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Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

27. Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. [22334]

Mr. Arbuthnot: We are negotiating in good faith a comprehensive test ban treaty with the aim of establishing an effectively verifiable treaty commanding universal adherence as soon as practicable.

Equal Opportunities

Ms Church: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure equal opportunity for women in the armed forces. [22305]

Mr. Soames: There are very few roles in the services which are closed to women and the armed forces are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for women, consistent with the need to maintain combat effectiveness.

Departmental Contractors and Suppliers

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to ensure that its contractors and suppliers (a) pay their employees a wage which ensures such employees do not need supplementary welfare payments via various state benefits and (b) meet workplace health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [21457]

Mr. Arbuthnot: Terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are a matter between the contractor or supplier and his employees, subject of course to any relevant legal requirements. Compliance with health and safety regulations is a legal requirement for the contractor or supplier. My Department has a corresponding obligation to notify contractors if work to be performed involves the use of dangerous articles of substances.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of answering parliamentary questions in each parliamentary Session since 1989-90. [22899]

Mr. Arbuthnot: My Department does not collect this information.

Supermarine Spitfire Aircraft

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department intends to take to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [23071]

Mr. Soames: In response to requests from event organisers, RAF aircraft, principally from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, are involved in a number of civil events marking the historic achievement of the first flight of the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire.

Guatemala (Training)

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement his Department has had in the military training of Guatemalan Government armed forces in Guatemala. [23193]

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Mr. Soames: We have had no involvement in the military training of Guatemalan armed forces in Guatemala, but have provided assistance with English language training.

Exercise Arid Thunder

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what nation was the sponsor of the Arid Thunder exercise. [23441]

Mr. Soames: The United Kingdom sponsored Exercise Arid Thunder 95-96.

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties were flown by each squadron involved in Exercise Arid Thunder; and how many (a) BL755 and (b) other weapons were dropped by each squadron during the exercise. [23538]

Mr. Soames: The number of sorties flown and BL755, 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs dropped during Exercise Arid Thunder, by squadron, was as follows:

Unit	Sorties	BL755	3 Kg PB	14 Kg PB
13 Squadron	93	139	50	--
14 Squadron	95	140	--	22
17 Squadron	131	137	75	30
617 Squadron	115	140	37	38

Tornado Aircrew (Live Weapons)

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many live BL755 weapons RAF Tornado aircrew are required to drop each year in order to maintain combat-ready status. [23449]

Mr. Soames: There is no specified number of live BL755 weapons which Tornado aircrew are required to drop in order to maintain combat-ready status.

Remotely Piloted Vehicle (Llanbedr)

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the remotely piloted vehicle authorised to fly in the Llanbedr danger area on 6 January 1995 was recovered; and what were the times of take-off and landing of the aircraft. [23439]

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

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 2 April 1996:

The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your question about a remotely piloted vehicle flight in the Llanbedr danger area on 6 January 1995. Llanbedr is a Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) site and hence part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
The Jindivik remotely piloted aerial target launched from the DTEO site at Llanbedr on 6 January 1995 was recovered; its take-off time was 1024 hours and its landing time was 1055 hours.
I hope this is helpful.

2 Apr 1996 : Column: 98

Submarine Flotilla

Sir Jim Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for the support of the submarine flotilla. [23447]

Mr. Arbuthnot: Since the announcement in October 1993 of the Government's intention to sell the royal dockyards, a series of separate negotiations has been conducted with Babcock International Group for the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc and with Devonport Management Limited for the proposed sale of Devonport Royal Dockyard plc. Negotiations have also proceeded with DML on the related issue of the construction of facilities at Devonport for the refitting and refuelling of nuclear submarines, project D154.

I am pleased to say that, today, my Department signed two heads of agreement with DML and its shareholders. The first, in respect of the proposed sale of DRD plc, covers the general principles which would apply to a sale agreement. The second, for the provision of nuclear refuelling and refitting facilities at Devonport, places on the contractor whose project manager will be Brown and Root (UK) Ltd., the responsibility for delivery of facilities that are licensable, operable and fit for purpose, whilst providing ample opportunity for industry to compete for work at the sub-contract level. A key issue in the negotiations has been the risk transfer and the contractor has accepted to bear an unprecedented proportion of the risk. The agreements must now be converted into binding contracts.

My Department is today issuing a memorandum of information to the trade unions about the position as regards the future management arrangements for Devonport Royal Dockyard, and will then initiate a formal process of information and consultation.

Negotiations are at an advanced stage with Babcock International Group on the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc. The outcome will be announced as soon as possible. Short-term extensions to the current contracts in operation at both Rosyth and Devonport dockyards, which would otherwise expire on 5 April 1996, are being arranged to cover the period of further negotiations. The Government have confirmed, subject to reasonable prices, a programme of refitting work for Rosyth for Royal Navy vessels stretching to the year 2006, and to include two aircraft carriers and a substantial number of other major war vessels.

Cyprus

Mr. John. D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Greek Cypriots and (b) Turkish Cypriots are employed at each of the two United Kingdom sovereign bases in Cyprus. [23681]

Mr. Soames: As at 29 February, there were 1,240 Greek Cypriots and no Turkish Cypriots employed in the western sovereign base area. In the eastern sovereign base area, there were 577 Greek Cypriots and 306 Turkish Cypriots employed.

Auxiliary Oil Tankers

Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place contracts for new auxiliary oil tankers; when the ships are intended to enter service; what

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specification is planned in terms of speed and endurance; how many helicopters will be carried; whether the ships will carry dry stores or weaponry; what order of cost is envisaged; what consideration was given to the use of the private finance initiative; and if he will make a statement.[23582]

Mr. Arbuthnot: An invitation to tender was issued on 2 February 1996 for up to two auxiliary oilers for order around the turn of the year. The first vessel is expected to enter service in early 2001. The specification will meet the latest environmental safety standards and provide a capability for replenishment of warships with fuel and a limited range of solid stores while under way and the operation of a single Merlin-sized helicopter. A speed in excess of 18 kts is required and the ship will possess a limited self-defence capability to allow it to operate with front-line naval forces in peace and war; it will also be able to receive the Phalanx close-in weapons system. The private finance initiative was judged to be inappropriate for the operational role envisaged for these ships. Costs cannot be provided as they are commercial-in-confidence at this stage in the competition.

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