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Forestry Commission (Legal Advisers)

Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 267, if he will name the firm of solicitors which has been appointed to the Forestry Commission with effect from 1 April. [20389]

Mr. Kynoch: Tods Murray, WS.

Flooding

Mr. Bill Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effects of flooding in the Grampian area in September 1995; and if he will make a statement. [20641]

Mr. Kynoch: The Government have decided to trigger the Bellwin scheme for Grampian in respect of the flooding experienced in that area in September 1995. We have already held discussions with local authorities in the area, but will now be writing to all local authorities concerned, inviting them to submit formal claims in respect of expenditure which they believe to be eligible under the terms of the scheme.

Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the expenditure incurred by Renfrew district council as a result of flooding in December 1994; and if he will make a statement. [20640]

Mr. Kynoch: I am glad to announce that we have decided that Renfrew district council is eligible for a payment of £167,558 under the Bellwin scheme. The scheme was triggered following the flooding for severe weather sustained in Strathclyde in December 1994.

The district council's claim for assistance has been subject to detailed scrutiny. The payment relates mainly to expenditure incurred in connection with the temporary evacuation of people from their flooded homes and the

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provision of temporary accommodation, and the hire of plant, including drying and heating equipment, to make homes habitable again.

Forest Enterprise

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the results of the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by the Department of the Environment on the framework document for the new Forest Enterprise agency. [19549]

Mr. Kynoch [holding answer 11 March 1996]: The framework document for Forest Enterprise will set out its aims, responsibilities and status. It is therefore not an appropriate subject for environmental appraisal under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment".

DEFENCE

Air Accidents

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the location and circumstances of the accident to (a) a Royal Navy Lynx on 23 February 1994, (b) a Sea Harrier on 16 April 1994, (c) a Royal Navy Sea King on 25 March 1994, (d) a Royal Navy Sea Harrier on 16 April 1994, (e) an RAF VC10 on 5 May 1994, (f) an RAF Tornado on 20 May 1994, (g) an RAF Nimrod on 30 July 1994, (h) a Royal Navy Lynx on 5 September 1994, (i) a Royal Navy Sea King on 12 October 1994 and (j) an Army Air Corps Gazelle on 11 November 1994. [19627]

Mr. Soames: The information requested is as follows:

(a) We have no record of an accident involving a Royal Navy Lynx on 23 February 1994.


(b) A Royal Navy Sea Harrier was lost to warring party action on an operational mission over Bosnia-Herzegovina on 16 April 1994. The crew of one ejected safely.


(c) A Royal Navy Sea King was conducting a medical evacuation from a ship off Lizard point, Cornwall, on 25 March 1994. The stern of the ship yawed rapidly, making contact with the winch wire which was transferring a diver to the vessel. The wire became entangled and snapped, causing the diver to fall approximately 15 ft to the ship's deck, sustaining minor injuries.


(d) An RAF steward fell from an open door of an RAF VC10 parked at Dulles airport, Washington on 5 May 1994, sustaining injuries to his elbow, hip and shoulder.


(e) An RAF Tornado ejector seat fired accidentally during servicing at Boscombe down on 20 May 1994, injuring the arm and leg of an RAF tradesman.


(f) The wingtip of an RAF Nimrod struck a parked vehicle at RAF Fairford on 30 July 1994 whilst taxi-ing, causing injury to the civilian occupant of the vehicle.


(g) A Royal Navy Lynx was undergoing maintenance at RNAS Portland on 5 September 1994. While descending from an aircraft servicing platform, a maintenance rating slipped and fell approximately 5 ft, injuring a foot.


(h) A Royal Marine landed heavily, injuring a leg, during a rapid roping serial from a RN Sea King at RAF Marham on 12 October 1994.


(i) An Army Air Corps Gazelle belonging to the School of Army Aviation was being used to conduct hover exercises at Middle Wallop airfield on 11 November 1994. During the flight, a student was given limited control of the hovering

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aircraft. He made a control error and the instructor was unable to stabilise the helicopter before it made contact with the ground; the occupants sustained minor injuries.

Royal Squadron

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the current number and aircraft type flown by 32 Squadron, the Royal Squadron; and if he will list by rank the number of personnel currently attached to the squadron. [19816]

Mr. Soames: Number 32 (the Royal) Squadron is comprised of the following aircraft:

Aircraft type	Number
BAe 146 100 Series	3
BAe 125 700 Series	6
BAe 125 600 Series	(1)1
Wessex HCC Mk 4	2
Gazelle HT MK3	(2)2

(1) +1 in use reserve.

(2) +2 in use reserve.

The Gazelle helicopters will shortly be replaced by two contractor owned-military operated Twin Squirrel AS 355 F1 helicopters.

The following personnel are assigned to the squadron:

Rank	Number
Wing Commander	1
Squadron Leader	18
Lieutenant Commander (RN)	2
Flight Lieutenant	29
Master Air Crew	2
Sergeant	10
Corporal	18
Senior Aircraftsman	18

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the members of the royal family who are entitled to use flights on (a) official and (b) private travel in aircraft of 32 squadron, the Royal Squadron. [19774]

Mr. Soames: Members of the royal family are entitled to make flights in aircraft of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron as follows

(a) Official travel
The Queen
The Duke of Edinburgh
The Queen Mother
The Prince of Wales
The Princess of Wales
The Duke of York
The Prince Edward
The Princess Royal
The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
The Duke of Gloucester
The Duke of Kent
The Duchess of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent

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Princess Michael of Kent
Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy
(b) Private travel
The Queen
The Duke of Edinburgh
The Queen Mother
The Prince of Wales
The Princess of Wales

Members of the royal family are entitled to use aircraft of the No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron at the discretion of Her Majesty the Queen.

In accordance with the wishes of Her Majesty the Queen, arrangements agreed by my right hon. and learned Friend, the then Secretary of State for Defence, were introduced on 1 April 1995 under which the costs of private flights in aircraft of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron by members of the royal family would be reimbursed to the MOD.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in order of precedence those members of the royal family who may request a flight by 32 Squadron, the Royal Squadron, to be charged to the privy purse; and if he will make a statement. [19635]

Mr. Soames: My Department meets the costs of all official travel in aircraft of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron by entitled members of the royal family. Since the introduction of arrangements on 1 April 1995, costs for the private use of No. 32 (the Royal) Squadron by the five entitled members of the royal family are met from their private funds. The sources of private funds used to pay for such private travel is a matter for the royal households.

Services Clothing Manufacture

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the clothing requirements of the armed forces is manufactured in the United Kingdom. [19626]

Mr. Arbuthnot: This is a matter for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DCTA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Michael Roycroft to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 12 March 1996:

I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the percentage of the clothing requirements of the armed forces that are manufactured in the UK, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency.
In Financial Year 1994/95 the MOD placed over 90%, by value, of its Clothing & Textiles orders with British suppliers. The figure for Financial Year 1995/96 is likely to be similar. Therefore, under 10% of MOD Clothing & Textiles purchases have been from overseas suppliers. However, an increasing number of UK companies are subcontracting or sourcing from overseas because of the advantages in setting up and labour costs.
When tendering, companies are required to provide details of any manufacturing source outside the tenderer's premises i.e. the nature of any subcontract work, including the name and address of the contractor who will carry it out. The minimum percentage of UK manufacture is 10% of the order quantity which must be manufactured at the prime contractor's ISO 9000 series certificated site. Apart from this requirement there is no obligation for contractors to provide further detail of the percentage of work to be

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performed overseas, indeed with contractors subject to various factors e.g. exchange rates, extended lines of supply and possible offshore labour problems, percentages of manufacture in UK/offshore can often change during the duration of the contract/enabling arrangement.
You will appreciate therefore that I cannot provide you with an accurate percentage of overseas manufacture. I hope that the foregoing is helpful but, if you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact me.

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