| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Scammel Commander Tank Transporter
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum number of axles permitted for United Kingdom civilian use under Category 3 of the authorisation of Special (General) Orders; if the Scammel Commander Military Transporter complies; and if Scammel Commander transporters carrying (a) Challenger I tanks and (b) Challenger II tanks are permitted to use public highways in the United Kingdom. [62083]
Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 8 December 1998]: The minimum number of axles permitted for United Kingdom civilian use under Category 3, Article 18, of the authorisation of Special (General) Orders is currently 6. The Scammel Commander Military Transporter has 5 axles but under the military exemption granted by Special Types (General) Orders Article 6, schedule 1, is permitted to carry challenger tanks on public highways in the United Kingdom.
Low-flying Aircraft
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the number of complaints from members of the public about low-flying military aircraft in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [63241]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The number of inquiries and complaints received from addresses in England and Wales about aircraft operating within the UK Low Flying System and recorded centrally are shown in the table.
| Year | England | Wales |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 4,290 | 908 |
| 1997 | 3,714 | 617 |
| 1998 (January-November) | 3,512 | 545 |
Danish Tour Guide (Cyprus)
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the British soldiers convicted of causing the death of the Danish tour guide in Cyprus have been dismissed from the Army; and if he will make a statement. [63264]
14 Dec 1998 : Column: 326
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The three soldiers convicted of causing the death of the Danish Tour Guide in Cyprus were discharged on 22 April 1996 under paragraph 9.404 of Queen's Regulations for the Army for misconduct, having been sentenced by a Cypriot civilian court to imprisonment.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to involve the National Regional Poison Centres in the medical assessments of veterans of the Gulf War and their families. [62957]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 9 December 1998]: Physicians at the MOD's Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) conduct a full medical examination, including a standard range of physical tests, on Gulf veterans who are referred there. Additional tests or referrals to other consultants or specialists may be required on a case by case basis. In these circumstances, MAP patients are sent for further tests or referrals according to the clinical judgment of the examining physician. Accordingly, the MAP may make use of the National Poisons Information Service (also known as National Regional Poison Centres) in the medical assessment of Gulf veterans as appropriate but has no plans to do so as a matter of routine.
The MAP was established in July 1993 to examine UK Gulf veterans who were concerned that their health had been adversely affected by service in the Gulf conflict. It is open to all Service personnel and MOD civilians who served in the Gulf region at any time between August 1990 and July 1991. Individuals who worked for contractors providing direct support to UK operations during the Gulf conflict may also attend the MAP. The vast majority of those who have attended the MAP are Gulf veterans themselves. However, where medically appropriate, veterans' partners are also welcome to attend and a small number have done so.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others on reforming the entry requirements for the armed services. [63160]
14 Dec 1998 : Column: 327
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Eligibility criteria for entry into the Armed Forces are kept under constant review. A review of all nationality eligibility rules was carried out at the beginning of this year, during which officials in my Department consulted with their counterparts in the Cabinet Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office. The results of the review were conveyed to the House on 18 February 1998, Official Report, columns 665-66.
A review of all other basic eligibility criteria is nearing completion. The aim of this review has been to determine whether any eligibility criteria are unnecessarily restrictive, and could therefore be relaxed.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications to join the armed services have been refused in each of the last five years. [63161]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Details of the number of applicants who were refused entry into the Armed Forces are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Service | |||||
| Applications | (4)-- | (4)-- | 9,696 | 12,879 | 14,252 |
| Enlistments | 1,535 | 1,301 | 2,337 | 3,959 | 4,600 |
| Army | |||||
| Applications | 36,388 | 53,333 | 43,491 | 40,491 | 42,247 |
| Enlistments | 9,576 | 10,684 | 12,911 | 15,522 | 15,379 |
| RAF | |||||
| Applications | 13,304 | 15,398 | 17,213 | 15,510 | 12,767 |
| Enlistments | 841 | 1,022 | 2,424 | 2,684 | 3,526 |
Note:
(4) Details of number of Naval Service applicants not available
Applicants may not subsequently be enlisted for a variety of reasons. For example, they may be ineligible under one or more of the basic eligibility criteria, have criminal convictions that are not acceptable, may fail the recruiting test, prove unsuitable at interview, or perhaps fail their medical. Additionally, a number of applicants for each Service voluntarily withdraw their applications before they are enlisted.
Defence Export Services Organisation
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the salary, pension entitlement and present compensation rights for early termination of contract of the new head of the Defence Export Services Organisation from the Government, what top-ups to those provisions have been made by external sources; and which external sources are providing the top-ups. [62922]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 10 December 1998]: Mr. Tony Edwards, the new Head of Defence Export Services, will receive a salary from the Ministry of Defence of £165,000 a year, plus an annual performance related bonus of up to £15,000. In addition, the Department will contribute towards his superannuation up to a maximum of 28 per cent. of the Ministry of Defence salary element.
14 Dec 1998 : Column: 328
The Defence Industries Council, acting on behalf of the defence industry as a whole, are providing a top-up element so that his basic remuneration package will remain on a par with what he was receiving from TI Group plc.
Mr. Edwards is on loan to the Department from TI Group plc. for the duration his appointment as Head of Defence Export Services; under the terms of the secondment agreement, compensation rights for early termination of the agreement do not apply.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what day and by whom the decision was taken to move 101 Battalion REME from Chorley Barracks to Queensferry. [63650]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced his decision on the future structure of the Territorial Army to the House on 17 November 1998, Official Report, columns 749-52.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what alternative attachments he proposes for 101 REME army cadets, Chorley, following the transfer of 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [63616]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
New sponsorship and affiliation arrangements for the Chorley Cadets will be arranged with Territorial and Regular Army units in the area.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has received from Land Command that the decision to move 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry will bring value for money. [63651]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
As my hon. Friend will be aware from our previous correspondence concerning Territorial Army restructuring, the decision to move 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry was not financially motivated. An assessment has nevertheless been made that the move should provide value for money.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the REME cadets based at the Devonshire Road Barracks, Chorley, will continue to operate from that barracks; [63625]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Plans for the future of the cadets currently housed at the Devonshire Road Barracks in Chorley are being developed at present. I will write to my hon. Friend when the plans are complete, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
(2) what are his plans for the future army cadet presence at the Devonshire Road Barracks in Chorley. [63626]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |