| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Brady: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day since 15 April; and what percentage of them received a substantive response on that day. [87327]
Mr. Vaz: Since 15 April 1999, 21 parliamentary questions for written answer on a named day have been tabled to the Lord Chancellor's Department; 100 per cent. received a substantive response on that day.
Women's Organisations (Consultation)
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [87193]
Mr. Vaz: The Government are committed to making sure that policies are inclusive and take full account of the needs and experience of all those affected by them. Guidelines on Policy Appraisals for Equal Treatment published in November 1998 commit policy makers to assessing how proposals affect different groups of people.
Application of the guidance has been the responsibility of individual Departments. Within this Department we are making use of consultation, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy upon women. During this Session no women's organisation has been specifically consulted over proposed legislation.
21 Jun 1999 : Column: 300
36. Mr. Steen:
To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time administrative staff are employed by the National Audit Office. [86566]
Mr. Sheldon:
On 31 March 1999 the National Audit Office employed 130 full-time staff involved in the delivery of support services and 18 staff working on a part-time basis. These represent 19 per cent. of all NAO staff and comprise specialists involved in the delivery of a range of key Support Services.
Women's Organisations (Consultation)
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [87192]
The Attorney-General: My Department has not proposed any legislation during this Session.
DEFENCE
Royal Hospital, Haslar
6. Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received on the future of the Royal Hospital, Haslar. [86535]
Mr. Doug Henderson: Since 14 December 1998, my Department has received around 500 representations on the future of the Royal Hospital, Haslar. This figure includes letters and petitions from hon. Members and members of the public. Together with my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health, I have also had a meeting with the hon. Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers), my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Rapson), the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) and the right hon. Member for Fareham (Sir P. Lloyd), plus local representatives, on the closure of the Royal Hospital, Haslar.
Territorial Army (Balkans)
15. Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army are currently serving in the Balkans. [86545]
Mr. Doug Henderson: As of 15 June 1999, 393 members of the Territorial Army were serving in the Balkans. Three hundred and fifty-five of these are deployed to Bosnia, representing some 10 per cent. of our troops in the country.
34. Mr. Green:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Territorial Army is currently deployed on operations. [86564]
21 Jun 1999 : Column: 301
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Three hundred and ninety three members of the Territorial Army (TA) are currently deployed on operations, and these represent some 0.79 per cent. of the overall TA. The majority of these are in Bosnia.
16. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 18 May 1999, Official Report, column 303, on Iraqi no-fly zones, if he will take steps to investigate the Iraqi claims of civilian casualties caused on 29 and 30 April and 12 May. [86546]
Mr. George Robertson:
I am aware of Iraqi claims of civilian casualties occurring on the dates in question. As we have repeatedly said, we make every effort to reduce the risk of any such casualties and very much regret if they occur. But I can confirm that on all three days, repeated and direct threats from Iraqi forces, including heavy anti-aircraft fire, forced coalition aircraft patrolling the northern no fly zone in Iraq to take defensive action.
17. Mr. Beard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards NATO enlargement. [86547]
Mr. George Robertson:
Enlargement of NATO was discussed by NATO Heads of State and Government at the Washington Summit in April. In his statement to the House on 26 April 1999, Official Report, columns 21-23, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said that he and his NATO colleagues reaffirmed the alliance's continuing openness to new members and agreed a membership action plan for countries that aspire to join the alliance.
18. Mr. Borrow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's Learning Forces Initiative. [86548]
20. Mr. Miller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's Learning Forces Initiative. [86550]
32. Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's Learning Forces Initiative. [86562]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
As I have previously announced, Standard Learning Credits were introduced in April which increased by 25 per cent. the financial assistance available annually for Service personnel to undertake education for their personal development. Enhanced Learning Credits will be introduced next year. This major new scheme will provide a substantial source of funding for personal development both during service in the Armed Forces and for up to 10 years thereafter.
21. Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's green transport plans. [86551]
Mr. Spellar:
The turbulence associated with the refurbishment of the Ministry of Defence's Main Building in Whitehall has made it impracticable to introduce green
21 Jun 1999 : Column: 302
transport plans for MOD buildings in London. Work involved in their production would inevitably be largely nugatory.
Outside London, a draft green transport action plan has been prepared for MOD's Abbey Wood site at Bristol. Work on green transport plans for other MOD sites is due to start once analysis has been completed of recent pilot surveys on commuting and duty travel conducted at three representative MOD sites.
