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Military Hardware (Accidents)
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all items of military hardware over £25,000 in value lost through accidents in each of the last five years. [35445]
Mr. Soames: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Homosexuals (Armed Forces)
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve the situation of gay men and lesbian women within the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [35444]
Mr. Soames: We are considering at present the High Court judgment in the recent judicial review cases involving four former service personnel who were discharged on the grounds of homosexuality. Appeals in these cases are pending. In the meantime, it remains our policy to exclude homosexuals from the armed forces.
Livestock Exports (Airfields)
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has (a) for allowing the use of airfields for exporting livestock from the United Kingdom and (b) for the sale of airfields to exporters of livestock; and if he will make a statement. [34860]
Mr. Soames: No plans exist to allow the use of my Department's airfields for the export of livestock, or for the disposal of any surplus airfields for this purpose.
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Aircraft (British Grand Prix)
Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft belonging or chartered to Her Majesty's armed forces were present at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 16 July; and for what purposes. [36206]
Mr. Soames: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the legal obstacles to the transfer of services from the Brook hospital to the Queen Elizabeth Military hospital, Woolwich; and if he will make a statement. [35937]
Mr. Soames: There are a number of important contractual issues to be resolved before my Department will be in a position to sell the Queen Elizabeth Military hospital to the Greenwich Healthcare trust. As negotiations are still subject to contract, we regard the specific details of such matters as in confidence between the two parties. Officials from the MOD are, however, in close contact with the Greenwich Healthcare trust, and we are optimistic about reaching an amicable solution on all outstanding issues shortly.
Mast Manning
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the future of mast-manning in the Royal Navy. [35139]
Mr. Soames: Personnel who form the Royal Navy mast manning display team are drawn from the pool of manpower that is temporarily surplus to requirements. This surplus which has enabled formation of the team in recent years, will not be available in future as strengths are brought more into line with naval requirements. Any future formation of the team could be achieved only by the diversion of ratings from priority tasks.
Royal Yacht
Mr. David Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of savings to his Department's budget of the proposed decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia. [34758]
Mr. Soames: As a result of the Government's decision to decommission HMY Britannia in 1997, her planned refit in 1996 97 will not be necessary; this will save some £17,000,000. In addition, Britannia's running costs of about £10,000,000 per annum will be saved.
Early Retirement and Redundancy
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of early retirement and redundancy packages for armed forces personnel in the last year for which figures are available. [35129]
Mr. Soames: During financial year 1994 95 redundancy payments of £453,000,000 were made. This figure includes special capital payments, early payment of terminal grants, commuted pension payments and the first year's early payment of immediate pensions.
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Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total amount of redundancy payments paid to British service personnel who have left the armed forces under the "Options for Change" policies as of 1 July. [34077]
Mr. Soames: The current redundancy programme began in financial year 1992 93. In that year redundancy payments of £232,000,000 were made. In 1993 94 and 1994 95 the payments totalled £509,000,000 and £453,000,000 respectively.
These payments include special capital payments, and early payment of terminal grants, commuted pension payments and the first year's payment of immediate pensions.
Surplus Land and Houses
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the surplus land and houses sold by his Department by auction in each of the last three financial years; if he will give the price obtained; and if he will make a statement. [35028]
Mr. Soames: From the available records the following properties have been identified as having been sold by auction in the financial years as shown:
|£
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial year 1992-93
Two building plots adjacent to 5/10 Dobbie Road,
Long Marston |75,000
Building plot at rear of 24-28 Norton Close,
Worcester |35,500
White Lodge, HMS Mercury, Petersfield |95,000
4 Cranfield Drive, London |47,000
4 Married Quarters and 5 garages, Golden Valley
Estate, Folkstone |145,000
2 Married Quarters, Dagets Wood, Chatham |65,750
20 acres (sportsfield) Coldblow near Deal |21,000
Financial year 1993-94
St. Albans Hall, Lynchford Road, Farnborough |117,000
Four lots of land RAF Greatworth, Northamptonshire |109,000
Horse Sands Fort, The Solent |45,860
Nos 4 -27, 9, 12, 15 and 17 Poplar Way, Colerne,
Wiltshire |145,000
Nos 1-21 (odd) Elm Road, Colerne, Wiltshire |190,000
Nos 2-6 Cherry Road, 2-12 (even) Elm Road, 6-10 Hazel Way, Colerne,
Wiltshire |330,000
Sopley Bunker, Harpway Lane, Christchurch |151,000
50 Fareham Road, Gosport |27,000
52 Beechwood Drive, Woodford Green, Essex |32,000
Financial year 1994-95
Ex Warning and Monitoring Post, Church Lawford,
Rugby |248,200
2 x Woodside Cottages, Lyneham |101,500
180 Priory Road, Gosport |30,500
Departmental Property (Evictions)
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many proceedings to evict irregular occupants for non-payment of rent have been initiated in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [35031]
Mr. Soames: In the last five years, my Department has initiated 370 proceedings to evict irregular occupants for
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non-payment of rent, although there is very rarely any need for an actual eviction to take place, and in the last two years for which figures are available there have been no evictions. A year by year breakdown of this figure is given in the table:
|Number
---------------------
1991 |<1>6
1992 |77
1993 |142
1994 |112
1995 |<2>33
<1> Note that the
figure for 1991 is
for Royal Air Force
only.
