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Plastic Baton Rounds (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons plastic baton rounds replaced rubber bullets for use by the armed forces in Northern Ireland. [63931]
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Mr. Spellar:
Plastic baton rounds provide a more effective means of combating physical violence than the rubber bullets they replaced. The increased accuracy of plastic baton rounds also reduces the risk of accidental injury.
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by each nation in the EU in each of the last 10 years in pounds sterling on defence (a) in total and (b) per head of the population. [64195]
Mr. Spellar:
The information requested for calendar years 1987 to 1997 is shown for NATO members of the European Union. Comparisons of defence spending between nations are conventionally given in US Dollars rather than pounds sterling. Figures for calendar years 1987 to 1995 are those which have been published in successive versions of the Statement on the Defence Estimates (SDE). Figures for 1996 are based on information drawn from NATO sources and those for 1997 are as published in the MOD Performance Report 1997-98 (Cm4170).
Where possible the figures are published against a common definition of defence spending so that true comparisons can be made. Some anomalies and inconsistencies will, however, remain. Particular care is needed in making year on year comparisons of the figures for the UK where there have been changes in the definition of defence spending in recent years and major transfers of responsibility to and from other Government Departments.
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| 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 4,142 | 4,215 | 3,938 | 4,723 | 4,770 | 4,078 | 3,762 | 3,948 | 4,572 | 4,240 | 3,769 |
| Denmark | 2,127 | 2,336 | 2,162 | 2,610 | 2,614 | 2,799 | 2,702 | 2,741 | 3,125 | 3,086 | 2,816 |
| France | 34,529 | 35,909 | 35,085 | 42,794 | 42,399 | 45,654 | 42,593 | 44,381 | 47,735 | 46,402 | 41,545 |
| Germany | 34,233 | 35,369 | 33,638 | 42,793 | 39,893 | 42,399 | 38,629 | 35,933 | 41,906 | 38,990 | 33,416 |
| Greece | 2,972 | 3,465 | 3,208 | 3,776 | 3,907 | 4,248 | 4,076 | 4,347 | 5,059 | 5,582 | 5,532 |
| Italy | 16,806 | 19,148 | 19,754 | 24,752 | 23,583 | 24,567 | 21,185 | 21,190 | 20,041 | 23,458 | 21,837 |
| Luxembourg | 76 | 81 | 80 | 100 | 106 | 121 | 116 | 124 | 141 | 141 | 129 |
| Netherlands | 6,502 | 6,744 | 6,402 | 7,429 | 7,242 | 7,871 | 7,039 | 7,090 | 8,181 | 7,850 | 6,888 |
| Portugal | 1,135 | 1,261 | 1,319 | 1,711 | 2,006 | 2,415 | 2,241 | 2,281 | 2,819 | 2,601 | 2,559 |
| Spain | 5,738 | 7,319 | 7,700 | 9,556 | 9,033 | 9,620 | 7,211 | 7,617 | 8,464 | 8,616 | 7,508 |
| UK | 30,859 | 34,913 | 33,436 | 38,433 | 42,716 | 43,122 | 35,257 | 34,068 | 34,086 | 34,526 | 35,620 |
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| 1996 | 1997 | |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | 2,098 | 1,786 |
| Finland | 2,255 | 1,956 |
| Ireland | 757 | 767 |
| Sweden | 6,501 | 5,481 |
| 1996 | 1997 | |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | 262 | 222 |
| Finland | 440 | 381 |
| Ireland | 209 | 210 |
| Sweden | 737 | 619 |
Chile
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft of the Royal Air Force participated at the biennial Air Show at Santiago, Chile in March (a) 1990, (b) 1992, (c) 1994, (d) 1996 and (e) 1998. [64016]
Mr. George Robertson [holding answer 15 December 1998]: The figures are as follows:
| Year | Number of aircraft | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3 | Harrier GR5 x 2, VC10K |
| 1992 | 8 | Harrier GR5/7 x 2; Tornado GR1 x 2; C130; Nimrod; Tristar; VC10K |
| 1994 | 5 | Harrier GR7 x 2; C130; VC10K; Nimrod |
| 1996 | 1 | C130 |
| 1998 | 5 | Tornado F3 x 2; Nimrod; VC10K; C130 |
Army Training and Recruitment Agency
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1998-99 for the Chief Executive of the Army Training and Recruitment Agency. [64627]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Chief Executive of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency has been set the following Key Target for 1998-1999.
- 1. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for commissioned officers.
- 2. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for officers qualified for service in Field Force units following successful Special to Army training.
- 3. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for officers' professional development training.
- 4. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for soldiers qualified for service in a Field Force unit following successful Special to Arm training.
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- 5. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for soldiers' professional development training.
- 6. To achieve efficiency savings of 6% (34.7M).
Army Personnel Centre
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the key targets for 1998-99 for the Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre. [64625]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre has been set the following Key Targets for 1998-1999:
- 1. To increase the percentage of posts which are manned (excluding posts gapped for less than 28 days and all posts for private soldiers and subaltern officers) to 91 per cent.
- 2. To increase to 91 per cent. the proportion of personnel posted in-year by the APC whose rank and Service qualifications meet the specifications of the post.
- 3. To increase the percentage of in-year postings authorised by the APC where personnel are given at least 6 months notification to 52 per cent.
- 4. To increase the percentage of change requests received by the APC which are authorised and/or accurately processed within 5 working days of receipt at the Document Handling Centre to 92 per cent.
- 5. To increase the percentage of due terminal benefits made by the 5th working day after discharge/retirement or following receipt of the correct authorisation paperwork by Pensions Division, whichever is later, to 96 per cent.
- 6. To develop by March 99 the comprehensive feedback mechanism for the continual measurement of customer satisfaction and to maintain that system thereafter.
- 7. To achieve a year-on-year reduction of 1 per cent. in operating costs.
Defence Military Assistance Fund
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the breakdown of expenditure under the Defence Military Assistance Fund in each of the last three years. [63864]
Mr. George Robertson: The Defence Military Assistance Fund is a cash fund, which is available to subsidise the cost of overseas military assistance in support of the Defence Diplomacy and Support to Wider British Interests Missions. The latter mission includes support to defence sales. Assistance may include the provision of training (either in country or in the UK), advice (by either military or civilian personnel), Loan Service Personnel and Short Term Training Teams.
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