House of Commons Hansard Debates for 23 Feb 1995

Mr. Soames: None. The UK is fully committed to the unconditional and indefinite extension of the non-proliferation treaty at the conference of states parties in April and May 1995.

Non-departmental Public Bodies (Pay)

Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which will (a) follow the pay arrangements of the sponsoring Department and (b) pursue an independent and separate route under the delegated pay option (i) from April 1995 and (ii) from April 1996.

Mr. Soames: The rates of pay for staff employed in my Department's executive NDPBs are generally in line with those in the civil service. There are no plans at present to change these arrangements.

Common European Defence Policy

Sir Russell Johnston: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what preparations he intends to make for the framing of a comprehensive common European defence policy statement following the declaration of the Council of Ministers of the Western European Union of 14 November 1994; what will be the priorities of the British Government in the preparation of such a policy statement; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom is participating fully in WEU discussions on European security conditions and in work to elaborate the operational role and capability of WEU in a manner fully compatible with the Atlantic alliance.

Drug Testing

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been dismissed from the forces arising from positive results since the introduction of compulsory drug testing; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames: Four personnel have provided positive samples since the Army began compulsory random drug testing in January 1995. We expect all four to be administratively discharged.

Haymes Garth

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report , column 828 , what factors led to the delay of 12 months between giving incorrect information to the hon.

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Member for South Shields and the admission that this information was incorrect; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames: The answer given by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), to the hon. Member on 9 February 1994, Official Report , columns 362-63 , was based on the information available at the time. The corrected figure given to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Sir J. Spicer) on 4 July 1994, Official Report , column 85 , emerged from an audit examination then only very recently completed.

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report , column 830 , on what precise date his Department was informed of allegations concerning expenditure at the official residence known as Haymes Garth; and from where these allegations originated.

Mr. Soames: The matter was first raised in a letter from a member of the public forwarded by an hon. Member on 22 June 1993. No precise location was mentioned, but it emerged that Haymes Garth was intended.

Dr. David Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report , column 830 , what action his Department took in response to allegations made in the summer of 1993 concerning expenditure at the official residence known as Haymes Garth.

Mr. Soames: A full report was commissioned from RAF Support Command, in the light of which a decision was taken to set in motion an internal audit investigation.

Army Regiments

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to reform the Army's regimental system; (2) if he will list the options under consideration by his Department for project BA2000;

(3) which of the options under consideration for project BA2000 involve reducing the current number of regiments.

Mr. Soames: BA2000 will be an internal and conceptual MOD document which addresses in general terms the requirements of the Army at the beginning of the next century. It is at an early stage of drafting. There are no plans to reform the Army's regimental system.

Front Line First"

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the management consultants

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used to advise the Department in the defence costs study process.

Mr. Freeman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 12 December 1994, Official Report , column 458 .

Land Mines

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 February, Official Report , column 465 , if finance is a factor in determining whether anti-personnel mines are used, as opposed to other military methods, during armed conflict.

Mr. Freeman: No. A decision to use anti-personnel land mines would be made by the operational commander based on military necessity within the limitations of international law, humanitarian considerations and the risk to British and allied forces.

Eurofighter 2000

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what figure is the maximum the United Kingdom is prepared to spend on a Eurofighter aircraft.

Mr. Freeman: The final cost of the Eurofighter 2000--EF2000--project will depend on a number of factors, including the precise number of aircraft ordered, the weapons selected and the logistic support arrangements. On current plans, decisions on entering the production phase of EF2000 are not required until the end of this year. Costs and affordability will be important factors in reaching those decisions.

Slovakia

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations the Government of Slovakia made to him about defence relationships during his recent visit; and what response he made.

Mr. Soames: During his visit to Slovakia on 15 February, my right hon. and learned Friend had wide-ranging discussions on defence and other issues with a number of members of the Slovakian Government, including the President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister.

International Military Services Ltd.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which he has used his powers under section 16 (1)(b) of the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Act 1984; and if he will place in the Library a table showing the aggregate sum outstanding in respect of the exercise of these powers in each year since 1981.

Mr. Freeman [holding answer 17 February 1995]: No payments have been made under section 16 of the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Act 1984.

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