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DEFENCE
Foreign Media Interviews
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a translation of his interview in the al-Sharq al Aswat Arabic language newspaper of 23 October 1998. [74139]
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Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 2 March 1999]: I have today placed a translation of the interview in the Library of the House.
Mr. Brazier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on policy with regard to future use of small arms trainer ranges by HM armed forces. [81776]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Small arms trainer ranges have proved a cost-effective way of training servicemen in rifle and, more recently, pistol marksmanship. The Ministry of Defence is considering expanding the role of the trainer ranges to encompass training in the use of a number of other close combat weapons and to improve training realism.
Mr. Brazier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the small arms trainer ranges operational in the United Kingdom prior to the strategic defence review, indicating (a) regular, (b) TA and (c) Cadet Unit numbers catered for at each. [81779]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Small arms trainer (SAT) systems are currently operational at the following locations in the United Kingdom:
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| Location | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Bordon | 1 |
| Truro | 1 |
| Bridge of Don | 1 |
| Newcastle | 1 |
| Sheffield | 1 |
| Devises | 1 |
| Bury St. Edmunds | 1 |
| Newham | 1 |
| Exeter | 1 |
| Grantham | 1 |
| Glasgow | 1 |
| Liverpool | 1 |
| Location | Quantity |
|---|---|
| High Wycombe | 1 |
| Stafford | 1 |
| St. Mawgan | 1 |
| Boulmer | 1 |
| Saxa Vord | 1 |
| Kinloss | 1 |
| Cottesmore | 1 |
| Innsworth | 1 |
| Odiham | 1 |
| Henlow | 1 |
| Brampton | 1 |
| Cosford | 1 |
| Valley | 1 |
| Halton | 2 |
| Cranwell | 1 |
| Honington | 2 |
| Rudloe Manor | 1 |
| Benson | 1 |
| Lyneham | 1 |
| Leuchars | 1 |
| Location | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Yeovilton | 1 |
| Norton Manor | 1 |
| Plymouth | 3 |
| Portsmouth | 3 |
| Poole | 1 |
| Bickleigh | 1 |
| Arbroath | 1 |
| Faslane | 1 |
| Fareham | 1 |
| Lympstone | 1 |
These facilities can be used by local or visiting units (regular, reserve and cadet) and details of specific users are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
29 Apr 1999 : Column: 244
Departmental Legal Business
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy when (a) conducting legal proceedings and (b) seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed; and for each of the last three years (i) on how many occasions his Department instructed Queen's Counsel and (ii) what was the total cost of instructing Queen's Counsel. [81761]
Mr. Doug Henderson: My Department uses counsel to conduct legal proceedings or to provide legal advice as recommended by the Department's various solicitors or the Department's Legal Adviser. Junior counsel from the Attorney-General's panel or Queen's Counsel are instructed according to the degree of experience and expertise required in each case.
The number of occasions on which Queen's Counsel have been instructed in the last three years, and the cost of doing so, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Falklands
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the Falkland Islands garrison of the decision of the Government of Chile to withdraw air links to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [81867]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The suspension of Lan Chile flights between Chile and the Falkland Islands will have no effect on the Falkland Islands garrison.
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet the Falkland Islands Government's request for armaments for fisheries protection vessels; and if he will make a statement. [81960]
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce his decision on the calibre of guns for Falkland Islands fishery protection vessels; and if he will make a statement. [81870]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: I have been asked to reply.
We take the matter of illegal fishing in the Falkland Islands seriously and it is our shared objective with the Falkland Islands Government to combat the problem. Illegal fishing has the potential to undermine the Falklands economy and attempts to conserve fish stocks. Recently, there have been up to an estimated 50 unlicensed vessels in Falklands waters and we assume that all were engaged in illegal fishing activities. The number of vessels now appears to be declining.
29 Apr 1999 : Column: 245
In January this year, we authorised the arming of a Fisheries Protection Vessel (FPV) with a 20mm Oerlikon cannon, which is the best weapon for the task of deterring illegal fishing and dealing with it, if necessary. The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) is responsible for the procurement and shipment of the cannon. This process has taken longer than anticipated. We have tried to help FIG speed up the shipment of the consignment but it cannot be carried on a passenger aircraft together with the ammunition needed. Accordingly, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to fly the cannon out on the next freight flight on 6 May.
FIG requested approval for temporary use of a smaller, 0.50 inch, machine gun on an FPV, as an interim measure. This request was carefully considered and a decision was made not to give approval. The machine gun is not a good visible deterrent and there are concerns that warning shots, which the FPV would be required to fire to alert a suspected unlicensed vessel, would not be seen or heard.
As a temporary measure, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to our request for one of the Royal Navy vessels stationed in the Falklands to accompany an FPV on its patrols. We have also made representations to the Taiwanese authorities in London and Taipei, as the majority of unlicensed vessels in Falklands waters are theirs. We shall continue to urge the Taiwanese authorities to bring their fleet under control.
We have received representations on this issue from FIG and its Fisheries Department, several MPs and from members of the public. Commercial operators who are licence-holders have made indirect representations.
We shall continue to support FIG in its attempts to combat illegal fishing.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's budget for pay within the Defence Operating Costs Budget for 1999-2000. [82514]
Mr. George Robertson:
The disclosure of information on planned expenditure on pay at this stage in the financial year could reveal internal assumptions about increases in the pay bill while negotiations on civil service pay for the current year are continuing. I am therefore withholding the information requested under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons Table 1a of his Department's expenditure plans 1999-2000 to 2001-02 does not contain entries for the years 2000-01 and 2001-02. [82516]
Mr. George Robertson:
Table 1a of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1999-2000 to 2001-2002: Ministry of Defence" does not contain entries for the years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 because I have not decided on the allocation of resources for these years. Internal plans for these years represent projections and planning assumptions used to inform advice to me and my Ministerial colleagues on the affordability of the various
29 Apr 1999 : Column: 246
elements of the Defence programme. Such information is covered by Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
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