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NATO (Nuclear Plans)
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if NATO's nuclear protection will extend to external threats to the new entrant countries from Eastern Europe. [3914]
Dr. Reid: The security safeguards provided by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, including the supreme guarantee of security provided by the strategic nuclear forces of the Alliance, applies to all members of NATO and will continue to do so.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish NATO's nuclear plans. [3928]
Dr. Reid: NATO's nuclear forces are not targeted at any country. It is the practice of all Allies not to reveal details of the Alliance's contingency nuclear planning. To do so would damage the Alliance's deterrence posture.
Former POWs
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of (a) the cost of reimbursing former prisoners-of-war whose salary was reduced while detained at prisoners-of-war camps and (b) the number of people entitled to such reimbursement. [3913]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Morgan) on 11 June, Official Report, column 485.
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 127
Mr. Alan Keen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his plans to provide the armed forces with a modern identification friend or foe system. [4526]
Mr. Spellar:
The UK Armed Forces are to be equipped with a new sophisticated electronic question and answer system so that they can distinguish between friendly and potentially hostile forces for the foreseeable future.
The new system, known as Successor Identification Friend or Foe (SIFF), will replace existing IFF equipments on a wide range of ships and aircraft and on certain air defence installations. It will be compatible with those of our NATO allies. As well as protecting our forces from inadvertent attack by their own side, SIFF will improve their prospects of avoiding detection by hostile units and increase their ability to detect and engage such units, thus ensuring interoperability for the foreseeable future. SIFF will also be compliant with new flight safety rules mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority for all aircraft operating in civilian controlled airspace.
Because SIFF equipment will be fitted to over 50 types of platform, the programme will require very careful planning. Following extensive studies, we have decided to invite competitive tenders for an initial integration study and planning phase, phase 1 of the programme, following which a prime contractor will be selected. The prime contractor will be responsible for the supply and installation of SIFF equipments during the implementation phase of the programme, phase 2. In parallel with this competition, contracts will be placed with the companies who are the platform design authorities to enable them to evaluate and cost the SIFF integration task. It is planned that the competitive invitation to tender for phase 1 of the programme will be issued in July. The total value of the programme phase 1 and phase 2 is estimated to be in the order of £500 million, providing substantial work for British industry.
Mr. Fallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of service men and service women normally resident in Scotland who are serving with (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force. [3200]
Mr. Spellar:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Michael Fallon, dated 17 June 1997:
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 128
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence requesting an estimate of the number of Scottish servicemen and servicewomen normally resident in Scotland who are serving with (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force. This falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of Defence Analytical Services Agency.
Unfortunately, the information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. I am sorry I could not be more helpful on this occasion.
Anti-drugs Policy
43. Mr. Rhodri Morgan: To ask the President of the Council what arrangements she has made to improve the co-ordination of anti-drugs policy. [2328]
Mrs. Ann Taylor: The Government will appoint an anti-drugs supremo to co-ordinate action against drugs across all Government Departments and key agencies. She or he will report directly to me as Chairman of the Cabinet's co-ordinating committee on drugs misuse. All relevant Departmental interests across the UK are represented on this Committee.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Staff (Telephone Calls for Members)
36. Mr. MacShane: To ask the right hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission how much time is spent by House staff answering or making external phone calls to or from hon. Members. [2321]
Mrs. Ann Taylor: Records are not kept of the time spent by staff of the House answering or making external calls to or from hon. Members.
Division Procedures (Reform)
37. Mr. Rendel: To ask the President of the Council what estimate she has made of the cost of introducing electronic voting in the House. [2322]
Mrs. Ann Taylor: I have made no such estimate although the Modernisation Committee has asked the Clerk and the Serjeant at Arms to look at both short and long term solutions.
38. Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the President of the Council what representations she has received on reform of the Division procedures in the House; and if she will make a statement. [2323]
Mrs. Ann Taylor: I have received a number of representations on this subject. Division procedures fall within the terms of reference of the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons, which may wish to look at them in due course.
Lockerbie
39. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the President of the Council if she will move to set up a Select Committee to examine the issues arising from the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [2324]
Mrs. Ann Taylor: I have no plans to do so.
Procedures and Administration (Reform)
40. Mr. Bayley: To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement about the reform of House of Commons procedures and administration. [2325]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
The Government have a clear manifesto commitment to parliamentary reform.
17 Jun 1997 : Column: 129
The Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons, which I chair, has now begun the task of considering how the practices and procedures of the House should be modernised. I hope the Committee will be able to bring forward its initial recommendations on improving the scrutiny of legislative proposals before we rise for the summer.
The administration of the House is a matter for Madam Speaker, the House of Commons Commission, the various domestic committees, and for the House Departments.
41. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has to improve the effectiveness of Select Committees. [2326]
42. Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the future of the Select Committee system. [2327]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
I hope the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons will bring forward recommendations relating to Select Committees in due course.
Mr. Mullin:
To ask the hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission what action has been taken following the incident in New Palace Yard in November in which a member of the security staff was injured; and if she will make a statement. [2752]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
The Security Officer concerned is an employee of the Metropolitan police and the matter was fully reported and investigated at the time.
I understand that there is a strong possibility of litigation following the incident. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission how many of the staff employed in the Palace of Westminster are trained in (a) basic and (b) advanced life support. [3219]
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
There are 57 members of staff employed in the Palace of Westminster trained in basic first aid. In addition to this there are 79 police officers, 99 security officers and 26 fire officers.
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