<2> To date.
Manadon Engineering School
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bids have been received for the Royal Navy's engineering school at Manadon, Plymouth; if he will name the successful bidder, indicating the price obtained; and if he will make a statement. [35030]
Mr. Soames: A recent marketing campaign for Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon produced six serious responses from prospective purchasers. Following analysis of the proposals, it was decided that the sale should be completed by formal tender. Invitations to tender will be issued shortly with a closing date for bids approximately one month thereafter.
MOD Properties (Illegal Occupation)
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received in respect of the illegal occupation of empty Ministry of Defence premises; how many premises have been illegally occupied; and if he will make a statement. [35029]
Mr. Soames: I am aware of no representations having been received in respect of the illegal occupation of empty Ministry of Defence premises. We are aware of five married quarters which have been illegally occupied during the last year.
Ferry Purchases
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what military requirements two ferry vessels are required as set out in "Future Purchase No. NSSB3B/60758"; what consideration has been given to leasing or contract hiring of such vessels; what equivalent vessels were in use at Portland for the purpose of transfer of naval training staff to warships; and if he will make a statement. [34755]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The requirement set out in "Future Purchase No. NSSBSB/60758" of the June 1995 issue of the MOD "Contracts Bulletin" is for two specialist passenger craft to transfer naval personnel from Plymouth to and from warships and auxiliaries in open water in support of Flag Officer Sea Training when this task moves from Portland. We are currently considering a number of procurement options, including leasing, before establishing procurement strategy aimed at achieving best value for money for the defence budget. The vessels currently in use at Portland are not capable of meeting the
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requirement to transfer personnel safely in the significantly rougher seas experienced off Plymouth.Memoranda of Understanding
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations led him to diverge from his policy of not divulging details of memoranda of understanding in his answer to the honourable Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) of 27 October 1992, Official Report , columns 614 15 , on the memorandum of understanding signed in September 1992 by the United Kingdom and Indonesian Governments. [36326]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The memorandum of understanding referred to was signed at the Farnborough air show and the answer given to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley at the time may have reflected the possibility of some information about it being in the public domain.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations led him to diverge from his policy of
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not divulging details of memoranda of understanding in his answer to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) of 27 October 1992, Official Report , columns 614 15 , on the memorandum of understanding signed in September 1992 by the United Kingdom and Indonesian Governments. [36326]Mr. Arbuthnot: The memorandum of understanding referred to was signed at the Farnborough air show and the answer given to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley at the time may have reflected the possibility of some information about it being in the public domain.
Civil Servants
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of (a) male and (b) female (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees. [35466]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The number of male and female full-time and part-time staff employed by my Department and its agencies is set out in the table.
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Grades within the Full-time staff Part-time staff
Open Structure and
Occupational
Groups-1 April 1995 |Male |Female |Total |Male |Female |Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open Structure Grade 1 (including 1A) |5 |0 |5 |0 |0 |0
Open Structure Grade 2 (including UIPP (Higher)) |8 |0 |8 |0 |0 |0
Open Structure Grade 3 (including UIPP (Lower)) |43 |2 |45 |0 |0 |0
Open Structure Grade 4 |29 |1 |30 |0 |0 |0
Open Structure Grade 5 |259 |15 |274 |0 |1 |1
Open Structure Grade 6 |703 |23 |726 |1 |0 |1
Open Structure Grade 7 |2,654 |130 |2,784 |16 |13 |29
Senior Executive Officer |1,114 |195 |1,309 |2 |6 |8
Administration Fast Stream HEO(D)) |12 |10 |22 |0 |0 |0
Administration Fast Stream (AT(HEO)(NEW)) |3 |1 |4 |0 |0 |0
Higher Executive Officer |2,097 |954 |3,051 |2 |54 |56
Administration Fast Stream (AT) |6 |0 |6 |0 |0 |0
Executive Officer |2,931 |2,792 |5,723 |7 |193 |200
Administrative Officer |3,969 |9,375 |13,344 |20 |902 |922
Administrative Assistant |1,375 |4,425 |5,800 |26 |786 |812
Senior Economic Assistant |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0
Senor Assistant Statistician |0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |0
Assistant Statistician |2 |1 |3 |0 |0 |0
Senior Information Officer |30 |7 |37 |0 |0 |0
Information Officer |35 |23 |58 |0 |0 |0
Assistant Information Officer |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0
Senior Librarian |10 |7 |17 |0 |0 |0
Librarian |19 |29 |48 |0 |0 |0
Assistant Librarian |12 |33 |45 |0 |5 |5
Museum Curatorial Group Grade D |5 |0 |5 |0 |0 |0
Museum Curatorial Group Grade E |7 |2 |9 |0 |0 |0
Museum Curatorial Group Grade F |7 |2 |9 |0 |0 |0
Museum Curatorial Group Grade G |1 |5 |6 |0 |0 |0
Senior Mapping and Charting Officer |85 |20 |105 |1 |5 |6
Higher Mapping and Charting Officer |191 |38 |229 |0 |2 |2
Mapping and Charting Officer |355 |96 |451 |0 |41 |41
Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 1 |108 |61 |169 |1 |10 |11
Mapping and Charting Technical Grade 2 |31 |32 |63 |1 |9 |10
Senior Professional and Technology Officer |2,320 |19 |2,339 |2 |1 |3
Higher Professional and Technology Officer |3,726 |53 |3,779 |4 |2 |6
Professional and Technology Officer |4,561 |85 |4,646 |1 |5 |6
Professional and Technology Officer IV(obs) |3 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0
Technical Grade 1 |268 |105 |373 |0 |0 |7
Technical Grade 2 |16 |14 |30 |0 |0 |2
Graduate Trainee |50 |0 |50 |0 |0 |0
Trainee Incorporated Engineer |12 |2 |14 |0 |0 |0
Senior Graphics Officer |10 |1 |11 |0 |0 |0
Higher Graphics Officer |47 |2 |49 |0 |0 |0
Graphics Technical Grade |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0
Graphics Officer |166 |29 |195 |0 |1 |1
Senior Research Officer (R) |44 |7 |51 |1 |0 |1
Research Officer (R) |6 |1 |7 |0 |0 |0
Chief Typing Manager |0 |16 |16 |0 |0 |0
Typing Manager |0 |160 |160 |0 |0 |0
Senior Personal Secretary |0 |91 |91 |0 |0 |0
Personal Secretary |3 |800 |803 |0 |23 |23
Typist |7 |2,635 |2,642 |0 |600 |600
Senior Scientific Officer |1,659 |166 |1,825 |23 |25 |48
Higher Scientific Officer |1,567 |261 |1,828 |4 |28 |32
Scientific Officer |1,103 |255 |1,358 |1 |19 |20
Assistant Scientific Officer |460 |103 |563 |2 |8 |10
Senior Instructional Officer |65 |0 |65 |0 |0 |0
Higher Instructional Officer |333 |2 |335 |0 |0 |0
Instructional Officer I |1,072 |9 |1,081 |1 |0 |1
Instructional Officer II |168 |5 |173 |1 |1 |2
Catering Manager 3 |3 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0
Chef 1/Chief Cook 1 |17 |1 |18 |0 |0 |0
Chef 2/Chief Cook 2 |21 |2 |23 |0 |0 |0
Museum Technician Grade 2 |2 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0
Museum Technician Grade 3 |1 |1 |2 |0 |0 |0
Museum Support Grade 1 |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0
Museum Support Grade 2 |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0
Museum Support Grade 3 |22 |0 |22 |0 |0 |0
Museum Support Grade 4 |3 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0
Museum Support Grade 5 |5 |0 |5 |1 |0 |1
Senior Photographic Officer |6 |0 |6 |0 |0 |0