In the meantime, the Department is concentrating on more efficient fleet management, an approach which is consistent with our intention to handle green transport plans, as part of wider Environmental Management Systems.
22. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of the Kosovo conflict for the future military structure of NATO. [86552]
Mr. George Robertson:
NATO and the UK will be looking closely at the military and other lessons to be learned from the Kosovo conflict. But because operations are continuing, it is too early to make any firm assessments of its impact on NATO's military structure.
24. Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use by his Department of Antonov aircraft in the Kosovo crisis. [86554]
Mr. George Robertson:
During the course of operations in connection with the crisis in Kosovo, the UK Ministry of Defence has, as of 11 June, chartered 32 Antonov 124 heavy lift aircraft. We will continue to spot-charter Antonov aircraft, among others, as required.
26. Mr. Jim Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for British forces' future involvement in the NATO operation in Kosovo. [86556]
Mr. George Robertson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes), Official Report, 21 June 1999, column 750.
30. Mr. Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role Britain's reserve forces will play in assisting refugees to return to Kosovo. [86560]
Mr. George Robertson:
Members of the Reserve forces in Kosovo are fully integrated with the Regular units with which they are serving. They will therefore be assisting with all operational tasks required to create a safe environment in which the refugees can return to their homes.
31. Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of depleted uranium and cluster bombs in the Kosovan theatre. [86561]
Mr. George Robertson:
Cluster bombs have been used by the RAF in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia when suitable targets were identified, such as armoured and
21 Jun 1999 : Column: 303
soft-skinned vehicles, mortar and artillery positions, and fielded forces. In every case the greatest care was taken to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.
Depleted uranium based ammunition has not been used by UK forces in Yugoslavia. But to ensure, should it be required, that British troops would have the most effective means for self-protection, I have approved the deployment of some depleted uranium based tank ammunition.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of peacekeeping in Kosovo in each of the next three years. [87103]
Mr. George Robertson:
Given previous uncertainties over Milosevic's actions and the responses that would be needed, it is not possible to produce useful cost estimates. Following the recent peace agreement, we should soon have a clearer basis on which to estimate likely future costs.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to the Exchequer of the military action in Kosovo up to 10 June. [87102]
Mr. George Robertson:
As at the end of May, some £43 million of additional expenditure has fallen to my Department as a direct consequence of the UK's military response to the Kosovo crisis. This figure does not include the costs of replenishing stocks of expended ordnance.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if British aircraft have used depleted uranium munitions during the bombing in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [86992]
Mr. George Robertson:
DU-based ammunition were not used by the UK forces in air operations over Kosovo and Serbia.
I have approved the deployment of some depleted uranium tank ammunition to theatre to ensure that British troops would have the most effective means for self-protection, if it were required.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans NATO has to remove all combat-effective firearms from private ownership in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [87337]
Mr. George Robertson:
NATO has no plans to remove all combat-effective firearms from private ownership in Kosovo. However, UNSCR 1244 demands the demilitarisation of the KLA and other armed Kosovo Albanian groups, in accordance with the requirements laid down by the commander of KFOR.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what numbers of (a) small arms, (b) man-portable and (c) larger weaponry are deemed to be held in Kosovo (i) by the KLA and (ii) in private hands. [87305]
Mr. George Robertson:
We have no reliable information on the number of weapons held by the KLA, or in private hands.
We assess that the majority of the KLA's small arms are old and probably originated from Albania. During the past year, they have acquired more modern and
21 Jun 1999 : Column: 304
sophisticated weapons systems, including anti-tank and anti-air. We also assess that KLA have few heavy weapons.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Kosovo Agreement was classified as NATO Confidential. [87338]
Mr. George Robertson:
The Military Technical Agreement is not classified. A copy of the agreement has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the rotation plans for troops to be deployed in Kosovo, with particular reference to the replacement of British troops by those of other nationalities. [87302]
Mr. George Robertson:
The Permanent Joint Headquarters is currently drawing up plans for the rotation of UK forces involved in operations in and around Kosovo. With regard to burden-sharing with other nations, Canadian forces are already working closely with British forces in Kosovo. We are consulting closely with NATO and non-NATO allies about other possibilities for co-operation, but it is not yet clear whether this will result in arrangements which could see British troops being replaced by other national contingents.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |