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Royal Army Medical Corps
13. Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on funding for the Royal Army Medical Corps. [82590]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Strategic Defence Review increased the size of the Royal Army Medical Corps by 212 Regular and 675 Territorial Army personnel, an increase of 14.5 per cent. overall. This is part of a major enhancement of the Defence Medical Services for which we are providing an extra £140 million over the years 1998-99 to 2001-02, with further expenditure planned in subsequent years.
Former Service Men (Sexual Orientation)
14. Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the position of former service men discharged on the basis of their sexual orientation. [82591]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Ministry of Defence does not monitor Service personnel once they have been discharged from the Armed Forces, whether on the grounds of their sexual orientation, or any other grounds.
NATO Summit
16. Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions were made at the NATO summit in Washington regarding the non-proliferation of (i) nuclear weapons and (ii) weapons of mass destruction; and if he will make a statement. [82593]
Mr. George Robertson:
At the NATO Summit meeting in Washington on 23-25 April, which I attended, the Alliance decided to launch a Weapons of Mass Destruction Initiative. It is designed to integrate and
10 May 1999 : Column: 17
further improve Alliance political and military efforts to counter their proliferation. This decision was recorded in the summit communique.
17. Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will announce his plans for safeguarding the war memorial and buildings of staff college, Camberley; and if he will make a statement. [82595]
Mr. Spellar:
In the light of the decision to base the Joint Doctrine and Concepts Centre at Shrivenham, a further review of the future of the Camberley site will now take place and a report will go to Ministers in the autumn. This solution will take full account of the war memorial in the Main Building.
18. Mr. John Cryer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned gift of guided missiles to Saudi Arabia. [82596]
Mr. George Robertson:
The details of the gift of Paveway bombs are contained in the Departmental Minute which was laid before Parliament on 4 February 1999.
19. Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Territorial Army is currently deployed on operations. [82597]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
334 Members of the Territorial Army (TA) are currently deployed on operations, and these represent some 0.67 per cent. of the overall TA. The majority of these are in Bosnia.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of morale in the Territorial Army. [82605]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 February 1999, Official Report, columns 27-28. The situation remains unchanged.
20. Mr. Gerald Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the proposed reorganisation of the Parachute Regiment following operations in Kosovo. [82598]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
No. The current situation in Kosovo does not affect the Strategic Defence Review conclusions made in respect of the Parachute Regiment.
25. Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are currently deployed in Bosnia. [82603]
Mr. George Robertson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer given today, Official Report, column 3, to my hon. Friends the Members for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) and Plymouth, Sutton (Mrs. Gilroy).
10 May 1999 : Column: 18
26. Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in determining the future use of the old and the new ranges in Shoeburyness. [82604]
Mr. Spellar:
Progress is being made with respect to the disposal of defence establishments at Shoeburyness, Horseshoe Barracks and the Old Ranges (including Gunners Park). Having been declared surplus to my Department's requirements, they are now being prepared for disposal. A draft Planning Brief has been the subject of a public consultation exercise and was approved by the full Borough Council on 25 February. Marketing of the site will begin shortly. With regard to the New Ranges, DERA is seeking to appoint a new contractor to support the operation of the range. It is intended that this contractor will also work with the Agency to improve exploitation of the range through the introduction of alternative activities to supplement income. Several possible diversification opportunities have been identified. However, as negotiations are currently in hand with preferred bidders, it would be premature to provide details until the remaining contractual issues have been resolved.
27. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of RAF Strike Command is currently committed to operations. [82606]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
As at 7 May 1999, approximately 8 per cent. of Strike Command's trained strength is currently deployed on operations.
The figures represent personnel deployed away from their parent station and, as such, do not account for personnel supporting operations from their normal station, such as those at RAF Bruggen. Similarly, the figures do not include personnel working at Strike Command or Group Headquarters who are involved as part of their normal tasks in planning activity in support of operations. It would not be straightforward to give an accurate figure which included these personnel.
28. Mr. Beard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to adapt the Army's tactical doctrine to the more flexible role defined for it by the Strategic Defence Review. [82607]
Mr. George Robertson:
The Army's tactical doctrine is under continuous review and improvement, taking into account the lessons of current and recent operations. This process now includes planning for the employment of the new structures created by the Strategic Defence Review, such as the Air Assault Brigade with its Attack Helicopters. In addition, a Joint Doctrine and Concepts Centre is being established at Shrivenham. It will be a centre of excellence on joint doctrine for all three Services.
30. Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the resource assumptions made in the strategic defence review. [82609]
Mr. George Robertson:
None.
10 May 1999 : Column: 19
29. Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Eurofighter programme. [82608]
Mr. George Robertson:
The Eurofighter programme is progressing satisfactorily. Production contracts for the first 148 Eurofighter aircraft, 55 of which are for the Royal Air Force, were signed in Munich on 18 September 1998. The project remains on schedule to deliver the RAF's first Eurofighter in June 2002.
The seven development aircraft have now flown a total of some 950 sorties, (some 770 flying hours), achieving speeds up to Mach 2.0.
Achievements this year include the signing of the initial aircraft supports contracts in January, and a high altitude demonstration of the aircraft powered by the new Eurojet 200 engine. Most recently, the rear seat controls in one of the 2 twin-seater development aircraft have been demonstrated.
32. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current deployment of the Trident submarine fleet. [82611]
Mr. George Robertson:
There are currently three Trident submarines in the operational cycle in order to maintain one submarine on deterrent patrol at all times. The UK's minimum deterrent force is maintained at several days' notice to fire as was announced in the Strategic Defence Review.
33. Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current cost of garrisoning the Falklands. [82612]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The cost to the Ministry of Defence of the Falklands garrison in the financial year 1998-99 is expected to be approximately £70 million.
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