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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 15 June 1995
DEFENCE
Service Personnel (Deaths)
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been killed while training or engaged on non-combat duties in the last 10 years. [28225]
Mr. Soames: The information requested is as follows:
1985: 208
1986: 178
1987: 191
1988: 207
1989: 255
1990: 218
1991: 191
1992: 167
1993: 169
1994: 152
Skilled Tradesmen
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to ensure that skilled tradesmen in the armed forces have the opportunity to extend or maintain their skills by involvement in depot or major servicing and engineering where these are carried out by civilian businesses. [27915]
Mr. Soames: The armed forces continue to train and practise their tradesmen in the full range of skills required to support the operational task and deliver military capability. Where it is deemed essential that a number of these tradesmen attain and maintain depot level skills following the transfer of such work to the private sector, either an element of the work will be retained in service or appropriate contractual arrangements will be put in place with industry to second service personnel to enable them to receive the required skill enhancements.
RAF Newton
Mr. Hargreaves: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Defence what plans he has for the future of RAF Newton. [29412]
Mr. Soames: As part of the wider changes to RAF ground training, a consultative document was issued on 28 March 1995 recommending the relocation of headquarters air cadets from RAF Newton to RAF Cranwell, its merger with headquarters university air squadrons and the reduction of RAF Newton to an enclave. My Department has consulted thoroughly with trade unions and relevant local authorities, and full and careful consideration has been given to all the representations received.
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Following this work, I am satisfied that no issues have been raised which will call into question the viability of the proposals, which will achieve significant annual running costs savings. I have therefore decided that the proposals should now be implemented.Third-generation Anti-tank Guided Weapons System
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total Government expenditure on the TRIGAT long range anti-tank weapon. [28858]
Mr. Freeman: The total amount spent by the Ministry of Defence to 31 May 1995 on the TRIGAT long-range anti-tank programme is £210 million, at 1995 96 prices. This includes a proportion of the costs of the feasibility and project definition phases, which were combined for the long -range and medium-range TRIGAT programmes, as well as the costs of the current development programme.
Defence Systems
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Patriot missile defence system. [28857]
Mr. Freeman: The Patriot missile defence system is one of the options being considered as part of the pre-feasibility study which I announced to the House on 18 October 1994, Official Report , column 239, to provide advice on systems, capabilities, time scales, costs and technical risk.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the medium extended air defence system; and if he will make a statement. [28844]
Mr. Freeman: The medium extended air defence system is one of the options being considered as part of the pre-feasibility study which I announced to the House on 18 October 1994, Official Report , column 239, to provide advice on systems, capabilities, time scales, costs and technical risk.
Eurofighter 2000
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart concerning Eurofighter 2000; [28842]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of political developments in Germany concerning the Eurofighter 2000; and if he will make a statement. [28843]
Mr. Freeman: My right hon. and learned Friend met his German opposite number on 28 May for discussions on a number of topics, including Eurofighter 2000. I am confident that Germany remains committed to the development of the Eurofighter 2000 aircraft.
Crown Immunity
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all areas within (a) his Department, (b) agencies under his Department's control and (c) organisations for which he has ministerial responsibility to which Crown immunity applies; what consideration he has given to removing this; and if he will make a statement. [28653]
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Mr. Freeman: An Act of Parliament is presumed not to bind the Crown unless the contrary intention is clearly stated, or there is a necessary implication that the Crown is to be bound. Crown immunity is being progressively reduced, as legislative opportunities arise. However, even in circumstances where the Crown is not bound by legislation, it is Government policy that it should comply as though the requirements apply to it, wherever appropriate.
To list all areas in which Crown immunity may apply would involve disproportionate cost.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on matters related to the Scott inquiry; if a dedicated unit has been established; and what is the estimated cost to date of civil servants dealing with matters relating to the Scott inquiry. [28865]
Mr. Freeman: A Scott inquiry unit was established in the MOD in December 1992. There are currently two civil servants working in the unit. The approximate direct cost of the unit to date, including the cost of the provision of papers, is estimated to be £190,000.
Mr. Bermingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice he has sought from solicitors or barristers in respect of draft conclusions reached by the Scott inquiry; what is the estimated cost of such legal expenses to public funds, and if he will make a statement. [28896]
Mr. Freeman: The Government do not consider it right to publish the nature or cost of any advice which may have been given to individual witnesses to the Scott inquiry.
This is a matter of confidence between them and any legal advisers they may have retained.
Chinook Crash
Mr. Bill Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the findings of the inquiry into the Chinook crash on 2 June 1994.
Mr. Rifkind: I express to the widows and family members of those who died the Government's deep regret and condolences in their loss. I have this afternoon placed in the Libraries of both Houses a summary of findings of the inquiry into this tragic crash which claimed the lives of 29 people. After an exhaustive inquiry into all the circumstances, the possibilities of major technical or structural failure, hostile action or electromagnetic interference with navigation equipment were eliminated as possible causes. On all the evidence, it was concluded that the cause of the accident was that the two pilots had wrongly continued to fly towards the Mull of Kintyre below a safe altitude in unsuitable weather conditions. This constituted a failure in their duty and regrettably, therefore, it was concluded that both pilots had been negligent.
