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DEFENCE
Munitions (Dumping at Sea)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department will list the weapons material dumped in Hurd Deep in the English channel; [613]
(2) if his Department will give details of the sea dumping disposal programme conducted by his Department in the dumping site 400 miles south-west of Lands End; [614]
(3) what records relating to chemical weapons and munitions dumping operations in Hurd Deep until 1973 and off the continental shelf until January 1993 exist in his Department. [615]
Mr. Soames: No chemical warfare munitions were disposed of at these sites. Details of sea disposals of CW munitions were provided in my previous answer of 20 October 1995, Official Report, col 387. In the immediate post war period approximately 25,000 tons of British and 50,000 tons of captured German conventional munitions were dumped at Hurd Deep but no record of subsequent dumping operations at this site until its use was discontinued in 1973 appear to have survived. Surviving records which have been identified to date show that between 1973 and 1985 up to 2,000 tons of conventional munitions were disposed of annually at the deep water dump site situated approximately 400 miles south west of Lands End, off the continental shelf. From 1985 until October 1992 when the sea dumping of munitions was terminated the annual disposals were as follows, 904 tons; 1,882 tons; 1,565 tons; 3,244 tons; 1,544 tons; 1,775 tons; 1,093 tons and 8,764 tons.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his assessment of the legality of the 1976 emergency dump in Beaufort's dyke in relation to the Oslo convention for the prevention of marine pollution by dumping from ships and aircraft; [612]
(2) if he will list the weapons material dumped during the 1976 emergency dump in Beaufort's dyke in the North sea. [611]
Mr. Soames: The emergency MOD disposal in 1976 involved two cases of heavily corroded 40mm shells. The emergency dumping of certain waste materials subject to the provisions of the Oslo convention is permissible if the waste in question cannot be disposed of on land without "unacceptable danger or damage". Given their recorded condition, the disposal of these munition items on land would have constituted such an "unacceptable danger".
20 Nov 1995 : Column: 17
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to monitor the chemical weapons and munitions dumping sites in the sea surrounding the British Isles. [610]
Mr. Soames: My Department has no plans to monitor disused munition dump sites.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the last sea-dumping by his Department of surplus ordnance off the British Isles. [446]
Mr. Soames: My Department ceased all sea-dumping of conventional ammunition and explosive stocks in October 1992 in line with the OSPAR convention which came into force on 1 January 1993.
Ships for Sale
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list all the (a) surface ships and (b) submarines currently on the market for sale by his Department. [462]
Mr. Arbuthnot: (a) Surface ships on the market for sale
Leander Class Frigates
HMS Sirius
HMS Scylla
HMS Hermione
HMS Jupiter
Bird Class Patrol Craft
HMS Redpole
HMS Cygnet
HMS Kingfisher
Ocean Going Tug
RMAS Roysterer
Dog Class Tugs
RMAS Foxhound
RMAS Labrador
Fender Barge
RMAS Pauline Elizabeth
Girl Class Tug
RMAS Daphne
Triton Class Tug
RMAS Nancy
Fleet Tender
RMAS Lydford
Water Carrier
RMAS Waterspout
Upholder Class Submarines
HMS Upholder
HMS Unseen
HMS Unicorn
HMS Ursula
20 Nov 1995 : Column: 18
West Freugh Range
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the explosions, together with their dates, which have occurred at his Department's West Freugh military range in the last two years; [214]
(2) what activities are carried out at his Department's West Freugh military range; [216]
(3) if an investigation has been carried out into the explosion at his Department's West Freugh military range on 19 October; and if he will make a statement. [215]
Mr. Arbuthnot: These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive, DERA to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 20 November 1995:
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) current total estimated cost and in service date and (b) original total estimated cost and in service date of the Army's attack helicopter. [458]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The current total estimated cost of the attack helicopter programme is £2.5 billion and, at the same price base, is about £120 million more than the estimated total programme cost when the competitive tendering and assessment phase was approved in 1991. The preferred in service date at that time was December 1997 but the later date of December 1998 was included in the invitation to tender. Following the conclusion of the competition, the in service date is currently estimated as 2000. This remains subject to confirmation in the continuing contract negotiations.
Dr. Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the progress made on the development of the Army's attack helicopter. [445]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
I receive regular updates on the progress of major programmes such as the attack helicopter. Following the selection of the WAH64 aircraft to meet the Army's requirement for an attack helicopter, contractual negotiations are continuing with Westland
20 Nov 1995 : Column: 19
Helicopters Ltd. Development of the McDonnell Douglas AH64D Longbow Apache for the US Army, on which the United Kingdom's aircraft will be based, has been completed and the production phase has been approved.
Mr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage saving of total running costs his Department expects to save in the next two financial years. [457]
Mr. Soames:
The MOD's operating costs plans are set out in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995", table 13, page 137.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with representatives from Lockheed Martin concerning the purchase of F22 aircraft. [464]
Dr. Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the purchase of American F22 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [466]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
We are not considering the purchase of American F22 aircraft.
Dr. Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the reports received from (a) his Departmental staff or (b) his independent advisers concerning the purchase leasing of F22 aircraft from America. [465]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
My right hon. Friend has received no such reports.
Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of complaints received from the borders region about tactical low flying sorties over the area over the past five years. [443]
Mr. Soames:
The numbers of complaints and inquiries about military low flying received by my Department over the past five years from low flying areas 16 and 20T, which cover the borders area, are as follows:
Your three questions regarding activities at the West Freugh range and the recent accidental explosion on 19 October have been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Defence Research and Evaluation Agency (DERA) which includes the West Freugh site as part of the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) division of the Agency. I am responding to all three questions in this letter.
You asked for details of the activities carried out at the West Freugh site for a list of explosions that had occurred there in the last two years. The DTEO Weapons Range at West Freugh offers the capability to undertake weapon trials on a fully instrumented range with comprehensive customer support facilities. Trials can include both development and in-service activities in the fields of bombing, short range surface-to-air and air-to-surface missile firings, laser gun firings, weapon system designator, and explosive trials. There has been only one unplanned explosion at West Freugh in the last two years, that of 19 October 1995, in which two DERA personnel were injured.
Your third question asked about an inquiry into the incident of 19 October. The Managing Director of DTEO has set up a formal Committee of Inquiry specifically to investigate the incident. This is currently gathering the detailed evidence to establish what happened and is making recommendations accordingly. We are also in touch with the Health and Safety Executive.
1991: 291
1992: 486
1993: 583
1994: 599
1 1995: 774
1 Up to 31 October 1995.
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