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Territorial Army
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will re-assess the number of TA centres to remain open in South Lancashire. [65028]
Mr. Doug Henderson: I am content that our decision that all TA Centres in Lancashire, bar Chorley, should remain open, was sound.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he took of the proportion of the strength of the TA which will remain after implementation of the Strategic Defence Review in (a) the North West of England and (b) North Wales, in his decision to transfer HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [65024]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The regional distribution of reductions in the TA was one of a number of factors taken into account in reaching decisions on the future TA structure, but, in view of the small numbers involved in this case, was not a major factor in the decision to transfer Headquarters 101 Battalion REME to Queensferry.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new full-time jobs will be created in Queensferry as a consequence of the transfer of HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [65026]
20 Jan 1999 : Column: 459
Mr. Doug Henderson:
This will depend on staffing arrangements that have yet to be confirmed.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life for (a) Project Horizon and (b) Type 22 ships. [65729]
Mr. Spellar:
The planned service life for the Common New Generation Frigate (CNGF) is a minimum of 25 years. The reduction in the size of our destroyer and frigate force from 35 to 32, as announced in the Strategic Defence Review White Paper, will be achieved by paying off the Type 22 frigates HMS Boxer, Beaver and London in 1999. HMS Brave will be replaced by a new Type 23 frigate in 2000 as will HMS Coventry in 2001. The remaining five Type 22 frigates have a planned service life of approximately 23 years.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how frequently radiation surveys are undertaken at the entrance to reactor compartments during work on nuclear submarines at Rosyth dockyard; [65726]
(3) what instruments are used to monitor personnel leaving the reactor compartments of nuclear submarines at Rosyth dockyard. [65737]
Mr. Spellar:
All nuclear safety issues relating to Rosyth Royal Dockyard are a matter for Babcock Rosyth Defence Limited, the owners of the Dockyard. It is a condition of their contract with the MOD that they must comply with all nuclear safety regulations.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast hull life of the (a) Astute and (b) Vanguard class of submarines. [65738]
Mr. Spellar:
On current plans, both classes have an estimated hull life of 25 years.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the anticipated reactor life of the (a) Astute and (b) Swiftsure class of submarines. [65741]
Mr. Spellar:
The reactor plant to be fitted to the Astute class, and reactor plant fitted to the Swiftsure class, are anticipated to last the life of the submarines.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the displacement of the (a) Swiftsure and (b) Trafalgar class of submarines. [65740]
Mr. Spellar:
The displacement of Swiftsure submarines, when submerged, is approximately 4,980 tons and of Trafalgar Class submarines, about 5,050 tons.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast reactor life of the Trafalgar class of submarines. [66173]
Mr. Spellar:
The reactor plant fitted to the Trafalgar class is designed to last the life of the submarines.
20 Jan 1999 : Column: 460
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast hull life of the Swiftsure class of submarines. [66166]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The initial design life of Swiftsure class submarine hulls was 25 years, although there is sufficient margin to extend the life of the submarines as necessary, subject to monitoring to ensure the continuing safety of the submarines.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the anticipated reactor life of the Vanguard class of submarines. [66668]
Mr. Spellar:
The reactor plant fitted to the Vanguard class is designed to last the life of the submarines.
Mr. Berry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel under 18 years of age have been court-martialled in the last 10 years. [66223]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The information we have available covers the period 1987-1996. Within that period, a total of 19 personnel under the age of 18 years have been convicted by a court-martial. In addition, two RN personnel convicted by a court-martial were charged when under 18 but had reached the age of 18 by the date of their trial.
Mr. Berry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel under 18 years of age are currently detained for breaches of contract or discipline at the Military Correctional Training Centre, Colchester. [66222]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Only one solider under the age of 18 years is currently being held at the Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester. That soldier is nearing the end of his period of detention following a sentence of 60 days for being Absent Without Leave.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instruments are used to monitor personnel leaving the reactor compartments of nuclear submarines at RN Base Faslane. [66176]
Mr. Spellar:
Personnel leaving the reactor compartment of a nuclear submarine at HM Naval Base Clyde are monitored with an NE Technology Mk10 ratemeter connected to either a BP4 of BP10 probe.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how frequently radiation surveys are undertaken at the entrance to reactor compartments during work on nuclear submarines at RN Base Faslane. [66174]
Mr. Spellar:
Radiation surveys of the reactor compartment are carried out daily while work is being undertaken. This includes all compartment entrances and the tunnel area. In addition, other more localised radiation surveys are performed in the vicinity of work areas.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of supervisors in the Health Physics Section at RN Base Faslane are qualified to City and Guilds Part 1 Radiation and Safety Practice standards. [66175]
20 Jan 1999 : Column: 461
Mr. Spellar:
All supervisors working within the Health Physics Group at HM Naval Base Clyde are qualified to both City and Guilds Part 1 and 2 in Radiation and Safety Practice standards.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life of Harrier GR7 aircraft engines. [66160]
Mr. Spellar:
The Harrier GR7 aircraft entered RAF service in 1987. On current plans, the Harrier GR7 fleet, including the engines, will achieve a service life of some 30 years.
The Harrier GR7 is fitted with the Pegasus Mark 105 engine. Each of the engine's component parts has an approved life and may be replaced during the life of the whole engine in accordance with established maintenance policy.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many technical support personnel are required to support the deployment away from existing RAF bases of flights of (a) four and (b) eight RAF Harrier aircraft. [66669]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The number of technical support personnel deployed to support four or eight RAF Harrier aircraft is dependent on several factors, including the operational requirements, the flying task, the number of hours to be worked in any one day and the amount of support available from the Host Nation. However, a flight of four or eight aircraft would be likely to generate a minimum of 79 and 128 technical support personnel respectively.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life for Type 23 ships. [66168]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The forecast service life for Type 23 frigates is in excess of 18 years and varies for individual vessels in the class.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the forecast service life of Tornado GR4 aircraft airframes. [66170]
Mr. Spellar:
The Tornado GR4 entered RAF service in 1997. On current plans, the Tornado GR4 fleet will achieve a service life of some 25 years.
(2) what proportion of supervisors in the Health Physics Section at Rosyth dockyard are qualified to City & Guilds Part 1 Radiation and Safety Practice standards; [65727]
(Disciplinary Proceedings)
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