| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
F-117 Aircraft
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many F-117 aircraft were present in the United Kingdom on 6 January 1995. [19749]
Munitions Dumps
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list (a) the exact location of munitions dumps in the English channel south of the Thames and the Severn estuaries, (b) the exact composition of the materials which were put into those dumps, (c) the ports which were used for that dumping, (d) the periods during which those ports were used for dumping, (e) the ships used for such dumping and (f) all monitoring of the dump sites for environment and safety which has taken place since 1966 or is currently taking place; [20182]
12 Mar 1996 : Column: 511
- (2) what assessment he has made of the adequacies of the registration of munitions dump sites in the English channel. [20183]
Mr. Soames: Records of the total tonnages, ports and vessels involved in munitions disposal are not available. From surviving records it has been established that the following general areas, shown more extensively on hydrographic charts, were designated, although not necessarily used, as conventional explosive dumping grounds in the English channel before 1973:
| Area | Position |
|---|---|
| Hurd Deep | 49 30 00 N--3 34 00 W |
| St. Catherines Deep | 50 34 00 N--1 12 00 W |
| NW of Alderney | 49 50 00 N--2 18 00 W |
| NW of Alderney 2 sites | 49 47 00 N--2 17 00 W |
| SSW of Guernsey | 49 18 00 N--2 42 00 W |
| Whitesand Bay, Plymouth | 50 18 45 N--4 16 00 W |
Current scientific advice indicates that dump sites present no significant risk to safety, human health or the marine environment if left undisturbed.
Fast Jet Training
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current average period for completion of fast jet training. [20226]
Mr. Soames: A qualified fast jet pilot needs to complete successfully three main stages of fast jet training before being deployed to an operational flying squadron. The average length of time it currently takes for a new pilot to progress through the flying training stages is 259 weeks which is longer than usual due to a backlog of pilots in training. From the end of 1996, however, the backlog should have been resolved and the current planned cycle for a new pilot starting training now, will be on average 109 weeks. This includes six weeks of breaks between courses and is dependent on pilot capability, weather and the operational conversion aircraft or course required.
The main stages, aircraft employed and the minimum flying hours/weeks are as follows:
| Main stages | Aircraft employed | Minimum flying hours/weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Basic flying training | Tucano | 120 hours/42 weeks |
| Advanced training and tactics | Hawk | 103 hours/33 weeks |
| Operational conversion | Various fast jets | (3)88-129 hours/22 weeks |
(3) Average.
Military Training Assistance (Ghana)
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on military training assistance provided to Ghana in the last five years; how many British personnel were involved; and how many Ghanaian (a) military and (b) police officials have visited the United Kingdom for training since 1990. [19840]
Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom has provided a number of small teams of United Kingdom military personnel to carry out training of Ghanaian military
12 Mar 1996 : Column: 512
personnel in the last five years and a team of several British officers has also assisted at the Ghanaian staff college, one of whom remains. Since 1990, several Ghanaian officers have visited the UK for training. Precise details of military assistance are regarded as confidential between Governments. I understand that 10 Ghanaian police officials have visited the UK for training since 1990.
Bulford Camp Primary Schools
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rents or charges he makes to Wiltshire county council in respect of services or land occupied by (a) Haig county primary school and (b) Kiwi county primary school, in Bulford camp, Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement. [20244]
Mr. Soames: The following charges have been raised over the last 12 months:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Haig county primary school | |
| Land for playground--rental charge | (4)130.00 |
| Sewer connection charge | (4)20.00 |
| Water connection charge | (4)20.00 |
| Water | 1,390.00 |
| Electric | 1,011.00 |
| Kiwi county primary school | |
| Sewer connection charge | (4)20.00 |
| Water connection charge | (4)20.00 |
| Water | 559.00 |
| Electric | 1,984.00 |
(4) Fixed annual charge.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make representations to Wiltshire county council opposing the proposed closure of Haig county primary school in Bulford camp, Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement. [20243]
Mr. Soames: Wiltshire county council has discussed the proposed closure of Haig county primary school with the local military authorities and has consulted with parents, governors and staff. The outcome of these consultations will be considered by the county council's education committee and any proposal to change the current provision will be published by way of public notices. Objections can be registered at this stage and these will be passed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for adjudication.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the service families with children at Haig county primary school in Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, have a parent currently serving in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement. [20247]
Mr. Soames: Twelve per cent. of service families with children at Haig primary school have a parent currently serving in Bosnia.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to his Department of security attributable to (a) Haig county primary school and (b) Kiwi county primary school in Bulford camp, Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement. [20245]
12 Mar 1996 : Column: 513
Mr. Soames: There is no identifiable extra cost to my Department attributable to security arrangements for either school.
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has made of (a) the married quarters population and (b) the numbers of nursery and school-age children dwelling in the married quarters and within designated catchments of (i) Haig county primary school, and (ii) Kiwi county primary school in Bulford camp, Wiltshire; and if he will make a statement. [20246]
Mr. Soames: The estimated population of the married quarters estates at Bulford camp is 2,564. Within the designated catchment area of Haig county primary school, there are an estimated 49 nursery and 94 school-aged children living in the married quarters. The corresponding figures for the Kiwi county primary school catchment area are estimated to be 118 nursery and 188 school-aged children.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the advisory non-departmental pubic bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base, and which (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [20102]
Mr. Soames: The independent board of visitors was established in accordance with the Imprisonment and Detention (Army) Rules 1979 for military corrective training centres. This is the only one of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department which has a statutory base. I regret that in my earlier answer to the hon. Member, Official Report, 27 April 1995, column 695, I erroneously stated that the Dartmoor steering group and working party also had a statutory base.
There is no statutory requirement for any of MOD's advisory non-departmental public bodies to publish their advice to Government, publish an annual report or lay their annual reports before Parliament.
The annual reports of the Dartmoor steering group and working party and the review board for Government contracts are placed in the Library of the House on a voluntary basis.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what values of payments were outstanding within his Department on 5 March, which were beyond the date on the invoice and, where no date was specified, older than 28 days. [20472]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
This is a matter for the Defence Bills Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |