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RAF Scampton and RAF Swindeby
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his proposals for (a) RAF Scampton and (b) RAF Swinderby. [5138]
Mr. Soames: Subject to the agreement of a planning brief for RAF Scampton, it is our intention to dispose of the site, although the married quarters are to be retained. RAF Swinderby has already been sold.
Armed Forces Pensions
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of the armed forces have pensions which are frozen until they reach the age of 55 years. [5184]
Mr. Soames: As at 31 March 1996, there were 84,486 former members of the armed forces in receipt of an early retirement service pension, which does not attract annual pension increases until age 55.
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will delay the tabling of statutory instruments under section 2 of the Armed Forces Act 1996 for further consultation with interested parties and provide a six-month period for such consultation. [5332]
Mr. Soames: No. The statutory instruments to be tabled under section 2 of the Armed Forces Act 1996 provide for military local service engagements and thus allow the formation of the Military Provost Guard Service. This has been the subject of full consultation with interested parties.
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Ex-military Bases (Accommodation)
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on consulting local authorities in areas where ex-military bases have been closed, and the former service housing is to be sold to seek to ensure that jobs, education facilities and health services will exist for people who will move into such accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [5394]
Mr. Soames: Where a site has been declared surplus to Defence requirements, it is the policy of my Department to work closely with the local authorities concerned, normally through the local plan process or by the production of a development brief. Matters such as jobs, schools and health services are for the local authority, but are considered as part of the local plan process and, if appropriate, as part of a development brief. In some cases, service families who previously occupied accommodation associated with a site will have made use of the local facilities, such as schools.
RAF Finningley
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his proposals for the future of RAF Finningley; and what is the proposed timetable for carrying out these plans. [4560]
Mr. Soames: RAF Finningley is to be sold. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has agreed to a request from the Home Secretary to use part of the site as a prison, and this has resulted in a slight delay to the original timetable. The expressions of interest campaign has, however, been completed, and my Department will shortly be inviting shortlisted candidates to submit formal bids. We hope to be in a position to commence negotiations with a preferred bidder in early 1997.
Beef
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ensure that the beef served to members of the armed forces in each defence establishment and station is from the United Kingdom. [5011]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The procurement of food for the armed forces is contracted to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. My Department does not specify the source of origin from which NAAFI should obtain beef--or any other meat--but expects it to seek the best market price for the product. Based on current volumes and prevailing prices, a switch to British beef would cost an additional £1 million per financial year.
Military Assistance (Rwanda and Zaire)
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military assistance given by the UK to Rwanda and Zaire between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 1995; and what was the cost of such assistance. [5148]
Mr. Soames: No military assistance was provided to Zaire or Rwanda in that period. A member of the Royal Army Medical Corps has, however, provided assistance in 1995 to the independent international commission of
21 Nov 1996 : Column: 698
inquiry set up at the request of the Government of Rwanda to investigate events surrounding deaths of an unknown number of persons at the Kibeho refugee camp.
Troops in Bosnia (Telephone Calls)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many free telephone calls per week are allowed for British troops serving in Bosnia; when the number of free calls was last altered; what form the alteration took; and if he will make a statement. [5406]
Mr. Soames: Most troops serving in Bosnia are not entitled to make free private telephone calls, but have access to payphones to make telephone calls home. A welfare telephone allowance--WTA--currently £22 per month, is paid to troops as a contribution towards the cost of these calls. There is no restriction on the number or duration of calls made.
The very small number of troops who do not have access to welfare payphones may use the military communications system for a free weekly call home. These personnel do not receive the WTA.
This system has been in place since troops were deployed to Bosnia in December 1995 as part of IFOR.
Mr. Foulkes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards implementing the planned reduction in low flying in the borders tactical training area; when the full reduction will be achieved; what plans there are for monitoring the progress of the reduction in volume; and if he will make a statement.[5370]
Mr. Soames:
My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence announced on 6 August that operational low flying will be distributed between the three tactical training areas in proportion to their areas when averaged over a year. Action to achieve this aim was set in hand immediately, and the redistribution will be achieved by the end of July 1997. Thereafter, activity will be monitored by calendar year.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current year's recruitment targets for each Army regiment. [4423]
Mr. Soames:
Pursuant to my answer of 15 November, Official Report, columns 375-76, I regret that, due to a typographical error, the figures for recruiting targets for officers and soldiers of the AAC and RAChD were wrongly given. These should have read 24 officers and 160 soldiers in the AAC and 10 officers and 0 soldiers in the RAChD respectively. There are no apprentice targets for these arms. The full table is as follows:
| Arm/Service | Officers | Soldiers | Apprentices |
|---|---|---|---|
| H Cav/RAC | 69 | 800 | -- |
| RA | 88 | 1,400 | -- |
| RE | 62 | 960 | 234 |
| R Signals | 49 | 1,040 | 200 |
| Infantry | 234 | -- | -- |
| Household Division | -- | 800 | -- |
| Scottish Division | -- | 800 | -- |
| Queen's Division | -- | 800 | -- |
| King's Division | -- | 800 | -- |
| Prince of Wales Division | -- | 1,020 | -- |
| Light Division | -- | 580 | -- |
| Royal Irish (GS) | -- | 140 | -- |
| Parachute Regiment | -- | 460 | -- |
| AAC | 24 | 160 | -- |
| RAChD | 10 | 0 | -- |
| RLC | 82 | 2,400 | 186 |
| RAMC | 54 | 200 | -- |
| REME | 36 | 640 | 450 |
| AGC | 53 | 760 | -- |
| RAVC | 2 | 32 | -- |
| SASC | (20)0 | 0 | -- |
| RADC | 10 | 40 | -- |
| INT CORPS | 9 | 100 | -- |
| APTC | (20)0 | 0 | -- |
| QARANC | 20 | 120 | -- |
| CA Mus | (20)0 | 120 | -- |
| Total | 802 | 14,172 | 1,070 |
| Combined total=15,242 |
(20) Officer entry only through late entry commission and SNCOs/WOs transferred from other arms and services.
21 Nov 1996 : Column: 699
HEALTH
Edgware General Hospital
Sir John Gorst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current cost of the coronary care unit at Edgware general hospital; and what is the estimated cost of the coronary care unit at Northwick Park hospital. [3907]
Mr. Malone: The information requested is not available centrally.
Sir John Gorst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what medical conditions the elderly will be occupying immediate needs beds at Edgware general hospital following the transition from an accident and emergency to a casualty department; [4679]
- (2) how many immediate needs beds will be maintained at Edgware general hospital in connection with the revised casualty unit. [4681]
Mr. Malone: Following its decision on 25 September, Barnet health authority is currently developing proposals for immediate needs beds in discussion with the North Thames regional office of the National Health Service Executive.
Sir John Gorst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many coronary care cases have been dealt with by Edgware general hospital in each month. [4683]
Mr. Malone: Information of the type requested is not available centrally.
Sir John Gorst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has in respect of the redundant medical equipment at Edgware general hospital when existing services are transferred to Barnet, Northwick Park or the Royal Free hospitals; and what is the value of this equipment. [4684]
Mr. Malone: This is a matter for the Wellhouse NHS trust. My hon. Friend may wish to write to the chairman, Mr. David Phillips, to request this information.
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Sir John Gorst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to be in a position to sign contracts with the doctors associated with the new casualty department at Edgware general hospital; and how many contracts will be signed. [4687]
Mr. Malone: Following its decision on 25 September, Barnet Health authority is currently developing proposals for the casualty service at Edgware.
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