10 Feb 1997 : Column: 1
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 10 February 1997
DEFENCE
Radio Spectrum
Mr. Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in releasing two bands of 5 MHz in the 410-430 MHz band for civilian use; and if he will make a statement. [14344]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 October 1996, Official Report, column 782, which should have made it clear that discussions between MOD and the Radiocommunications Agency, DTI identified channels on two bands of 5 MHz in the 410-430 MHz band that can be made available for civilian use by 1997. A large number of channels in the 410-430 MHz band have been released by MOD.
As recognised in the radio spectrum review stage 3 report, there are military systems in the band 410-430 MHz, which cannot be given up or whose frequencies cannot readily be changed. This being the case there is no possibility, at present, of the complete release of all channels within two bands of 5 MHz in the 410-430 MHz band.
Royal Yacht
Mr. Cann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the basic elements of specification, with special reference to length, breadth, draught, gross tonnage and propulsion, of the proposed replacement for the royal yacht Britannia. [14421]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The outline specification for the new yacht is currently being drawn up. We expect this process to take about a year, following which an invitation to tender, specifying the detailed requirement, will be issued.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many miles members of the royal family have travelled (a) in the royal yacht Britannia and (b) by other modes of transport supported by public funds in each of the past five years. [14638]
Mr. Soames [holding answer 6 February 1997]: The information for royal travel is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits to the United Kingdom of the attendance of the royal yacht Britannia at Cowes; how many days the yacht has attended Cowes in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [14509]
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Mr. Soames
[holding answer 10 February 1997]: In the last 10 years Britannia has spent the following number of days at Cowes:
| Year | Number of days |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1990 | 6 |
| 1991 | 7 |
| 1992 | 8 |
| 1993 | 7 |
| 1994 | 9 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 8 |
Britannia's attendance at Cowes has continued the traditional royal patronage of this event, and contributed to the growth of this prestigious international regatta. This in turn benefits the local community around Cowes, in addition to the yachting industry.
Mr. Alan Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the places where the royal yacht has been used to promote British exports and to attract inward investment since 1989, indicating the number of days and dates at each place. [14642]
Mr. Soames
[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The information requested is as follows:
10 Feb 1997 : Column: 4
Britannia's programme for 1997 includes commercial events between mid-January and August in Malta, Dubai, Doha, Karachi, Bombay, Madras, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, Nagoya, Kobe, Korea and Gibraltar.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many events on the royal yacht Britannia have been sponsored by outside bodies in each of the last five years; if he will list the sponsoring bodies, categorised as in (a) commercial, (b) charitable and (c) other organisations; and if he will make a statement. [14510]
Mr. Soames
[holding answer 6 February 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) for the list of sponsored events held aboard Britannia since 1989. Due to the wide variety of organisations represented during individual engagements, it is not possible to categorise the list by groupings.
Sir James Hill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the dates in 1977 of the germ warfare tests which involved spraying the city of Southampton with simulants chosen to mimic biological warfare germs; and if he will make a statement. [14599]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Sir James Hill, dated 10 February 1997:
10 Feb 1997 : Column: 5
I have been asked to reply to your question about dates in 1977 when biological defence studies were carried out in Southampton. The chemical Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
No studies were carried out in Southampton in 1977. Between 1965 and 1966 a series of experiments were conducted at various locations around the Southampton area using the harmless strains of the E.coli MRE 162 organism. These were immobilised on microthreads and contained within boxes which were then exposed to the atmosphere at various locations. No material was released in these experiments. The studies were carried out to determine the survivability of organisms when exposed to the atmosphere and those around Southampton particularly addressed survivability in or near built up city areas.
The technique for the immobilisation of the organisms was published in the scientific press in 1968 under the title 'A Microthread Technique for Studying the Viability of Microbes in a Simulated Airborne State' K. R. May and H. A. Druett. Journal of General Microbiology (1968) Vol. 51 pages 353-366.
I hope this information is helpful.
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