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Burma

Mr. Parry: To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Burma regarding abuses of human rights; and if he will make a statement. [3178]

The Prime Minister: We have recently issued several statements about violations of human rights in Burma, and did so again yesterday.

In addition, our ambassador in Rangoon has expressed our grave concern at recent events in Burma on several occasions.

The EU presidency and troika Foreign Ministers also raised these concerns at meetings with the Burmese Foreign Minister on 22 July and 26 September.

Land Mines

Mr. Parry: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from UNICEF concerning land mines in (a) Cambodia and (b) Thailand; and if he will make a statement. [3175]

The Prime Minister: As far as I am aware, none.

Mr. Parry: To ask the Prime Minister what assistance (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) non-governmental organisations have given to (a) Cambodia, (b) Laos and (c) Thailand in respect of the clearance of land mines; and if he will make a statement. [3176]

The Prime Minister: Since 1 April 1993, the British Government have committed over £5.1 million for humanitarian mine clearance activities in Cambodia, £543,000 in Laos and £5,000 in Thailand, concentrating on specific clearance projects addressing urgent humanitarian needs. Some of these projects are managed by British non-governmental organisations.

We do not have details of all non-governmental organisations' commitments to mine clearance in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

DEFENCE

Unidentified Flying Objects

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what factors underlay his Department's decision that the reported sightings of unidentified flying objects on 5 November 1990 and 31 March 1993 were not of defence significance; [2898]

(2) for what reasons his Department assessed the sightings of an unidentified flying object over RAF Shawbury, referred to in his answer of 24 July, Official Report, column 424, as having no defence significance.[2928]

12 Nov 1996 : Column: 112

Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 8 July 1996, Official Report, column 26.

Gulf War

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if supplies of vaccine 10HO3A supplied to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment were used in circumstances relating to the Gulf war. [1674]

Mr. Soames: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours, dated 12 November 1996:

I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about whether the Vaccine 10HO3A supplied to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment were used in circumstances relating to the Gulf War. I have been asked to reply since The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBD) is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of which I am Chief Executive.
I regret that it is not our policy to provide details of the particular vaccines required for the research programme at CBD Porton Down.
I am sorry I could not be more helpful.

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date vaccine 10HO3A was received by United Kingdom military personnel in the Gulf; [1675]

(2) if named patient requirements as required by the manufacturer were used in the case of vaccine 10HO3A while used in circumstances relating to the Gulf war; [1673]

(3) on what date Her Majesty's Government purchased from the Miles Drug Company, Miles Pharmaceuticals or Bayer UK vaccine 10HO3A; and which was used in the Gulf war; [1672]

(4) how many British Aerospace personnel (a) did and (b) did not receive doses of vaccine 10HO3A during the course of the Gulf war; [1671]

(5) if he will make a statement on the use of vaccine 10HO3A during the course of the Gulf war. [1670]

Mr. Soames: At present, details relating to biological warfare medical counter-measures remain classified for operational reasons.

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time on 20 and 21 January 1991 United Kingdom personnel were brought into contact with chemical or biological agents near Dhahran. [1677]

Mr. Soames: No chemical or biological agents were detected at Dhahran on 20 and 21 January 1991.

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time on 20 and 21 January 1992 chemical agent monitors indicated sarin in the air in the vicinity of United Kingdom personnel at Dhahran. [1676]

Mr. Soames: There is no evidence of sarin being detected at Dhahran on 20 and 21 January 1991.

12 Nov 1996 : Column: 113

Gurkha Troops

Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkha troops will be stationed in Britain as a result of the handover of Hong Kong; where they will be stationed; what will be their remuneration relative to British troops of similar rank; and if he will make a statement. [3205]

Mr. Soames: On the completion of the restructuring of the Brigade of Gurkhas, some 2,000 Gurkha troops will be garrisoned in the UK, including those on long leave in Nepal. On current plans they will be stationed as follows:

First Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles: Church Crookham;
Gurkha Demonstration Company: Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst;
Gurkha Demonstration Company: Brecon;
Queen's Gurkha Engineers: Maidstone;
Queen's Gurkha Signals: Blandford;
Queen's Own Gurkha Transport Regiment: Colchester

Three Gurkha reinforcement companies will be allocated to the following battalions stationed as follows:

First Battalion, The Royal Scots: Colchester;
First Battalion, The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment: Canterbury;
Second Battalion, The Parachute Regiment: Aldershot.

There will also be some Gurkhas stationed elsewhere on individual postings or attending training courses.

We intend that the Gurkhas' remuneration will be broadly equivalent to that of British troops of similar rank.

Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many wives and children of Gurkha troops will be returning to Nepal as a result of the handover of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [3206]

Mr. Soames: Between June 1996 and June 1997 some 359 wives and children of Gurkha troops will have returned to Nepal as a direct result of the drawdown. In addition, 74 dependants of those Gurkha soldiers who have completed their service will return to Nepal, and a further seven will return as a result of postings to other units. Future arrangements for married accompanied service for Gurkhas are under review.

Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the Gurkha troops who will be moving to Britain; and if he will make a statement. [3207]

Mr. Soames: I have received a number of representations regarding the move of Gurkha troops from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom. Possible changes to the terms and conditions of service of Gurkha soldiers are under review.

Channel Islands (Wartime Occupation)

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when further documents on the wartime occupation of the Channel Islands are due to be released into the public domain; and if he will make a statement. [3668]

Mr. Soames: A number of previously closed files concerning the wartime occupation of the Channel Islands will be made available at the Public Record Office on 19 November 1996.

12 Nov 1996 : Column: 114

Performance Measurements

Mr. Dunn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department performed against performance measurements in the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996; and if he will make a statement. [3887]

Mr. Soames: My Department has today published a performance report covering the period 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Private Sector Contracts

Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of his Department's contracts with the private sector; and how many people are employed to carry out those contracts. [3239]

Mr. Arbuthnot: My Department publishes each year in table 1.14 of "UK Defence Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, details of numbers and values of contracts placed by headquarters contract branches. Table 1.10 of the same publication gives estimates of the number of UK jobs dependent on my Department's expenditure.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons, his Department does not collate information on the number of written and oral parliamentary answers issued by his Department that require correction. [3222]

Mr. Soames: Where a correction to a parliamentary answer is necessary, it is usually our practice for this to be done by means of a pursuant answer in the Official Report. My Department has not thought it necessary to record such corrections centrally.

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