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Mr. Soames: An analysis of the legislation sponsored by my Department and its predecessors since 1965 for references to hon. Members could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Although officers of state are regularly mentioned in legislation, it would be extremely unlikely for reference to be made specifically to an individual hon. Member.
Chemical and Biological Substances
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to instigate a study into the long-term health effects of exposure to chemical and biological substances. [17288]
Mr. Soames: My Department has no evidence that either civilian or service personnel have been exposed to harmful levels of chemical and biological substances which would justify such a study.
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the differences between the position adopted by (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States of America, (c) Australia and (d) Canada in respect of Government provision for ex-service men exposed to chemical and biological substances. [17284]
Mr. Soames: No formal assessment has been made, but legal, health and welfare provisions are known to differ. Not all countries have a national health service; and not all countries' laws allow their citizens, including serving and former members of the armed forces, to pursue legal action through the courts for damages against the state. In the UK, in addition to the above and to the comprehensive system of social security benefits, the Department of Social Security makes provision for war pensions under which former service personnel who suffer an injury or illness which is attributable to service, howsoever caused or by whatever agent, may be entitled to a pension or gratuity.
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's investigation of farm workers exposed to organic phosphates in drawing up its own evaluations of the effects of exposure to chemical or biological weapons. [17286]
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Mr. Soames: The structure and purpose of organophosphorous nerve agents differ significantly from those of organophosphorous sheep dips. Nerve agents are intended to produce immediate acute effects and can kill in minutes. They principally attack the body through the respiratory system, although some also attack through the skin. For full effect, the nerve agent will need to vaporise over time and result in a downwind hazard. On the other hand, organophosphorous sheep dips have a much reduced mammalian toxicity and there is no requirement for the material to vaporise over time as the route of attack is through contact with the insects. Sheep dip compounds have extremely low volatility, thus rendering any inhalation exposure insignificant. The assessment made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food into alleged health problems experienced by farm workers, therefore, have little relevance to the effects of exposure to chemical or biological weapons.
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's liaison with (a) the USA, (b) Canada and (c) Australia in respect of studies of chemical weapons and defences against their use since 1965. [17289]
Mr. Soames: There are a number of agreements with NATO allies covering research, development, deployment and standardisation of chemical and biological defence equipment. The following international agreements include chemical and biological defence in their scope:
a. The United Kingdom, United States and Canada memorandum of understanding on chemical and biological defence with addresses research, development, production and procurement of chemical and biological defence equipment. This was signed in 1980 and has been an extremely effective means of ensuring close collaboration between the three countries.
b. NATO army armaments group panel VII on nuclear, biological and chemical defence and its sub-panels and working groups which are the main NATO forums. CB defence is also discussed by other NATO panels and by the NATO defence research group.
c. The United Kingdom-United States-Canada-Australia American, British and Canadian Armies agreement between the Armies of the four countries. This includes a group known as the Quadrupartite Working Group which has a panel on NBC defence.
d. The United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia air standardisation co-ordinating committee agreement which also has a sub-group addressing CB defence.
e. The United Kingdom and United States navies have an information exchange agreement which includes NBC defence in its scope.
f. The technical co-operation programme which involves the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand is concerned with collaboration in defence research and has a sub-group that is active on CB defence.
g. The Anglo-French defence research group allows the exchange of information and collaboration on research for CB defence.
h. The Anglo-Netherlands-Norwegian collaboration project exchange of information and collaboration on research for CB defence. i. FINABEL, an army-army agreement covering CB defence information exchange between Britain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Belgium.
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Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will instigate a compensation scheme similar to that of the United States for former service men and volunteers exposed to chemical and biological weapons. [17285]
Mr. Soames: Any person who is disabled by an injury or illness due to service in her Majesty's forces may be entitled to a gratuity or a pension under the war pensions scheme administered by the Department of Social Security.
Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons Porton Down volunteers are denied the use of Ministry of Defence medical facilities to investigate their ill health with particular reference to long-term health effects of exposure to organic phosphates. [17287]
Mr. Soames: The role of the defence medical services is to train armed forces medical personnel and to provide a health care service for serving members of the armed forces. Responsibility for the health care of those who have left the armed forces rests with the national health service. With regard to Porton Down volunteers, my Department has no evidence that participation in human volunteer studies over the last 40 years has resulted in any long-term adverse health effects.
Defence Attache s
Dr. Goodson-Wickes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the methods of appointments of defence attache s in embassies. [17238]
Service Accommodation
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government have decided on the appointment of a financial advisor to carry forward the sale of the married quarter estate. [17349]
Mr. Soames: As I said in my answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 22 March, Official Report , columns 216 18, we intend to develop proposals for the possible transfer of the married quarters estate to the private sector, on the basis of initial work undertaken for us last autumn by NatWest Markets. We are close to completing the competitive selection of financial advisers to assist us in this process.