I confirm that the MOD will pay compensation to the next of kin where this is due. Legal advice is that in the particular circumstances of this accident the
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Government's legal liability to the passengers on board is limited by the terms of the Carriage by Air Acts (Application of Provisions) Order 1967 which derives from the relevant international conventions. The Government have, however, previously made clear their view that the limit of 100,000 special drawing rights-- approximately £100, 000--arising from these conventions is out of date. Accordingly the MOD will consider claims, in this case, above 100,000 SDR. In so doing, they will take account of the discussions already in progress within the civil airline industry about the right limit for airlines' liability. These discussions will inform, but not necessarily determine, the Government's decision on whether the Chinook passenger claims should be subject to an upper limit on compensation and, if so, at what higher figure.Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his Department's definition of an air transport undertaking. [28869]
(2) if the Chinook helicopter involved in the crash in the Mull of Kintyre in June 1994 was partaking in an air transport undertaking; and if he will make a statement. [28868]
Mr. Soames: The Chinook was on an air transport task from RAF Aldergrove to Fort George barracks, Inverness. The Ministry of Defence's understanding of an air transport undertaking is the movement by air of personnel and cargo within and between theatres of operation. The compensation rights of the families concerned, however, are not dependent on how the Ministry of Defence chooses to describe any aspect of this tragic accident.
Inhumane Weapons Review Conference
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his aims at the United Nations inhumane weapons review conference in September. [28230]
Mr. Freeman: At the UN weaponry convention review conference in September and October of this year, the UK's main aim will be to work towards strengthening protocol II of the convention to impose stricter controls on the use of land-mines. Specific measures which we will be pursuing include: an extension of the scope of the protocol to cover non- international armed conflicts; new provisions on self-destruct mechanisms in anti-personnel mines, detectable mines, and the marking and mapping of minefields; provisions on the transfer of anti-personnel mines; and an effective verification mechanism.
Compensation Claims
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 June, Official Report , column 192 , if he will list the dates, units involved, and the injuries leading to the cases of compensation claims made against his Department in the last five years arising from the negligent discharge of weapons. [28867]
Mr. Soames: My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many written parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by his Department in each of the past five years; how many of these were not answered because the information (a) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, (b) was not held centrally and (c) was not normally disclosed; how many of these could now be answered due to computerisation, more effective and efficient operational systems or more open government; and if he will list each question along with the name and constituency of the right hon. or hon. Member who originally tabled it. [28520]
Mr. Baldry: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28497]
Mr. Baldry: Ministers are accountable to Parliament for all matters concerning their agencies. Written parliamentary questions concerning matters which have been delegated to the chief executive of an executive agency in its framework document, normally receive a reply from the Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published in Hansard after the Minister's reply.
Bosnia
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which areas in Bosnia it is (a) possible or (b) not possible to post items from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [26885]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Due to operational difficulties caused by the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Post Office is unable to accept items of mail for onward delivery to any part of that country.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on matters related to the Scott inquiry; if a dedicated unit has been established; and what is the estimated cost to date of civil servants dealing with matters relating to the Scott inquiry. [28863]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Three civil servants in the FCO are working full time on matters related to the Scott inquiry. Other FCO officials are involved, but not on a full-time basis.
A dedicated unit was established in December 1992, and continues to exist.
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The estimated cost to date of the unit dealing full time with the Scott inquiry is £164,027. It is not possible to quantify a figure for the other officials.Locate in Scotland, North America
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines he has issued to United Kingdom diplomatic and consular staff concerning the activities and work of Locate in Scotland in north America; what communication there has been with the United States Government following the public comments of the United Kingdom consul general in San Francisco on the work of Locate in Scotland and other inward investment agencies; what clarification the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued on the role of the United Kingdom inward investment agencies following those comments; and what discussions have been held as a consequence regarding a new policy towards United Kingdom inward investment agencies. [28700]
Mr. Goodlad: All overseas commercial posts have guidelines on co- operation with Locate in Scotland as well as the equivalent organisations for Wales and Northern Ireland. Together with the Invest in Britain Bureau and English regional agencies, these organisations are members of the Committee on Overseas Promotion, which co-ordinates the promotion of inward investment into the United Kingdom.
No clarification of those guidelines, nor a change of policy, is necessary. The question of a communication with the United States Administration does not arise.
Sex Tourism
Ms Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Government of (a) the Phillippines and (b) Thailand concerning possible measures to arrest the growth of sex tourism in those countries. [28840]
Mr. Goodlad: We regularly take opportunities to raise the issue of sex tourism with the Governments of the Phillippines and Thailand. I discussed child prostitution legislation with the Thai Government during my visit to Thailand in May.
We also regularly discuss practical forms of co-operation between our law enforcement authorities within the framework of Interpol.
Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Indonesian police officers have received training under the UK military training and assistance scheme. [28906]
Mr. David Davis: The details of training given under the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme are confidential between Governments.
Committee of the Regions
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names, together with the previous and present jobs, of the Committee of the Regions set up under the provisions of the treaty of Maastricht. [28702]
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Mr. David Davis: Biographies of all members of the Committee of the Regions may be obtained from the CoR press office, Rue Ravenstein 2, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
Nigeria
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the further measures which he proposes to take to demonstrate his concern about the abuse of democracy in Nigeria.
Mr. Baldry: We deplore the fact that there has been no progress towards democracy in Nigeria in the two years since the annulment of the presidential elections. We look to the regime to use the occasion of the presentation of the report of the national constitutional conference due on 27 June to initiate a credible timetable for a return to civilian democratic rule. We shall continue to keep our policy under review, together with our EU, Commonwealth and other partners.
PRIME MINISTER
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister what communications he has received from Lord Justice Scott over the evidence he gave to the inquiry into arms for Iraq; on what dates the communications were sent to him; and what were the dates of his replies. [28860]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) and for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 12 June 1995, Official Report, column 373.
Mr. Byers: To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on matters related to the Scott inquiry; if a dedicated unit has been established; and what is the estimated cost to date of civil servants dealing with matters relating to the Scott inquiry. [28862]
The Prime Minister: Within the Cabinet Office, the number of civil servants working exclusively on matters relating to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry is five, all of whom are members of a dedicated unit. The cost of the unit since December 1992 has been approximately £400, 000.
Former Prime Ministers (Payments)
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Prime Minister what payments are available to former Prime Ministers; which of these cease immediately upon their death; which are phased out or continued for a fixed or indefinite period to allow their bereaved spouses to deal with duties following their death; and if he will make a statement. [28535]
The Prime Minister: Under the provisions of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, former Prime Ministers are entitled to receive payment from the Consolidated Fund of half of the salary payable in respect of the office of the Prime Minister at the time of leaving office. This Act also increased the pensions of then former Prime Ministers to an amount equal to the new pension entitlement of the office of that time.
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Payments cease on death, subject to arrangements for spouses and children based largely on the parliamentary pension scheme. On 1 April 1991, an allowance was introduced to assist former Prime Ministers with the continuing heavy burden of office and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is similar in purpose and amount to the parliamentary office costs allowance but is paid in respect of public and not parliamentary duties. It ceases immediately on death, but a sum equal to one third of the annual amount is made available to the executors of the will to assist with the costs of winding up any office organisation.Terrorist Prisoners
Dr. Spink: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that no terrorist prisoners will be given special treatment in respect of early release; and if he will make a statement. [28629]
The Prime Minister: The Government have already stated that prisoners convicted of terrorist offences are not political prisoners and must expect to serve their sentences in accordance with the law.
Royal Family (Official Engagements)
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the official engagements programmes of members of the royal family who receive funds from the civil list. [28611]
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Prime Minister what advice is issued to Ministers by him and/or the Cabinet Office in respect of answering written questions tabled by right hon. and hon. Members which directly relate, appear to relate or which could be construed to relate, to their declared financial interests; and if he will make a statement. [28565]
The Prime Minister: I have no reason to believe that guidance is necessary on this matter.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 June, Official Report , column 271 , regarding parliamentary questions, if he will list the dates on which his answers were subsequently clarified by means of written questions. [28852]
The Prime Minister: This is a matter of public record.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Amway
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many meetings he has had with representatives of Amway in the last three months. [28320]
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Nigeria (Military Equipment)
Mr. Bennett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the non-lethal equipment which has been supplied to Nigeria by United Kingdom companies since December 1993; who was the United Kingdom supplier company of that equipment; what was the value of that equipment in current prices; what was the date an export licence was granted for that equipment; and under which military list specification the licence was granted. [26556]
Mr. Ian Taylor: I can add nothing to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie(Mr. Worthington) on 10 May, Official Report , columns 517 18 . It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose particulars of defence trade with other countries or details of export licences or applications for export licences.
West African Countries (Defence Trade)
Mr. Bennett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade to which west African countries goods defined as ML 6 in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 of SI 1992 No. 3092 and group 1 of part III of schedule 1 of SI 1994 No. 1191 have been exported since December 1993. [26555]
Mr. Ian Taylor: It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose particulars of defence trade with other countries.
Electronic Batons
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the companies to which export licences were granted for the export of electronic batons in 1992. [27660]
Mr. Ian Taylor: No licences were granted for these goods in 1992.
Water Rates
Sir Terence Higgins: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer to the Office of Fair Trading the practice of water utilities demanding payment of water rates in advance of water being delivered. [28712]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I have drawn the right hon. Gentleman's question to the attention of the Director General of Water Services, who is responsible for regulating the commercial activities of the water utilities in England and Wales.
Consumers in Europe Group
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the grant for the consumers in Europe group in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [28306]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The consumers in Europe group is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via its grant in aid to the National Consumer Council. The grant allocation to the CEG in each of the last five years was:
Year |£ --------------------------------- 1990-91 |156,466 1991-92 |157,874 1992-93 |175,749 1993-94 |197,921 1994-95 |<1>180,731 Source: NCC annual reports-<1> taken from NCC management accounts for 1994-95.
Ms Clare Spottiswoode
Mr. McNamara: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current civil service grade and salary of Ms Clare Spottiswoode, the Ofgas regulator. [27664]
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