27 Nov 1997 : Column: 601
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 27 November 1997
DEFENCE
Military Personnel
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel have left the Army since 1 May; how many have been recruited since that date; and how many vacancies existed at the end of October. [16926]
Dr. Reid: A total of around 5,000 personnel left the Army between 1 May and 1 October 1997. More than 6,000 personnel entered the Army from civilian life during the same period. At 1 October the Army was undermanned by around 4,500 trained personnel. The figures to 1 October are provisional, and include trained Gurkha personnel but exclude the Royal Irish (Home Service). The figures to the end of October 1997 are not yet available.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research projects have been commissioned by his Department in each year from 1987 to date concerning the genetic modification of (a) organisms and (b) micro-organisms. [17736]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 25 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 the hon. Member.
Letter from J. Chisholm to Mr. Paul Tyler, dated 27 November 1997:
I have been asked to reply to your question about research projects concerned with the genetic modification of organisms and micro-organisms as most work of this nature is carried out for the Ministry of Defence by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
The genetic modification work undertaken at DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) at Porton Down is all concerned with micro-organisms. None of the work is concerned with the genetic modification of higher organisms.
Health and Safety legislation requires that all projects involving genetic manipulation in the UK must be approved by local Genetic Manipulation Safety Committees (GMSC). The GMSC at CBD has approved the following experiments per year since 1987.
| Year | Number of projects |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1988 | 11 |
| 1989 | 19 |
| 1990 | 8 |
| 1991 | 12 |
| 1992 | 19 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1994 | 13 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 1997 (to 18 November 1997) | 14 |
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All these projects are part of an overall defensive research programme to provide safe and effective protection for the UK Armed Forces in the event of chemical or biological attack.
It would not be in the national interest for me to give details of these projects.
I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.
Foxes (MOD Estate)
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the number of foxes on his Department's estate in each of the past five years. [18033]
Mr. Spellar: No estimates have been made of the numbers of foxes on the Defence Estate.
Buildings and Installations (Servicing)
Mr. McWilliam: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list each civilian company and subsidiary employed by his Department to service Ministry of Defence installations and buildings, indicating the functions they carry out; [17864]
- (2) if he will list by company the cost to public funds to date in payments to each company contracted to service MOD buildings and installations. [17863]
Mr. Spellar: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
University Air Squadrons
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that (a) cadets learning to fly through the university air squadrons and (b) those taking air experience flights will be trained in British-built aircraft. [18059]
Dr. Reid: A final decision has still to be taken on the contract to provide the University Air Squadron and Air Cadet Air Experience Flight flying requirements. A UK-manufactured aircraft is one of the options being considered. All factors will be taken into account in reaching a decision on which options offers best operational performance and best overall value for money.
Fox Hunting
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1997, Official Report, column 393, if he will discuss with the Masters of Foxhounds Association his Department's interpretation of the MFHA's press release of 8 August in respect of the practice of digging out foxes on the estate; and if he will make a statement. [17954]
Mr. Spellar:
My Department's position on the practice of digging out is clear: it will be neither requested nor permitted on the defence Estate.
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Mr. McWilliam:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who was responsible for the Union Flag flown above Whitehall main building on Remembrance Sunday. [17865]
Mr. Spellar:
Under the terms of their contract, day to day responsibility for ensuring that flags on MoD Main Building, Whitehall, are maintained in good condition, regularly washed and flown correctly at the appropriate times lies with Building and Property Defence Limited. Under new arrangements instituted since Remembrance Sunday, visual checks carried out by Departmental staff will ensure that correct procedures are followed.
President of the Board of Trade
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Prime Minister if he gave permission for the President of the Board of Trade not to attend oral questions on 20 November. [17556]
The Prime Minister: I gave my permission for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to be overseas on 20 November.
Ministerial Interests
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the issues and companies which each Minister is unable to handle in order to avoid a conflict of interst. [17557]
The Prime Minister: No. Ministers are required to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between their public duties and their private interests. There is no static list of issues or companies. Ministers are asked to remain alert to the possibility of conflicts of interests when dealing with Government business.
Mr. Rupert Murdoch
Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the issues of public policy which he discussed with Mr. Rupert Murdoch during their meeting on 13 November. [17655]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 25 November 1997]: We discussed a range of issues.
Political Donations
Mr. Maples: To ask the Prime Minister when he became aware of the possible conflict of interest arising from a second donation on behalf of Mr. Bernie Ecclestone. [17943]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the oral answer I gave in the House on 12 November 1997, Official Report, columns 898-99.
Diabetics
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 19 November 1997, Official Report, column 325, what scientific advice the Government received recommending driving licence restrictions on insulin-dependent diabetics; and if he will publish that advice. [17610]
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The Prime Minister
[holding answer 26 November 1997]: As I told the hon. Gentleman in my earlier reply, the Government receives advice from the Honorary Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes, one of a number of such panels comprising experts in their field. At a recent meeting they confirmed that in their view there was no new evidence to support a change in the policy with regard to granting licences to drive the heavier vehicles to diabetes sufferers treated by insulin. Their advice draws on their experience and assessment of the scientific literature. There is therefore no scientific advice as such from the Panel which could be published.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Prime Minister if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that (a) all visits undertaken by Ministers in connection with their duties be notified, reasonably in advance, to the hon. Member of the area visited and (b) that hon. Member is permitted to participate in the visit. [17843]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 26 November 1997]: I set out guidance to my Ministerial colleagues on these matters in paragraph 79 of the Ministerial Code, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House in July.
Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government Information Service.[18408]
The Prime Minister:
I am today placing in the Library of the House the Report of a Working Group on the Government Information Service. The Report is about modernising the Government's communications with the media to make them more effective and authoritative--an integral part of a democratic Government's duty to govern with consent. Its main proposals are:
I have accepted the recommendations of the Report. The costs of the two new Units will be contained within the Department's running costs. Together, these proposals will produce a service, renamed the Government Information Service and Communication Service, which is fit for its purpose and fit for the future.
27 Nov 1997 : Column: 605
to improve co-ordination with and from the centre, so as to get across consistently the Government's key policy themes and messages, through a new strategic communications unit serving the whole Government; a reformed Cab-E-Net system; and clearer rules on attribution;
to improve co-ordination within each Government Department so that Ministers, their special advisers, their press offices and their policy civil servants all play their part in the coherent formulation and communication of policy;
to bring the practice and procedures of all Government press offices up to the standards of the best, geared to quick response round the clock with help from a new central media monitoring unit;
to retain a politically impartial service and to sustain the trusted values of the service embodied in its rules of guidance;
on the basis that communication is an integral part of policy formulation, to develop closer and better working relations between policy civil servants and press offices;
to offer high quality management and leadership, staffing and training and development tailored to meet the needs of the 24-hour media world.
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