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Waste Disposal (Hurd Deep)
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the responsibilities
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 13
his Department retains for monitoring the safety of plutonium contaminated radioactive waste disposed of in the Hurd Deep. [1433]
Mr. Spellar:
My Department is not responsible for monitoring marine radioactive waste disposal sites.
Mr. Cawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of the Ministry of Defence land on which hunting of red deer currently takes place; and what plans he has to review the authorisation of that activity. [1267]
Mr. Spellar:
No licences have been issued for the hunting of Red deer on land owned by the Ministry of Defence. There are no plans to review the authorisation of that activity. Some limited culling of red deer takes place, as a part of routine management.
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of acquiring C130J transport aircraft; and if the acquisition programme has met its implementation milestones. [1335]
Mr. Spellar:
The total estimated cost of the C130J programme to the defence equipment budget is around £1.8 billion. The programme has not yet met its implementation milestones as a result of development problems and difficulties in meeting the flight test and certification objectives. These have caused a delay of about one year to initial aircraft deliveries.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he plans to hold with his Nepalese counterpart regarding pension payments to former members of the Gurkha Regiment who served in Hong Kong. [1491]
Dr. John Reid:
I currently have no plans to discuss pension payments to former members of the Gurkha Regiment who served in Hong Kong with the Government of Nepal.
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department has made to the Future Large Aircraft programme; and if he will make a statement on its commitment to purchase the FLA. [1332]
Mr. Spellar:
My Department has been closely involved in discussions with European partners on the Future Large Aircraft programme, which is a potential solution to our future air transport requirements. We are currently considering the way forward and will take a decision as soon as possible.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom jobs are currently dependent on Eurofighter; and how many he estimates there will be at the peak of production. [1020]
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 14
Mr. Spellar:
The Eurofighter development programme currently sustains about 6,000 jobs in the United Kingdom. This figure is expected to rise to about 14,000 at the peak of production.
Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total public expenditure cost to date of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European fighter aircraft project; and what is his estimate of the future cost. [1629]
Mr. Spellar:
Up to 31 March 1997 the UK's expenditure on the Eurofighter programme totalled £2.7 billion. Future UK procurement expenditure is currently estimated at £12,744 million. Figures are at average 1996-97 prices.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means his Department makes available its publications in (a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1673]
Mr. Spellar:
My Department's publications are not routinely available in alternative formats for public use, although this may be arranged on individual request. No special measures have been taken to publicise this service. Internally, we provide a range of Departmental publications in alternative formats to staff who request them. This is widely publicised in the Department's house journals etc. as part of the MOD's commitment to providing equal opportunities for blind staff or those with visual impairment.
Mr. Denzil Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the names of the political and special advisers appointed to his Department since the general election. [1628]
Mr. George Robertson:
I have appointed Mr. Alasdair McGowan as a Special Adviser.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if he will make a statement. [1674]
Mr. Spellar:
Given the nature of my Department's responsibilities I am unable to foresee a situation in which Defence Ministers would be required to frame legislative proposals which would impact significantly on disabled people. In its role as an employer of civilian staff, however, my Department aims, among other things, to tackle any environmental and attitudinal barriers which may exist in the workplace which prevent disabled staff from achieving their full potential. The Programme of Action on Disability is planned to be launched later this year.
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 15
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the National Audit Office's report on the Al Yamamah military export deal with Saudi Arabia to be published. [1694]
Mr. Spellar:
I understand that the then Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee decided that the 1992 National Audit Office Report into the Ministry of Defence's involvement in the Al-Yamamah programme should not be published as it refers to arrangements which are confidential between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive recommendations from the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency about the future of the test and firing ranges; and if he will make a statement. [973]
Mr. Spellar:
My noble colleague the Minister for Defence Procurement expects shortly to receive advice on the options for reducing the capacity of the test and evaluation land ranges managed by DERA. He will announce the decisions arising from the study as soon as possible thereafter.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will be opening the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition. [1742]
Mr. Spellar:
The Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition is normally opened by one of the Defence ministers. A decision about who will open this year's exhibition will be made nearer the time.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to ensure that his Department's computer systems are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [1239]
The Attorney-General:
The Departments for which I am responsible have conducted surveys of their computer systems for the purpose of addressing millennium compliance. Modification and testing is proceeding according to plan, with a view to ensuring compliance by the end of next year.
All new systems include millennium compliance as a standard specification in the operational requirement.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people have died intestate and had their estates transferred to the Duchy of Lancaster in each year since 1992. [1204]
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Dr. David Clark:
Figures for the years 1992 to 1994 were given to my hon. Friend in a written answer on 7 June 1995, Official Report columns 258-259. Figures for the six month period 1 October 1994 to 31 March 1995 and for the year 1995--96 are as follows.
The number of intestate estates, the value of which, after disposal of assets, was transferred to the Duchy of Lancaster and which are referred to as 'closed cases' was as follows:
The number of cases reported to the Solicitor for the affairs of the Duchy of Lancaster for the same period was:
1 October 1994 to 31 March 1995: 75.
1995-1996: 305.
The number of estates which devolved to surviving blood relatives--kin--for the same period was:
1 October 1994 to 31 March 1995: 148.
1995-1996: 405.
The six month period 1 October 1994 to 31 March 1995 was due to a change in the Duchy accounting year.
1 October 1994 to 31 March 1995: 22.
1995-1996: 73.
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