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DEFENCE
Equipment Sales
Mr. McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the equipment formerly used by the United Kingdom armed forces which has been sold overseas since 1995 stating in each case the date sold, the type of equipment sold and the recipient country. [15016]
Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disposal Sales Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Malcolm Westgate to Mr. John McDonnell, dated 14 November 1997:
14 Nov 1997 : Column: 687
Training and Research (Animals)
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) training and (b) research undertaken by the armed forces which involves the use of animals with in each case the (i) species, (ii) numbers and (iii) procedures concerned; and if he will make a statement. [14234]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 7 November 1997]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 14 November 1997:
I have been asked to respond to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence on animal training and research by the armed forces as the majority of this work falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
Kate Hoey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will order a fresh inquiry into the Chinook helicopter crash of 5 June 1994 at the Mull of Kintyre. [15438]
Mr. Spellar:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and my Ministerial colleagues have been fully briefed on the conduct and findings of the RAF Inquiry. We accept, as did the previous Administration, that the Inquiry had properly concluded, on all the evidence, that the pilots had broken safety rules and in that regard had been grossly negligent.
14 Nov 1997 : Column: 688
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department is playing in the New Deal for the young unemployed. [15638]
Dr. Reid:
My Department is keen to play a full part in the Government's New Deal initiative, and a number of exploratory meetings have taken place with officials from the Department for Education and Employment on how best the MOD can contribute. My Department intends to concentrate mainly on the Gateway stage of the Scheme. We are, at the same time, encouraging those who will be involved in providing training for these young people to include self-development courses and briefings on the Armed Forces.
Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to local organisations which intend to submit a bid in the CCTV challenge round planned for next year. [15757]
Mr. Michael:
We are currently considering, linked to our review of existing expenditure programmes, how to encourage the appropriate use of closed circuit television (CCTV) in the fight against crime. If we decide to run another round of the CCTV challenge competition in 1998-99, bidding guidance will be made available to interested parties. An announcement on the future of the competition will be made soon.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current manpower levels of each Welsh police force; and if he will make a statement.[15818]
Mr. Michael:
The latest date for which figures are available is 31 March 1997. The information requested is set out in the table.
DERA does not undertake any training with the armed forces which involves the use of animals. Specifically, medical officers and the other clinical staff are not trained in technical practises using live animals. The Defence Animal Centre at Melton Mowbray does, however, train animals for military duties. In the 1996/97 financial year, a total of 370 dogs were trained for search and patrol duties, and 60 horses were trained for ceremonial duties.
DERA carries out a number of research programmes involving the use of animals and aimed at providing the armed forces with safe and effective protection against specific operational hazards. During 1996, a total of 11221 animals were used. The species were: guinea pigs, hamsters, marmosets, mice, pigs, rabbits, rats, Rhesus monkeys, sheep and goats. To list all of the procedures would involve a disproportionate amount of effort.
One of these programmes involves specifically clinical staff from the armed forces. A small number of medical officers from the Defence Medical Services are seconded to CBD to work with DERA staff on research into the management of battle injury and trauma. During 1997, the species and numbers of live animals used up until the end of October in this research programme were: pigs--46; sheep--14; rabbits--8.
All work at DERA involving the use of animals is carried out strictly in accordance with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
| Police force | Number of officers at 31 March 1997 |
|---|---|
| Dyfed-Powys | (5)1,004.5 |
| Gwent | 1,243 |
| North Wales | 1,369 |
| South Wales | (5)2,975.9 |
| Total | (5)6,592.4 |
The 1994 Police and Magistrates' Courts Act made it a matter for individual chief officers and their police authorities to determine the number of police officers in their area on the basis of the resources available to them.
(5) The fractional figures account for part-timers and job shares.
Prison Workshops (Garth and Wymott)
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the future provision and administration of the prison workshops at HM prisons Garth and Wymott. [15743]
14 Nov 1997 : Column: 689
Ms Quin:
There are no plans to change the arrangements for the provision and administration of the prison workshops at Garth and Wymott. Wymott is part of the Prison Service Workshop Expansion Programme, which aims to maximise employment for prisoners, extend workshop hours and maximise the revenue from the sale of goods and services to local businesses.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new prisons are currently being planned; and if he will make a statement. [15745]
Ms Quin:
The Prison Service plan to open seven new prisons over the next three years.
Three new prisons will open by the end of February 1998. These are Her Majesty's Prison Parc in Bridgend, Her Majesty's Prison Altcourse in Liverpool and Her Majesty's Prison Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire.
A further four prisons are planned to open from mid 1999-2000. These include an 800 place multi-functional male prison at Agecroft near Salford, a 400 place male young offender institution located on the site of the former Her Majesty's Prison Pucklechurch near Bristol and a 600 place male adult training prison at Marchington near Stafford. A fourth prison, at a site to be confirmed, is planned to open in mid-2000.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which site in the Colchester area was investigated about two years ago for a new prison; and which further site is currently being assessed. [15027]
Ms Quin:
The site investigated about two years ago was the former Moler Works in the Hythe area to the south of Colchester. It was immediately rejected as unsuitable.
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