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Defence Sales
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total volume of defence industry sales in 1996; [9465]
- (2) what was the value of identified defence exports in 1996. [9406]
Mr. Spellar: In 1996-97, the MOD spent an estimated £9,052 million on equipment. It is estimated that defence exports in 1996 were in the region of £5.1 billion.
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with defence manufacturers' associations about the Government's proposed policy on defence exports; and if he will make a statement. [10639]
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Mr. Spellar:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has discussed the Government's review of the criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms with a wide range of interested parties in the course of his normal business.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to demonstrate that best value was achieved for the taxpayer through the arrangements entered into by the Ministry of Defence with the North Oxfordshire Consortium for the development and disposal of land at RAF Upper Heyford. [10331]
Mr. Spellar:
The arrangement between North Oxfordshire Consortium and my Department was formed after an extensive assessment of commercial proposals for the sustainable development of the RAF Upper Heyford site. In supporting this arrangement since 1995, the view has been taken that the arrangement with the NOC will realise the commercial and development potential of this important site while remaining sensitive and open to the concerns of the local community. We hope that this will be progressively demonstrated as individual areas are brought forward for redevelopment.
Sir George Young:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the planned replacement in the summer of River class patrol ships with Hunt class vessels in support of security operations in Northern Ireland. [10561]
Dr. Reid:
The conversion of Hunt class mine counter-measures vessels to replace the River class patrol vessels currently used in support of security operations in
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Northern Ireland was announced in the 1996 "Statement on the Defence Estimates". At the time, it was estimated that the replacement programme would begin in the summer of 1997. Since the announcement, however, it has become clear that the time scale required for the conversion programme was underestimated and the replacement of River class vessels with Hunts is now planned to commence early next year.
Sir George Young:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the British forces will have in the proposed decommissioning of arms in Northern Ireland.[10560]
Dr. Reid:
It is not possible to say at this stage what decommissioning scheme might be agreed and therefore it is not possible to identify precisely what the role of British forces might be. However, the armed forces are prepared to provide technical advice and assistance as required to the proposed independent international commission to facilitate decommissioning. Work on establishing the commission is continuing.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the joint service review of honours and awards; and if he will make a statement. [10761]
Dr. Reid:
The joint service review of honours and awards has been in being since 1992 and has been examining all aspects of awards to the armed services. To date, all the gallantry awards have been reformed and rank is now no longer a factor in deciding the level of the award.
The next stage has been the examination of the long service and efficiency awards to the regular forces and the volunteer reserves. Proposals are now at an advanced stage and recommendations will be reviewed by Ministers later this year.
Sir George Young:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the work on phase 1 of the strategic defence review will be completed; and when a decision will be taken on its publication. [10763]
Mr. George Robertson:
I shall brief the Defence Select Committee on the main policy themes underlying stage 1 of the strategic defence review, which will guide our more detailed work, when I give evidence to the Committee on 30 July. There will be an opportunity for the House as a whole to debate the policy issues immediately after the recess.
The first stage of the strategic defence review will not be published separately, but will form part of a comprehensive White Paper which will be published when the review has been completed.
Ms Julie Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 June, Official Report, column 63, which company will be undertaking the site decontamination works at the former atomic weapons establishment site at Llanishen, Cardiff. [10989]
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Mr. Spellar:
Although, invitations to bid have been issued for the decommissioning and demolition work, it is not yet possible to define the scope of work needed for decontamination. This is dependent on the land quality statement, which will be produced during the decommissioning phase. It is not expected that a decontamination contract will be let before the end of the decade.
Mr. Gerald Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of those companies and organisations which have expressed interest in acquiring the Farnborough aerodrome. [10791]
Mr. Spellar:
Five expressions of interest in acquiring Farnborough aerodrome have been received. I am withholding details of the interested parties under exemption 13 of the code of practice on access to Government information.
Mr. Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his decision on the Government's preferred bidder to acquire the Farnborough aerodrome; and if he will set out a timetable for the disposal. [10790]
Mr. Spellar:
My officials are currently considering the expressions of interest in Farnborough which have been received and I expect to have their final recommendation in the very near future. It is still our intention to identify an airfield operator in time for it to be in a position to make full representations to the Rushmore borough council local plan inquiry in spring 1998. A formal lease will not be entered into until a full Civil Aviation Authority licence and planning permission are issued. The lease will reflect the Ministry of Defence's and the airfield operator's continued commitment to the long-term future of Society of British Aerospace Company air show. The intention is for the operator to be on site and operational in time for the Society of British Aerospace Companies 2000 air show.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the strategic review of Boscombe Down airfield carried out by the Defence Evaluation and Research Organisation . [10548]
Mr. Spellar:
The strategic review of Boscombe Down airfield has recently been completed, but it contains commercial information given in confidence to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, so it would be inappropriate to place a copy in the Library of the House.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sum is allocated to maintaining the United Kingdom military contribution to IFOR in the current financial year; and what that is as a percentage of the defence budget. [10116]
Dr. Reid
[holding answer 25 July 1997]: The costs in this financial year of the UK's military contribution to the international forces in Bosnia are currently estimated to be something over £200 million. This covers the follow-on costs from the implementation force, which
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came to an end in December 1996, the UK contingent to the stabilisation force and the costs of supporting air operations. The total is the equivalent of about 1 per cent. of the defence budget.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sum is allocated to maintaining the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear settlement in the current financial year; and what it is as a percentage of the defence budget. [10157]
Dr. Reid
[holding answer 25 July 1997]: The United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent is provided by the Royal Navy's Trident fleet. The capital expenditure on Trident for the financial year 1997-98 is expected to be some £285 million, representing around 1 per cent. of the defence budget. No consolidated estimate of running costs is yet available for 1997-98, although we expect the figure to remain at about 1 per cent. of the defence budget, as in previous years.
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