| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Land-based Biological Detection Equipment
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of the increased procurement of land-based biological detection equipment announced by the Minister for Defence Procurement on 26 November 1998. [62016]
Mr. Spellar: The increased procurement of additional land-based biological defence equipment has a value of some £65 million. A number of Prototype Biological Detection Systems are being rapidly procured, some of which have already come into service. The planned procurement of Integrated Biological Detection Systems has been increased and we are also planning to develop and procure new Remote Biological Detection Systems.
C-130J Transport Aircraft
Ms Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the C-130J transport aircraft will enter service. [63096]
Mr. Spellar: On current plans the RAF will commence C-130J operations at RAF Lyneham in November 1999. This is over two years later than the original delivery date. The In-Service Date is defined as delivery of the 12th aircraft, and this is now estimated to be in May 2000, 22 months later than originally planned. The delay has arisen as a result of a succession of problems in Lockheed Martin's overall programme to design and produce the aircraft. The Department is receiving liquidated damages from Lockheed Martin to compensate for additional costs associated with running on the current C-130K aircraft. It is estimated that the total liquidated damages for late delivery of the aircraft, based on the above delivery schedule, will amount to some £50 million.
Retirement (Ethnic Minorities)
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets his Department has set for boosting recruitment among Britain's ethnic minorities. [61346]
Mr. Doug Henderson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Hamilton).
Armed Forces (Education and Training)
Mrs. Anne Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to increase education and training opportunities in the armed forces. [61365]
7 Dec 1998 : Column: 63
Mr. Doug Henderson:
We already provide a wide range of education and training opportunities for Armed Forces personnel. Our Learning Forces initiative extends from recruitment to resettlement and beyond. It is a major contribution to the Government's commitment to improving educational opportunities and to ensuring that the qualifications Service personnel receive are fully recognised and transferable when they return to civilian life.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his statement on 23 October in the A1 Sharq A1 Aursat newspaper, what evidence he has that the Al Shifa pharmaceutical factory was manufacturing offensive weapons or materials. [61463]
Mr. George Robertson:
We have the assurance of the United States Government that their decision to resort to military action was based on compelling evidence that the A1 Shifa factory was connected with chemical weapons development or manufacture. It would be inappropriate to discuss the details of the intelligence on which this was based, which are withheld in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he plans to increase Army establishments by 3,300 personnel. [62014]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Initial changes to the Army establishment were made at the beginning of November to reflect the additional 3,352 personnel agreed in the Strategic Defence Review. Some of the manpower increases will, however, not take effect until 2002. The Army remains on course to achieve full staffing of the new establishment by around 2004.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce his conclusions following the review of the national defence response to the risks posed by (a) nuclear, (b) biological and (c) chemical weapons. [62015]
Mr. George Robertson:
We hope to place a paper in the Library shortly.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Minister for the Armed Forces attended the naval exhibition in Valparaiso, Chile; and if he will make a statement. [62071]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
By mutual agreement, my planned visit to EXPONAVAL 98 in Valparaiso, Chile on 30 November was postponed as Mr. O. Guzman, the Chilean Defence Minister, was not in the country on that day.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to review the allocation of e-mail
7 Dec 1998 : Column: 64
addresses to personnel for whom his Department is responsible; when he expects to extend this facility to defence attaches; and if he will make a statement. [62099]
Mr. Spellar:
The MOD makes extensive use of computer systems and a high proportion of staff use internal e-mail facilities as their principal method of circulating documents and other correspondence. However, for security reasons the Department's current policy is that external e-mail accounts are allocated only where there is a justified business case. Where these are provided, the facility is generally on a stand alone computer or network, again for security reasons.
As part of the work to establish a link during the coming year to the Government Secure Intranet, the MOD will be examining the opportunities for providing access to the Internet (including e-mail) for some personnel. The Department currently has no plans to provide Internet e-mail accounts to all of its personnel.
Support for Defence and Service Attaches is mainly provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Most Embassies and High Commissions have an Internet and e-mail facility, through which Attaches can be reached.
Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made to date in establishing a European Union task force on renewable energy; if its membership and initial meeting date have been agreed; and if he will make a statement. [61934]
Mr. Battle:
At the Energy Council on November 13, the UK stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum created by the Commission's 1997 White Paper ("Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of Energy") and the Council Resolution on renewables adopted under the UK Presidency in May. I suggested that the establishment of a Commission led "task force" of senior experts on renewables could contribute to this.
This suggestion builds on an idea in the White Paper that a working group involving Commission and Member States be established to monitor measures undertaken and evaluate the impact of policy decisions with regard to the use of renewable energy sources. This group has met only once in 1998.
The Commission have not yet responded on the idea of a task force, but I understand they plan to hold a further meeting of their working group early in 1999.
If the idea of a Task Force on renewables is taken forward, it will be for the Commission to decide how this is to be constituted. Most Commission chaired committees have 2 representatives per Member State.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the legal advice which he has received in respect of any potential conflicts of interest arising from his roles as
7 Dec 1998 : Column: 65
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister with responsibility for the New Millennium Experience Company. [61987]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 1 December 1998]: No. Legal advice of this nature attracts legal professional privilege, and as such is exempt from disclosure under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he sought the advice of his Permanent Secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry about potential conflicts of interest arising from his position as Secretary of State and as the sponsoring Minister of the New Millennium Experience Company; and what advice he received. [61996]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 1 December 1998]: Under normal Departmental procedures I received guidance on handling conflicts of interest in relation to decisions on competition cases on my appointment as Secretary of State. I received further advice in respect of competition issues involving sponsors of the Millennium Dome shortly afterwards. Following discussions with the Permanent Secretary and other officials, I announced on 6 August that I was satisfied that in relation to the British Airways/American Airlines alliance I could exercise my responsibilities properly. I also announced that I would consider any further competition cases involving companies associated with the Dome with similar care and would stand aside if I could not act, and be seen to act, fairly and impartially.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |