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Sub-programme for Agricultural
and Rural Development
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has as to how many SPARD schemes have not had a claim for payment submitted; and, of these, how many relate to buildings related to (a) beef production and (b) potato production.[18985]
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 6 March 1997]: A total of 5,004 applications made under the sub-programme for agriculture and rural development capital grants and farm innovation schemes have not had a claim for payment submitted. Of these (a) 1,760 had buildings related to beef production included and; (b) 156 had buildings related to potato production included.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many answers to parliamentary questions by Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19340]
Sir John Wheeler: Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make it clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large number of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for my Department systematically to calculate the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.
Research Councils (Commissions)
Dr. Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many commissions his Department placed with the Agriculture and Food Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council in each year from 1979 to the present; how many such commissions he expects to place in 1997; and what the value was of the commissions in (a) cash and (b) constant prices. [19368]
Emergency Provisions Act
Mr. Brazier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the report from Mr. J. J. Rowe, QC on the operation in 1996 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996; and if he will make a statement on the provisions contained in the Act. [19525]
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Sir Patrick Mayhew:
I have received Mr. Rowe's report. It is being published today and copies are being placed in the Library. I am most grateful to him for his work.
With the resumption of violence in Northern Ireland, there is renewed use of the powers contained in the Act. Mr. Rowe believes the Act remains necessary. This is also the view of the Government. I am therefore laying before the House today a draft order which would continue for a further year those provisions in the Act which are currently in force.
Organophosphates
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research into the health effects of organophosphate-based insecticides and pesticides has been conducted by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down for his Department since 1979. [19090]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency has not conducted any research programmes on the health effects of pesticidal organophosphorous compounds.
Netheravon Airfield
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about fire cover at Netheravon airfield on Salisbury plain. [19065]
Mr. Soames: Airfield camp, Netheravon is being retained in the defence estate to house flying and non-flying units and as a landing site and forward mounting base for helicopters using the Salisbury plain training area. Under current plans, fire service cover will be provided by a six-man team based at Middle Wallop.
On-site Inspections
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the on-site inspections made in the United Kingdom under the Stockholm and Vienna documents in the last five years. [19225]
Mr. Soames: The Stockholm document was superseded by the Vienna document in 1990. There has been one inspection in the United Kingdom under the Vienna document since 1992:
- 1-4 March 1994: Russia inspected 3 Commando Brigade on Exercise Royal Dawn in Scotland.
Additionally, there have been seven evaluation visits under the Vienna document:
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 65
22 April 1992: Russia to 24 Airmobile brigade, Catterick Garrison.
15 December 1992: Sweden to 19 Mechanised brigade, Colchester.
20 July 1993: Russia to 1 Mechanised brigade, Tidworth.
17 May 1995: Russia to 2 (South East) brigade, Shorncliffe.
7 June 1996: Sweden to HQ 2 division, York.
22 June 1996: Sweden to HQ 2 division, York.
27 February 1997: Ukraine to 145 (Home Counties) brigade, Aldershot.
Trident
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of Trident missiles purchased from the United States of America to date. [19223]
Mr. Arbuthnot: So far, the UK has purchased 44 Trident missiles from the United States. A contract for a further seven was placed by the US Department of Defence in November 1996 on behalf of the United Kingdom.
NATO
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to revise NATO's strategic concept agreed in 1991. [19109]
Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 6 March 1997, Official Report, column 712, to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes).
Army Foundation College
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many students are expected to enter the Army foundation college in the first five years; and what will be the cost per student. [19105]
Mr. Soames: During the first year of operation, commencing in September 1998, 600 students are expected to enter the college, with the annual intake rising to a planned total of some 1,300 students in the year from September 2000. As the college is the subject of a private finance initiative proposal, its running costs will depend on the outcome of the PFI process. In addition, each student will be paid a salary of between £105 to £168 per week, according to age.
Guns
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many guns have been stolen or cannot otherwise be accounted for in each service, categorised by type of gun, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [19279]
Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 January 1996, Official Report, column 537.
Former Prisoners of War
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the review of possible further compensation for British second world war prisoners of war is likely to be concluded; and if he will make a statement. [19256]
Mr. Soames: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 February 1997 to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson), Official Report, column 120.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many answers to parliamentary questions by Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19350]
10 Mar 1997 : Column: 66
Mr. Soames:
Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make it clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large numbers of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for my Department systematically to calculate the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 639, what the naval manoeuvres were arranged; and if there was any liaison between his Department and officials of the Cabinet Office in arranging them. [19414]
Mr. Soames:
The naval activity which took place off the Ayrshire coast on 31 January 1997 was planned some 12 months in advance. There was no requirement for liaison with officials of the Cabinet Office. This was part of routine naval operations involving UK and NATO forces in UK territorial waters.
Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter of 5 December 1996 from the hon. Member for East Lothian about events relating an injury to Corporal Simon Cullen, MBE. [19361]
Mr. Soames:
The case in question is a complex one which involved a number of issues requiring careful examination. Our investigation are, however, almost complete and I will write to the hon. Member within the week. I apologise for my delay in so doing.
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