Higher Photographic Officer |37 |1 |38 |0 |0 |0
Photographic Officer |126 |8 |134 |0 |1 |1
Process & Supervisory Group Grade A |11 |0 |11 |0 |0 |0
Process & Supervisory Group Grade B |35 |0 |35 |0 |0 |0
Process & Supervisory Group Grade C |116 |0 |116 |0 |0 |0
Process & Supervisory Group Grade D |303 |11 |314 |0 |2 |2
Process & Supervisory Group Grade E |120 |8 |128 |0 |0 |0
Senior Psychologist |9 |16 |25 |0 |0 |0
Higher Psychologist |4 |7 |11 |0 |0 |0
Stores Officer Grade A |17 |0 |17 |0 |0 |0
Stores Officer Grade B |131 |2 |133 |1 |0 |0
Stores Officer Grade C |326 |9 |335 |0 |0 |0
Stores Officer Grade D |653 |61 |714 |0 |1 |1
Support Manager 1 |2 |2 |4 |0 |0 |0
Support Manager 2 |17 |17 |34 |0 |0 |0
Support Manager 3 |72 |101 |173 |0 |0 |0
Support Grade Band 1 |279 |699 |978 |3 |47 |50
Support Grade Band 2 |435 |411 |846 |5 |50 |55
Senior Telecommunications Technical Officer |48 |0 |48 |0 |0 |0
Higher Telecommunication Technical Officer |149 |1 |150 |0 |0 |0
Telecommunications Technical Officer |338 |1 |339 |4 |1 |5
Assistant Telecommunications Technical Officer |429 |15 |444 |0 |1 |1
Trainee Telecommunications Technical Officer |17 |1 |18 |0 |0 |0
Trainee Telecommunications Technical Officer |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0
Communications Officer I |18 |1 |19 |0 |0 |0
Communications Officer II |38 |9 |47 |0 |0 |0
Communications Officer III |93 |28 |121 |0 |0 |0
Communications Officer IV |234 |100 |334 |1 |4 |5
Total staff in open structure and occupational groups |37,915 |24,614 |62,529 |132 |2,856 |2,988
Total staff in departmental non-industrial grades |13,818 |1,522 |15,340 |74 |110 |184
Industrial staff |30,230 |5,266 |35,496 |126 |1,290 |1,416
Total non-industrial and industrial staff |81,963 |31,402 |113,365 |332 |4,256 |4,588
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral answer of 4 July to the hon. Member for Blaby, Official Report , column 137, (1) when the Government announced a policy of testing to ensure the procurement of additional anti-personnel land mines is safe, tested and reliable; [35453]
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(2) what research his Department intends to carry out to ensure that self-destruct anti-personnel land mines that his Department intends to procure are safe, tested and reliable; and how he intends to ensure that present stocks are safe, tested and reliable. [35452]Mr. Arbuthnot: All equipment procured for use by Her Majesty's armed forces is subject to testing to ensure that it is safe, reliable and fit for purpose. If we procure anti-personnel mines in the future these would be subject
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to such tests to ensure that they comply with out requirements for safety and reliability at that time. Stocks of all types of in-service ammunition, including mines, are tested regularly to assess their continued safety and suitability for service. No stocks of self-destruct anti-personnel mines are currently held by my Department.Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral answer of 4 July to the hon. Member for Blaby, Official Report , column 137 , (1) what steps he has taken to consider the military usefulness of anti-personnel land mines; [35451]
(2) pursuant to his oral answer of 6 June to the hon. Member for Islwyn, Official Report , column 13 , what measures were taken to consider the justifiable military use of some anti-personnel land mines; and if he will list the recipient and nature of Government spending on mine-clearance work. [35470]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The need for anti-personnel land mines is kept under review. Such reviews include investigation of possible alternative ways of carrying out the important defensive role which is currently fulfilled by anti-personnel land mines. Recent operational analysis has not identified any weapon system which could act as an effective alternative to anti- personnel land mines. Government support towards the humanitarian clearance of land mines is undertaken through the Overseas Development Administration.