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 December 1994, Official Report , column 819 , when he now expects the surplus married quarters in Lacey street, Northumberland to be (a) sold or (b) made available for housing purposes. [18239]
Mr. Soames: Twelve surplus married quarters in Lacey street, Longhoughton, have been advertised for sale through the services discount scheme. The remaining 14 properties will be offered for sale in the same way if sufficient interest is demonstrated during the sale of the first phase. Any properties not taken up under the scheme will be offered for sale either to a housing association or on the open market.
Air Miss, Humberside
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from what squadron and from what base were the
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four Royal Air Tornados that were involved in an air miss with an Air UK Fokker 50, 20 miles east of Ottringham, Humberside on 22 March; if he will send the hon. Member for Don Valley a copy of the accident report when it is published; and if he will make a statement. [17133]Mr. Soames: This incident is under investigation by National Air Traffic Services. A report will be produced in due course and a copy placed in the Library of the House. The identity of the military aircraft concerned has not yet been confirmed.
Smoking
Mr. Peter Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are provided and arrangements made for the comfort and well- being of staff who (a) smoke and (b) do not wish to be affected by smoking at (i) the work station and (ii) rest, recreation and refreshment facilities at MOD main building, Whitehall, London. [18282]
Mr. Freeman: My Department's policy is that smoking in the main building is not allowed in the main reception areas, toilets, changing rooms, conference and function rooms, lifts and the staff restaurant, except for the bar and a designated smoking area. In addition, smoking is prohibited in stairwells, the escalator area and all corridors. Smoking areas are available in two areas of the ground floor and some lift areas and within designated areas of the staff restaurant. The policy within individual offices is decided by the wishes of the majority.
Low Flying
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying exercises have taken place over (a) Pendle, (b) Ribble Valley and (c) the Yorkshire Dales national park in each year since 1990. [17847]
Mr. Soames: Although records are maintained of the total number of sorties flown in the United Kingdom low flying system, it is not possible to estimate the number of sorties flown over particular locations.
Ex Gratia Payment to Australia
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which state is the recipient of the ex gratia payment expended from class I, vote 1, subhead E2 of his Department's budget. [18122]
Mr. Soames: The payment is made to Australia.
Departmental Budget
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown of expenditure from class I, vote 1, subhead J4 of his Department's budget. [18123]
Mr. Soames: The expenditure is broken down as follows:
|£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Contributions towards the administrative expenses of the
mutual defence co-operation agreement with the US |6,000
Contributions to the Victoria and George Cross Reunion
Association |31,000
Advisory and Sales Teams
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 November, Official Report , column 778-79 , if he will describe the roles of the British defence advisory team and the Army sales team mentioned in his answer of 30 November 1993, Official Report , column 526 to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) and the extent to which they differ. [17129]
Mr. Freeman: The British defence advisory team is available to provide overseas Governments with on-site studies and specialist military advice on operational needs for single or multi-service roles. The army sales teams organise and conduct demonstrations, training and trials of British defence equipment in United Kingdom and overseas, and assist companies with sales promotion material and provide specialist advice.
The teams differ in as much as the BDAT provides operational advice, whereas the sales teams support foreign interest in UK defence equipment.
Nuclear Weapons Research
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the rules in respect of the Government allowing a non-nuclear state direct or indirect access to its facilities for computer simulation of nuclear testing. [17556]
Mr. Soames: Such access is not allowed under the nuclear non- proliferation treaty if it would assist the non-nuclear weapon state to acquire a nuclear weapon capability.
