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Beef

Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy purchase British beef for consumption by service personnel stationed in the United Kingdom; and what are the countries of origin of beef purchased by each of the services from overseas. [5989]

Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Naval Bases and Supply Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

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Letter from J. A. Trewby to Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones, dated 30 June 1997:

The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Question about the supply of beef to the Armed Forces stationed in the United Kingdom.
The task of procuring food for the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy is contracted to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI). We do not specify the source of origin from which NAAFI should obtain beef (or any other meat), but expect them to seek the best market price for the product. British meat products are considered equally with all others available on the open market. A range of products including sirloin, forerib, minced and diced beef are normally sourced in the UK. However the Armed Forces' requirement is mainly for frozen products and the majority of beef joints are sourced, on cost grounds, from Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia.

Lockerbie

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay the exclusion of representatives of the UK Lockerbie Families group from the explosives test at Bruntinghthorpe aerodrome on 17 May. [4498]

Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Tam Dalyell, dated 30 June 1997:

I have been asked to reply to your question about the exclusion of representatives of the UK Lockerbie Families group from the recent explosive tests at Bruntingthorpe since, as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which undertook the tests, this matter is my responsibility.
The research being carried out by DERA is on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is aimed at exploring what physical effects would result from an explosion in an aircraft at altitude and subsequently what measures might be introduced to contain those effects and limit the structural damage to the aircraft. It was those measures that were being tested in the trial.
Although the media were allowed to cover the event, both DERA and its customers were concerned to ensure that the trial was reported factually as part of a disciplined and ongoing programme of scientific work. To that end DERA agreed to requests from its customers to make it a condition of entry to the site by media crews that they should not be accompanied by other parties who might seek to broaden the coverage into areas not directly concerned with the trial itself. This condition was enforced rigidly and therefore included representatives of the UK Lockerbie Families group. In fact, before the event, several television companies requested that Dr Jim Swire of the 'UK Families-Flight 103' group be allowed to accompany them to watch the trial and were informed that this would not be possible.
The position taken over the trial does not indicate any lack of compassion for the victims and families involved in the Lockerbie disaster. Indeed it is precisely the scale of that tragedy that has prompted the research programme which culminated in the trial at Bruntingthorpe and which, we hope, will eventually bring real benefit to aircraft safety.

Combined Cadet Forces

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amount of money received by each (a) state and (b) independent school in support of combined cadet force activities in each year from 1994-95 to 1997-98. [6074]

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Dr. Reid: The Ministry of Defence support to the combined cadet force is principally through access to service facilities and instructors. However, some money is made available to schools with CCFs to defray expenses incurred during cadet activities, and for administration.

This takes the form of an Annual Establishment Grant, calculated on the following basis. The rates given are for 1997-98

A flat rate of £252 per contingent.
A grant of £17.57 for each of the first 40 cadets in each Service section.
A grant of £12.32 for each subsequent cadet in each Service section.
An additional grant of £4.90 for each cadet in an Army section.

The allocation is based on the number of cadets on the strength of the contingent at 1 April each year.

I am placing a detailed list of the amount of money received by each school in support of combined cadet force activities in each year from 1994-95 to 1997-98 in the Library of the House.

Plastic Baton Guns

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines for the use of plastic bullets. [6110]

Dr. Reid: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who authorises the use of plastic baton rounds by the Army in Northern Ireland. [6111]

Dr. Reid: Normally the use of plastic baton rounds must be authorised by a commander not below the rank of sergeant.

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Heckler and Koch baton gun (Model L104A1) was introduced for use in Northern Ireland. [6108]

Dr. Reid: The Heckler and Koch baton gun (Model L104A1) was introduced for use in Northern Ireland on 1 June 1994.

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who is responsible for testing the accuracy of the plastic baton rounds used by the RUC and the Army in Northern Ireland. [6109]

(2) who is responsible for testing the accuracy of plastic baton rounds fired by the RUC and the Army in Northern Ireland. [6105]

Mr. Spellar: The baton gun manufacturer was responsible for testing the accuracy of all guns as a part of the manufacturer's acceptance test. The user of the gun is responsible for maintaining its accuracy during training.

The baton round manufacturer is responsible for testing all batches of baton rounds at the time of manufacture, including accuracy firings, to enable the Ministry of Defence to accept them against the proof specification.

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances routine Army foot patrols in Northern Ireland carry plastic baton guns. [6113]

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Dr. Reid: All routine Army foot patrols in Northern Ireland carry plastic baton guns.

Expenditure

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the relationship between the strategic defence review and the fundamental expenditure review. [5259]

Dr. Reid: There will be one coherent review of defence. The strategic defence review will be the Ministry of Defence's contribution to the comprehensive spending review. It is envisaged that work on the strategic defence review will be completed around the turn of the year.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the present (i) land owning and (ii) leasing arrangements between his Department, AWE and Hunting and Brae in respect of the former AWE site at Llanishen, Cardiff; what proposals he has to (a) decontaminate and (b) redevelop the site; and what consultation he will undertake with the local authority, other agencies and local residents on these proposals. [5499]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 26 June 1997]: The land which forms the AWE sites is owned by the MOD. There are no land owning or leasing arrangements between MOD, AWE plc. and the present operating contractor Hunting-BRAE. The operating contractor's use of the sites is licensed under the term contract between MOD and the company.

The Cardiff site closed on 28 February 1997, and the process to decommission the facilities has started. There will also be a complementary site decontamination process. All work will be undertaken in a careful and progressive manner, in conformity with all relevant guidelines and legislation and the requirements of the regulatory bodies. The MOD has consulted the local authorities as necessary. The local liaison committee was also kept fully informed of the MOD's plans to close the site. The whole process will take a number of years, following which we intend to dispose of the site.

Equipment Exhibition, Farnborough

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will invite hon. Members to attend the forthcoming Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition at Farnborough. [5694]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 27 June 1997]: Invitations to RNBAEE are extended to members of the Defence Select Committee, the Trade and Industry Select Committee, and the All Party Defence Study Group. Exhibitors are also free to invite individual hon. Members. While a blanket invitation is not normally extended to all hon. Members, the Government would be willing to host any Members who express a firm interest in attending.

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