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Children (Payment of Air Fares)

Sir Alan Haselhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many children under the age of 16 years had air fares subsidised (a) wholly and (b) partly by reason of their relationship to service personnel and employees of his Department for travel between the United Kingdom and (i) other EU states and (ii) non-EU states, in the last year for which information is available; and what was the total cost of the subsidy. [9320]

Mr. Soames: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Legislation

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many items of legislation relating to his Department have been repealed since January 1994; how many statutory instruments were introduced during the same period; and how many of the latter were (a) deregulatory and (b) fee orders. [9359]

Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given today by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Bowman Radio Communications Contract

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning his Department's competition policy in relation to the Bowman radio communications contract. [9659]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The Bowman programme has been pursued in accordance with Ministry of Defence procurement policy, whereby the Department seeks competition wherever possible. The programme is in the

17 Dec 1996 : Column: 522

project definition phase, which is being undertaken by two competing consortia, Yeoman led by Siemens Plessey Systems and Racal, and Crossbow, led by ITT UK Ltd. The MOD is currently examining the procurement options open to the Department for production, including the scope for competition at sub-contractor level. Whichever procurement route is chosen for Bowman, MOD will aim to secure the maximum practicable level of competition.

Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce the award of the Bowman radio communications contract. [9657]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The procurement options for the Bowman production phase are currently being evaluated by the Ministry of Defence. A decision on the way ahead will be announced as soon as possible.

Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what criteria he will base his decision to award the Bowman radio communications contract. [9658]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The criteria for placing a contract for the Bowman production phase will be consistent with departmental procurement policy, which aims to obtain the best overall value for money for the Defence budget. Securing the maximum practicable level of competition will be central to the achievement of this objective.

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Bosnia)

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his statement to the Scottish Grand Committee on 25 November, Official Report, column 6, if he will make a statement on the number of men and quantity of equipment available to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Bosnia. [9392]

Mr. Soames: There are 343 Royals Scots Dragoon Guards currently serving in Bosnia and Croatia. They are equipped with 15 Challenger tanks and a total of 44 tracked armoured vehicles. The remainder of the regiment is conducting training and rear party duties. Two squadrons of tanks which are not required for the current deployment have been retained in Germany.

Officers (Retirement)

Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers in each service and by rank have been retired on full pay in each year since 1992; and what was the annual cost in each category. [9445]

Mr. Soames: None. The armed forces pension scheme makes no provision for the retirement of officers, or other ranks, on full pay.

Clansman Radio Communications System

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the current operational effectiveness of the Army's Clansman radio communications system. [9660]

Mr. Soames: The operational effectiveness of all in-service equipment is kept under constant review. Clansman continues to provide a useful capability and will be maintained in-service until it is replaced by Bowman.

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"Competing for Quality"

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to announce the result of the "Competing for Quality" competition at RAF Sealand, Deeside, Flintshire; and if he will make a statement.[8826]

Mr. Arbuthnot: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the then Minister of State for Defence Procurement, announced on 18 October 1994, Official Report, column 237, his intention to undertake a "Competing for Quality" programme for all activities at RAF Sealand. After a hard-fought competition, I can now announce that the in-house bid team has been selected, against two commercial bidders, and that my Department intends to enter into a service level agreement with the team, beginning in April next year. The competition has resulted in significant savings and will safeguard the important role of RAF Sealand in providing crucial support to the front line. I congratulate the in-house team on the imagination and hard work shown in putting together the winning bid.

Ministry of Defence Police

Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the standard disciplinary procedures for his Department's police force; who is the nominated disciplinary officer; and who deputises in the absence of the nominated disciplinary officer. [8935]

Mr. Soames: This is a matter for the chief constable/chief executive of the Ministry of Defence Police. I have asked the chief constable/chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from W.E.E. Boreham to Mr. John McFall, dated 17 December 1996:

I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about disciplinary procedures within the Ministry of Defence Police, as this falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.

The Ministry of Defence Police (Discipline) Regulations 1985, (as amended 1988) are based on the Home Office Police Discipline Regulations.

The Deputy Chief Constable is responsible for deciding the level of disciplinary action to be taken in complaints against police and reported disciplinary matters.

If it is decided by the Deputy Chief Constable that formal disciplinary proceedings by way of a hearing are required, the officer(s) will appear before either the Chief Constable or a nominated Assistant Chief Constable depending on the seriousness of the matters complained of, and the levels of punishment thought appropriate.

However, all complaints against police matters in England and Wales are referred to the independent Police Complaints Authority in the same way as for all other Home Department Police Forces. Complaints matters in Scotland are dealt with in exactly the same way as those considered by Scottish Chief Constables with their Forces. There is no provision in Scotland for an independent body for complaints against the police other than Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (Scotland) to whom a complainant may refer if dissatisfied with the Chief Constable's decision. In Northern Ireland complaints are referred to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland.

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Young Service Personnel

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers under the age of 18 years are serving in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Bosnia. [9299]

Mr. Soames: The number of British soldiers under 18 years of age who are currently serving in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Bosnia is 44 and 32 respectively.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

"New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans"

Mr. Derek Foster: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what costs quoted in the document, "New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans", were prepared in his Department; what detailed assumptions and interpretations were provided to officials in his Department to enable preparation of each cost; and what was the total cost to public funds of preparing each estimate. [6352]

Mr. Lang: The Department of Trade and Industry, in conjunction with the Treasury, prepared factual material relating to costings published in "New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans" numbered 7,8,9,10 and 88. The detailed assumptions and interpretations that were provided to officials are set out in my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to the hon. Member today. It is not the normal working practice to keep a record of the time spent in providing factual information to Ministers and it is not therefore possible to offer a reliable estimate of the costs involved.

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