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DEFENCE
Tornado Aircraft
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Tornados have been grounded for each month of the last two years for failing to be in airworthy condition. [1154]
Mr. Soames: During the last two years the Tornado fleet has met all of its operational commitments and has not been grounded. RAF aircraft are only permitted to fly if it is judged safe for them to do so. To achieve and maintain this high safety standard all aircraft are subject to regular detailed engineering examination and assessment, and are subject to a rigorous scheduled maintenance programme. Although this work ensures the highest standard of safety, it does mean that the aircraft are unavailable to fly while the necessary work is being carried out. Allowance is made for this in the aircraft establishment figures. Those aircraft operating at the front line require scheduled minor maintenance. Minor faults which are discovered are usually rectified at the unit so that the aircraft can be available to fly at the earliest opportunity.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of private refurbishment contracts of Tornado aircraft. [1155]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The overall performance of private contractors in carrying out maintenance work for the RAF is good--many of them helped build the aircraft in the first place. All first-line maintenance of operational fast-jet aircraft continues to be done by RAF trades men. However, some of the deeper maintenance of these aircraft is carried-out by contractors.
We attach great importance to ensuring that contractors deliver work of the necessary quality. Contracting procedures are focused on achieving this and contracts are placed only with those suppliers who have been assessed by an accredited body to an appropriate quality management standard. The MOD aims to place full responsibility for the quality of products and services with its contractors.
Holy Loch (Pollution)
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the types and quantities of radioactive or other toxic substances which have been
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found in the cleaning of the seabed of the Holy Loch; and if he will make a statement on the purpose of this exercise. [1501]
Mr. Soames: There is no longer a defence requirement for Holy Loch. My Department plans, therefore, to clear debris from the bed of the loch to a suitable standard to allow responsibility for it to be transferred back to the appropriate civil authorities. We have received a number of local requests to carry out such a clearance.
No clearance work has yet started. We have agreed to carry out an environmental assessment of the impact of the clearance process on the local area before any such work is undertaken, and to make public its results. Our plans have been discussed fully with the local authority and environmental agencies.
Levels of radioactive contamination in the loch are extremely low. The report of a survey carried out by the defence radiological protection service and the US Navy in 1992 concluded that there is no public radiological hazard associated with the debris, or its removal. These conclusions have been confirmed by subsequent annual surveys. No toxic materials have been identified in the various visual surveys which we have carried out in preparation for the clearance operation.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison there is between his Department, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the subject of organophosphate dips and their use; and if he will make a statement. [1865]
Mr. Soames:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food yesterday.
Mr. Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has in respect of the rail head at the Army vehicle depot at Ludgershall. [2224]
Mr. Soames:
We intend to retain part of the Army vehicle depot at Ludgershall after its closure in March 1997 to provide railhead facility for land command units. The development of a railhead facility close to the Salisbury plain training area would facilitate future operational deployments and enhance pre-deployment training, as well as having had significant advantages for
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routine training, including a significantly reduced requirement for the use of public roads by heavy equipment transport vehicles.
Mr. Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was his Department's initial estimate of the costs of moving military air traffic control from West Drayton to the new national en-route centre at Swanwich; and what is the current estimate of the costs. [2589]
Mr. Soames:
A detailed estimate was one of the stipulated products of a project definition study carried out by Lockheed Martin. The estimate that has resulted is dependent on a number of other factors currently being studied, and is commercially sensitive.
Mr. Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce the future location of military air traffic control. [2588]
Mr. Soames:
The Ministry of Defence places great importance on the joint and integrated nature of air navigation service provision by National Air Traffic Services Ltd. and the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Defence endorsed the National Air Traffic Services Ltd. two-centre strategy and is participating fully in the review of that strategy which aims to identify the most efficient and cost effective means of providing air navigation services. An announcement will be made once that review has been concluded.
Mr. Meacher:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to update his Department's 1991 environment manual. [2585]
Mr. Soames:
A revised version of my Department's environment manual was published in October 1996 and is currently being distributed. A copy will be placed shortly in the Library of the House of Commons.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [1402]
Mr. Soames:
The MOD is not a regulator of business and has not, therefore, identified any such rules or regulations. My Department continues to contribute to the deregulation initiative by focusing efforts on relieving unnecessary administrative burdens on suppliers, streamlining contracts procedures, and improving communications with industry.
Sir Peter Emery:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the slippage in the estimated time of the signing of the contract for the Bowman programme; and what is the latest estimated date for the granting of a contract. [1552]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The project definition phase of the Bowman programme is essentially complete and development standard equipment is currently being tested
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in field trials. Arrangements for proceeding to the production phase are under consideration and a decision on the way ahead will be taken as soon as possible. The estimated date of contract signature for production will depend upon the outcome of our considerations but it is unlikely to be before early 1999. This would represent a slippage of about 15 months compared with the date envisaged at the beginning of the project definition phase.
Sir Peter Emery:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many offset contracts have been placed after the agreement to purchase AWAC aircraft; and what is the total amount of these contracts. [1553]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
Following the signature of the AWACS contract with the Boeing defence and space group in November 1986 some 250 United Kingdom companies have received contracts which discharged Boeing's industrial participation obligation of US$1.57 billion.
Sir Peter Emery:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken by his Department (a) to monitor the amount and completion of offset defence purchasing agreements and (b) to assess the percentage of the agreements that are made as opposed to the amount agreed at the signing of the purchasing contract. [1631]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
Companies with offset obligations are required to submit reports to my Department every six months, detailing relevant contracts awarded to the United Kingdom defence industry during the reporting period. A full audit of these reports is conducted in order to establish the validity of the claims and to ensure that the companies are complying with the terms and conditions of their offset commitment. All obligations entered into have been achieved within the period agreed.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the establishment total of trained soldiers (a) at 1 October 1996 and (b) planned to be at 1 April 1997, including Gurkha trained personnel but excluding trained Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) troops. [2486]
Mr. Soames:
Manpower requirements are set at 1 April for each year. The requirement for trained British and Gurkha soldiers but excluding Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) personnel at 1 April 1996 and the planned requirement at 1 April 1997 are as follows:
1 April 1996: 108,000.
1 April 1997: 106,200.
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