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Tornado Aircraft
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the deployment of Tornados from the 38 fighter-bomber wing, German air force, to RAF Coningsby during January 1996; how many sorties were flown; how many of these were at low level; and how many practice attacks were made on UK ranges. [8606]
Mr. Soames: The purpose of the deployment was to conduct a flight trial to test the compatibility of an electronic countermeasures system with the aircraft. A total of seven sorties were flown, none of which was at low level. No practice attacks were made on UK ranges.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on which United Kingdom airfield is to be the base for Royal Air Force Tornado squadrons relocating from Germany; and what is the planned date for relocation. [8600]
Mr. Soames: I hope to make an announcement in the new year about the redeployment of the Tornado squadrons from RAF Bruggen following its closure in 2002.
Gulf War (Injections)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many injections classified as secret were given to each individual Gulf war service man; [8450]
- (2) how many service men in the Gulf war received injections which were classified as secret and were not listed on the medical documents of each service man; [8452]
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(3) what medical conditions were to be met by the injections given to Gulf war service men and classified as secret. [8451]
Mr. Soames [holding answer 10 December 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the memorandum that I placed in the Library of the House on Tuesday 10 December, which gives details of the Government's vaccination policy during the Gulf conflict.
Correspondence
Mr. George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to answer the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, South of 9 September regarding Mr. M. M. Doyle. [8699]
Mr. Soames: My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member about his constituent's case.
Land Access Booklet
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning his Department's booklet on access to Ministry of Defence land; how many copies of this booklet were produced; what was the total cost of production; for what reasons it was withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on his future plans for the booklet. [8790]
Mr. Soames: A booklet which encourages public access to the defence estate and highlights several walks was issued by my Department earlier this year; 250,000 copies were produced at a total cost of £66,000. It has since been discovered that the third map in the Longmoor section of the booklet incorrectly indicates that two footpaths are available to the public at all times. This is not the case, and in view of the potential implications for public safety the booklet has been withdrawn temporarily. Arrangements are in hand to amend all remaining stocks and to advise members of the public of this, providing amended copies of the booklet where appropriate. Action has also been taken to place additional warning signs at the site to advise members of the public of the correct position.
Radiation Experiments
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has recently made of experiments in respect of the effects on human health of exposure to (a) strontium 85, (b) isotopes of radioactive iodine, (c) palladium 103, (d) chromium 51, (e) niobium 92M, (f) barium 133 and (g) plutonium, conducted by (i) his Department, (ii) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and (iii) the United States Government in conjunction with the United Kingdom Government, since 1956; and if he will make a statement on his Department's current evaluation of research on the effects of radiation exposure on human health; [8614]
- (2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the radiotoxicity of (i) methyliodide, (ii) polonium and (iii) calcium 45 and their effects on human health; and if he will set out the conclusions of such experimental research conducted to assess the risks of these radioactive materials. [8611]
Mr. Soames: I will write to the hon. Member.
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Operation Purple Star
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British merchant vessels were chartered by Her Majesty's Government for Operation Purple Star; and if he will make a statement. [4333]
Mr. Soames [pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1996, c. 194]: I regret that due to a typographical error the word "No" was omitted from the start of my answer. Despite the rest of the answer it was not absolutely clear, therefore, that no British registered merchant vessels were chartered by my Department to take part in Operation Purple Star.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Peace Process
10. Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Government to discuss the peace process in Northern Ireland. [7325]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: I accompanied my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister for part of his meeting with Mr. Bruton and Mr. Spring on 9 December.
12. Mr. John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent progress in the all-party talks. [7327]
16. Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest position in the peace process. [7331]
28. Mr. Riddick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the latest situation relating to the peace process. [7343]
Mr. Ancram: Having agreed the rules of procedure and agenda for the opening plenary the talks are now addressing the issue of decommissioning. We recognise the sensitivities of the issue for participants, but believe early agreement on this and the start of substantive discussions, are now urgent.
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the use of referendums in the peace process. [7336]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: The Government have given an undertaking to put the final outcome of the current negotiations to the people of Northern Ireland for approval in a referendum. The Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiations, etc.) Act 1996 includes provision for such a referendum.
Farming Job Losses
11. Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of jobs lost in the farming industry in Northern Ireland as a consequence of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis. [7326]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: The industry provides the equivalent of 15,900 full-time jobs in beef cattle enterprises. There are a further 2,850 in beef and sheepmeat processing, and 2,000 to 3,000 in ancillary industries.
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The export ban has had a greater effect on the Northern Ireland industry than anywhere else in the United Kingdom, because 55 per cent. by volume of Northern Ireland beef used to be exported outside the UK. It is not, however, as yet possible to estimate the jobs lost by this cause.
Beef Production
13. Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the value of beef production in Northern Ireland in 1995-96; and what percentage of this total was sold outside the United Kingdom. [7328]
Sir Patrick Mayhew: In 1995, the last full year for which figures are currently available, the farm-gate value, including subsidies, of beef cattle sold in Northern Ireland was £414.4 million. It is estimated that 56 per cent. of this total was sold outside the United Kingdom.
Interrogation Procedures
15. Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and (b) the Lord Chief Justice on reforming interrogation procedures at Castlereagh; and if he will make a statement. [7330]
Sir John Wheeler: Officials in the Northern Ireland Office have been working with the RUC on producing a draft code of practice in connection with the silent video recording of interviews held with terrorist suspects, and we expect to go out to public consultation shortly.
Beef Exports
17. Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken since 14 November to secure the removal of the ban on Northern Ireland beef exports. [7332]
Mr. Ancram: All Agriculture Departments have been working on the details of a certified herds scheme along with European Commission officials.
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