| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Defence Agencies Merger
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the merger of the Military Survey and Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (JARIC) Defence Agencies. [83904]
Mr. Spellar: The case for merging the Military Survey and JARIC Defence Agencies into a single, converged Agency was considered under the Strategic Defence Review, and built on earlier work.
The final study, which was completed in September 1998, concluded that there were a number of drivers, mainly in the medium to long-term, recommending the merger of Military Survey and JARIC. These would
10 May 1999 : Column: 20
secure improved operational effectiveness and better service to Defence. Early implementation of merger was recommended.
Following full consultation, I have asked the Director General of Intelligence and Geographic Resources to proceed with the implementation of a single Agency to be launched in April 2000. The post of Chief Executive Designate of the new Agency, Colonel Peter Walker OBE, has been filled by internal competition. On promotion to Brigadier he will lead an Implementation Team which will be established shortly before he assumes his Chief Executive role in April 2000.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the illustrative resource accounting and budgeting accounts for his Department for 1998-99. [82517]
Mr. George Robertson:
The first Departmental Resource Account for publication is that for 1999-2000, which will appear in autumn 2000, in line with the timetable set out in the White Paper "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money" (Cmd. 2929, July 1995). The 1998-99 Departmental Resource Account is not due to be published.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the required increase in (a) RAF squadrons and (b) RAF strength to achieve an average deployment on operations for RAF personnel of six months every 30 months based on the RAF's deployed position as at 23 March. [83231]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 4 May 1999]: The target figure for nights away from home on deployment or detachment is 140 nights in one year, or 280 aggregated over two years in peace-time. This needs to be seen in the context of the likely demands placed on the Royal Air Force over a period of time rather than on the basis of a snapshot on one particular day.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-servicemen receive levels of pensions that were adversely affected by short-term pay restraint measures which were in force at their date of retirement. [82575]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 4 May 1999]: During periods of pay restraint, principally during the mid 1970s, the pay of members of the armed forces rose by less than the rate of increase of the retail prices index (RPI). As a consequence the pensions of those who retired during these periods can be lower than the pensions of those who retired either before or after that period. The numbers affected are not known. However, the numbers leaving the armed forces during the years 1976-78 ranged between 46,500 and 48,500, but not all of those who retired during those years would have been entitled to a pension.
10 May 1999 : Column: 21
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of a graphite bomb. [83465]
Mr. George Robertson:
The UK armed forces do not hold such weapons and we have no details about their cost.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for information he received under the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last parliamentary session; and how many of these applications were granted. [83113]
Mr. Spellar:
For monitoring purposes, this information is collected on a calendar year basis. Information for 1997 was published last year in the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information 1997 Report. In 1998 my Department received 271 applications for information under the Code, and granted 248 of them.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future development of the RAF museum at Hendon and Cosford. [82594]
Mr. Spellar:
Development of the RAF Museum is a matter for its Trustees. A new Visitor Centre at the RAF Museum's Cosford site was completed last year. The Trustees' plans for a major development at Hendon, which are dependent upon Heritage Lottery Fund grants, are progressing well. My Department supports these plans. Indeed, we funded the initial work and have promised further funds towards the Museum's contribution to the development costs.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to publish the statement on the Defence Estimates; and if he will make a statement. [83581]
Mr. George Robertson:
I have made no decision on the publication date of the 1999 Defence White Paper. I am keeping the timing of publication under review in the light of developments in the Balkans. As I informed the House of Commons Defence Committee in February, the Defence White Paper will be a forward-looking policy document complementing the Annual Performance Report and replacing the Statement on the Defence Estimates.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what skill shortages he has identified within Her Majesty's forces. [82602]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
In the Naval Service there is a shortfall of Engineer Officers, particularly Direct Graduate Entry Engineers, and Engineer (Training Managers). For Ratings/Other Ranks the shortfall categories are: Operator Mechanics; trained Naval Nurses; Short Engagement Seamen; Artificer Apprentices; Commando Medical Assistants; and General Duties Marines. For the Army,
10 May 1999 : Column: 22
there are skills shortages in the medical, dental, and veterinary services. Shortfalls also exist in the Royal Artillery, Royal Signals, Infantry, Army Air Corps, Royal Logistics Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Intelligence Corps and Corps of Army Musicians. The RAF has a shortfall in the number of junior officer fast jet pilots, and officers in engineering and medical branches. A shortage in RAF Fighter Controllers is also giving cause for concern.
Each Service has introduced a range of initiatives to reduce these shortfalls.
Mr. Hesford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for encouraging the power generating companies to increase their use of renewable energy sources. [82244]
Mr. Battle:
Renewable sources of energy make an important contribution to secure, sustainable and diverse energy supplies and are an essential element of a cost- effective climate change programme. The Government are working towards a target of renewable energy providing 10 per cent. of UK electricity supplies as soon as possible. They hope to achieve this by 2010. I have recently published "New and Renewable Energy: Prospects for the 21st Century", which seeks views on the balance of measures and the precise form of support for renewables in the next stage of their development. It identifies the key issues which the Government, industry and other players will need to address. It affirms the Government's commitment to their new drive to develop renewables; identifies the practical steps which might be needed to achieve this objective; and seeks to engage a wider public in the development and realisation of its strategy.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many redundancies were reported to his Department (a) in 1997, (b) in 1998 and (c) to 31 March 1999, in (i) Southport and (ii) the North West of England. [82911]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The number of redundancies reported to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State were:
| Southport | North West Region | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 314 | 33,316 |
| 1998 | 516 | 36,948 |
| to 31 March 1999 | 359 | 18,697 |
Home Businesses
Mr. Cotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of businesses in the United Kingdom run from home; and what initiatives his Department has taken to address the specific needs of those businesses. [83040]
10 May 1999 : Column: 23
Mr. Wills
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: No official estimate has been made of the number of businesses run from home. The Labour Force Survey, Spring 1998, estimated that 600,000 self employed people work mainly from their own home, and a further 1.1 million use their home as a base while working in different places.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |