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REME Depot (Stirling)
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the sale of and development plans for the REME depot at Stirling. [72753]
Mr. Spellar: Agreement for the phased purchase of part of the former REME Depot at Forthside in Stirling was signed by MOD and Stirling Council on 23 September 1998. The land is to be used as part of Stirling Council's Town Centre Redevelopment. The MOD retained site at Forthside is currently used by the Army Base Repair Organisation, the Army Base Services Distribution Agency and other small MOD units.
Environmental Management Awards
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the awards and commendations which his Department has received over the past five years for good environmental management of its estates and wildlife, indicating the sites so commended. [72736]
Mr. Spellar: The following is the information.
- Shell Best of Better Britain (1994)--Salisbury Plain Training Area-East-Barn Owl Project.
- Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Brecknock Branch--Rural Wales Award (1994) in recognition of the groups' contribution to conservation on the ranges at Mynydd Epynt, Sennybridge Training Area.
- Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames--Environmental Pride Awards (1994) Category Environmental Management by Industrial Concern. First place awarded to MOD at Chessington.
- British Gas Grassroots Action Award (1994)--Foxglove Covert, Catterick Garrison.
- Hampshire County Council--Countryside Award (1995) Commended for restoration and management of Eelmoor Marsh by grazing with Prezewalski's horses, (in conjunction with Marwell Zoo).
- Taunton Deane Borough Council--Conservation Commendation (1995) for conversion of stables at Norton Manor (Royal Marines).
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- The Forestry Authority--1996. Centre of Excellence--to Longmoor Army Training Area. Awarded in four Categories, for improving the quality of the landscape, creating benefits for wildlife, providing access for people, and growing timber in environmentally sound ways.
- Shell Best of Better Britain Commendation (1996)--Foxglove Covert, Catterick Garrison.
- Britain in Bloom (1998)--Aldershot Garrison won Southern England in Bloom.
- BTO Commendation (1998) for Constant Effort Site Ringing Station--Foxglove Covert, Catterick Garrison.
- Forestry Authority Commendation (1996) (Parkwood (Catterick)) for sound management of a renewable resource.
- English Nature--Site of Special Scientific Interest Manager's Award (1998) to Liz Peace, Chairman of the Farnborough Conservation Group.
- Sanctuary Award--Judged annually with English Nature, for best conservation project on MOD land.
- 1998 winner--Bovington Training Area for Longterm heathland and wetland management.
- 1997 winner--Sennybridge--Disgwlfa Visitor Centre.
- 1996 winner--Porton Down--management of Chalk Grassland habitat for the benefit of the Stone Curlew population.
- 1995 winner--DERA Farnborough for use of Prezewalski's Horse to graze the lowland heath.
- 1994 winner--Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton--conservation management of Langport Rifle Range, Breech Wood and Merryfield Airfield.
- Ford--Environmental Management--Energy Plan (1994) Commendation--Boscombe Down.
- Northumberland County Council--Trees and Hedgerow Cup Competition (1996). Commendation in the broadleaved woodland category for Grasslees Oakwood and Yardhop Wood--Otterburn AFTC.
Submarines and Diving (Women)
Mrs. McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the outcome of his review of the possible employment of women in submarines and in mine clearance diving. [73578]
Mr. Doug Henderson: We are committed to equality of opportunity in the Armed Forces. In the course of the Strategic Defence Review we examined the opportunities for maximising opportunity for women in each of the Services provided that this would not damage combat effectiveness. The results of this work were set out in the report on the Strategic Defence Review (Cmd 2999), in which we also announced our intention to review the exclusion of women from service in submarines and Royal Navy mine clearance.
We have now completed our review of these matters and concluded that we should maintain our policy of excluding women from service in submarines and mine clearance diving for medical reasons.
In reaching this conclusion I considered all the evidence very carefully and looked hard for options which might enable us to open service in submarines to women despite the medical risks involved. I was not able, however, to put to one side the MOD's statutory duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.
All RN submarines currently in service may remain submerged for up to 90 days for operational reasons. In the course of such deployments, contaminants build up in the internal atmosphere. Although there is careful
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control of the materials allowed aboard and atmospheric filtration, the build up of contaminants such as carbon dioxide in this closed environment cannot be prevented. Such an atmosphere is not harmful to adults, but medical studies by the Institute of Naval Medicine show that for some contaminants the levels exceed those considered safe to the foetus of a pregnant woman, and therefore also place the woman's health at risk. In other cases there is insufficient data available to recommend with confidence maximum exposure limits which would prevent harm to the foetus and the woman.
A woman, in at least the first days after conception, may not be aware that she is pregnant. If she were serving in a submarine there is, therefore, the small possibility that she might unknowingly expose here unborn child to levels on contamination above those considered safe. Even if some women were prepared to accept the risks and volunteer to serve in submarines the MOD could not compromise its duty of care by allowing them to do so.
In the specialised area of mine clearance diving, (where there are far fewer posts involved), there are also substantial medical risks to an unborn child and, therefore, the mother, caused in this case by the very high pressures to which these divers are subjected. As far as women who are not pregnant are concerned, the medical risks are less well understood, but there may be a risk to a woman during menstruation. I have accepted the medical advice that women should, therefore, be excluded from working as Mine Clearance Divers at least until more definitive medical advice is available.
The Government and the Armed Forces are determined that the widest possible employment opportunities should be available to women in the Armed Forces. The position on service in submarines and mine diving clearance will, therefore, be kept under review.
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the programmes earmarked under the Ministry of Defence alternative assumptions budget; and what is the estimated cost of each programme; [72196]
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Mr. George Robertson:
The Ministry of Defence does not have an alternative assumptions budget. Alternative assumptions are part of the department's Long Term Costing (LTC) process and provide the mechanism by which possible changes to the core Defence programme can be costed and assessed.
The LTC represents projections which inform internal advice to Ministers on the affordability of the defence programme. It has been the policy of successive Administrations that such advice should not be disclosed, consistent with Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the (a) 1,000 pound and (b) 540-pound free-fall bombs will receive an upgrade package; how much his Department expects to spend in 1999-2000 on the upgrading of the stock of free-fall conventional bombs; and if he will make a statement on the Staff Target Air/Sea 1248 programme; [72198]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The UK's current 540lb and 1000lb bombs are ballistic weapons deliverable either guided or unguided. The accuracy with which they can be delivered depends on many variables including the aiming system used by the delivery aircraft, the speed, dive angle, height and range from the target at release from the aircraft and type of attack profile. The weather conditions may also be a significant factor.
(2) if he will list the programmes earmarked in the Ministry of Defence alternative assumptions budget in the years (a) 1997-1998 and (b) 1998-1999 indicating how many of these programmes have been actioned. [72195]
(2) what is his assessment of the accuracy of the Air Force and Navy's 540-pound and 1,000-pound bombs (a) currently and (b) after the proposed upgrade package. [72197]
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