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was (a) the number of simulated nuclear explosions which have been undertaken, (b) the number of tests on nuclear weapons components or precursors and (c) the costs contributed by the United Kingdom and United States of America respectively, of such forms of nuclear testing under the 1958 United Kingdom Mutual Defence Agreement in each of the last 15 years. [17557]
Mr. Freeman: Records of simulations and component tests carried out in the course of nuclear weapons research are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Surplus Sales
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by volume and type, the surplus (a) furniture or household items, (b) clothing, (c) plant, machinery or tools, (d) electrical goods, (e) electronic goods, (f) computer equipment, (g) ships, (h) aircraft, (i) tanks, (j) armoured vehicles, (k) artillery, (l) ammunition, (m) missiles, (n) helicopters, (o) torpedoes and (p) other items sold to acceptable foreign Governments in the last three years for which information is available; if he will identify the countries invovled; and if he will give the total receipts for each category of item. [15802]
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Mr. Freeman [holding answer 27 March 1995]: Sales to foreign Governments in the last three years have been as follows:
|Number
-----------------------------------------
Plant and machinery:
Tractors |4
Trailers |1
Dump trucks (medium) |3
Dump trucks (light) |3
Cranes |1
Crawlers |1
Graders |2
Caterpillar |3
|18
Ships:
Type 21 frigates |6
Type 22 frigates |4
Leander class frigates |2
Fleet tankers |2
River class minesweepers |7
Offshore patrol vessels |1
|22
Aircraft:
Jaguars |1
Jet Provost ground runners |3
|4
Armoured Vehicles:
Scorpion CVRTs |12
Artillery:
M109s |117
Skyflash |300
BL755 |50
|350
Helicopters:
Wasps |6
Lynx HAS3 |3
|9
Ammunition:
200 rounds mortars |-
10k misc. explosives |-
200k + small arms |-
56k + artillery |-
Various naval ammunition |-
The total value of sales was £206 million.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 1995, Official Report , column 77 , how many meetings have taken place between representatives of his Department and Conservative hon. Members since 1 October 1994 to discuss procurement decisions; and if he will give (a) the date, (b) the subject and (c) the names of the Ministers and hon. Members attending. [17655]
Mr. Freeman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 20 March 1995, Official Report , column 77 .
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Independent Reviews
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the independent reviews of his Department's work carried out over the last five years, stating (a) the date, (b) the subject, (c) the organisation or individuals who carried out the review, (d) the cost and (e) whether the report is classified or can be placed in the Library. [17656]
Mr. Soames: Budget-holders throughout the Ministry of Defence have delegated authority to engage external advisors, on a paid consultancy basis or otherwise, to conduct independent reviews of aspects of the Department's work. Information on such studies is not collected centrally, and the details requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In addition, the National Audit Office carries out value for money studies of the Ministry of Defence's work as part of its statutory duties. Reports that have been published by the NAO are available in the Library of the House.
Defence Export Services Organisation
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 March, Official Report, column 505, if he will give a breakdown of the costs of keeping overseas staff employed by the Defence Export Services Organisation, for each post; and to what entertainment allowances these staff are entitled. [17657]
Mr. Freeman: Further to my answer of 27 March, details of the entertainment allocations for posts overseas for FY 1994 95 are as follows:
Riyadh: £2,000
Kuwait: £2,000
New Delhi: £2,000
Bangkok: £3,000
Kuala Lumpur: £7,000
Jakarta: £4,000
Canberra: £4,500
Seoul: £5,000
Ankara £4,000
There is no separate entertainment allocation for disposals sales staff in Germany.
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 March, Official Report , column 505 , if he will list the duties of overseas staff employed by the Defence Export Services Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [17658]
Mr. Freeman: The duties of the defence supply staff in the DESO offices in Riyadh, Kuwait, New Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Canberra, Seoul and Ankara are to provide local advice and support to British defence equipment manufacturers. The Disposals Sales Agency staff in Germany receive, market, arrange for sale and issue surplus MOD equipment locally.
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials have left the Defence Services Organisation to join defence or defence-related companies in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and if he will list the companies involved and the numbers joining each company. [17659]
Mr. Freeman: Information is not available for the period before January 1990. Since then, 13 members of the Defence Export Services Organisation have made
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business appointment applications. It is not know whether the appointments were taken up.
Company |Applications
-----------------------------------------------------
1990:
VSEL |1
CDP Nexus |1
1991:
Short Brothers |1
BAe |1
Crew Services Ltd. |1
Landair Consultants |1
EEZ International Ltd. |1
Carmichael and Sweet Ltd. |1
Marconi Underwater Systems |1
Thorn EMI Electronics |1
Telecom Supply Line Ltd. |1
1992:
Sillicon Valley Systems |1
SD-Scion |1
BAe |1
Short Brothers |1
BAe Defence |1
Vosper Thornycroft |2
GEC-Marconi Avionics |1
1993:
Bendix Ocean Systems |1
Vosper Thornycroft |1
BAe |1
Ferranti International |1
Marconi Underwater Systems |1
Computer Devices |1
EDS/Scion |1
MSI Defence Systems |1
Yarrow Shipbuilders |1
NI Tech |1
1994:
GM Firth (Holdings) Plc |1
GEC-Marconi Naval Systems |1
Sultanate of Oman |2
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contact the Defence Export Services Organisation had with Mr. Stephen Adolphus Kock between 1985 to 1991 concerning defence sales to (a) Saudi Arabia, (b) Iran, (c) Iraq, (d) Kuwait, (e) the United Arab Emirates and (f) Oman. [18244]
Mr. Freeman: The DESO is not aware of any record of contact with Mr. Kock concerning exports of defence equipment to the countries listed.
