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Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting between the Minister of Transport and the Singapore Minister of Communications held on 21 January; and if he will allow bilateral negotiations with Singapore concerning airline services to proceed, notwithstanding the present deadlock in US/UK negotiations. [67652]
Dr. Reid: Mr. Mah Bow Tan, Singapore Minister of Communications, and I had a useful exchange of views during our meeting on 21 January. The bilateral negotiations concerning air service will take place next month as planned.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION
National Audit Office
Mr. Baker: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what assessment he has made of the steps taken by the National Audit Office to increase public awareness of its work. [65558]
Mr. Sheldon: The Commission attaches considerable importance to public awareness of the work of the National Audit Office and this is essential to the public accountability process.
The National Audit Office has a constructive relationship with the media. Copies of reports are circulated widely along with a short press notice giving details of the key points.
The National Audit Office also publishes an annual report. This is available to journalists, audited bodies, academics, interest groups, professional bodies and the public and can also be found on the Office's web site. The National Audit Office's most recent annual report, Helping the Nation Spend Wisely, was published in July 1998 and describes its work and how it has saved the taxpayer more than a billion pounds over the last three years.
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In addition the Comptroller and Auditor General and the National Audit Office are always willing to speak, and write, about their work when invited to do so.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many elements of the financial assessment of the move of HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry had been costed prior to the decision being taken; [65018]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Prior to the decision being taken to transfer HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry, HQ Land Command assessed property disposal values, TA Centres running costs, projected refurbishment/improvement costs, and the cost of providing alternative facilities for those cadet units affected by the restructuring.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the final draft of the Ministry of Defence publication, "Modern Forces for the Modern World: A Territorial Army for the Future" was (a) approved by Ministers, (b) approved by Commander in Chief Land Command and (c) sent for printing; [65011]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
It was for Ministers to approve the document "Modern Forces for the Modern World: A Territorial Army for the Future", which they did on 4 November. The document was sent to the printers on 6 November and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was able to announce his decisions on the future of the TA on 17 November 1998, Official Report, columns 749-70.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the average total cost, at full establishment and (b) what percentage of that relates to salaries in financial year 1998-99, of (i) an Armoured Infantry Battalion, (ii) Mechanised Infantry Battalion, (iii) Light Infantry Role Battalion, (iv) TA Infantry Battalion, (v) TA Fire Support Battalion, (vi) RAC Armoured Regiment (MBT), (vii) RAC Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (Scimitar), (viii) TA Reconnaissance (Landrovers), (ix) RA Regiment 1555mm AS90, (x) RA Regiment 105 Light Gun, (xi) RA Regiment MLRS, (xii) RA Regiment Javelin, (xiii) RA Regiment Rapier, (xiv) RA Regiment HVM, (xv) RE Armoured Divisional Engineer Regiment, (xvi) RE Field Squadron, (xvii) RE Amphibious Engineer Squadron, (xviii) RE EOD Squadron, (xix) RE AS Squadron, (xx) TA Field Squadron, (xxi) TA AS Squadron, (xxii) Royal Corps of Signals, (xxiii) Signal Regiment, (xxiv) Independent Squadron, (xxv) TA Independent Squadron, (xxvi) RLC,
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(xxvii) General support regiment RLC, (xxviii) Divisional support Squadron, (xxix) Brigade support Squadron, (xxx) TA Ration Squadron, (xxxi) REME Support Battalion, (xxxii) RAMC Field Hospital, (xxxiii) RAMC Field Ambulance, (xxxiv) TA Field Hospital, (xxxv) TA Field Ambulance, (xxxvi) Royal Military Police Company and TA Company, (xxxvii) Intelligence Corps Company and TA Company, (xxxviii) Army Air Corps, (xxxix) Squadron Lynx/TOW and (xl) Headquarters and Staff. [66845]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Berry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those currently serving in the armed forces joined when under 18 years of age. [66221]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The numbers of those serving in the Armed Forces at 1 December 1998 who joined when they were under 18 years of age is as follows:
(2) what cost centres his Department plans to take account of when assessing the potential savings of moving HQ 101 Battalion REME from Chorley to Queensferry. [65013]
(2) when the document on the future structure of the Territorial Army published on 17 November was sent to the printers; and how far in advance of that date the decisions announced therein were taken. [65314]
| Total | Officers | Other Ranks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 83,490 | (1)2,560 | 80,930 |
| Naval Service | 18,861 | (1)226 | 18,635 |
| Army | 46,608 | 2,247 | 44,361 |
| Royal Air Force | 18,021 | (1)87 | 17,934 |
(1) The Naval Service and Royal Air Force figures exclude those Officers who have previously been promoted from the ranks as the relevant data is not held centrally.
HMS Invincible
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HMS 'Invincible' had a full ship's company on board when she left Portsmouth recently. [66698]
Mr. Doug Henderson: HMS Invincible sailed from Portsmouth with a crew of 635, which represents 96.5 per cent. of her full crew complement.
HMS Intrepid
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision on the future of HMS Intrepid. [66699]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Strategic Defence Review confirmed our plans to replace HM Ships Intrepid and Fearless with two new amphibious assault ships early in the next decade. It is planned that HMS Intrepid will remain in service, at low readiness, until 2001. On current plans, she will be replaced by HMS Albion in 2002.
Trident
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid in each of the last five years to the US Government to guarantee the servicing of the UK Trident missile stock; and if this money is part of the estimated Trident running costs. [66825]
Mr. George Robertson:
No payments have been made to the US specifically to guarantee the servicing of UK Trident missile stock. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 18 November 1998, Official Report, column 633,
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to his earlier question and to my letter to him of 26 November 1998, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much of the money paid by the UK to the US Government on Trident to be spent during fiscal year 1999 is for items essential to maintain the continued operational availability of the UK Trident system; [67042]
Mr. George Robertson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 19 November 1998, Official Report, column 713, and to the letter I sent him on 26 November 1998, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the crew numbers of the Swiftsure class of submarines are up to full complement; how many officers and men are on each submarine; and if he will make a statement. [67249]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Crew numbers for operational Swiftsure submarines are maintained at the full complement level of 16 officers and 121 men. Submarines in refit and not required for sea duty have a reduced ship's company fluctuation around a core of eight officers and 58 men. Currently one of the five S class submarines is in refit and is manned by six officers and 44 men. Reduction in non-operational crew numbers is an approved policy to help maintain operational complements at the full level.
(2) if he will list the items to be purchased from the money authorised recently to be paid to the US Government as the UK share of the fiscal year 1999 Trident procurement programme. [67041]
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