Child Care
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spends on (a) child care provision for under-fives and (b) out- of-school provision for over-fives, either directly, excluding provision for departmental staff, or indirectly through resources made available to local authorities or other organisations; what form of provision is provided; and how many full-time and part-time places are provided. [35450]
Mr. Soames: Excluding provision made for staff and service personnel, my Department has no responsibility for meeting costs of child care either directly or indirectly.
Stealth Fixed-wing Aircraft
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans for the development of a stealth fixed-wing aircraft. [35642]
Mr. Arbuthnot: Our plans for future combat aircraft and associated technologies are kept under constant review. Following the recently approved mid-life update, the Tornado GR4 aircraft will not need replacing until well into the next century.
Chinook Helicopters
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to buy additional Chinook helicopters for special forces use. [35637]
Mr. Arbuthnot: It is our policy not to discuss requirements for special forces use.
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Hawk Aircraft
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans for replacement of the RAF's Hawk T1 and T1A aircraft. [35640]
Mr. Arbuthnot: We are assessing a number of options for the Hawk fleet including extending the life of the aircraft or purchase or lease of a replacement in due course. This work will take some time.
Market Testing
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, c. 272, what is the value of (a) those activities subject to market testing that included a bid from the respective in-house organisation and (b) those activities where an in-house bid was not allowed. [35027]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The total value of activities which have been subject to market testing that included a bid from the respective in-house organisation in the last three reporting periods, covering 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1995, was £80 million. The total value of activities where an in-house bid was not allowed, that is, where the activity was strategically contracted out, in the same period, was £409 million. This latter figure includes AWE contractorisation valued at £275 million.
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report, c. 272, if he will (a) name the organisations awarded contracts to carry out the activities where an in- house bid was not allowed and (b) express as a percentage of the total number of activities market tested the number of activities where an in- house bid has not been allowed; and if he will make a statement. [35026]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The organisations awarded contracts to carry out the activities where an in-house bid was not allowed, that is, where the activity was strategically contracted out, in the last three reporting periods, are listed in the table. This is 39 per cent. of the total number of activities completed under the competing for quality process within the same periods.
Ministry of Defence--Activities strategically contracted out -- 1992 93
Gardening, Royal Marine School of Music, Deal--Oaklands plc Harrier Aircraft Service Support, H.M.S. HERON--Hunting A/C Ltd. Helicopter Maintenance and Engineering Support, H.M.S. OSPREY, H.M.S. HERON and H.M.S. SEAHAWK-- Hunting A/C Ltd.
Simulator Helicopter Control Operations, H.M.S. OSPREY-- Hunting A/C Ltd.
Bielefeld bakery--NAAFI
Works Services, H.M.S. SEAHAWK--PSA Building Management
Works Services, H.M.S. DOLPHIN--PSA Building Management
Central Engineer Resources, Plant Hire, Long Marston-- various local contractors
Food distribution in BAOR--NAAFI
Food distribution in rear combat zone (BAOR)--NAAFI
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Line of Communications--Freight Service, (Low Countries)--DEPAIRE Engineering and Supply (multi-activity contract), RAF Scampton--Hunting A/C Ltd.RAF/RN Elementary Flying Training Topcliffe--Hunting A/C Ltd. Domestic Services, MOD Police, Wethersfield--Gardner Merchant Works Services Maintenance, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Belize--Turner (FM) Ltd./Balfour Beatty/ACO
Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston--Hunting Brae Ltd. Combat Systems Information Management Team--EASAMS Ltd.
Guarding, Abbey Wood--CHUBB Wardens Ltd.
Relocation Reconnaissance Visits, Bristol--Peter Carol Executive Coaches
1993 94
Tri Service food study--NAAFI
Verbatim Court Recorders, Salisbury--Harry Counsell and Co Catering strategy study, UK Land Forces--various contractors across a range of sites
Air Weapons Range, Rosehearty--Assessment Services Ltd.
Electronic Warfare training tasks, 360 Sqn, RAF Wyton--FR Aviation Ltd.
