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Offset Obligations
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what offset obligations have been made over the last 10 years by (a) year and (b) company; how compliance with them has been monitored; and what proportion of the obligations have been fulfilled to date.[8665]
Mr. Spellar: Over the past ten years, 42 industrial participation agreements have been recorded as follows:
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Companies with industrial participation obligations are required every six months to reports detailing the work placed in the UK. A 100 per cent. audit of these reports is carried out to ensure that obligations are fully met.
To date, 11 of the agreements have been concluded successfully. Those remaining are the more recent ones and they are on course for successful completion.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 June, Official Report, columns 87-88, in which years students from Libya attended military training courses in the United Kingdom; how many students were involved; and what were their ranks and the subject matter of their courses.[8767]
Dr Reid:
Further examination of Departmental records indicates that no training has been provided to Libya in the past ten years. Both Libya and Iran were regrettably included in error in my previous answer of 16 June, Official Report, columns 87-88, as both countries had requested training which was not in fact provided. I am grateful to the hon. Member for providing this opportunity to set the record straight.
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Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spends on biking press releases to (a) hon. Members and (b) other individuals or groups, each time his Department issues a press release; how many such press releases were issued by his Department (i) in the period 1 May to 1 July and (ii) in the period 1 January to 1 March; and if he will review his Department's use of couriers to deliver press releases and investigate the possibility of using fax or e-mail. [8822]
Mr. Spellar:
Delivery of Press Notices to hon. Members and to the media is undertaken on our behalf via the Central Office of Information's News Distribution Service (NDS). My Department issued 27 press releases during the period 1 May to 1 July 1997, and 13 during the period 1 January to 1 March 1997.
NDS's delivery mechanisms include a newswire service which, among others, supplies press releases to the Parliamentary Online Information Service (POLIS), hand deliveries, fax and postal deliveries, online databases, and a widely accessed Web site on the Internet.
The mechanisms employed are used either singly or in combination to reach target audiences in the most cost-effective way, and to suit the nature of the documents.
My Department and the COI keep a watching brief on new developments to ensure the most cost-effective delivery mechanisms are used.
Mr. Alasdair Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the recovery and clean-up operation following the recent crash of a Harrier jet near Gelston, Kirkcudbrightshire. [8716]
Mr. Spellar:
The extra costs incurred by my Department in recovering the aircraft and during the environmental clean-up operation are estimated to be in the order of £53,000. This figure does not include the cost of any claims received as a result of the accident.
Mr. Alasdair Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the avoidance sites for operational low flying in Low Flying Area 20T which lie within the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency;[8718]
Mr. Spellar:
No. The Government has to strike a balance between providing information on how the UK Low Flying System operates and retaining the freedom to manage an essentially dynamic system efficiently. I am therefore withholding the information requested under exemption 7b of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
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Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to give a further 21-year assurance to United States forces at Royal Air Force Menwith Hill in respect of site availability. [9130]
Dr. Reid:
The US authorities have not sought any renewal of the previous assurances. Their use of the site continues under general arrangements between the two Governments concerning the stationing of forces.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date in 1997 the assurance given in 1976 to United States forces in respect of the making available of Royal Air Force Menwith Hill to United States forces expires. [9131]
Dr. Reid:
The assurance, which was given in order to facilitate US funding commitments, covered the period up to 30 May 1997. It was not, nor was it ever envisaged to be, any form of renewable lease.
Ms Julie Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 June, Official Report, column 63, relating to the Atomic Weapons Establishment site at Llanishen, how long he estimates it will take to decontaminate the site. [9111]
Mr. Spellar:
It is never possible at the outset of such a process to give a reliable estimate of how long it will take, because the extent of decontamination work must depend upon precisely what is encountered. During the process of decommissioning and decontaminating the Llanishen site, Land Quality Statements will be produced which will determine what measures are required to render the site fit for subsequent use. Given these circumstances we would not expect the process to be completed in less than five years.
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what representations he has received about the commission to be paid to Mr. Mark McCormack in connection with the Millennium Experience. [6464]
Mr. Mandelson:
I have received a number of representations following reports in the press that International Management Group's commission for raising sponsorship of £150 million would be in the order of £27 to £30 million. In fact, if IMG reach the target set by the New Millennium Experience Company, they will receive in the order of £9 million, a substantial discount on their normal commission.
