House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Jan 1999 (pt 2)

Armed Forces (Overstretch)

21. Mr. McWilliam: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to reduce overstretch in the armed forces. [65544]

24. Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to reduce overstretch in the armed forces. [65547]

Mr. Doug Henderson: We are firmly committed to addressing overstretch in the armed forces. We are taking a number of steps to increase recruitment to the armed forces which continues to improve for all three Services. The Army, in particular, anticipates meeting its challenging target for soldier recruitment this year, for the first time since 1991.

We are also making efforts to improve retention in the armed forces. Our new "Policy for the People" is designed to make the services a more attractive career, both for those already serving and for those considering joining. The Policy includes significant educational and training opportunities for service personnel, and improvements to Service life, for the forces themselves and their families.

In addition, the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review should reduce overstretch in the Services by improving the flexibility and operational effectiveness of the armed forces through better assignment of resources to commitments.

Global Nuclear Disarmament

22. Mr. Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to promote global nuclear disarmament. [65545]

Mr. George Robertson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King), Official Report, column 14.

25 Jan 1999 : Column: 5

Sierra Leone

23. Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the involvement of Her Majesty's Government's armed forces in the current situation in Sierra Leone. [65546]

Mr. George Robertson: HMS Norfolk was sent to Sierra Leone to demonstrate the UK's commitment to promoting peace and stability and to support our diplomatic and humanitarian efforts there. The ship is liaising with the Government of Sierra Leone and the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States forces. The ship's helicopter has already delivered some much-needed medical supplies provided by the UK Government to the devastated main hospital in Freetown. There are no plans for UK armed forces to become involved in the military conflict in support of the Government of Sierra Leone and the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States.

It is planned that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Oakleaf will re-supply HMS Norfolk on 26 January. We are using Oakleaf's spare container capacity to transport further humanitarian aid to Freetown provided by the UK Government.

Seven UK military personnel were deployed in Sierra Leone with the UN monitoring mission. All but one have now been withdrawn by the UN as part of a reduction in their mission.

Trident

25. Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in the construction of the fourth Trident submarine. [65548]

Mr. George Robertson: HMS Vengeance, the fourth Trident submarine, was launched in September last year. Contractors Sea Trials are due to start in the Spring.

32. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the percentage reduction in Trident warhead totals typically deployed on each submarine since 1 May 1997. [65555]

Mr. George Robertson: As I said in my answer to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) on 16 July 1998, Official Report, column 237, Trident submarines had typically deployed on deterrent patrol with 60 warheads. One outcome of the Strategic Defence Review was our decision that each Trident submarine will carry a reduced load of 48 warheads. This is a 20 per cent. reduction in warheads carried.

Single Soldiers' Accommodation

26. Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve single soldiers' accommodation. [65549]

Mr. Spellar: We have a firm commitment to continue to improve the standard of accommodation for all soldiers. Work is currently underway on a programme of major capital works to deliver these improvements.

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Iraq

29. Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to visit the Gulf states to discuss Iraq. [65552]

Mr. George Robertson: I hope to visit a number of Gulf states in the coming weeks to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including Iraq.

Chile (Military Equipment Orders)

30. Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom of the recent cancellation of military equipment orders by the Government of Chile. [65553]

Mr. Spellar: I am not aware of the recent cancellation of any defence equipment orders from the UK by the Government of Chile.

43 (Wessex) Brigade

31. Mr. Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on proposals to move the headquarters of 43 (Wessex) Brigade from Exeter to Bulford; and if he will make a statement. [65554]

Mr. Doug Henderson: I have received a number of representations about our plans for Headquarters 43 (Wessex) Brigade, including from my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Sir P. Emery), and the hon. Members for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls), for Tiverton and Honiton (Mrs. Browning) and for Torbay (Mr. Sanders), and from Devon County Council.

Defence Diversification Agency

33. Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards establishing a defence diversification agency. [65556]

Mr. Spellar: As foreshadowed in our White Paper ("Defence Diversification: Getting the most of defence technology", Cm 4088 published November 1998), the Defence Diversification Agency began operating last month.

Territorial Army

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department made of the possibility of moving a TA battalion HQ from south to north Wales during its consideration of the restructuring of the TA; and what estimate it made of the cost; [65015]

Mr. Doug Henderson: There are at present two Infantry battalion Headquarters in Wales, one in the North of the principality and the other in the South. The amalgamation of TA infantry units in Wales into one battalion will require only one of these headquarters in the future, necessitating a choice to be made between the two for the new TA Infantry battalion Headquarters. Taking into account the recommendation of the TAVRA, we decided that the Infantry battalion Headquarters should

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be based in Cardiff. The cost of basing the battalion Headquarters in either of the two locations was taken into account as part of the considerations.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has (a) to improve recruitment of officers in the north Wales TA and (b) to fill the existing officer vacancies in the north Wales TA. [65021]

Mr. Doug Henderson: We plan to launch a new national recruit marketing campaign, beginning in February 1999, as part of the launch of the new TA structure. In addition, we will encourage the transfer of suitable TA volunteers by the creation of a nationwide TA 'Job Shop', and by making arrangements to identify those who wish to take up these opportunities and to match individuals to posts where possible.

Northern Ireland (Observation Structures)

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the location of the structures other than surveillance towers that are maintained by the security forces in Northern Ireland for a variety of observation purposes referred to in his answer of 3 November 1998, Official Report, columns 443-44. [65997]

Mr. George Robertson [holding answer 19 January 1999]: All Security Force bases in Northern Ireland have an observation function to some degree or other, for example, guard towers to maintain local security. There are currently 43 bases used by the British Army, including the Royal Irish Regiment, in Northern Ireland which are occupied by a platoon or more of troops. These include bases which are exclusively military or shared with the RUC and are listed by Brigade, as follows:

3rd Infantry Brigade

Bessbrook

RUC Crossmaglen

RUC Forkhill

RUC Newtownhamilton

Drumadd Barracks

RUC Keady

RUC Middletown

Mahon Barracks

Abercorn Barracks and Ballykinler Training Centre

Rathfriland

Aughnacloy