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Cod Liver Oil (Toxin Levels)

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the results of the official survey of the toxin levels in code liver oil supplements. [4992]

Mr. Rooker: The results of the MAFF survey for dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish oil dietary supplements and licensed medicines were announced on 14 May 1997 by the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Kenneth Calman. Further details are available from MAFF on request and are also on the Internet.

Rabies

Mr. Malins: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if his officials have completed the review of rabies policy options begun in October 1996; and when he expects to publish the report; [5027]

(2) when he expects to publish the Green Paper on Rabies policy reform. [5028]

Mr. Rooker: The review referred to by the hon. Member was a matter for the previous Government. However, we are reviewing whether alternatives to quarantine might give equal or better protection against rabies. We would expect to consult at some point on this, but decisions on when and how to do so have yet to be taken.

DEFENCE

Army (Buy-outs)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers bought themselves out of the Army in each year since 1992. [4861]

Dr. Reid: The number of soldiers who have bought themselves out of the Army in each year since 1992 is as follows:

Financial year	Trained soldiers outflow (premature voluntary release by purchase)	Outflow of recruits (on payment)	Total soldier outflow (on payment)
1991-92	2,465	1,118	3,583
1992-93	2,130	1,038	3,168
1993-94	1,727	797	2,524
1994-95	1,603	869	2,472
1995-96	1,410	815	2,225
1996-97	821	1,219	2,040
Total	10,156	5,856	16,012

23 Jun 1997 : Column: 356

Polygraph

Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use his Department makes of the polygraph; and if he will make a statement. [4582]

Dr. Reid: My Department does not use the polygraph and has no plans to do so.

Pay and Personnel Agency

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Pay and Personnel Agency for 1997-98. [4917]

Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of the Pay and Personnel Agency (PPA) is responsible for providing pay and personnel services for the Ministry of Defence as defined in the Agency Framework Document. During 1997-98, the PPA will be set the following challenging key performance targets:

1. (a) While making 100 per cent. of payments of pay by the due date, the number of errors not to exceed 12 per 1,000 payments of weekly industrial pay.
(b) While making 100 per cent. of payments of pay by the due date, the number of errors not to exceed six per 1,000 payments of monthly non-industrial pay.
(c) While authorising 100 per cent. of awards of pensions by the due date, the number of errors not to exceed 20 per 1,000 awards.
(d) While making 100 per cent. of payments of expenses within 10 working days of receipts, the number of errors not to exceed 15 per 1,000 payments.
(e) To pay 100 per cent. of claims for fees and personal payments within nine working days of receipt.
2. By 31 August 1997 to introduce methods of measuring how well its services meet the customers' needs, building on the findings of the customer satisfaction study report completed in December 1996.
3. By 31 March 1998 to achieve efficiency savings to meet at least the Departmental target of 2 per cent. efficiency savings of annual operating costs.
4. To publish by 31 March 1998 a business case setting out the options available from potential private sector partners, in comparison with the cost of providing services from agency resources.
5. By 31 March 1998 to introduce a new personnel information system.

Prince Consort Library, Aldershot

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Prince Consort Library in the Aldershot Garrison and its contents. [4616]

Dr. Reid [holding reply Friday 20 June 1997]: My Department is currently considering a number of options for the co-location within the United Kingdom of the Army Command Libraries, including the Prince Consort's Library at Aldershot. No decision has yet been taken.

US Nuclear Bases

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the costs to public funds of cleaning up the former United States nuclear bases; what is his estimate of the costs to the US authorities of thee operations; and if he will make a statement. [4407]

23 Jun 1997 : Column: 357

Mr. Spellar: Remediation will normally be undertaken on MoD land if there is a significant risk to health and safety or the environment, for instance where contamination poses a threat to individuals, water courses or neighbouring property. No special arrangements apply to bases formerly occupied by US forces. No significant costs incurred to date on their remediation have been identified. The Environment Act 1995 may impose additional remediation responsibilities on landowners and new enforcement arrangements, but the full implications for MoD land, including any formerly occupied by US forces, cannot yet be assessed.

Training Land

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the number of landowners making their land available for training on private land and (b) the number of hectares they make available, adjacent to (i) Salisbury Plain training area, (ii) Otterburn training area and (iii) Sennybridge training area; and by what percentage training land is extended by the availability of training on private land in each of the three areas. [4750]

Mr. Spellar: The type of training undertaken on private land will usually differ from that conducted on MoD training areas: for example, training on Salisbury Plain training area is primarily armoured training whereas that on adjacent private land will not involve armoured vehicles. Training on private land cannot therefore be regarded as a simple extension of training on adjacent MoD land. The quantity and locations of training on private land will also vary from year to year. Subject to these qualifications, in the past 12 months, the figures requested have been as follows:

a. Number of landowners making their land available:
(i) Areas adjacent to Salisbury Plain training area (SPTA): 77
(ii) Areas adjacent to Otterburn training area (OTA): 21
(iii) Areas adjacent to Sennybridge training area (SENTA): 2
b. Numbers of hectares made available:
(i) Areas adjacent to Salisbury Plain training areas (SPTA): 10,000ha approximately
(ii) Areas adjacent to Otterburn training areas (OTA): 675ha approximately
(iii) Areas adjacent to Sennybridge training area (SENTA): 3ha approximately
c. Private land made available as a percentage of adjacent MoD training land:
(i) Areas adjacent to Salisbury Plain training areas (SPTA): 25 per cent. of SPTA
(ii) Areas adjacent to Otterburn training area (OTA): 2.9 per cent. of OTA
(iii) Areas adjacent to Sennybridge training area (SENTA): less than 0.1 per cent. of SENTA
Note: Private land adjacent to SENTA has been used for access only rather than manoeuvres.

Diversification Agency

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department is taking to establish a defence diversification agency; and if he will make a statement. [4754]

Mr. Spellar: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon), Official Report, 16 June, col. 11.

23 Jun 1997 : Column: 358

Expenditure

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the estimates for defence expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [4756]

Dr. Reid: Estimates of defence expenditure in the current financial year are contained in "Supply Estimates 1997-98: Main Estimates", which were published in March this year. As I explained in my written reply to the hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife, (Mr. Campbell) on 3 June, Official Report, column 121), we do not intend this year to publish a forward looking statement of policy in the form of a Statement on the Defence Estimates (SDE). Factual material on the activities of my Department and the Armed Forces in the last year, which is usually contained in the SDE, will however, appear in an expanded MOD Performance Report which the Department plans to publish in the Autumn.

European Fighter Aircraft

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the total cost of the European fighter aircraft project; and what proportion of these costs will be borne by the United Kingdom. [4405]

Mr. Spellar: The estimated procurement cost of the Eurofighter projet is £41.6 billion. As I told my right hon. Friend the Member for Llanelli (Mr. Davies) on 2 June, Official Report, column 14, 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 £12.7 billion. Figures are at average 1996-97 prices.

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