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Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to set targets for the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency for the year 1999-2000. [71898]
Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 24 February 1999]: It is my intention to announce targets for the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) before 1 April 1999, for the year 1999-2000.
Defence Site Sales
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sites have been disposed of in each of the last three years other than to the highest bidder. [72929]
Mr. Spellar: In our efforts to achieve best value for money for the sale of surplus property, it is our normal practice to accept the highest bid made for the site. However, there are occasions when the conditions attached to the highest bid cannot be accepted, or the financial standing of the bidder is assessed to be such that the bid would not be substantiated. There are also occasions when our professional judgment leads us to conclude that on balance of risk, a lower bid offers the best return to the taxpayer.
The specific information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Female Pilots (Army)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many female pilots are currently serving in the Army; and how many are in training. [72939]
Mr. Doug Henderson: There are currently nine qualified female pilots serving in the Army, all but one of whom are occupying flying appointments. In addition, a further six women are currently undertaking pilot training.
REME Depot, Stirling
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discovery of mustard gas at the REME depot in Stirling; and if he will list other toxic chemicals found on site. [72752]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 24 February 1999]: The issue of the potential of Mustard Gas at the Forthside site came to light during a remediation contract which had been let by Stirling council for the removal of radioactive materials on the site. Excavation works uncovered a glass phial (now known to date from the 1940s), as well as a small quantity of Small Arms Ammunition.
Analysis of the glass phial by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) determined that it was of a type found in a gas sample kit used for instructional purposed during the last war. The phial contents were found to be water. DERA, however, could not rule out the possibility that Mustard Gas at some concentration could have been present in the phial at some stage. A second phial was found on 23 February and this will be subjected to the same analysis and review. EOD inspections are being undertaken when appropriate but the likelihood of many more discoveries is considered to be a low risk.
25 Feb 1999 : Column: 414
This concern prompted a further inspection, which has concluded that the risk of additional similar discoveries is low.
Surveys carried out at the site identified that some of the land was contaminated with heavy metals (lead and cadmium), phyto-toxic metals (copper, nickel, zinc and chromium), radioactive material (radium) from former luminising activities, and small quantities of petrol and lubricants consistent with past use of the site. A full list of chemicals detected on the site is as follows:
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Defence Animal Centre; and what was the figure at its inception. [71901]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Squadron Leader P. C. Marks to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 February, 1999:
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Defence Animal Centre published its report for the year 1998-99; and what was the cost of production of the report. [73023]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Squadron Leader P. C. Marks to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 February 1999:
25 Feb 1999 : Column: 415
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Army Technical Support Agency published its report for 1997-98; and what was the cost of production of the report. [72820]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Army Technical Support Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Brigadier A. D. Ball to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 February 1999:
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to set targets for the Army Technical Support Agency for 1999-2000. [71908]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The Army Technical Support Agency, in common with other Defence Agencies, will be set Key Targets for 1999-2000 before the end of April 1999.
Mr. Viggers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to fix a date to receive a parliamentary delegation jointly with the Minister of Health, in relation to the Royal Hospital, Haslar, as requested by the hon. Member for Gosport. [73024]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The meeting has been arranged for 1700hrs on Monday 8 March 1999.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will set targets for the Defence Analytical Services Agency for 1999-2000. [72816]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I aim to announce the performance targets for 1999-2000 for the Defence Analytical Services Agency to Parliament by the end of April 1999.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to promote an increase in (i) the total sales and (ii) exports of the British food and drinks industry. [71604]
Mr. Morley:
My right hon. Friend the Minister takes every opportunity to draw attention to and promote the innovativeness, high quality and safety of British produced goods in general. The Government, particularly through their export assistance agency, Food From Britain, provide on-going support to assist the British food and drinks industry to expand its export markets.
25 Feb 1999 : Column: 416
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the British Frozen Food Federation; and what issues were discussed. [72728]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 24 February 1999]: Neither my right hon. Friend the Minister nor his ministerial colleagues at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have yet had the opportunity to meet with the British Frozen Food Federation.
normal background levels of Arsenic
occasional detectable levels of Mercury
background to highly significant levels of Copper
background to highly significant levels of Zinc
background to highly significant levels of Lead
traceable quantities of Nickel
traceable quantities of Cadmium
traceable quantities of Poly-Aromatic Hydrocarbons
184 mega becquerels of Radium.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of people currently employed by the Defence Animal Centre (DAC), and the number of people employed at its inception, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as acting Chief Executive of the DAC.
I can confirm that the DAC became a Defence Agency on 1 June 1993. The number of people employed was 224 (as at 31 March 1994), as reported in the first DAC Annual Report and Accounts. The number of people currently employed by the DAC is 190.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the publication of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) report for 1998-99 as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as acting Chief Executive of the DAC.
I can confirm that the Annual Report and Accounts has not yet been published and therefore I cannot give the cost of the publication. The report is due to be laid before Parliament before Parliament rises for the summer recess.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Annual Report and Accounts for 1997-98 for the Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA), as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the ATSA.
The Army Technical Support Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 1997-98 were laid before Parliament on 24th November 1998. We subsequently received 1,000 copies of the Report from The Stationery Office Limited at a cost of £4,595 (VAT exempt).
I hope that you find this information helpful.
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