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Continuing Care Beds
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many NHS continuing care beds have been available in each (a) region and (b) district in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [41420]
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Mr. Moss: Information is not available in the format requested. The table shows the average number of available beds in long stay wards only for people who have a learning disability or are mentally ill, and the average number of available beds in wards for elderly and young physically disabled patients.
|Young physically
Year |Long-stay |Elderly |disabled
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |3,481 |2,519 |39
1991-92 |3,182 |2,315 |42
1992-93 |2,826 |2,121 |37
1993-94 |2,312 |1,934 |55
1994-95 |1,931 |1,830 |55
Respite Care Beds
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) NHS and (b) private respite care beds were available (i) by region and (ii) by health authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [41408]
Mr. Moss: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION
Advertising Expenditure
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how much has been spent on outside advertising agencies for each year since 1979; and if he will list the specific advertising campaigns undertaken by his Department, their purpose and their cost. [32480]
Sir Peter Hordern: The National Audit Office does not engage in advertising campaigns, other than for graduate and specialist recruitment. The costs of advertising for recruitment purposes are currently around £90,000 each year.
DEFENCE
No. 13 Air Experience Flight
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of annual savings to the defence budget of the proposed closure of No. 13 Air Experience Flight, Royal Air Force volunteer reserve. [41389]
Mr. Soames: The estimated annual savings to the defence budget of the closure of No. 13 Air Experience Flight of the Air Cadet Organisation would be £190,000.
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the air experience flights of the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve in the United Kingdom identifying which it is planned to (a) close and (b) move in the next three years. [41398]
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Mr. Soames: The current air experience flights of the Air Cadet Organisation are listed. A proposal to close No. 13 Air Experience Flight of the Air Cadet Organisation has recently been the subject of consultation and is now receiving consideration. The amalgamation of the flying operations of university air squadrons and air experience flights at regional locations, using the University Air Squadron Bulldog aircraft, has recently been announced and will be implemented in 1996. One of the effects will be that six air experience flights, which are marked with asterisks on the list, will reform at new locations.
Current Structure
No. 1--RAF Manston*
No. 2--Hurn Airport*
No. 3--Colerne Airfield
No. 4--Exeter Airport*
No. 5--Cambridge Airport
No. 6--RAF Benson
No. 7--RAF Newton
No. 8--RAF Shawbury*
No. 9--RAF Finningley*
No. 10--RAF Woodvale
No. 11--RAF Leeming
No. 12--RAF Turnhouse*
No. 13--Belfast City Airport
Rifle Ammunition
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests have been performed on rifle ammunition purchased from the Portuguese firm INDEP to determine their failure rate; what was the failure rate of the ammunition; what is his Department's standard failure rate of rifle ammunition; if his Department has encountered any technical problems with the ammunition; and if the ammunition purchased from INDEP has been assessed as satisfactory. [41568]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The 7.62 mm sniper rifle round produced by INDEP, which won the recent competition to supply ammunition for the National Rifle Association, has been subjected to three sets of tests. Prior to INDEP's inclusion in the tender invitation list, the design integrity of their round was established. During production, sample rounds underwent a number of acceptance tests examining different aspects of the manufacture of the rounds and their functioning in service weapons. Pass fail criteria varied from test to test but were rigorous; no critical defects were allowed and major defects could not occur in more than one round in 1,000. To date all acceptance tests have been satisfactory. Finally, following the NRA's reports of misfires, the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation carried out extensive tests during which over 1,500 rounds of INDEP ammunition were fired from service issue sniper rifles. No misfires occurred. We remain satisfied that the INDEP ammunition is to the specification laid down in the contract.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department purchased rifle ammunition from the Portuguese firm INDEP; how many rounds of ammunition were purchased; and what was the total value of the order. [41567]
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Mr. Arbuthnot: INDEP was awarded a contract for 1.3 million rounds of 7.62 mm sniper rifle ammunition on 10 February 1995. The contract value is commercially confidential.
Reserve Forces
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to (a) disband, (b) merge and (c) move any units of the Territorial Army and Royal Naval reserve in Northern Ireland in the next three years. [41400]
Anglo-French Defence Measures
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the joint defence measures agreed with the Government of France on 13 October. [41564]
Mr. Soames: The UK-French summit on 30 October reviewed the wide range of bilateral defence co-operation between the United Kingdom and France and agreed to build further on this. Discussions also highlighted a common position on a wide range of defence issues.
Mobile Cellphones
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures his Department possesses to prevent the accidental monitoring of mobile cellphones. [41566]
Mr. Soames: It is MOD policy that only cellphones used by MOD personnel for official use are subjected to monitoring, and the equipment can be programmed to monitor only calls involving specified cellphones.
If a non-MOD call is unintentionally intercepted during a scanning sweep of frequencies then the procedure laid down, in accordance with the Interception of Communications Act 1985, requires the operator to stop monitoring of the call immediately, dispose of all recorded material from that intercept and log the incident.
Deregulation
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1995; and if he will make a statement; [41531]
(2) what regulations his Department proposes to repeal by the end of 1995; if he proposes to conduct a compliance cost assessment on each regulation repealed; and what is the estimated cost of undertaking a compliance cost assessment to assess the advantages or disadvantages of such a repeal; [41554]
(3) what is the estimated saving to the Exchequer by the repeal of each rule and regulation which has so far been the subject of a reference to the Deregulation Committee from his Department; and in how many cases a compliance cost assessment has been carried out. [41532]
Mr. Arbuthnot: My Department is not a regulator of business so it does not refer proposals to the Deregulation Committee. As a non-regulatory Department we are
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playing a full part in the deregulation initiative by focusing our efforts on relieving unnecessary administrative burdens on our suppliers, streamlining contracts procedures and improving communications.RAF University Cadetships
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost in the academic year 1996 97 of the travelling and accommodation expenses of students at Queen's university, Belfast holding university cadetships sponsored by the Royal Air Force to attend training at university air squadrons in Great Britain. [41403]
Mr. Soames: There are currently no students at Queen's university holding university cadetships sponsored by the RAF. Assessments of the costs of travel and accommodation for any future students at Queen's university awarded a cadetship sponsored by the RAF in the future will be made as and when awards are approved.
Cadet Forces (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has (a) to disband, (b) merge and (c) move units of the Army Cadet Force and for the Cadet Corps in Northern Ireland in the next three years. [41399]
Mr. Soames: There are currently no plans to disband, merge or move units of the Army Cadet Force or the Combined Cadet Force in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he is making for the Royal Air Force to provide air experience in powered aircraft to cadets of the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force in Northern Ireland following the closure of No. 13 Air Experience Flight of the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve. [41390]
Mr. Soames: A proposal for the closure of No. 13 Air Experience Flight of the Air Cadet Organisation is still receiving consideration. If accepted, air cadets in Northern Ireland would be offered the same level of flying opportunities as cadets on the mainland, the establishment of a volunteer gliding school offering powered gliding, and the provision of opportunities for air experience flights during annual camps on the mainland.
Army Helicopter (Misuse)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a statement on the conclusions of his Department's special investigation branch into the allegations concerning the misuse of an Army helicopter to transport a commanding officer to a golf competition in Scotland. [41565]
Mr. Soames: The special investigations branch has completed and submitted a report into the allegations concerning the misuse of an Army helicopter. This is now being considered by my Department and I will advise the hon. Member of the outcome shortly.
University Air Squadron
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the complement of aircraft and qualified flying instructors of university
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air squadrons in Great Britain to provide training for students from Queen's university, Belfast holding university cadetships sponsored by the Royal Air Force following the closure of Queen's University Air Squadron, Belfast. [41401]Mr. Soames: At present, there are no plans to increase the complement of aircraft or qualified flying instructors at university air squadrons in Great Britain to provide flying training for students at Queen's University, Belfast holding university cadetships sponsored by the RAF. Should the decision be taken to close the Queen's University Air Squadron, the flying training of any students holding RAF sponsored cadetships would be undertaken from within existing resources.
Radioactive Debris
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made since 1965 by the Meteorological Office of the fallout pattern of radioactive debris arising from the French atmospheric weapon tests conducted in the Algerian Sahara desert between 1960 and 1966; and if he will make a statement on what (a) public protection and (b) information measures have been taken since 1965 in the United Kingdom. [40258]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The Meteorological Office makes no assessment of fallout patterns of radioactive debris. It does, however, provide essential meteorological data and forecasts to the other Government Departments with responsibility for public protection and information measures.
AEA Technology, formerly a division of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, has measured the deposition and air concentration of long-lived radioactive material produced as a result of weapons tests in the atmosphere since the late 1950s. Annual reports have been published.
In the event of an accident involving defence nuclear material in the UK, the Ministry of Defence nuclear accident response organisation would work in conjunction with the appropriate civil agencies to ensure an effective response to safeguard the public. Where appropriate, the information necessary to deal with such an event has been issued by the MOD under the provisions of the Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations 1992.
Public safety schemes exist in respect of all UK berths used by nuclear powered submarines, and guidance on appropriate protective measures in the event of an accident during the transportation of nuclear weapons has been issued to local authorities and the emergency services.
A national response plan, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, was put in place in 1988 to deal with the possible impact on the UK from overseas nuclear accidents or major radioactive release overseas, of whatever origin.
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Air Force Recruitment
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current maximum age requirement for recruits to enter the Air Force; what was this age limit two years ago; and if he will make a statement. [41563]
Mr. Soames: The information is as follows:
Years and under
|Age
|requirement |Age
|from 1 |requirement
|September 1995|two years ago
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officers
General Duties (Air) Pilot |24 |24
General Duties (Air) Navigator |26 |26
General Duties (Ground) Air
Traffic Control |25" |30
General Duties (Ground)
Fighter Control |30 |30
General Duties (Ground)
Intelligence |30 |30
Engineer |29" |<1>30
Supply |26" |<1>30
Administrative (Secretarial) |25" |<1>30
Administrative (Education) |27" |<1>30
Administrative (Catering) |27" |<1>30
Administrative (Physical Education) |27" |<1>27
Security (Regiment) |25" |26
Security (Provost) |30 |<1>30
Specialists
Legal |<3>30 |<3>30
Chaplains |<3>39 |<3>39
PMRAFNS |35 |35
Medical Secretarial |<1>30 |<1>30
Medical |39 |<4>39
Dental |<3>33 |<33>
Airmen/Aircrew |31 |<2>26
Ground Trades |24 |39
<1> Exceptionally, recruits could be considered up to the age of 39 years.
<2> Exceptionally, recruits could be considered up to the age of 31 years.
<3> Older candidates could be considered on their merits.
<4> Older candidates could be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Temporary age restrictions have been imposed from 1 September 1995 on entry to training in the RAF. Given reductions and restructuring in the RAF following changes in the strategic environment, these restrictions are necessary to maintain a balanced age-rank structure for the future. The revised age criteria will be kept under regular review.
Training Assistance
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which foreign Governments training assistance has been offered since 1992; and what was the total receipt in respect of such assistance in the financial years 1992 93, 1993 94 and 1994 95. [40492]
Mr. Soames: According to available records the following countries have received United Kingdom assistance since 1992:
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CountryAlbania
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Austria
Australia
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burma
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Falkland Island
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritus
Mexico
Montserrat
Mozambique
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
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