| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Project Horizon Ships
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected average time between major refits for Project Horizon ships. [66665]
Mr. Spellar: The maintenance philosophy for CNGF is based on a continuous process of repair and update. It is expected that the length of upkeep periods will be reduced, scheduled maintenance will be minimised, and the docking period will be extended to five years. There will be no major refits, but there will be four docking periods, of six months each, at five year intervals during the planned 25 year life of the ship.
Commercial Lobbyists
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the (a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66204]
21 Jan 1999 : Column: 529
Mr. Spellar:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 27 July 1998, Official Report, column 4, to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).
Ms Drown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received requesting the use of its uranium stocks for cancer research, with particular reference to the detection and treatment of cancer; what response his Department gave; and what factors underlay this response. [66487]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 19 January 1999]: The Department of Trade and Industry asked my Department last year if we could provide highly enriched uranium, HEU, from defence stocks for use by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) to produce medical radioisotopes.
UK defence requirements for HEU were considered in detail in the Strategic Defence Review, which concluded that any material not required for nuclear weapons purposes would be needed for the nuclear propulsion programme. Therefore, as we stated in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) White Paper, the MOD holds no surplus stocks of HEU. We were, as a result unable to accede to the Department of Trade and Industry's request. We were, however, able to provide advice on a possible alternative source of HEU.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he intends to publish a revised code of conduct on ethics and discipline for the Royal Air Force; [66746]
(3) when he intends to publish a revised code of conduct on ethics and discipline for the Royal Navy. [66748]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
As I explained in my previous answer on 14 January 1999, Official Report, column 269, each of the Services has its own procedure for providing information and guidance on matters relating to conduct and discipline within its individual Service environment. The Army and the Royal Air Force are currently revising and updating their current codes of conduct. When this work is complete, I will write the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
There are no immediate plans to publish a revised code of conduct for the Royal Navy.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many outstanding legal cases are pending against his Department on grounds of (a) equal opportunities, (b) racial discrimination, (c) homosexuality and lesbianism, (d) post-traumatic stress syndrome and (e) physical injury. [66743]
21 Jan 1999 : Column: 530
Mr. Spellar:
The available information requested relating to the number of outstanding compensation cases being pursued against my Department, whether in litigation or not, by employees, former employees and members of the public as at 20 January 1999 is set out:
(2) when he intends to publish a revised code of conduct on ethics and discipline for the Army; [66747]
| Number | |
|---|---|
| (a) Sex discrimination, sexual harassment and equal pay claims submitted by Service and former Service personnel to Employment Tribunals | (1)38 |
| (b) Racial discrimination and harassment claims submitted by Service and former Service personnel to Employment Tribunals | (1)16 |
| (c) Homosexuality and lesbianism cases submitted by Service and former Service personnel to Employment Tribunals | (1)72 |
| (d) Post-traumatic stress disorder | 155 |
| (e) Physical injury | (2)3,716 |
(1) These figures exclude claims from MOD civilian and former civilian staff as the information is not held centrally.
(2) This figure excludes personal injury claims from members of the public being handled by MOD claims officers overseas as the information is not held centrally. Medical negligence claims and third party personal injury claims relating to road traffic accidents have also been excluded. Claims in respect of disease (e.g. asbestosis, mesothelioma) have been included but claims relating to psychiatric illness have been excluded.
HMS Invincible
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the interval between major refits for HMS Invincible. [66666]
Mr. Doug Henderson: HMS Invincible has undergone one refit. It took place some six years after she entered service with the Royal Navy.
RAF Manston, Kent
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions RAF Manston, Kent, has been used by private freight aircraft in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998; what cargo they carried; and if he will make a statement. [66629]
Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 20 January 1999]: My Department does not record the information requested. Kent International Airport (KIA), a private company, operates from an enclave of leased land within the airfield site of RAF Manston and is responsible for all flight planning, acceptance of aircraft movements, handling and refuelling, loading and unloading.
Chief of Defence Personnel
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to establish the post of Chief of Defence Personnel. [66744]
Mr. George Robertson: I have no current plans to establish a post of Chief of Defence Personnel.
Territorial Army
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the net effect of the review of the Territorial Army on the number of (a) TA centres and (b) TA units in North Wales. [65017]
21 Jan 1999 : Column: 531
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Prior to the Strategic Defence Review there were seven Territorial Army Centres and five Territorial Army company-sized units in North Wales, plus a battalion Headquarters. As a result of the re-structuring there will be five Territorial Army Centres and four Territorial Army company-sized Units, plus a battalion Headquarters.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the strength of the TA prior to the Strategic Defence Review will remain after implementation of the Strategic Defence Review in (a) the North West of England and (b) North Wales. [65023]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
75 per cent. of TA strength will remain in the North West after the implementation of the findings of the Strategic Defence Review. 72 per cent. will remain in North Wales.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission a re-assessment of the work of Dr Sue Rabbitt Roff, at the centre for medical education at Dundee University, on the causation of cancers in British atomic test veterans. [66431]
Mr. Spellar:
No. My Department has made clear on a number of occasions its reservations about the work of Ms Rabbitt Roff and the conclusions reached. Nevertheless, consideration is being given to researching further the incidence of multiple myeloma among our nuclear test veterans and we have asked Ms Rabbitt Roff for access to her data. Any such research will be carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board but the results, which would be subject to external peer review, would be unlikely to be available until the latter half of next year.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations his Department had with North West and Isle of Man TAVRA on the move of HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [65012]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
North West and Isle of Man TAVRA were consulted on the move of Headquarters 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry during the consultation process which took place at Headquarters Land Command in October.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1998, Official Report, column 54, concerning the cost of transferring 101 REME Battalion HQ, if he will define significant financial costs. [65016]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
These are costs of an order likely to influence the decision to relocate the unit.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |