| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Ministerial Travel (Trains)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he last used a train in the course of his official duties. [22924]
Mr. Robin Cook: I travelled to Coventry by train on Friday 11 July 1997 to attend a half day seminar on the Strategic Defence Review.
India
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the authorities in India about the position of Peter Bleach, facing a charge subject to the death penalty; and if he will make a statement. [23211]
Mr. Fatchett: Foreign Office Ministers have discussed Mr. Bleach's position with the Indian authorities on four occasions in the past year. We are doing all we properly can for Mr. Bleach. His trial will begin on 27 January; the case remains sub judice.
Mrs. Regan
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the cost to public funds of the proposed overseas visits to be undertaken by Mrs. Regan; [23132]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the duties and the role of Mrs. Regan in the forthcoming visits of the Foreign Secretary to (a) the United States and (b) other overseas locations. [23131]
Mr. Robin Cook: Ms Regan does not currently propose to undertake any overseas visit.
DEFENCE
Arms Sales
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the value to Britain of arms sales (a) to Indonesia and (b) to Turkey in each year since 1990. [22810]
Mr. Spellar: The estimated value of UK defence sales (including services) to Indonesia and Turkey in each year since 1990 is as follows:
| £ million | ||
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Turkey | |
| 1990 | 3 | 63 |
| 1991 | 34 | 32 |
| 1992 | 15 | 36 |
| 1993 | 457 | 6 |
| 1994 | 77 | 68 |
| 1995 | 95 | 19 |
| 1996 | 443 | 107 |
| 1997 | 18 | 2 |
15 Jan 1998 : Column: 273
RAF Menwith Hill
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the rolling programme of improvements relating to environmental remedial action in connection with Menwith Hill, referred to in the answer of 10 June 1996, Official Report, column 46, has now been completed; and what recent environmental assessment of Menwith Hill Station has been carried out. [21416]
Mr. Spellar: The programme of improvements at RAF Menwith Hill reflecting the recommendations contained in previous environmental surveys is due to be completed in the first half of 1998. The most recent environmental assessment was carried out in 1996.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Health and Safety Executive last visited RAF Menwith Hill; and what was the outcome of that visit. [21418]
Mr. Spellar: The Health and Safety Executive last visited the site in June 1996 following allegations that equipment at the site caused cancer. It concurred with North Yorkshire Health Authority's findings that the incidence of cancer within the area was no higher than the national average.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has full access to US environmental compliance status surveys in respect of RAF Menwith Hill; and when the last such survey was carried out. [21419]
Mr. Spellar: MoD personnel are fully involved in the environmental audit processes at all USVF facilities in the United Kingdom and are routinely made aware of the contents of Environmental Compliance Status Surveys. The last such survey at RAF Menwith Hill was conducted in 1994.
Nuclear Bunkers
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on expenditure on the maintenance and building of nuclear bunkers in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 year; [22919]
- (2) what assessment his Department has made of the use of nuclear bunkers sold by the Government; [22920]
(3) how many nuclear bunkers in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom were maintained by Her Majesty's Government in each of the past 10 years; [22917]
(4) what use Her Majesty's Government currently make of nuclear bunkers; [22921]
(5) how many nuclear bunkers were located on (a) Government owned land and (b) his Department's land in each of the last 10 years. [22918]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
15 Jan 1998 : Column: 274
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the agency review of the Defence Animal Centre. [23788]
Dr. Reid:
A review of the agency status of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) has begun. The performance of the DAC has been evaluated and its activities will shortly be subjected to the normal "prior options" tests.
Comments and contributions form those with an interest in the work of the Agency would be welcome and should be sent by 31 January 1998 to Major General W. R. Short, Director General Army Medical Services (DGAMS), Building 21, Keogh Barracks, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hampshire GU12 5RR.
Prospective contributors to the Agency Review should note that the DAC is proceeding with a PFI project to rebuild its accommodation and provide associated support services.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the future for the CI30J in the RAF's transport fleet; and if he will make a statement. [23127]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 1 December 1997, Official Report, column 11.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all overseas visits made since 1 May 1997 on which he or any other Minister in his Department has been accompanied under Rule 83 of the Ministerial Code, indicating (a) who accompanied him and (b) the cost to public funds of each such visit. [23260]
Mr. George Robertson:
There has been one such visit. Details are as follows:
| Date | Event | Minister accompanied by spouse | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22-23 November 1997 | 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai | Minister for the Armed Forces | £3,839.74 |
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Overseas Visits
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all overseas visits made since 1 May 1997 on which he or any other Minister in his Department has been accompanied under Rule 83 of the Ministerial Code, indicating (a) who accompanied him (b) the cost to public funds of each such visit. [23252]
Mr. Hoon:
My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor was accompanied by Lady Irvine at the 14th Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers, held in Trinidad and Tobago on
15 Jan 1998 : Column: 275
4-11 January 1998. The total cost of the trip from public funds for the Lord Chancellor, Lady Irvine and an official was £13,487.74.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date (a) he and (b) the Lord Chancellor last used a train in the course of their official duties. [22929]
Mr. Hoon:
(a) I have not used a train for official duties since my appointment. (b) The Lord Chancellor last used a train in the course of his official duties on 11 December 1997.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications there were for silk in (a) 1996 and (b) 1997; and how many were successful. [21855]
Mr. Hoon:
In 1995, 488 practitioners applied for silk, of whom 66 were awarded silk in 1996. In 1996, 500 practitioners applied, of whom 68 were awarded silk in 1997.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many visits he has made to legal aid practices in England and Wales since his appointment. [21856]
Mr. Hoon:
Between 1 May 1997 and 15 January 1998, I have visited nine legal aid practices.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |