4 Dec 1995 : Column: 1
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 4 December 1995
DEFENCE
Married Housing Stock
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department's married housing stock will be moved into the private sector. [3680]
Mr. Arbuthnot: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 30 November, Official Report, columns 810-11, we propose that the Ministry of Defence should transfer ownership of the married quarters estate in England and Wales to the private sector on a series of very long leases, renting back the accommodation which is needed to meet service housing needs. Several thousand surplus properties would be transferred on a freehold basis at the same time. The Ministry of Defence would retain, through the Defence Housing Executive, responsibility for maintenance and the allocation of housing rented by MOD. Further details of this proposal are set out in the preliminary information memorandum published on 30 November, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Anthony Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the preliminary information memorandum on the sale of the married quarters estate. [4168]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The preliminary information memorandum was published on 30 November 1995, and a copy was placed in the Library of the House.
Departmental Targets
Ms. Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the published recommended response times within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public. [2999]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my predecessor on 6 June 1995, Official Report, column 148.
Queen's Flight
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since the recent change in procedures aircraft of the Queen's Flight have been used by members of the royal family for private travel, unconnected with their official duties. [3254]
Mr. Soames: Since the introduction, on 1 April 1995, of arrangements under which the royal households are charged for private use of aircraft of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron, there have been six occasions when such aircraft have been used for private travel.
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 2
Navigation Systems
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the specification for integrated inertial navigation and global positioning system equipment for Sea Harriers was drafted in accordance with the US Department of Defence's requirement; and if he will instruct British Aerospace to amend that specification to accord with British requirements. [3727]
Mr. Arbuthnot: As prime contractor with responsibility for conducting the competition for an integrated inertial navigation and global positioning system for the Sea Harrier, British Aerospace defined the specifications to be applied. My Department has reviewed these specifications and is satisfied that they are consistent with recognised international standards.
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that British Aerospace treats all bidders fairly in its administration of the competition for the supply inertial navigation and global positioning systems for the Sea Harrier aircraft; [3725]
(2) what are the implication for the IN-GPS contract for the Sea Harrier aircraft of the relationship between British Aerospace, BASE and the division of Honeywell which is bidding for the contract. [3726]
Mr. Arbuthnot: British Aerospace's handling of the competition for an inertial navigation and global positioning system for the Sea Harrier has been closely supervised by my Department's technical and contracts staff. We are satisfied that the conduct of this competition has been fair and proper.
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the economic and strategic importance of maintaining a British industrial capability to design and manufacture inertial navigation and guidance systems. [3728]
Mr. Arbuthnot: My Department is now assessing the results of the competition for an inertial navigation and global positioning system for the Sea Harrier prior to reaching a procurement decision. This assessment will take into account any impact on a continuing United Kingdom design capability in this technology field.
Armed Forces Exercises (Ebford)
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying operations or exercises were conducted by the Royal Air Force or other NATO armed forces over the village of Ebford, Devon, during the autumn of 1988. [2855]
Mr. Soames: Although records are maintained of the total number of sorties flown in the UK low flying system, statistics are not available on, nor is it possible to estimate, the number of sorties flown over precise locations.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions a Royal Marines colour sergeant was deployed in Ebford village during autumn 1988. [2860]
Mr. Soames: No colour sergeant of the Royal Marines command was deployed in Ebford village during the autumn of 1988.
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 3
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the efficiency savings required to meet his Department's budget settlement. [3679]
Mr. Soames:
The MOD efficiency programme has led to savings worth more than £3 billion and "Front Line First" will produce a further £1 billion of savings per year by the end of the century. We will build on this in setting targets for future efficiency savings.
Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place a copy of his directorate of operational capability's latest report in the Library; if he will make a statement on the Royal Navy's capability to mount an amphibious operation equivalent to the Falklands campaign; and what immediate plans he has to order new amphibious assault ships or other vessels to improve that capability. [3745]
Mr. Soames:
Reports produced by my directorate of operational capability are classified documents, and constitute advice to Ministers. It is not our practice to place such documents in the Library of the House.
The Royal Navy retains the capability to conduct amphibious operations in support of our defence policy objectives. This capability is currently being enhanced by the acquisition of the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, which was launched earlier this year, and the refit of the landing ship logistic Sir Bedivere.
Negotiations are under way with VSEL on its tender to replace the amphibious ships HMS Fearless and Intrepid.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the provision of spare parts for British aircraft. [3677]
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 4
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The Ministry of Defence obtains spare parts from industry for support of its aircraft. Logistic support procedures are designed to ensure that requirements are satisfied while minimising spares holdings in the interests of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Unforeseen problems can mean that aircraft are unavailable awaiting spare parts but this has not affected our current operational commitments.
