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DERA
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the extent and nature of the public/private partnership for DERA. [74640]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 4 March 1999]: Initial advice from a team studying the options on the future of DERA is expected at the end of this month. Following a
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period of discussion and consultation, we would hope to make a decision and an announcement about the future of DERA later this year.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's tendering policy of proposed United Kingdom defence company mergers. [74644]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 4 March 1999]: The implications for MOD procurement policies and practice of any merger activity within the United Kingdom defence sector is assessed by the MOD on a case by case basis and in accordance with the regulatory process.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the basis of the methodologies used by (a) his Department and (b) consultants contracted by his Department to assess the effects of radiation exposure from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests upon servicemen and medical auxiliaries; what assessment he has made of their sensitivity to the available data; and what representation he has received in respect of them. [74960]
Mr. Spellar:
Radiation exposure of servicemen who participated in the UK's atmospheric nuclear tests was subject to pre-set standards which were directly based upon the contemporary guidance issued by the International Commission for Radiation Protection. There were two basic regimes. First, those who were known to be at risk were issued with personal dosimeters (film badges) and, if necessary, protective clothing. Secondly, and for the majority, the protective arrangement was to ensure that all personnel were accounted for and located at safe distances from the detonations. Additionally, there were programmes of general environmental monitoring covering the range and domestic areas including the muster locations. Of the 22,000 veterans included in the studies, some 5,000 were issued with film badges. Only 1,716 of these had non-zero recorded radiation doses; of these only 483 received total doses of more than 5 mSv and only 80 received more than 50 mSv. These figures and the results of the environmental monitoring are strong evidence that the majority of test veterans had no radiation exposure as a result of their participation.
The health of the test veteran population has been the subject of two epidemiological studies carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). The reports were published in 1988 and 1993. These studies made statistically based comparisons of the mortality and cancer experiences of the test veterans, regardless of the cause of the illness, with levels seen in both a matched control group and in the general population. The studies concluded that participation in the tests programme had not had a detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life or on their total risk of developing cancer.
Further and more detailed information about the methodologies used is given in the study reports copies of which are in the Library of the House. As regards representation, the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA) and their supporters have made clear their views on many occasions in recent years. However, the reports of these studies were peer reviewed,
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published in the scientific press and have not attracted any serious scientific criticism. The statistical sensitivity of the results is fully addressed in the reports.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases involving soldiers sentenced by non- military courts to terms of imprisonment have been disposed of under the provisions of section 70 of the Army Act 1955 for each year between 1988 and 1998 indicating (a) the court which dealt with the offence, (b) the nature of the offence, (c) the sentence and (d) whether the convicted person was discharged from the Army. [74428]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 5 March 1999]: No Army personnel have been convicted by civil courts under Section 70 of the Army Act 1955, as this provides for soldiers to be dealt with by military court-martial or summary dealing only. A number of soldiers have, however, been convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment by the civil courts but detailed information relating to such cases is not held centrally and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Section 134(1) of the Army Act prohibits a soldier from being tried by a court-martial or dealt summarily by his Commanding Officer for an offence, or substantially the same offence, of which he has been convicted in a civil court.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of (a) recruits enlisted into and (b) military personnel leaving the Territorial Army in each year since 1995-96. [74858]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 5 March 1999]: The information is not held in the form requested; however the number of personnel, soldiers and officers, entering and leaving the Territorial Army, including to and from Regular Army, in each year since 1995-96 is as follows:
| Intake | Outflow | |
|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 554 | 682 |
| 1996-97 | 613 | 719 |
| 1997-98 | 779 | 739 |
| Inflow | Outflow | |
|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 12,520 | 14,973 |
| 1996-97 | 13,380 | 14,291 |
| 1997-98 | 11,015 | 11,709 |
Notes:
1. Figures exclude Non Regular Permanent Staff.
2. Soldier Officer Inflows and Soldier Outflows include soldiers who have been promoted to TA officers.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made to ensure that voluntary groups that use Territorial Army centres will not be adversely affected as a consequence of his TA review. [74862]
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Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 5 March 1999]: At present, it is generally the case that voluntary groups rent space in TA centres on a commercial basis. We will ensure that voluntary groups, who make use of TA centres that are affected by the reforms, are given adequate notice to enable them to make alternative arrangements where necessary.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for TA personnel who are studying for qualifications at TA centres which are closing to continue their studies. [74859]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 5 March 1999]: Where a unit or TA Centre is to close, we are making arrangements to transfer those TA personnel who are willing and able to an alternative unit where they may be able to continue their studies if required by the role of their new unit.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the UK bases which have needed clean-up operations after US visiting forces have vacated them, indicating the nature of the pollution, the costs, and who paid for these costs in each case. [75117]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the existing arrangements, agreements and memoranda of understanding between UK and US Governments in respect of the US visiting forces at Menwith Hill. [75114]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The presence of the US Visiting Forces at RAF Menwith Hill is governed by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951 and other arrangements appropriate to the relationship which exists between the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States for the purposes of our common defence.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Cost Sharing Agreement 1973 between the UK and US Governments in respect of the US visiting forces. [75115]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
No. The 1973 Cost Sharing Arrangement is a confidential arrangement between the UK and US Governments and is being withheld under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the cost-sharing arrangements agreed between the US and UK Governments in respect of the US visiting forces. [75113]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The 1973 Cost Sharing Arrangement is the principal covering general costs sharing matters in relation to the presence of the United
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States Visiting Forces in the UK. A number of other arrangements exist which may contain cost sharing provisions but a record of these is not held centrally.
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