Defence Clothing and Textile Agency
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by the Defence Clothing and Textile Agency; what is its annual budget; and what are its terms of reference. [18083]
Mr. Soames: The number of staff employed at present in the Defence Clothing and Textile Agency is 447, and its annual budget for financial year 1994 95 was £111.337 million. Further information can be found in the organisation's corporate plan, business plan and framework document, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
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Western European Armaments Group
Dr. Clark: to ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to join the Western European Armaments Group; and what assessment he has made of the advantages membership would create for Britain. [17539]
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 3 April 1995]: The title of the Western European Armaments Group was adopted following the transfer of the functions of the former Independent European Programme Group to the Western European Union in December 1992. The United Kingdom has been a member of the group since its establishment in 1976. The group is the main forum for European co-operation in research, development and production of defence equipment and our membership allows us to participate in the development of the European defence equipment market.
Training Exercises (Safety)
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulations governing safety officers involved intraining under battlefield conditions using liveammunition. [18293]
Mr. Soames: The qualifications required to allow officers and NCOs to conduct such training are subject to continual review and are revised where necessary. The qualifications held by individual officers and NCOs are reviewed annually by commanding officers.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the use of lasers instead of live ammunition during training exercises. [18292]
Mr. Soames: My Department is seeking to introduce lasers into training exercises where it is practicable to do so. The Army is currently using direct fire weapon effects simulators, which employ eye-safe lasers in order to provide realistic two-sided manoeuvre training, known as tactical engagement simulation. This type of training has already commenced on Salisbury plain and is to be introduced at Suffield Canada and a smaller work-up training site in Germany.
Deaths and Injuries (Information)
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the provision of information to families of service personnel injured or killed in (a) war zones and (b) peacetime training exercises; and if he will make a statement. [18291]
Mr. Soames: It is my Department's policy to inform the next of kin of members of the armed forces who are killed or injured in the course of their duty as quickly and as fully as possible of the undisputed facts. Since December 1992, in recognition of the special position of next of kin, service board of inquiry reports have been made available to the nominated next of kin of deceased service personnel, or to the individual in cases of serious permanent injury, should they so request, subject only to the essential minimum of security requirements. No distinction is made between whether the death or injury occurs in a war zone or on a peacetime training exercise.
Operational Aircraft Requirement
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft are available to the RAF for
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operational use; and if he will specify the total number of aircraft required by the RAF. [18295]Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Member to annex D of the Statement of the Defence Estimates 1994, Cm 2550, which sets out the strength of the Royal Air Force as at 1 April 1994. New figures will be included in this year's publication.
Tornado Aircraft, Coningsby
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tornados based at RAF Coningsby have recently been grounded; and if he will specify the reasons for the grounding of the Tornados; which company is responsible for the maintenance of the Tornados; what investigation has been carried out into the responsibility for the damage; what is the total cost to repair the damage; who is financially responsible for paying for these repairs; and if he will make a statement. [18294]
Mr. Soames: Two Tornado F3s from RAF Coningsby, taking part in NATO Exercise Strong Resolve between 20 February and 10 March, were suspected of receiving contaminated fuel from a VC10 tanker during air to air refuelling. The aircraft were grounded for four hours each on 6 March as a precautionary measure; no contamination was found and there was no damage to the aircraft.
Turkey
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will cease passing logistical, intelligence and surveillance information to the Turkish armed forces following their invasion of northern Iraq. [18305]
Mr. Soames: Her Majesty's Government give no support to the Turkish armed forces which assists their operations in northern Iraq.
Old Sarum Airfield
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the registered office and directors of the companies which hold the lease on Old Sarum airfield, namely Blanefield Investments NV and Old Sarum Park Properties Limited. [18309]
Mr. Soames: My Department does not hold any details of the registered office or directors of Blanefield Investments NV as dealings with that company in respect of the lease of Old Sarum airfield have been conducted through the company's appointed legal representatives. The registered office of Old Sarum Park Properties is Old Sarum airfield, Salisbury, Wiltshire. No details of the directors of that company are recorded by the Department in respect of the lease at the airfield.
Territorial Army Centre, Newbury
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Territorial Army will stop using the TA centre, St. Michael's road, Newbury. [18250]
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Mr. Soames: Although we expect that the Territorial Army will no longer require the St. Michael's road centre after the amalgamation of the 1st and 2nd battalions of the Wessex Regiment in October, an exact date has yet to be decided.
Service Widows
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the annual cost of paying the widows of ex-service men a pension of half the rate of their late husband's, regardless of their marital status, income or capital resources. [18160]
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