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British Forces Overseas
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which British military forces are based; and what is the number of service personnel at each such base. [30513]
Mr. Soames: The deployment of United Kingdom forces at April 1996 is shown in figure 3 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1996", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
The number of UK service personnel at permanent overseas stations is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Ascension Islands | 156 |
| Brunei | 948 |
| Cyprus | 3,874 |
| Diego Garcia | 40 |
| Falkland Islands(8) | |
| Germany | 23,500 |
| Gibraltar | 587 |
| Hong Kong | 1,920 |
(8) It is not our practice to publish the size of the Falklands garrison.
In addition some 10,500 service personnel are serving in the former Yugoslavia.
Defence Sales Office
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the net Government funding given to the Defence sales office for each of the last five years. [30591]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The net cost of the Defence Export Services Organisation for the last five years was as follows:
1991-92: £11.05 million
1992-93: £11.89 million
1993-94: £16.02 million
1994-95: £10.94 million
1995-96: £17.08 million
4 Jun 1996 : Column: 338
Army Technical Support Agency
Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned collocation of the Army Technical Support Agency. [31476]
Mr. Soames: I am very grateful to those hon. Members, local authorities, other organisations and individuals who have responded to the consultative document issued on 8 December 1995.
Our objective remains to bring together more of the staff of the agency, currently dispersed over six principal sites. This will enable them to make better use of new logistic systems and processes in support of customers in the Army and the other two services.
Our analysis of the options for the site of a collocated ATSA takes into account a number of considerations. The site must provide best value for money in terms of the balance between transition costs and longer-terms savings; it must provide good business benefits, including ease of communication with ATSA's principal customers, located at Andover; it must be a reasonable location for the staff of the agency, taking into account the fact that a large number will have to relocate whatever the choice of site; and it must also take account of regional and other economic factors.
These complex and potentially conflicting issues have been fully reflected in the responses to the consultative document. The additional information which has been provided has been taken into account in an independent analysis of the investment appraisal by my Department's senior economic adviser. Reassessment of some of the factors has shown that formal consideration needs to be given to Andover and Ludgershall as potential sites for ATSA. In addition, it now appears that there would be room for ATSA at Chilwell even when taking account of the requirements of the engineer resources organisation which is planned to move from Long Marston by 1998. This is a material change from the circumstances set out in the consultative document.
4 Jun 1996 : Column: 339
As a result, I have concluded that more work is required to take account of the points that have emerged during consultation and to consider formally Andover, Ludgershall and Chilwell. Although I am anxious to resolve the uncertainty felt by ATSA staff at all the current locations, our priority is to reach a conclusion in the best long-term interests of the agency, its customers and its staff. The results of this work will be subject to a further consultative process when it has been completed, and I hope to make a final decision of the location of a collocated ATSA by the end of the year.
Mr. Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of schools sponsoring cadets at Sandhurst, indicating the figures for each regiment. [30988]
Mr. Soames:
This is a matter for the chief executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Chris Elliott to Mr. Paul Murphy, dated 4 June 1996:
Mr Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 May, Official Report, column 54, if he will list the number of Sea King helicopters currently in service with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force by year of entry into service; how many Sea Kings have suffered cracks in the lift frame, by year of entry into service; how many have suffered cracking to the lift frame more than once; and if he will make a statement. [30812]
Mr. Soames:
The information requested is provided in the table:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about schools sponsoring cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Individual Training Organisation.
Cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst are not sponsored by their schools.
A small proportion of the Cadets have come direct from school through the Entry Selection Process. However, the vast majority pass through university before going to Sandhurst.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
| Aircraft delivered currently in service | Aircraft delivered 1 or more cracks | Aircraft with repeat cracks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | RN | RAF | Total(9) | |
| 1969 | 8 | -- | 8 | 1 |
| 1970 | 15 | -- | 16 | 3 |
| 1971 | 13 | -- | 11 | 5 |
| 1972 | 5 | -- | 5 | 2 |
| 1973 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1974 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1975 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1976 | 5 | -- | 4 | -- |
| 1977 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| 1978 | -- | 11 | 11 | 8 |
| 1979 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 1980 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 3 |
| 1981 | 10 | -- | 9 | 4 |
| 1982 | 8 | -- | 6 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1984 | 10 | -- | 7 | 1 |
| 1985 | 6 | 3 | 6 | -- |
| 1986 | 9 | -- | 5 | -- |
| 1987 | 3 | -- | 2 | -- |
| 1988 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1989 | 2 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 1990 | 6 | -- | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1992 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1993 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1994 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1995 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1996 | -- | 6 | -- | -- |
| Total | 119 | 25 | 116 | 31 |
(9) Includes aircraft no longer in service.
Although the problem of lift frame cracking has a transitory effect on aircraft availability, the repair load is manageable, and there is no question of its affecting the ability of the Sea King to continue in service until its planned out-of-service date. Furthermore, the aircraft design is tolerant of failures and this, combined with rigorous periodic in-service inspections, maintains the good airworthiness record of the Sea King structure. No aircraft accidents have been caused by Sea King lift frame or associated component failure.
4 Jun 1996 : Column: 340
Market Testing
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning market testing. [30822]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 6 February, Official Report, column 120. The policy has not changed.
Mr. Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the projected annual savings as a result of the market testing of health provision for British forces services; and if he will make a statement. [30985]
Mr. Soames: Market testing of health provision for British forces in Germany is expected to realise annual savings of £2 million in financial year 1998-99, £3.4 million in 1999-2000, and £4 million in 2000-01. Initial set-up costs, and some dual running to facilitate a seamless transition to the new service will result in increased costs of £2.3 million in 1996-97 and £2.9 million in 1997-98. Therefore, over the five-year period of the service level agreement with "The Health Alliance", net savings of some £4.2 million are expected to accrue to the Defence budget.
These changes have been achieved with no detriment to the overall level of service which is provided to our forces and their families. Indeed, in many aspects an improved level of service has already been achieved.
Mr. Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) all of his Department's activities which have been contractorised or market tested, (b) the date of contractorisation and market testing and (c) the overall costs. [30986]
4 Jun 1996 : Column: 341
Mr. Arbuthnot:
I am writing to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
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