Dr. Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft are currently not operational due to the lack of spare parts. [3678]
Mr. Soames:
The number of RAF aircraft unavailable awaiting spare parts from industry varies on a daily basis. The figure for Monday 27 November 1995, including training aircraft, was 44.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to purchase roll-on roll-off ferries; and if he will make a statement. [3676]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
We are examining a number of possible enhancements to the civil and military strategic lift available to the joint rapid deployment force, including the charter, lease or purchase of suitable shipping and cargo aircraft.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will set out the Exchequer grant for the promotion and support of tourism for each of the years 1979-80 to 1995-96, at 1979 prices and expressed per head of population, for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. [2158]
Mr. Sproat
[holding answer 27 November 1995]: The total Government grant to the statutory tourist boards, expressed in 1979 prices--millions of pounds--for each year from 1979 to 1995, and expressed per head of population--pounds--for the countries covered by the boards, was as follows:
| British tourist authority | English tourist board | Scottish tourist board | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIA £ million | £ per head population | GIA £ million | £ per head population | GIA £ million | £ per head population | |
| 1979-80 | 12.8 | 0.23 | 10.3 | 0.22 | 4.3 | 0.83 |
| 1980-81 | 12.0 | 0.22 | 9.7 | 0.21 | 4.4 | 0.85 |
| 1981-82 | 12.5 | 0.23 | 9.8 | 0.21 | 4.7 | 0.91 |
| 1982-83 | 13.0 | 0.24 | 10.7 | 0.23 | 5.2 | 1.01 |
| 1983-84 | 11.6 | 0.21 | 10.3 | 0.22 | 5.6 | 1.09 |
| 1984-85 | 11.3 | 0.21 | 11.6 | 0.25 | 6.6 | 1.28 |
| 1985-86 | 10.6 | 0.19 | 10.4 | 0.22 | 5.4 | 1.05 |
| 1986-87 | 12.4 | 0.22 | 12.2 | 0.26 | 5.5 | 1.07 |
| 1987-88 | 12.6 | 0.23 | 13.3 | 0.28 | 5.2 | 1.02 |
| 1988-89 | 12.7 | 0.23 | 13.8 | 0.29 | 5.3 | 1.04 |
| 1989-90 | 12.8 | 0.23 | 10.9 | 0.23 | 6.0 | 1.18 |
| 1990-91 | 12.8 | 0.23 | 8.0 | 0.17 | 5.7 | 1.12 |
| 1991-92 | 12.8 | 0.23 | 8.7 | 0.18 | 5.6 | 1.10 |
| 1992-93 | 13.0 | 0.23 | 7.6 | 0.16 | 5.7 | 1.12 |
| 1993-94 | 13.1 | 0.23 | 6.1 | 0.13 | 5.6 | 1.09 |
| 1994-95 | 13.3 | 0.23 | 4.5 | 0.09 | 7.0 | 1.36 |
| 1995-96 | 13.4 | 0.24 | 3.9 | 0.08 | 6.6 | 1.28 |
| Wales tourist board | Northern Ireland tourist board | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIA £ million | £ per head population | GIA £ million | £ per head population | |
| 1979-80 | 3.7 | 1.32 | 3.9 | 2.55 |
| 1980-81 | 3.6 | 1.28 | 4.1 | 2.67 |
| 1981-82 | 3.9 | 1.39 | 4.1 | 2.67 |
| 1982-83 | 4.0 | 1.43 | 3.7 | 2.41 |
| 1983-84 | 3.4 | 1.21 | 3.1 | 2.01 |
| 1984-85 | 4.2 | 1.50 | 3.4 | 2.19 |
| 1985-86 | 4.8 | 1.71 | 3.4 | 2.18 |
| 1986-87 | 4.8 | 1.70 | 3.4 | 2.17 |
| 1987-88 | 5.0 | 1.76 | 2.9 | 1.84 |
| 1988-89 | 5.0 | 1.75 | 2.9 | 1.84 |
| 1989-90 | 5.0 | 1.74 | 2.9 | 1.83 |
| 1990-91 | 4.9 | 1.70 | 3.5 | 2.20 |
| 1991-92 | 5.0 | 1.73 | 3.1 | 1.94 |
| 1992-93 | 5.8 | 2.00 | 4.9 | 3.03 |
| 1993-94 | 5.6 | 1.93 | 4.9 | 3.00 |
| 1994-95 | 5.7 | 1.96 | 5.0 | 3.05 |
| 1995-96 | 5.7 | 1.95 | 5.3 | 3.24 |
Sources: Population Estimates Unit (OPCS) 1979-1994. Government Actuaries Department 1995. (1992--based projections). The British Tourist Authority is responsible for marketing Great Britain overseas. The grant per capita for BTA has therefore been calculated using the total population of England, Wales and Scotland.
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 5
4 Dec 1995 : Column: 5
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