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Millennium Dome (Transport)
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has held with (a) Greenwich Council, (b) London Underground and (c) the Port of London Authority over contingency plans for transport to the Millennium Dome. [61980]
Dr. Reid:
My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London, through her Millennium Access Co-ordination Group, asked London Underground Limited to lead the production of contingency plans for transport to the Millennium Dome, and keep the group informed of progress. Progress was presented to the group in October, at which time there was discussions on how the work was progressing and next steps.
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My hon. Friend has had no discussions with the Borough of Greenwich or the Port of London Authority on contingency planning. The Borough of Greenwich has, however, recently become a member of the Millennium Access group and will therefore participate in future discussions on this work.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Franchise Director has taken to involve the train rolling stock companies in supplying Connex's rolling stock replacement needs. [61877]
Dr. Reid:
The two train operating companies franchised to Connex will have to replace or modify certain trains to meet their commitments to the Franchising Director and any requirements of the Health and Safety Executive. How they achieve this is a matter for the companies.
Silent Suspects
Mr. Savidge: To ask the Attorney-General what approach prosecutors take to reliance on inferences which may be drawn from silence during police questioning at a time when the suspect is denied access to legal advice, having regard to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in John Murray v United Kingdom. [62217]
The Attorney-General: The Government intend to introduce the necessary legislation in the forthcoming Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill and this legislation will be extended to Northern Ireland, by way of negative resolution Order in Council, to ensure that the domestic law which was at issue in Murray v United Kingdom is fully compatible with our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. As an interim measure, I have today promulgated to prosecuting authorities guidance about the handling of cases where the evidence available to the prosecution would include such inferences as might be drawn from the accused's silence in the circumstances covered by Sections 34, 36 and 37 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (and corresponding provisions in Northern Ireland) when the suspect has been denied access to legal advice at the time of questioning.
A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Its effect is that the prosecution should not seek to rely on inferences drawn from silence before access to legal advice had been granted. In the event that a court, of its own volition, indicates an intention to draw any such inferences, its attention would be drawn to the judgment in the John Murray case.
DEFENCE
Security Activities (Expenditure)
Mr. Salmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much expenditure in 1996-1997 can be
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associated directly with security activities in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Falklands and (c) the remaining United Kingdom dependent territories. [61696]
Mr. George Robertson:
Expenditure directly associated with security activities cannot be distinguished from that on other activities. The following costs of the military presence provide a broad guide to the overall level of commitment in 1996-97:
This figure relates to the costs incurred by the General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland. It thus excludes related elements of expenditure, incurred elsewhere within Class I Votes, which are not separately identified.
This figure relates to the costs incurred by the Commander, British Forces Falkland Islands (CBFFI) only. It does not thus include the costs of the RAF airbridge to the Falkland Islands, nor the cost of naval deployments to the South Atlantic. These costs fall to other budgets and are not separately identified.
Costs incurred in the support of the remaining dependent territories are not separately identified and are relatively small. Expenditure is principally on the operation of the West Indies Guardship which supports UK dependent territories throughout the Caribbean, among other tasks. Otherwise, support generally relates to the provision of a small number of Loan Service Personnel to assist with training. The cost of the military presence in South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands is included in CBFFI's budget.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the approved complement was of the Territorial Army Reserve in (a) May 1979 and (b) May 1997. [60859]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The Territorial Army established as of 1 May 1997 was 59,000 posts, excluding Non Regular Permanent Staff. Establishment figures for the year 1979 are not available as records of that time only detail the strength of the TA, which was 59,400 in May 1979.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact his announcement on the future of the TA will have on manpower levels in Chelmsford. [61887]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
There are currently 136 Territorial Army posts in Chelmsford. The restructuring of the TA will reduce this figure to 120.
Mr. Duncan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what precautions are available to (a) forces personnel, (b) officials and (c) Ministers in his Department travelling overseas and facing the risk of hepatitis A infection; [61053]
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Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 27 November 1998]: Members of the Armed Forces, Defence Ministers and officials travelling overseas and facing the risk of hepatitis A infection are offered immunisation against the disease in accordance with advice issued by the Department of Health. Gamma globulin (Known as human normal immunoglobulin) would be offered, in addition to hepatitis A vaccination, for short notice visits to areas of significant risk when protection is required within 10 days of the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine. Advice on appropriate immunisation is available from MOD medical staff.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British participants in the defence industry seminar organised by the Italian presidency of the Western European Union in conjunction with the Rome ministerial meeting; and if he will make a statement. [60978]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 27 November 1998]: My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, accompanied by officials from the MOD and one from the Department of Trade and Industry, attended the seminar in Rome on 17 November. Representatives of the British defence industry were also present. The seminar considered the issues surrounding the restructuring of European defence industry, both within Europe and in relation to the global market. Among those present were members and observer countries of the Western European Armaments Group and representatives of the European defence industry and European Commission.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civil and (b) military personnel are employed at (i) the Clyde Submarine Base, Faslane and (ii) the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Coulport. [61844]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how many (a) direct and (b) indirect civilian jobs rely upon the Trident programme currently; and how many will in (i) 2000, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2020. [61846]
Mr. George Robertson:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by the atomic weapons establishments at (a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield and (c) Blacknest. [61845]
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Mr. Spellar:
AWE plc currently employ 4,055 staff at Aldermaston, 544 at Burghfield and 13 at Blacknest. These figures exclude Hunting-BRAE staff, contractors and sub-contractors, Ministry of Defence Police and other MOD employees.
(a) Northern Ireland £505 million.
(b) Falklands £81 million.
(c) UK dependent territories (excluding Falkland Islands) Gibraltar £63 million.
(2) what advice is offered to (a) forces personnel, (b) officials and (c) Ministers in his Department travelling overseas and facing the risk of hepatitis A infection, with regard to deciding whether to receive (i) y- (gamma-) globulin or (ii) the alternative hepatitis A vaccine. [61054]
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