| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Global Environment Facility
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive copies of the first annual report of the global environment facility; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [24589]
Mr. Hanley: Copies of the first annual report of the global environment facility have recently been received. A copy has been placed in both Libraries of the House.
Zambia
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Zambian Government about future elections, with particular reference to the banning of individual candidates; and if he will make a statement. [23913]
Mr. Hanley: We have made clear to the Government of Zambia our concern about possible amendments to the constitution which would exclude the leader of the main opposition party from standing for the presidency in the elections due later this year.
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 93
DEFENCE
Joint Headquarters
4. Mr. Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the role of the permanent joint headquarters. [22308]
Mr. Portillo: The permanent joint headquarters, which I shall formally open tomorrow, will enhance the ability of the three armed services to plan for the conduct of joint operations and to carry them out, including command of the new joint rapid deployment force when it is deployed.
Peacekeeping
5. Mr. Ashby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of British forces' contribution to peacekeeping operations world-wide. [22309]
Mr. Soames: There are some 10,500 ground troops with the NATO peace implementation force in Bosnia, supported by 1,200 other personnel. We are also making important contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world.
Defence Spending
7. Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on Britain's position in the UN Security Council of reducing the United Kingdom's defence spending to the European average. [22311]
Mr. Portillo: Reducing defence spending to the current NATO European average would involve cuts of over £4.5 billion per year. This would have a gravely damaging effect on our armed forces and on their ability to carry out operations, including those carried out under the auspices of the UN Security Council.
Royal Yacht
15. Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements will be made to mark the last visit of the royal yacht to Cowes; and if he will make a statement. [22320]
Mr. Soames: Events to mark the last visit of HYM Britannia to Cowes have yet to be decided.
Nuclear Deterrent
16. Mr. Thomason: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United Kingdom will retain its independent nuclear deterrent. [22321]
Mr. Soames: We shall maintain a minimum independent nuclear deterrent for as long as is necessary for this country's security.
Gaelic Athletic Association
17. Mr. Canavan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will now restore to the Gaelic Athletic Association the full use of its ground at Crossmaglen. [22322]
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 94
Mr. Soames: Crossmaglen Gaelic Athletic Association club has full use of its pitch and other facilities. A small proportion of the club's land is held under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 and forms part of the joint police and Army base in Crossmaglen. This will continue for as long as the security situation demands.
Art Collection
18. Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to recover missing parts of his Department's art collection; what new security measures are in place to avoid further losses; and what plans he has to commission new art works to replace those lost from his departmental budget. [22324]
Mr. Artbuthnot: We will continue to make every effort to recover missing works of art by a renewed search of our buildings.
Works of art are safeguarded by securing the rooms in which they hang, asking staff who occupy those rooms to verify that the rooms are safe and by inspections by staff responsible for works of art.
We have no plans at present to commission new works of art.
19. Mr. Elletson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the British defence industry in export markets. [22325]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
British defence equipment manufacturers continue to enjoy success in the export market. In 1995, they won contracts worth about £5 billion, giving UK an estimated world market share of 19 per cent.
23. Mr. John Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the British defence industry's performance in export markets in the last three years. [22329]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
Over the last three years--1993 to 1995--UK defence equipment export orders have been worth almost £17 billion.
20. Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he is making to increase the number of aircrew in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. [22326]
Mr. Soames:
Members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force do not currently serve as aircrew. The RAF has, however, conducted trials to assess the feasibility of recruiting and training volunteer reservist aircrew. The trials were conducted on the Hercules aircraft at RAF Lyneham, and the Wessex helicopter at RAF Benson. The trials were completed earlier this year and the RAF is currently assessing the results.
21. Mr. Mans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to make a decision concerning the replacement of the Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft. [22327]
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 95
Mr. Arbuthnot:
We expect to award a contract for the RAF's replacement maritime patrol aircraft in the late summer.
22. Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the costs and benefits of disposal of the atomic weapons establishment, Llanishen, Cardiff, subsequent to closure. [22328]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
There will be no further defence requirement for the Cardiff factory after 1997. Prior to the decision to close it, an assessment was made of the associated costs and benefits. The former consist mainly of severance payments and decommissioning costs. The benefits to my Department will be felt in terms of reduced annual expenditure.
24. Mr. Keen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total manpower of the RAF in 1990; and what is his estimate of the strength of the RAF by the end of the decade. [22330]
Mr. Soames:
The total strength of the RAF on 1 April 1990 was 89,685. The estimated strength for 1 April 1999 is some 55,500. Both figures include personnel undergoing training.
25. Mr. Rendel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has held with English Nature regarding the return of runways at Greenham Common to heathland. [22331]
Mr. Soames:
The removal of concrete from the runways at Greenham Common and the restoration of heathland was agreed between officials of my Department and English Nature prior to the commencement of work.
26. Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about recent changes to the structure and functions of the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down. [22332]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The function of the chemical and biological defence establishment remains unchanged. It provides Her Majesty's Government with advice on the threat posed by chemical and biological weapons and carries out research to ensure that the United Kingdom's armed forces are provided with safe and effective protection. Since 1 April 1995, CBDE, with the chemical and electronic systems sector, has been a division of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. On 1 April 1996, CBDE is being renamed the protection and life sciences division. At the same time, it will be expanded to include the centre for human sciences based at Farnborough, which will incorporate the defence radiological protection service based at Alverstoke. The mission for the new division will be to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to protecting the human being in military environments and optimising their military effectiveness.
2 Apr 1996 : Column: 96
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |