |November |December
|July 1994 |August 1994 |1994 |October 1994|1994 |1994 |January 1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raw Potatoes |131.7 |197.8 |171.8 |169.4 |169.9 |177.6 |183.8
Percentage of change over
12 months |25.8 |53.3 |46.1 |51.7 |51.0 |58.7 |60.7
All Potatoes (including
Processed) |132.6 |161.4 |150.0 |149.2 |151.4 |154.5 |159.0
Percentage of change over
12 months. |8.7 |22.6 |19.6 |20.8 |24.1 |26.3 |29.7
Source:
Retail Prices Index.
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume and value of potatoes have been imported into the United Kingdom over the past 12 months.
Mr. Jack: Provisional figures for imports of fresh potatoes into the United Kingdom for the period 1 January 1994 to 30 September 1994, the latest available information, are as follows:
|Weight |Value
Imports |(tonnes)|£000s
---------------------------------------
Total |392,835 |79,173
of which
from EC |272,939 |45,622
from non-EC |119,896 |33,551
Source:
Customs and Excise.
Correspondence
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many letters were received in the Department from hon. Members last month.
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