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Search and Rescue Helicopters
33. Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Defence Review will include examination of the provision of search and rescue helicopters around the United Kingdom. [2074]
Mr. Spellar: The Strategic Defence Review will decide how our Armed Forces should be structured, equipped and deployed to meet our national interests and commitments. The primary role of our search and rescue helicopters in peacetime is to provide cover for military exercises and training flights, although in a secondary role they also make a significant contribution to civil search and rescue.
Trident
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to modify the existing policy on numbers of Trident missile warheads. [1979]
Dr. Reid: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 11 June 1997, Official Report, column 486.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military threats nuclear warheads on Trident submarines are designed to combat; and what is the minimum number of vessels needed for these purposes. [3630]
Dr. Reid:
Our nuclear deterrent forces ensure that the United Kingdom is safe from any threat of nuclear coercion and contribute to the Alliance's policy of war prevention. The Government are committed to the fourth Trident submarine and will maintain strong defences while pressing for multilateral negotiations towards mutual, balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons.
16 Jun 1997 : Column: 81
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of his special advisers, and those of his Ministers, stating their qualifications relating to those appointments. [1978]
Mr. George Robertson:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 6 June, Official Report, column 255.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the number and proportion of MOD homes currently vacant; what are the reasons for them being empty; what were the equivalent figures a year ago; and how many homes have been empty for more than 12 months. [3644]
Mr. Spellar:
As at 31 March 1997, the most recent date for which figures are available, the Ministry of Defence held a stock of 65,800 Service families quarters in Great Britain of which 13,142 were empty. Directly comparable figures for March 1996 are not available due to the transfer of responsibility for reporting for properties in Great Britain from the individual Services to the Defence Housing Executive at which time the format changed. However, equivalent figures are available for June 1996 and these are as given.
| March 1997 | June 1996 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total stock | 65,800 | 69,348 |
| Number empty | 13,142 | 13,149 |
| Reasons: | ||
| Identified for disposal | 1,755 | 3,629 |
| Allocated to incoming families | 3,364 | 3,535 |
| Awaiting major works | 2,533 | 1,923 |
| Temporarily surplus, seeking lease out agreement | 633 | 459 |
| On military base (not available to dispose of or lease out due to security constraints) | 1,117 | 828 |
| Remainder empty and under review | 3,740 | 2,775 |
It is not possible to identify how many of the properties currently empty have been empty for more than 12 months as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Select Committee on Defence
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, as part of the strategic defence review, he will authorise civilian and military personnel in his Department to discuss policy options with the Select Committee on Defence. [1993]
Mr. George Robertson:
We will be involving the Select Committee on Defence in the Strategic Defence Review. Evidence given by officials in this context will of course comply with the guidance contained in Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees issued by the Cabinet Office in January this year. A copy of the document is in the Library of the House.
16 Jun 1997 : Column: 82
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to establish an arms diversification agency within his Department. [1992]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon).
Mr. John Cryer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to make a statement on the creation of a defence diversification agency. [1915]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon).
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on introducing trade union representation into the Armed Forces. [1994]
Dr. Reid:
Because of the special nature of Service life, it is my Department's policy not to have a Service union or federation for Service personnel. However, the Ministry of Defence does have agreements with a number of major unions and concessions with professional associations whereby Service personnel may be recognised as eligible for membership. We have no plans at present to change this system.
Service pay and allowances, and the charges related to services provided, are governed by an independent Pay Review Body. In addition, Service personnel have statutory redress of complaint procedures under which they have the right to submit a complaint to the Defence Council. The details of these procedures are kept under review.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to rationalise the command and control of attack and support helicopters under one service. [1976]
Dr. Reid:
The Government have no plans to rationalise the command and control of attack and support helicopters under one Service. Should there be any changes arising from the Strategic Defence Review, they will be announced when the Review is complete.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department intends to publish the present year's Statement on Defence Estimates. [1977]
Dr. Reid:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 3 June 1997, Official Report, column 121. I am also aware that since placing this question the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk has written to the Secretary of State on this subject and I shall be responding to him.
16 Jun 1997 : Column: 83
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the warning time required for the United Kingdom to rearm in the event of a major threat. [1980]
Dr. Reid:
Warning times for conflict are kept under continuous review. We currently assess the warning time for the re-emergence of a major threat of general war proportions to be measured in years; and the trend in this respect is towards longer warning times.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he intends to visit the Joint Rapid Deployment Force; [1981]
(3) when he intends to visit the permanent joint headquarters at Northwood; [1984]
(4) when he intends to visit 1 (UK) Armoured Division;[1985]
(5) when he intends to visit HMS Illustrious. [1987]
Mr. George Robertson:
I place a very high priority on visits to MOD establishments and to the three Services. I have recently visited the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland and Bosnia and plan to make a number of other visits in the coming weeks.
Mr. Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to visit DML Plymouth [1983]
Mr. Robertson:
I have no plans at present to visit DML at Plymouth.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his Department's criteria for the allocation of married quarters to service personnel. [1986]
Dr. Reid:
Services Families Accommodation, either in the form of married quarters or property rented from the private sector is provided for occupation by Service personnel with their families subject to the following criteria:
(2) when he intends to visit the RAF strike command at High Wycombe; [1982]
(a) Service personnel must be aged 18 or over, have completed their initial training and be serving on a regular engagement with the UK Armed Forces, or be Full Commitment Reserves;
(b) They must be married or, if divorced, have a requirement to provide a home for dependent children;
(c) They must have at least 6 months to serve at the station where they qualify for the married quarter;
(d) The allocation of married quarters to officers is currently based on rank and that for other ranks on family size.
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