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British Rail (Objectives)

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives he has set for the chairman of British Rail for 1996-97. [32644]

Sir George Young: I have written to the chairman formally recording the objectives that had been agreed for the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.

Light Dues

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change the light dues system when the Decca navigation system comes to an end. [32499]

Mr. Norris: No decisions have yet been made regarding the future of the Decca navigator system. We have no plans to change the light dues system.

Northolt Airport

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to increase permitted aircraft movements from Northolt airport; and if he will make a statement. [30992]

Mr. Norris [holding answer 4 June 1996]: The station continues to operate on the basis of 7,000 civil movements a year.

In its recent report on UK airport capacity, the House of Commons Transport Committee included a number of conclusions and recommendations relating to increased civil use of RAF Northolt. The Government will respond in due course to these and to the other recommendations of the Committee.

DEFENCE

Colchester Military Training Centre

13. Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence implications of the Colchester military corrective and training centre becoming a young offenders' institution; and if he will make a statement. [30895]

Mr. Soames: The creation of a young offenders institution within the military corrective training centre will have no implications for Britain's defence.

11 Jun 1996 : Column: 87

Joint Rapid Deployment Force

14. Mr. Dunn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the role of the joint rapid deployment force; and if he will make a statement. [30896]

Mr. Portillo: The joint rapid deployment force will strengthen the UK's capability effectively and rapidly to deploy military forces worldwide in support of our interests. It will be capable of fulfilling a wide range of combat or non-combat missions.

24. Mr. Alison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the improvement to Britain's defence capability from the introduction of the joint rapid deployment force. [30907]

Mr. Soames: The military response to future challenges will almost certainly be on a joint service basis. The joint rapid deployment force will enhance the UK's ability to respond very rapidly to future crises, drawing from all three services. The core of the JRDF will be three Commando Brigade and five Airborne Brigade, but it will also draw on other elements across the services.

Tomahawk Cruise Missiles

15. Mr. Allason: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to procure Tomahawk cruise missiles. [30897]

Mr. Arbuthnot: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced in the House on 13 July 1995, Official Report, column 1092, that we were proceeding with the procurement of Tomahawk. On 16 October 1995 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced during the defence debate Official Report, column 51, that an order had been placed that day for 65 conventionally armed Tomahawk cruise missiles with the US Department of Defence. There are currently no plans to purchase further missiles.

Polaris

16. Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to decommission Polaris submarines. [30898]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The process of decommissioning the Polaris submarines involves de-fuelling, de-equipping and laying up the vessels for storage afloat before their final disposal. This process has been completed for HMS Revenge, but not yet for the other Polaris submarines.

Former Yugoslavia

17. Mr. Sumberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on NATO's peace implementation force in the former Yugoslavia. [30899]

Mr. Portillo: I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick).

Land Mines

18. Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to replace his Department's stocks of anti-personnel land mines. [30900]

11 Jun 1996 : Column: 88

Mr. Arbuthnot: We plan to destroy nearly half our current stocks of anti-personnel mines without replacement. We have reached no decisions on our future requirements.

Procurement Projects

19. Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total expenditure his Department has identified in the last year which is due to cost overruns on procurement projects. [30901]

Mr. Arbuthnot: Information on Defence equipment cost control performance was published in December 1995 in the MoD's performance report, Cm 3055, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

RAF Aircraft Crashes

20. Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft crashed in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [30903]

Mr. Soames: A total of nine RAF aircraft have crashed in eight accidents. Separate RAF boards of inquiry are carrying out thorough investigations to determine the causes of seven of the accidents and to consider what action may be necessary to minimise the risk of recurrence. In line with normal policy, a summary of the findings of each of these inquiries will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses in due course. An investigation into the most recent accident, which occurred on 26 May in Portugal, is being carried out by the Portuguese authorities in line with the NATO standard agreement on such matters.

Surface Ships

21. Mr. David Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about present procurement plans for new surface ships for the Royal Navy. [30904]

Mr. Arbuthnot: A number of new surface ships are planned. These include the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean; five type 23 frigates, seven Sandown class mine-hunters, and the survey vessel HMS Scott, all currently on order. In addition, we are in negotiations with VSEL over a contract for up to two assault ships; we continue to make good progress on the common new generation frigate; and we have issued an invitation to tender for up to two auxiliary oilers.

Married Housing Stock

22. Mr. Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he had with members of the armed forces before he announced his plans for the married housing stock. [30905]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The proposal to transfer ownership of the married quarters estate in England and Wales to the private sector has been developed over many months in full consultation with the services. We have also had regular contract with the service wives' organisations and have taken their views fully into account.

11 Jun 1996 : Column: 89

Joint and Combined Exercises

23. Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what priority he attaches to joint and combined exercises; and if he will make a statement. [30906]

Mr. Soames: I attach the very highest priority to both joint and combined exercises. We have recently completed the highly successful exercise, Purple Star, with the Americans, which saw a major amphibious landing and the largest parachute drop since the second world war. Key elements of the joint rapid deployment force, which becomes operational on 1 August this year, were involved including three Commando Brigade and five Airborne Brigade, an aircraft carrier and amphibious group as well as RAF front line and supporting aircraft. Responsibility for planning and conducting joint and combined exercises now rests with the new permanent joint headquarters at Northwood, which has been formed as a centre of excellence in preparing for and executing joint operations.

Propeller Factories

25. Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next proposes to visit a propeller factory. [30909]

Mr. Arbuthnot: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence visited Dowty Aerospace recently. The company is involved in supplying propellers for the RAF's C-130J programme, and is also a member of the Lockheed Martin team offering the Orion 2000 in response to the invitation to tender for RMPA. All three tenders for RMPA are currently being assessed and we are working towards letting a contract with the selected prime contractor later this year. I cannot comment on the bid at this stage, but I can assure my hon. Friend that all the bids are receiving full and equal consideration.

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