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Compliance Cost Assessments

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compliance cost assessments were produced by his Department in 1995; and if he will place copies in the Library. [25276]

Mr. Soames: The MOD is not a regulator of business or responsible for any primary or secondary legislation which impacts significantly upon business. However, my Department published one compliance cost assessment in November 1995 to accompany the new Reserve Forces Bill because of its potential impact on some businesses. A copy was placed in the Library of the House.

NATO Implementation Force

Dr. Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army and Army Reserve are to be called out for the second phase of the United Kingdom's contribution to the NATO implementation force in former Yugoslavia. [25325]

Mr. Soames: Approval has been given to call out up to 575 members of the TA and Army Reserve to provide support to operations in former Yugoslavia. They will report from 29 April 1996 to the mobilisation centre and those selected will undertake refresher training before deployment. All are volunteers.

Project D154

Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the costs quoted in the original bid; what are the current estimated costs of Project D154; what is the reason for the difference; and from what source the additional expenditure will be met. [25411]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The 1993 comparator offer by Devonport Management Ltd.--DML--was some £236 million. Comparison between this and the heads of agreement recently signed with DML for construction of nuclear submarine refitting facilities would be unrealistic because the 1993 offer was not of contractual qualify and different factors, for example different levels of risk, were included in the prices. Certain contractual details, including price, remain subject to negotiation and are commercially confidential. Any additional costs will be contained within my Department's forward expenditure totals.

Radar Base, Mormond Hill

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to (a) use or (b) dispose of the former MOD radar base at Mormond Hill; and if he will make a statement. [25424]

16 Apr 1996 : Column: 459

Mr. Soames: Part of the site at Mormond Hill is to be retained for on-going MOD requirements. The remainder is expected to be offered for sale on the open market.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for public consultation prior to a final decision on the future of the former MOD radar base at Mormond Hill; and if he will make a statement. [25425]

Mr. Soames: Any change of use by a purchaser of the surplus site at Mormond Hill would require planning permission in the normal way. It would be for the local planning authority to take account of any representations from the public.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) commercial firms and (b) other bodies on the future of the former MOD radar base at Mormond Hill; and if he will make a statement. [25426]

Mr. Soames: Communications have been received from two telecommunications companies, a local landowner and a power company and from the director of planning and economic development for the Aberdeenshire council and from the Grampian regional council.

Emergency Aid, Montserrat

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence personnel and what equipment is currently deployed on emergency aid duties in Montserrat; and if he will make a statement. [25488]

Mr. Soames: There are currently no defence personnel or equipment deployed on emergency aid duties in Montserrat. However, the West Indies guardship is on standby in the region and we are in close and regular contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about possible requirements for military assistance.

Apprentice Training

Dr. Twinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to restructure apprentice training within the Army. [25538]

Mr. Soames: A review of apprentice training arrangements in the Army has recommended, subject to consultation, that they should be restructured along the lines of the Government flagship initiative on modern apprenticeship training, which is intended to raise the competence and competitiveness of the UK work force as a whole.

The Army's scheme, which will encompass the Royal Engineers, Royal Signals, Royal Signals Corps and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, would be open to young people aged sixteen and a half to eighteen and a half, and would commence with a common 28-week foundation course at Rowcroft barracks, Arborfield followed by technical training at the appropriate arm or service's trade training school and a period of on-the-job training leading to the award of a national vocational qualification--NVQ--level three within three to four years.

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The proposals would necessitate some revision to our previous plans to transfer all R Signals apprentice training to Blandford. Under the new arrangements, future R Signals apprentices would still complete their trade training at Blandford, but only after completing their 28-week foundation course at Arborfield.

Rosyth

Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guarantees he will provide for the current Rosyth dockyard pension and redundancy arrangements following its sale; and what plans he has in respect of the pension fund surpluses. [25373]

Mr. Arbuthnot: In respect of the overall pension and redundancy arrangements at Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman), on 3 July 1995, Official Report, columns 84-90. The treatment of any surplus that the next valuation of the Rosyth Royal Dockyard pension scheme may disclose will be fully consistent with the trust deed and rules of the pension scheme and will not affect the pension benefit entitlements of scheme members and beneficiaries.

Ms Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guarantees he will provide for the work load of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc following its sale. [25372]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The Government's policy on the allocation of work to Rosyth dockyard continues to be governed by the principles announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary as Defence Secretary, on 24 June 1993, Official Report, columns 447-50, which I confirmed in my answer on 2 April 1996, Official Report, column 98. The precise contractual arrangements relating to the work in question are the subject of negotiation between my Department and the tenderer for Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc, Babcock International Group plc. It would be inappropriate to give details of these discussions, which are commercially confidential.

Ms Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce the outcome of the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc; and what factors underlie the delay in that announcement. [25362]

Mr. Arbuthnot: As I made clear in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset (Sir J. Spicer) on 2 April, Official Report, column 98, negotiations continue with Babcock International Group plc in respect of the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc and there has been no delay in any announcement. It would not be appropriate to comment on the details of those negotiations while they are under way. Privatisation of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc remains the Government's preferred option, subject to the right terms being secured and to the completion of appropriate consultation with employees and others.

Ms Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements for the provision of nuclear refuelling and refitting facilities will be included in the terms of the sale of Rosyth dockyard. [25361]

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Mr. Arbuthnot: Under the terms of the proposed sale of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc, the purchaser will be required to carry out all allocated refit work, surface and nuclear, that is placed with the dockyard by my Department. Appropriate terms for this work are being negotiated as part of the continuing negotiations with Babcock International Group plc to which I referred in my answer of 2 April, Official Report, column 98. There is a continuing programme of appropriate works at Rosyth to enable the dockyard to fulfil its refit programme.

Devonport Management Ltd.

Ms Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the issues which have been the subject of negotiations with DML since 1994. [25363]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The main subjects of discussion between my Department and DML since 1994 have been the proposed privatisation of Devonport Royal Dockyard plc and the provision of new nuclear refuelling and refitting facilities at Devonport--Project D 154--on which I made a statement on 2 April, Official Report, column 98. There have also been the routine discussions appropriate between my Department and a major contractor about on-going refit and other contracts. Details of such discussions are commercially confidential.

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