Government Pipeline and Storage System, (Operation and Maintenance)--Simon Storage Group/SERCO Gulf Engineering/Unipen Parachute Transport Flight, RAF Hullavington--Hallett Silbermann Station Engineering Management Aid, (Maintenance Analysis and Computing Division), RAF Swanton Morley--Bull Information Systems Ltd.
Furniture repair, British Forces Hong Kong--Wing Cheung and Co Ltd. School bus service, British Forces Hong Kong--Hoi Tai Tours Ltd. Support Services, Akrotiri, Cyprus--Compass Catering Service (Cyprus) Ltd.
Data entry, Met Office, Bracknell--Alpha Numeric
1994 95
Wireless Stations (Operation and Maintenance), Inskip and Crimond--SERCO Services Ltd.
Freight Service, Germany--TNT Express Holding GmbH
Mobile Civilian Artisan Groups, Germany--Procurement of services as and when required
Support for Parachute Training--Hunting Aviation Ltd.
The Queen's Flight, (engineering support) RAF Northolt-- FLS Aerospace (Lovaux) Ltd.
Repair of Defence Accommodation Stores, RAF Quedgeley-- HiFburb Ltd./Thackers Ltd./Gordons of Hemingford
Curtain manufactures, British Forces Hong Kong--FCO Procurement Unit
Food supply, British Forces Hong Kong--various contractors Support Services, British Forces Hong Kong-- SERCO/Gardner Merchant
Overseas Trips
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) details of all overseas trips made by him, or ministerial colleagues in his Department, paid for wholly or partly from public funds and (b) the purpose, destination and duration of such overseas trips, which officials accompanied him and the total cost in each case, including that of officials, to public funds for each year since 1992. [32262]
Column 1370
Mr. Arbuthnot [holding answer Monday 10 July 1995]: During the period in question, Ministers in my Department have carried out the following overseas visits:
Secretary of State for Defence
|Aircraft
Date |Destination |Purpose |type
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial year 1993-94
April
20 to 23 |USA |To represent Her |Civil
|Majesty's
|Government at
|opening of Holocaust
|Museum, and to have
|bilateral talks
May
16 to 21 |Far East (Malaysia, |Bilaterals |RAF
| Indonesia, Brunei and
|Singapore)
25 |Belgium (Brussels) |NATO Ministerial |RAF
|Meeting
August
2 to 4 |Bosnia/Croatia, Italy |To visit British |RAF
|Forces in Bosnia nad
|Croatia, and for
|bilateral talks in
|Croatia and Italy
September
19 to 24 |CIS (Russia and |Bilaterals |RAF
|Ukraine)
October
20 to 21 |Germany |NATO Ministerial
|(Travemunde) |meeting
22 |Germany (Bielefeld) |To visit British |RAF
|Forces
23 to 24 |Germany (Bonn) |To participate in
|Bertelsmann Forum
24 to 26 |France |Bilateral
November
21 to 22 |Austria (Vienna) |Anglo-German |RAF
|Summit
25 |Germany (Bonn) |NATO Ministerial |RAF
December
8 to 9 |Belgium (Brussels) |NATO Ministerial |RAF
January
5 to 10 |Far East Saudi |Bilateral discussions |RAF
|Arabia, Kuwait,
|(Bahrain)
February
4 |Germany (Laarbruch, |To visit British |RAF
| Bruggen) |Forces
5 |Germany |Conference on |RAF
|Security Policy
6 to 7 |Italy/Former |To visit British |RAF
|Yugoslavia |Forces
10 to 11 |Sweden |Bilateral |RAF
19 to 20 |Italy |Visit British Forces |RAF
March
17 to 18 |Former Yugoslavia |Visit to British |RAF
|Forces
22 |Norway |Engagement with the |RAF
|King of Norway
23 |Netherlands |Bilateral |RAF
Financial year 1994-95
April
1 to 5 |Nepal |To visit British |RAF
|Forces
12 to 15 |USA |Bilateral |Civil
May
5 to 8 |Bermuda |To visit British |RAF
