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Zaire (Exports)
Mr. Goggins: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the export credit guarantees given by the British Government to private companies in order to promote exports to Zaire since 1967. [2572]
Mr. Ian McCartney [holding answer 11 June 1997]: Apart from a specific project during the 1980's with an insured value of £29.7 million, cover has not been available from ECGD for exports to Zaire since early 1975.
However, between 1967-75 and the specific project in the 1980's, the number of different companies involved means that it is not practicable or cost-effective to provide detailed information by company.
DEFENCE
Jamaica, Trinidad and Belize
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department currently provides to the Governments of (i) Jamaica, (ii) Trinidad and (iii) Belize; and what assistance he is proposing to provide in each case over the next three years. [3043]
Dr. Reid:
Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Belize all benefit from training in the UK subsidised either by the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices's United Kingdom Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS) or by my Department's Defence Military Assistance Fund. In addition, an exercise which provides training for the Jamaican Defence Force takes place in Jamaica and the UK each year. Exercises also take place from time to time in Trinidad and Tobago. Loan Service Personnel are currently based in Belize and visits by Short Term Training Teams also take place. No firm decisions have been taken beyond the current year, but we would expect assistance to continue to be provided to all three countries.
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 124
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which sites under the ownership of his Department are currently in the process of disposal; and to what extent environmental, social and community factors have been taken into account in respect of each disposal. [3280]
Mr. Spellar:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Estate Organisation. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from B. L. Hirst to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 17 June 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Ministry of Defence sites currently in disposal as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Estate Organisation.
Mr. Fallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of Scottish service personnel whose last address was in Scotland and who are currently serving elsewhere in the United Kingdom. [3198]
Mr. Spellar:
The information held on this subject is limited. For the Army and RAF, it is estimated that there are 961 personnel who were born in Scotland, whose previous Service address was in Scotland and who are currently serving elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Information on Navy personnel is not held in a form which enables an estimate to be made.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military threats the possession of Eurofighter aircraft is designed to combat; and what other options his Department has considered for these purposes. [3631]
Mr. Spellar:
In an uncertain world where we face a variety of risks to British interests and where highly sophisticated combat aircraft are widely available, we need the flexible multi-role capability that Eurofighter will provide. Eurofighter will be able to contribute both to achieving air superiority and to ground attack operations. The need for both these capabilities has been demonstrated by recent operations in the Gulf and Bosnia.
The alternative aircraft considered were the F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, Rafale and Gripen.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average rent being paid for empty homes under the leaseback arrangement with Annington Homes in Birmingham and the west midlands. [3646]
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 125
Mr. Spellar:
The average annual rent being paid to Annington Homes for homes in Birmingham is £5,100 and in the west midlands is £4,890.
Dr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the addresses of empty MOD homes in (a) Birmingham and (b) west midlands county, and the length of time each has been empty. [3645]
Mr. Spellar:
My Department owns eight properties with a postal address of Birmingham, of which four are currently empty. In addition there are 43 other properties with a west midlands address (excluding Birmingham) of which 20 are currently empty. It is our practice not to give the addresses of individual properties for security reasons.
The longest time any one of these houses has been empty is 17 months, but the average is six to seven months.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Land Rover patrol vehicles purchased for use by Britain's armed forces; how many were provided with general purpose machine guns and 40 millimetre grenade launchers; and who supplied these weapons. [3591]
Mr. Spellar:
Thirty-nine Land Rover patrol vehicles were purchased in 1985. All the vehicles are equipped with the mounting to fit either the general purpose machine gun (GPMG) or 40mm Grenade launchers. The GPMG was purchased from Royal Ordnance--then Royal Ordnance Factory--Enfield in the 1960s and 1970s and the 40mm Grenade launcher was purchased from Sidem (UK) Ltd. in 1990.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines exist concerning the provision by (a) serving and (b) former armed forces personnel of military, police, security services and equipment to other countries; and what assessment he has made of these guidelines. [3686]
Mr. Spellar:
All armed forces personnel are subject to Queen's Regulations, lifelong duties under the Official Secrets Act 1989 and, where applicable, individual operating instructions for specific tasks. Additionally, personnel serving under the operational or administrative command of the Director Special Forces are required to sign a confidentiality contract.
Former armed forces personnel are subject to the Official Secrets Act and under Queen's Regulations all Service officers must obtain the approval of the Ministry of Defence before accepting, within two years of leaving the Service, an offer of employment or a consultancy with a defence contractor or foreign government.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the minutes of meetings and other documents relating to meetings between his Department's Defence Export Services Organisation personnel and officials of (a) Procurement Services International and (b) Greys Defence Systems Ltd. [3685]
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 126
Mr. Spellar:
The Defence Export Services Organisation's mission is to provide British defence exporters with the strongest possible Government support within the framework of the defence, security and foreign policies of the Government of the day. As with many other companies, DESO has had regular contact with the Greys Group, which includes both Procurement Services International and Greys Defence Systems Ltd. Details of meetings between DESO and its customers cannot be released due to their commercial confidentiality.
I am withholding the information requested under exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Letwin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if (a) the Royal Ordnance Factories and (b) other United Kingdom defence manufacturers are currently producing equipment designed for, or that could be used for, the application of electric shocks to individuals under interrogation in foreign countries; and if such equipment will receive an export licence. [2294]
There are approximately 400 sites currently in disposal, ranging in size from individual garages to complete RAF stations. Although the circumstances of each disposal are different, we always endeavour to address the environmental, social and community factors associated with the disposals, particularly through the local planning process.
If your are concerned with a particular site or sites in disposal, I would be happy to provide you with the specific details of the case.
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