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what estimate he has made of the cost of tickets for the Millennium Experience. [6467]
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much visitors will be charged to attend the Greenwich Exhibition. [8022]
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Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company have advised that it is too early to produce a detailed ticketing structure for an event taking place in the year 2000. However, they have clearly stated that the price will be competitive in relation to other comparable attractions.
Ms Roseanna Cunningham:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will set out the remit and the salary and bonuses package of the right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine) with regard to the promotion of the Millennium Dome project. [6128]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 3 July 1997]: The right hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Heseltine) is a member of the Millennium Commission. None of the Commissioners received remuneration for their position, other than out-of-pocket expenses.
Ms Cunningham:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio how many staff are involved in the Millennium Dome project; and what are the (i) designation and (ii) salary and bonuses of the principal staff involved in the project. [6131]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 3 July 1997]: The New Millennium Experience Company--the operating company for the Millennium Experience at Greenwich--currently has 40 staff, ranging from the Chief Executive through to IT and administrative staff. The details of senior staff remuneration packages will be published in the accounts of the New Millennium Experience Company in the usual way.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio (1) what is the total budget for the Greenwich Exhibition;[8023]
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what estimate he has made of the commission to be paid to Mr. Mark McCormack in connection with the Millennium Experience. [6465]
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what estimate he has made of the total cost of Millennium Experience; and if he will indicate the sources from which the money is to be raised. [6475]
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if payments to Mark McCormack in respect of the Millennium Experience will be in ratio to the amount of sponsorship raised if this sum fails to reach £150 million.[6904]
Mr. Mandelson:
I refer my hon. Friend, the right hon. Member and hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham) today.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is the maximum amount of public money not including that from national lottery sources that will be deployed on the Millennium Experience. [6899]
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much public money the Government intends to spend on the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich. [8031]
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Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 7 July 1997]: The only taxpayers' money to be spent on the Millennium Experience is that which is already committed to English Partnerships to prepare the site. The total budget to prepare the site is £130 million. All other public support will come from the Lottery.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what advice he has sought from the London Fire Brigade in respect of the materials identified for construction of the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement.[6905]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 7 July 1997]: The New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. have worked closely with the London Fire Brigade to ensure that the design and construction of the Dome is safe and they will continue to do so. The first priority of all those involved in the Millennium Experience must be to ensure public safety.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much money Lord Rogers is being paid for his work on the dome at Greenwich. [8033]
Mr. Mandelson:
This is commercially confidential information. The New Millennium Experience Company will publish full accounts in due course.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what companies are planning to stage displays in the dome at Greenwich. [8025]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience at Greenwich will not be a trade show. Sponsorship arrangements will be announced in due course.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio how many jobs will be created in the course of building the dome at Greenwich. [8029]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience is expected to create 2,000 new jobs during the construction, and a further 5,000 during the life of the project.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much money the Millennium Commission needs to raise from the private sector to help stage the exhibition at Greenwich. [8030]
Mr. Mandelson:
This is the responsibility of the New Millennium Experience Company. NMEC aims to raise £175 million from the private sector in sponsorship.
Mr. Nicholls:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much public money to date has been spent on the Millennium exhibition at Greenwich. [8044]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: The only taxpayers' money to be spent on the project is that which is already committed to English Partnerships to prepare the site for regeneration. To date £44 million has been spent on the site.
Mr. Nicholls:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on the demonstrations and displays that will be held inside the dome at Greenwich.[8045]
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Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: It is our aim to make the contents of the Dome a truly exciting experience, appealing to all sections of the UK population as well as to visitors from overseas. The New Millennium Experience Company--the operating company for the Greenwich project--is putting together a first class creative team. Their ideas will crystallise over the coming months.
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio when he expects to reply to the question from the hon. Member for Hertsmere of 2 July, relating to the Millennium Experience. [9017]
Mr. Mandelson:
I have replied to three of the hon. Member's questions today. The one question still outstanding will be answered as soon as possible.
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio who the shareholders are in the company established in respect of the Millennium Experience. [9311]
Mr. Mandelson:
I am sole shareholder in the New Millennium Experience Company.
(2) if he will list the avoidance sites for low flying in Low Flying Area 16 which lie within the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency. [8719]
(2) how much of the Greenwich Exhibition's budget will be financed through national lottery money; how much will be raised through corporate sponsorship; and how much will be generated through ticket sales. [8024]
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