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Bills (Payment)
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time taken by his Department in the payment of commercial bills in each year since 1993; and what are his Department's policies for the payment of commercial bills for contracts awarded to small companies. [19607]
Mr. Arbuthnot: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Bills Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from T. R. Thurgate to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 8 March 1996:
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You asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time taken by his Department in the payment of commercial bills in each year since 1993; and what are his Department's policies for the payment of commercial bills for contracts awarded to small companies. As this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Defence Bills Agency I have been asked to reply.
The statistics which are readily available go back to April 1993. During this time 99.99% of bills have been paid within 30 days of presentation of a valid bill. The Defence Bills Agency also measures performance against a higher departmental standard of payment within 11 days of receipt of a valid bill. We achieved the 1993/94 target of 96%, the 94/95 target of 97%, and are on course to achieve the 97% target for 95/96.
All new MOD contractors receive a 'Prompt Payment Guide' from the Defence Bills Agency, I have enclosed a copy for you. This booklet provides guidance on MOD payment procedures to help contractors submit bills correctly and therefore receive prompt payment.
Equipment Exports
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the letter sent by him to defence industry firms concerning Government policy on exports of defence equipment to Iran in (a) 1984 and (b) 1985. [18539]
Mr. Arbuthnot: We are aware of one letter sent by the Ministry of Defence to a UK defence manufacturer in 1985 which referred to new policy guidelines in relation to exports to Iran and Iraq. Very few papers exist from the two years in question and it is possible that other letters were sent by the Ministry of Defence at the time.
Chechnya
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current policy on the sale of (a) aircraft and (b) other armaments to Chechnya; and if he will make a statement. [18270]
Mr. Arbuthnot: We do not sell defence equipment to Chechnya, which is internationally recognised as part of the Russian Federation.
Business Appointment Rules
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries have been made with John Laing International to establish whether former officials or officers have failed to seek approval under the business appointments rules. [18961]
Mr. Arbuthnot: None. There has been no reason to write to the company about former MOD employees.
Air Vice-Marshal Howard
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 February, Official Report, column 318, when Air Vice-Marshal Howard retired; when he took up a business appointment with Tripod Engineering; and how long that appointment lasted. [19045]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I have nothing to add to the information contained in section D2 of the Scott report.
Computers
Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all cases since 1987 where his Department has bought computer capacity from (a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19460]
Mr. Arbuthnot: No central record is held of the extent to which computer capacity might have been brought from other Departments. Computer capacity has been
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bought from many private sector sources, but again no central record is held. In both cases, information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. David Hart
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Mr. David Hart's current job description within his Department; and what other job description he has held since assisting his Department. [19897]
Mr. Portillo: Mr. Hart has agreed to assist me with advice on any matter which I decide to refer to him. He is also free to raise matters with me. He had a similar arrangement with my predecessor.
Franco-German Armaments Agency
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which defence equipment projects for his Department he has identified as being suitable for management by the enlarged Franco-German Armaments Agency to include the United Kingdom. [19126]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The UK is considering a number of possible projects for management by the Franco-German organisation in the event of UK entry.
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the relationship between the procurement executive of his Department and the Franco-German Armaments Agency following British participation in this agency. [19124]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The UK is currently discussing with France and Germany the implications of possible participation in the Franco-German armaments organisation. No decisions have been made on the organisation's policies and operating procedures.
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the process of funding and financial accountability for defence equipment destined for his Department and managed by the Franco-German Armaments Agency enlarged to include the United Kingdom. [19125]
Mr. Arbuthnot: In the event of UK involvement in the Franco-German organisation, detailed management arrangements for collaborative projects will be determined before any commitment. The UK will not relax her standards of monitoring and control.
Multi-role Armoured Vehicles
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to maintain a British capability to design, develop and build military vehicles in his evaluation of the options to meet the Army's multi-role armoured vehicle requirement. [19123]
Mr. Arbuthnot: We are discussing with France and Germany possible UK participation in the first stage of a collaborative venture to meet part of the UK's requirement for a multi-role armoured vehicle. The implications and opportunities for UK industry are an important factor in these discussions.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Sea Empress
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will make an assessment of the potential environmental after-effects of the Sea Empress oil spillage on the north Devon coastline and Lundy island and of the steps that need to be taken to manage and mitigate these effects. [17718]
Mr. Baldry: Our initial survey work suggests that there is no cause for concern of the effects of the Sea Empress oil spillage on the fisheries and wider marine environment along the north Devon coastline and Lundy island. We shall continue to monitor the environmental effects of oil spillage for as long as is necessary to be sure that this continues to be the case.
Oil Spillage Dispersants
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the level of oestrogen-mimicking chemicals in dispersants used to combat oil spillages; what assessment he has made of the long-term effects; and if he will make a statement. [17983]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 5 March 1996]: Oestrogen-mimicking chemicals are not components of any oil dispersant product approved by the Department for combating oil spilt in United Kingdom waters.
Environmental Objectives
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent measures his Department has taken to implement regulation 2078 in the United Kingdom, in respect of setting clear environmental objectives on (a) rural employment, (b) biodiversity, (c) pollution and (d) soil erosion; what measures have been taken in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement. [18613]
Mr. Boswell: The aim of Council regulation 2078/92--the "agri-environment regulation"--is to promote farming practices which are compatible with protection of the environment and maintenance of the countryside. It requires all EU member states to introduce programmes of environmental incentive schemes for farmers which reflect their own environmental circumstances and priorities.
The agri-environment regulation has been implemented in England by expanding the existing environmentally sensitive areas and nitrate sensitive areas schemes and by introducing a range of new incentive schemes addressing major environmental priorities such as creation of wildlife habitats, promotion of organic farming, conservation of heather moorland and access. We have also recently completed public consultation on proposals for the expansion and development of the countryside stewardship scheme when it transfers to MAFF from the Countryside Commission at the end of the month.
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