|Forces
9 |Luxembourg |WEU Ministerial |RAF
23 to 25 |Belgium (Brussels) |NATO Ministerial |RAF
|meeting
26 |USA |Witness missile firing |RAF
27 to 28 |Belize |To visit British |RAF
|Forces
June
2 to 3 |Switzerland |Bilateral |RAF
6 |France |D Day |RAF
September
8 |Germany |Berlin |RAF
|commemorations
11 |Denmark |Bilateral |RAF
28 to 30 |Spain |NATO Ministerial |RAF
October
2 to 5 |Baltic States |Bilateral |RAF
| (Estonia, Latvia,
| Lithuania)
20 to 24 |Israel |Bilateral |RAF
24 to 25 |Jordan/Kuwait |Bilateral |RAF
28 |Germany |To attend BAOR |RAF
|drawdown parade
30 to 1 |USA |Bilateral |RAF
November
November
18 |France |Summit |RAF
December
5 to 6 |Former Yugoslavia |Visit to British |RAF
|Forces
13 to 14 |Belgium (Brussels) |NATO Ministerial |RAF
January
16 to 18 |Middle East (Saudi |Bilateral talks |RAF
| Arabia Abu Dhabi,
| Dubai)
February
3 |Germany |Visit German Forces |RAF
4 to 5 |Germany (Munich) |Security Policy |RAF
| Conference |RAF
12 to 15 |Poland, Czech |Bilateral talks |RAF
| Republic, and
|Slovakia
March
2 to 5 |USA |Quadrilateral meeting |Civil
Financial year 1995-96
April
7 to 13 |Namibia, South |Bilaterals |RAF-£133,404
| Africa, and
| Zimbabwe
28 to 30 |Germany |Ditchley Foundation |RAF-£6,796
| Conference
May
14 to 15 |Portugal |WEU Ministerial |RAF-£4,970
June
3 |France |Ministerial meeting |RAF-£3,271
June 8 to 9 |Brussels |NATO Ministerial |RAF-£2,782
| meeting
12 to 13 |Sweden and Finland |Bilateral |RAF-£5,594
19 to 21 |USA |Bilateral and WEU |Civil
| Conference
|Aircraft
Date |Destination |Purpose |type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Year 1993-94
5-9 April |Czech Republic, |Bilaterals |RAF
| Hungary, Bulgaria
|and Slovakia
13-15 May |Germany |Visit British Forces |RAF
19 May |Rome |WEU Ministerial |Civil
|meeting
26 July |Luxembourg |WEU Ministerial |RAF
|meeting
28-30 July |Germany |Visit British Forces |RAF
13-16 |Italy, Bosnia and |Visit British Forces |RAF
September | Croatia
20-29 |Belize, USA and |Visit British Forces, |Civil
September |Brazil |Prime Minister and
|members of Belizean
|government, meetings
|with members of the
|US administration
12-14 |Hungary |Bilaterals |RAF
October
15-18 |Cyprus, Gibraltar, |Meet British Forces |RAF
November |Sardinia |and Chief Minister,
|Gibraltar
Financial Year 1994-95
23 February |Brussels |Visit SHAPE |RAF
|Headquarters
13-15 June |Bosnia |Visit British Forces |RAF
30 June- |Norway |HQ AFNORTH |RAF
1 July |closure ceremony
19 August |Brussels |Represent UK at |RAF
|Mandred Worner's
|funeral
1 September |Germany |Visit British Forces |RAF
4-8 |Oman |Bilaterals |Civil
September
26-28 |Bosnia |Visit British Forces |RAF
September
1-7 October |Hong Kong Brunei |Visit British troops |Civil
|and Bilaterals
7-10 |Cyprus Gibraltar |Visit British troops |RAF
November
5 December |Germany |Bilaterals |RAF
3-6 January |Bahrain |Anglo Bahrain |Civil
|Defence Committee
|and Bilaterals
25 January |Furstenfoldbruck, |British/German |RAF
|Germany |Peacekeeping seminar
28-29 |Norway |Visit British Forces |RAF
February | on NATO Exercise
15 March |Germany |Visit British Forces |RAF
Financial Year 1995-96
21-25 April |Bosnia/Turkey |Visit UK troops and | RAF-£26,973
|represent the UK government at
|Gallipoli
|commemorations
2-3 May |Hamburg, Germany |Attend VE |RAF
|commemorations
The RAF cost of this visit was borne by The Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the Minister for the Armed Forces.
Minister of State for Defence Procurement
Date |Destination |Purpose |Aircraft type
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Year 1993-94
5 April |Germany |Bilateral talks |RAF
16-18 April |Oman |Promoting defence |Civil
|sales
28 June |Netherlands |Promoting defence |RAF
|sales
16 |Poland |To accompany HRH |RAF
September |the Duke of
|Edinburgh
8-10 |Kuwait |Promoting defence |Civil
October |sales
6-7 |Dubai |Promoting defence |Civil
November |sales
18 |Germany |Promoting defence |RAF
November |sales
15-17 |Saudi Arabia |Promoting defence |Civil
December |sales
20-22 |Bosnia |Visiting British |RAF
December |troops |RAF
6-9 |Oman |Promoting defence |Civil
January |sales
28-31 |Riyadh |Promoting defence |Civil
January |sales
Financial Year 1994-95
26-29 April |USA |Bilateral talks |Civil
12 |Germany |Bilateral talks |RAF
September
18-21 |Far East |Five power defence |Civil
Septembet |arrangements
|ministerial meeting
27-29 |USA |Bilateral talks |Civil
September
22-23 |UAE |Bilateral talks and |Civil
October |promoting defence
|sales
2 February |France |Bilateral talks |Civil
5-6 |Germany |Bilateral talks |RAF
February
17-20 |UAE |Bilateral talks |Civil
March |and promoting defence
|sales
23 March |France |Bilateral talks |RAF
Financial Year 1995-96
21-23 April |Kuwait |Promoting defence |Civil
|sales
27 April |France |Bilateral talks |RAF-£1,807
19 May |Germany |Bilateral talks |RAF- £2,152
12 June |France |Visit to Paris air |RAF- £1,430
| show and bilateral
|talks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence
Date |Destination |Purpose |Aircraft type
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Year 1993-94
20 April |RAF Bruggen |Disbandment of RAF |RAF
|Germany
23 April |Germany |Meet Federation of |Civil
|Army Wives BAOR
12 May |Bielefield, Germany |Visit ACE Rapid |Civil
|Reaction Corps
24 June |Germany |Disbanding of the |RAF
|Northern Army
|Group and 2nd Allied
|Tactical Air Force
14-17 |Turkey |Defence Sales visit to |Civil
September |IDEF
29 |Bielesfeld, Germany |Federation of Army |RAF
September |Wives Conference
21-23 |Albania |Bilateral |RAF
October
1-3 |Russia |125th Anniversary of |RAF
December |St. Petersburgh
|Declaration followed
|by a visit to Minsk
6-9 |Malaysia |Defence sales visit to |Civil
December |LIMA 93
13 |Normandy |Looking at sites for |RAF
December |D Day Celebrations
19 January |Grafenwoker, |View Combined |RAF
|Germany |Arms Tactical Trainer
20-22 |Singapore |Bilateral |Civil
February
28-30 |Bosnia |Visit British troops |RAF
March
Financial Year 1994-95
19-20 April |Malaysia |Bilateral |Civil
6 June |Normandy |D Day |RAF
29 June |Sennelager, Germany |British Forces |RAF
|Germany
|Environmental Day
26-27 |Slovakia |50th Anniversary of |RAF
August |the Slovak National
|Uprising
3-7 October |Greece and Slovenia |Defendory 94 and |Civil to
|Bilateral |Athens
|then
|RAF
19 October |Herford, Germany |Federation of Army |RAF
|Wives Conference
7-11 |Turkey |Bilateral |Civil
November
Total Ministerial expenditure on commercial foreign air travel for 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96 to date is as follows: Financial year |Expenditure £ ---------------------------------------------- 1993-94 |73,767 1994-95 |72,455 1995-96 to date |5,660
Before April 1995 the cost of RAF flights was not separately identified and, together with the numbers of officials, could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
On visits of this kind, accommodation is normally provided by Her Majesty's Ambassador, Higher Commissioner, other Government representative, or by the hosts.
S6 Respirator
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report , column 276 , who was in control of the user acceptability trials with the S6 respirator; and where these trials were carried out. [35622]
Mr. Arbuthnot [holding answer Tuesday 18 July 1995]: The S6 respirator which preceded the current S10, was brought into service about 30 years ago. Remaining records relating to this period are held in archives and to establish whether they contain information concerning user trials and acceptance would incur disproportionate costs. It is known that a study conducted in 1957 by the Army operational research group of the Department of the Scientific Adviser to the Army Council recommended the acceptance of the S6 concept.
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