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Drugs (Army Personnel)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many drug tests have been carried out by his Department on the Army since the testing scheme was introduced; how many soldiers have been tested for drugs in this period; how many have failed the drug tests; and if he will provide a breakdown by regiment. [2595]
Mr. Soames: As of 15 November 1995, 16,968 Army personnel have been tested. To date, 133 have failed the test and results are awaited for a further 328 tests. The units tested are as follows--some of these have been tested more than once:
Ministry of Defence, (Executive Committee of the Army Board) Headquarters Scotland Headquarters Northern Ireland Headquarters 1st (UK) Armoured Division Headquarters 3 (UK) Division and Signal Regiment Headquarters 52nd Brigade Headquarters 42nd (Northern Western) Brigade Headquarters Herford Garrison Headquarters Episkopi Garrison Headquarters Lisburn Station Headquarters Kineton Station Headquarters Joint Support Group Northern Ireland The Household Cavalry Regiment The Royal Dragoon Guards 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 7th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 5th Regiment Royal Artillery 16th Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery 47th Field Regiment Royal Artillery Royal Artillery Ranger Hebrides 33 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineer 1st (UK) Armoured division Headquarters & Signal Regiment 7th Signal Regiment 9th Signal Regiment 15th Signal Regiment 16th Signal Regiment 30th Signal Regiment 238 Signal Squadron 241 Signal Squadron 253 Signal Squadron 280 Signal Squadron Joint Communications Unit (Northern Ireland) 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards 1st Battalion The Scots Guards 1st Battalion The Irish Guards 1st Battalion The Royal Scots 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers 1st Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers 1st Battalion The Highlanders 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 1st Regiment The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire
27 Nov 1995 : Column: 486
1st Battalion The Green Howards 1st Battalion The Queens Lancashire Regiment 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales 1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment 1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment 5th Regiment Army Air Corps 9th Regiment Army Air Corps 3 Base Ammunition Depot 3 Close Support Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 5 Airborne Brigade Combat Services Support Battalion
6 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corps 7 Transport Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 11th Explosives Ordnance Disposal Regiment Royal Logistic Regiment 12 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corps 15 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corps 21 Logistic Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps 23 Pioneer Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 24 Transport Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps 20 Squadron The Royal Logistic Corps 221 Explosives Ordnance Disposal Squadron Royal Logistic Corps 321 Explosives Ordnance Disposal Squadron Royal Logistic Corps Cyprus Logistic Unit 5 Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps 23 Parachute Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps 6th Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Army Pay and Documents Office (Northern Ireland) Royal Military Police Training Centre Chichester 2nd Regiment Royal Military Police 174 Provost Company Royal Military Police 115 Provost Company Royal Military Police 36 Detachment Special Investigation Branch Royal Military Police 32 Army Education Centre 45 Army Education Centre Education Services 7 Dental Group 9 Dental Group Defence Animal Support Unit Rhine Area Support Unit Garrison Labour Support Unit Herford Army Families and Welfare Services Herford Army Careers and Information Office Herford Station Staff Office Herford
Hawk Aircraft (Indonesia)
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of Hawk aircraft sold to the Indonesian Government for use by the Indonesian Air Force. [903]
Mr. Arbuthnot: As has previously been confirmed, the Indonesian Air Force purchased 20 Hawk trainer aircraft in the early 1980s. In 1993 a further order was placed for an additional 24 aircraft which have not yet been delivered.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details in the Official Report of the number of sales of Hawk trainer aircraft for each of the last available five years, indicating which countries purchased the aircraft and what numbers. [901]
Mr. Arbuthnot: It is not normal Government practice to reveal details of specific exports. These matters are confidential between the customer and the supplier.
27 Nov 1995 : Column: 487
Small and Medium Enterprises
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of his Department's expenditure in 1994-95 was spent on procuring goods or services from small and medium enterprises. [1943]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Dwellings
Mr. David Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by his Department are (a) currently unoccupied and (b) have been unoccupied for six months or more in the counties of (i) Mid-Glamorgan and (ii) Gwent. [2164]
Mr. Soames: As at 30 September 1995 my Department owned 124 vacant dwellings in Gwent, of which 116 were being held for a unit deployment due to commence in December and eight were in the process of being sold. A total of 122 of these dwellings had been vacant for more than six months. My Department owned no vacant dwellings in Mid-Glamorgan.
Flying Training
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what were the dates of arrival and departure of Royal Air Force aircraft deployed to Goose bay for flying training in the 1994 season; [1277]
- (2) what were the dates of arrival and departure of Royal Air Force aircraft deployed to Goose bay for flying training in the 1995 season. [1313]
Mr. Soames: Royal Air Force aircraft were deployed to Goose bay for flying training as follows:
| 1994 | 1995 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hercules | 13-17 March | 23-28 January |
| Tornado GR1 | 14 April-27 June | 6 July-27 September |
| 1 August-26 September | -- | |
Private Finance Initiative
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the private finance initiative was not considered for the development of his Department's Naval Support Command at Foxhill, Bath. [2442]
Mr. Soames: The scope for a private finance initiative approach to the overall NSC accommodation requirement was considered before the proposals were announced but was not pursued since it was considered unlikely to provide value for money. Proposals to accommodate the NSC HQ at Ensleigh, Bath and at Abbey Wood, Bristol were announced on 14 June 1995. Subsequently, proposals for a PFI solution involving the Foxhill site were put forward by Bath city council in July and August 1995. These proposals were carefully examined. When they were adjusted to meet the NSC requirement, they did not offer better value for money than the planned way ahead which was subsequently confirmed on 6 September.
27 Nov 1995 : Column: 488
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints he has received from Northumberland about tactical low-flying sorties over the area in the past five years. [2723]
Mr. Soames:
The number of complaints and inquiries about military low flying received by my Department from Northumberland over the past five years are as follows:
1991: 111
1992: 220
1993: 180
1994: 160
1995: 142 1
1 Up to 31 October 1995.
Portland Naval Base
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Serious Fraud Office has contacted his office concerning the sale of Portland naval base; and if he will make a statement. [2694]
Mr. Soames: The Serious Fraud Office contacted my Department on 19 October 1995. All complaints referred to the SFO are subject to a process known as vetting so that the SFO's decision about whether or not to accept the case is properly based on the facts available at the time of the decision. The complaint in this case is at that stage.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the compliance with the correct procedures in respect of the sale of Portland naval base to Portland Port Ltd. [2692]
Mr. Soames: I am completely satisfied that the correct procedures have been adopted in respect of the sale of Portland naval base following a review of the case by my senior officials and the National Audit Office.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department signed a contract with Portland Port Ltd. concerning the Portland naval base. [2691]
Mr. Soames: A contract has not yet been signed with Portland Port Ltd. We are at an advanced stage in finalising the details of the sale contract, which has inevitably been subject to a very complex legal negotiation. When all outstanding issues are finally resolved contracts for sale will be exchanged.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations apart from the bidding price his Department took into account when evaluating bids for the purchase of Portland naval base. [2693]
Mr. Soames: Many factors were taken into account in selecting a purchaser including the availability and source of funding; employment projections; conformity with local aspirations; credibility of the proposed use; short, medium and long-term proposals for use; environmental issues; planning and other necessary consents.
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