| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Trident
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the (a) running costs, (b) service life expectancy and (c) de-commissioning costs of Trident [13988]
Mr. Spellar:
Our latest estimate of the running costs of Trident remains as stated by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces in his answer of 23 June,
4 Nov 1997 : Column: 111
Official Report, column 356. As was stated, that estimate included an element for de-commissioning and disposal costs; this represented some 3 per cent. of the total. Trident is currently programmed to have an overall service life expectancy of some 30 years.
Mr. Viggers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost per unit of the Eurofighter. [13103]
Mr. Spellar:
The current estimated unit cost of Eurofighter for the UK is £40.2 million at today's prices.
Mr. Viggers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Eurofighter will enter squadron service with the Royal Air Force. [13102]
Mr. Spellar:
The first Eurofighter is scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Air Force in December 2001.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Eurofighter will enter service. [13864]
Mr. Spellar:
The first Eurofighter is scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Air Force in December 2001.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Eurofighter aircraft have been ordered by (a) the UK, (b) Germany, (c) Italy and (d) Spain; and what is each country's workshare. [13862]
Mr. Spellar:
The declared aircraft offtake requirements of the nations is: United Kingdom 232, Germany 180, Italy 121 and Spain 87 and these give workshare entitlements of, United Kingdom 37.42 per cent., Germany 29.03 per cent., Italy 19.52 per cent. and Spain 14.03 per cent.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of Eurofighter over (a) Refale, (b) Gripen (c) Mig 29. [13859]
Mr. Spellar:
Studies by the Ministry of Defence have confirmed that Eurofighter is the most cost-effective option to meet the Royal Air Force's currently assessed future needs.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimate of the cost of the Eurofighter project to each of the partners; what are the current projected costs in equivalent terms; and how much each country has already spent. [13863]
Mr. Spellar:
The Ministry of Defence does not have all the information requested in respect of our Eurofighter partners. On the basis of a requirement for 232 aircraft, the UK's estimated procurement cost for Eurofighter at the start of development in 1988 amounted to £13.2 billion at 1997 prices, and the current estimate is £15.9 billion at 1997 prices. Up to 30 September 1997 we have spent a total of £2.8 billion.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the costs to his Department of (a) research, (b) construction and (c) commissioning in respect of the European fighter aircraft. [13987]
4 Nov 1997 : Column: 112
Mr. Spellar:
The latest estimated costs to the UK of the Eurofighter programme are £4.4 billion for the full development phase, which includes the costs of earlier phases. Further, we currently estimate that it will cost £11.5 billion for the procurement of 232 aircraft. This figure includes the cost of initial support for the aircraft.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the increased defence burden and resulting financial costs placed on (a) Poland, (b) Hungary and (c) the Czech republic as a result of NATO membership. [14003]
Dr. Reid:
By joining an alliance whose essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by collective means, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic will lighten their defence burden, as no single Ally is forced to rely on its own national efforts alone in dealing with basic security challenges.
The costs of enlargement to the three invited countries will fall into two categories: the development of their ability to operate alongside other NATO countries on the full range of Alliance missions; and their contribution to NATO common-funded budgets.
The countries concerned were, in any case, intending to modernise and restructure their Armed Forces. Their contribution to NATO common-funded budgets is being discussed.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the costs of NATO expansion for Britain. [14004]
Dr. Reid:
NATO staff are currently studying the military and financial implications of enlargement, and a report will be made to NATO Ministers in December.
NATO Heads of State and Government stated in the Madrid Declaration:
That remains our assessment. If additional spending is required, Britain will pay its share.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom armed forces or Ministry of Defence personnel are involved in the servicing and maintenance of British Aerospace Hawk aircraft sold to Indonesia; and if he will make a statement. [13969]
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the criteria for selecting names for new ships of the Royal Navy. [13701]
Mr. Spellar:
Proposals for ships names for both the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are initiated by the Admiralty Ships Names and Badges Committee which takes into consideration a number of criteria, including the promotion of links with communities, the
4 Nov 1997 : Column: 113
geographical spread of names and opportunities to revive those with an honourable history. Selected names are submitted, through the Controller of the Navy and the First Sea Lord, to the Secretary of State for approval. In the case of major vessels, final approval is sought from HM The Queen.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department intends to allocate to the Defence Diversification Agency. [14202]
Mr. Spellar:
No decision on funding has yet been taken. This will depend on the outcome of the consultation period on our forthcoming Green Paper on diversification.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom naval forces are currently on station in the Gulf. [14300]
Dr. Reid:
The Royal Navy currently has a destroyer and a frigate deployed in the Arabian Gulf engaged on Armilla Patrol duties. They are ably supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of the Ministry of Defence police presence at the COPEX exhibition in 1997. [13995]
Mr. Spellar:
The cost of the Ministry of Defence Police presence at the COPEX exhibition has not yet been fully assessed. I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time taken by his Department to give full answers to letters received from hon. Members. [13947]
Mr. Spellar:
Statistics are not held in the form requested. My Department has a target of replying to letters from hon. Members within 15 working days of receipt. Since the start of the Session Ministers have replied to 65 per cent. of letters within this target and to 80 per cent. within 20 working days.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons questions were not allowed at the press conference at the Government's Royal Navy and British Army equipment exhibition in September. [13672]
Mr. Spellar:
The Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition (RNBAEE) was opened formally by my noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement on 1 September. In light of the tragic death of Diana Princess of Wales the previous day, my noble Friend decided to make only a brief opening statement.
4 Nov 1997 : Column: 114
"We are confident that, in line with the security environment of the Europe of today, Alliance costs associated with the integration of new members will be manageable and that the resources necessary to meet those costs will be provided."
Exhibition
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |