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Small Arms Maintenance Contract
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on the award of the small arms maintenance contract. [11872]
Mr. Soames: Small arms repair support for the Army and some units of the other armed services is provided by the Army base repair organisation ABRO has no plans to award a maintenance contract. However, some of the work does form part of a market test competition which commenced in October 1995. It is anticipated that the results of this competition will be known by early 1997.
European Security
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the European Union's contribution to wider European security referred to at paragraph 5 of the memorandum appended to the 10th report from the Defence Committee 1994-95, HC824; and if he will make a statement. [11718]
Mr. Soames:
The EU makes an important contribution to wider European security by promoting economic stability and democratic practices, and through initiatives in the framework of the Common foreign and security policy, such as the joint action in support of the stability pact implemented in the course of last year.
29 Jan 1996 : Column: 535
Mr. Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings have been sold under the married quarters discounted sales in each year since its introduction. [11873]
Mr. Soames:
The married quarter discounted sales scheme began in December 1983 with the first sales being completed in financial year 1984-85. The number of sales completed in each financial year is in the table.
| Financial Year | Number Sold |
|---|---|
| 1984-85 | not available |
| 1985-86 | 308 |
| 1986-87 | 438 |
| 1987-88 | 452 |
| 1988-89 | 562 |
| 1989-90 | 862 |
| 1990-91 | 726 |
| 1991-92 | 494 |
| 1992-93 | 346 |
| 1993-94 | 116 |
| 1994-95 | 361 |
| 1995-96(15) | 289 |
(15)Up to 30 November 1995
Bosnia
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his policy that the British contingent in IFOR should continue the UNPROFOR practice of assisting non-governmental organisations aid convoys in Bosnia. [12197]
Mr. Soames: IFOR's primary mission in Bosnia is to implement the military aspects of the peace agreement. Although it does not provide direct support to aid convoys, its efforts are helping to create an environment in which the civilian agencies operating under the peace agreement can accomplish their missions.
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if IFOR is continuing the level of joint patrols as previously conducted by UNPROFOR with BiH--Bosnian Government Armed Forces--and HVO--Bosnian Croat Armed Forces--forces along former confrontation lines. [12198]
Mr. Soames: IFOR has been well received in theatre and, although it does not conduct joint patrols, it is continuing to work closely with all of the former warring factions as part of the peace implementation process. This includes joint operations to monitor mine clearance and to clear and maintain routes.
Low Flying
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to reduce the incidence of low flying by RAF jets over the Dwyfor and Arfon areas. [11976]
Mr. Soames:
It is our policy to spread military low flying as widely as practicable across the United Kingdom so as to reduce the disturbance over any one area. Restricting the amount of low flying conducted over the areas suggested by the hon. Member would run counter to this policy and concentrate activity over surrounding communities.
29 Jan 1996 : Column: 536
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the report of the inquest held on the deaths in the fire at the Royal Irish Regiment base in Magherafelt; and if he will make a statement. [12151]
Mr. Soames:
The coroner sent his report to the chief fire officer at headquarters Northern Ireland on 22 January 1996. Many of the matters he raises match those identified in the provisional findings of the Army board of inquiry and are already being addressed. We are anxious that any lessons from this tragic incident are fully carried through. The coroner's observations and recommendations will be closely studied and the appropriate action taken.
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of the savings to the Defence budget from transferring operational sea training from Portland to Plymouth. [12010]
Mr. Soames:
The cost of transferring operational sea training from Portland to Plymouth totalled about £9 million in capital costs. This was part of the overall programme of closing Portland naval base which is expected to realise savings of some £11 million per annum in running costs.
Mr. Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the current condition of HMS Fearless. [12196]
Mr. Soames:
HMS Fearless is currently in dock at Portsmouth undergoing routine maintenance. This has shown the ship to be in a material state normal for her age. She is scheduled to return to operational duties at the end of March, on completion of the current work.
Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January, Official Report, column 581, what are the principal duties of the equerries; how they are chosen for the post; what is the normal term of duty. [11567]
Mr. Soames:
Equerries are chosen from candidates nominated by the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. The equerry to Her Majesty the Queen serves for three years; the others serve for two years.
The equerries provide support to their royal highnesses in arranging and planning visits and engagements both at home and abroad. In addition, they attend on their royal highnesses at official engagements, host guests at private and public functions and deal with routine correspondence.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department currently hold with Thomson Training and Simulation Ltd.; if contracts placed with this company are cost plus; and what checks his Department carries out to ensure that value for money is achieved. [12123]
29 Jan 1996 : Column: 537
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The central data maintained by my Department's Procurement Executive and the Defence Research and Evaluation Agency shows there are approximately 70 contracts currently open with the company. Of these, only 10 per cent. have been placed on what is commonly known as "cost plus" terms, and only one of these has been placed during the last five years). These figures include a number of contracts originally placed with different companies, for example Link-Miles Ltd., which have subsequently been subsumed into Thomson Training and Simulation Ltd. as the result of acquisition and organisation.
Where contracts are placed resulting from competition, then market forces ensure value for money. In other cases, including "cost plus", then contractors have to provide cost certificates and satisfy Ministry contracts officers and/or the pricing and quality services directorate as to their validity before final payments may be made.
Mr. Foulkes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what occasions Sea King helicopters from HMS "Gannet" have been grounded because of technical or other faults in each of the past three years and in this year to the current date; what caused the grounding and delay of the helicopter in the search for Sinclair Cadzow on 19 February; what action is being taken to rectify the problems; and if he will make a statement. [12119]
Mr. Soames:
Provision of data specifying the occasions when Sea King helicopters from HMS Gannet have been grounded for technical or other faults in each of the past three years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The search and rescue aircraft and HMS Gannet scrambled on 19 January at the request of the rescue co-ordinating centre suffered a gearbox fault in transit to the search area which necessitated an emergency landing near Cairnryan. An RAF search and rescue aircraft from Boulmer was then tasked to assist in the search.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the future of the Third Parachute Regiment. [12121]
Mr. Soames:
We are currently considering the optimum deployment of manpower within our airborne forces. There are no plans to disband the Third Battalion, the Parachute Regiment.
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