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Organic Farming
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of farms in Wales are currently classified as organic; and if he will make a statement. [19856]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
According to the "UK Register of Food Standards", in February 1997 there were 97 organic farms in Wales. This is less than 0.5 per cent. of the total number of farms.
11 Mar 1997 : Column: 182
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of E. Coli poisoning have (a) been recorded and (b) resulted in death in each NHS trust in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [19869]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
Information on the number of cases of E. Coli poisoning is not available for NHS trusts. The number of reported cases for each health authority area is given in the following table. Reliable information on the number of deaths is not available centrally.
| (18)1992 | (18)1993 | (18)1994 | (18)1995 | 1996 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bro Taf | 11 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| Dyfed Powys | 14 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 5 |
| Gwent | 6 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Morgannwg | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| North Wales(19) | 3 | 5 | 6 | 58 | 16 |
| Wales | 39 | 33 | 29 | 81 | 38 |
Source:
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Wales.
Notes:
(17) Data are reported cases of Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli 0157 (VTEC 0157).
(18) For figures before 1996--Bro Taf = Mid and South Glamorgan; Dyfed Powys = East Dyfed, Pembrokeshire and Powys; Morgannwg = West Glamorgan; North Wales = Clwyd and Gwynedd.
(19) The Figure ro 1995 includes specimens from the north Wales nursery outbreak examined using more sensitive methods.
11 Mar 1997 : Column: 181
11 Mar 1997 : Column: 181
Eurofighter
10. Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the time for completion of the Eurofighter project; and if he will make a statement. [18044]
27. Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Eurofighter will be ready for service.[18061]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
We expect production of Eurofighter for the RAF to continue until around the year 2014. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Air Force at the end of 2001.
11 Mar 1997 : Column: 182
11. Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to allow Wrens to serve on submarines. [18045]
Mr. Soames:
We have no plans at present for Wrens to serve in submarines.
12. Mr. Sutcliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for expenditure on the Army over the next three years. [18046]
Mr. Soames:
We currently spend some £7 billion a year on the Army and, consistent with our policy of stable funding for defence, we expect to maintain spending at around this level over the next three years.
11 Mar 1997 : Column: 183
13. Miss Lestor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Gulf war syndrome. [18047]
Mr. Soames:
Some of the British troops who served during the Gulf war have subsequently developed a range of illnesses. The Government fully understand the health concerns of Gulf veterans and, governed by the best available medical advice, we treat these concerns with the grave seriousness and attention that they rightly demand.
14. Sir Fergus Montgomery:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the importance to the deterrent capability of United Kingdom forces of spending above the European average. [18048]
Mr. Portillo:
A reduction in UK defence expenditure to the current NATO European average would involve cuts of around £5 billion per year. This would have a devastating effect on the capability of our armed forces and on their ability to deter aggression.
15. Mr. Cunliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on defence expenditure in the next two years. [18049]
Mr. Portillo:
Under the latest spending plans, defence expenditure will be £21,822 million in 1997-98 and £22,276 million in 1998-99. These plans reflect the Government's commitment to strong, capable and properly resourced armed forces.
16. Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Army training regiment; and if he will make a statement. [18050]
Mr. Soames:
We envisage a continuing role for the army training regiments in providing initial training for recruits.
17. Mr. David Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to revise the vetting procedures for senior officers. [18051]
Mr. Soames:
My Department has no plans to revise the vetting procedures for senior officers.
18. Mr. Robert G. Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent measures his Department has taken to support exports by British defence companies. [18052]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
My Department's Defence Export Services Organisation continues to provide British defence exporters with the strongest possible Government support, within the framework of our defence, security and foreign policies.
11 Mar 1997 : Column: 184
19. Mr. William O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current role of Her Majesty's forces in respect of the UN presence in Cyprus. [18053]
Mr. Soames:
The United Kingdom contingent of some 388 service personnel is playing a prominent role in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus.
20. Mr. Gallie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investment he estimates will be made in upgrading Nimrod aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [18054]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
Following the announcement on 25 July last year that British Aerospace had won the competition to supply the RAF's replacement maritime patrol aircraft, a contract was signed with BAe on 2 December 1996 for 21 Nimrod 2000 aircraft and a package comprising training, logistic support and post design studies. The procurement costs are estimated to be in the order of £2 billion.
21. Sir Michael Shersby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what major equipment upgrades the RAF will be receiving over the next two years. [18055]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
Over the course of the next two years the RAF will take delivery of upgraded Tornado attack and fighter aircraft, new C-130J transport aircraft, additional Chinook helicopters and the advanced short-range air-to-air missile. These and other important programmes represent significant enhancements to the RAF's capabilities.
22. Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received recently concerning NAAFI services; and if he will make a statement. [18056]
Mr. Soames:
I have received a number of letters from NAAFI employees concerning the award of the food services contract and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence met a delegation of NAAFI employees from the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union, led by the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Mr. Hoyle).
The contract awarded to Booker Food Services Group represents best value for money for the Department. NAAFI will now concentrate on its core businesses of providing shops and clubs. Recent innovations in these areas have been very successful and have been enthusiastically accepted by the armed forces. I have every confidence that NAAFI will continue to provide a quality service for service personnel for the foreseeable future.
11 Mar 1997 : Column: 185
23. Mr. Home Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the management of low flying training in the United Kingdom. [18057]
Mr. Soames:
The management of military low flying training in the United Kingdom is kept under continuous review to ensure that the amount carried out is strictly limited to that necessary for aircrew to achieve and maintain operational effectiveness and that this essential activity is conducted as safely as possible with the minimum of disturbance to the public.
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