| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Hayes v. Attorney-General
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library copies of the witness statements disclosed by the respondent in the case of Hayes v. Attorney General. [88017]
The Attorney-General: No. The statements are subject to legal professional privilege.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the documents disclosed by the respondent in the case of Hayes v. Attorney General and place copies in the Library. [88018]
The Attorney-General: No. The documents were disclosed to the applicant only for the purposes of the proceedings in the employment tribunal, where the interests of justice required their disclosure. Many of the documents contain information about third parties which was imparted to me and to others in confidence. I believe that it would be inappropriate to disclose them further. It was not necessary to compile a list of the documents disclosed in the case and to publish a full list now would also breach the confidences referred to above.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Bovine TB
Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response the Government have made to recommendation 69 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention regarding TB and badgers. [88644]
Mr. Nick Brown: The Government submitted a formal response to this recommendation on 12 April. A copy has been placed in the House Libraries.
DEFENCE
Territorial Army
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the closure of the TA base in Caernarfon was announced; and if he will make a statement on the consultation carried out prior to the decision. [82268]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 27 April 1999]: The Territorial Army (TA) Centre in Caernarfon will remain open as the home of Company 3 Caernarfon Detachment, the Royal Welsh Regiment. This was announced on 17 November 1998. The plan was included,
24 Jun 1999 : Column: 450
but not challenged, during the extensive rounds of consultation with the Army, TA and TAVRAs, held before decisions were taken in November.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to encourage recruitment to the Territorial Army. [87876]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Territorial Army units continue to recruit locally to meet the overall target of some 10,000 recruits for this year. A national campaign to raise awareness of the TA and to attract recruits was run in February/March of this year involving the press, TV and a National Open Day. This was designed to show that the TA is maintaining its recruitment effort throughout the reform process. A further national campaign specifically aimed at recruiting into the Royal Army Medical Corps is planned for the autumn.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (i) current crew size and (ii) establishment of HMS Newcastle; and if he will make a statement. [86379]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The ship's company of HMS Newcastle on 11 June 1999 was 215 and her complement 226.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the long term future of HMS Monmouth. [86384]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
On current plans HMS Monmouth will remain operational for the foreseeable future.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the short-term and long-term future of (a) HMS Birmingham and (b) HMS London; and if he will make a statement. [86374]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
HMS London was decommissioned earlier this month. HMS Birmingham is currently on operational duty and is expected to be decommissioned later this year.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) operational state and (b) future of HMS Beaver; and if he will make a statement. [86373]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
HMS Beaver was decommissioned earlier this year and has since been placed on the disposal list.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances Chinook helicopters are made available by his Department for travel by the Royal Family. [87783]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The Royal Family's rotary wing air travel requirements are normally met by a dedicated Sikorsky S76C+ operated by the Royal Household or else by chartered helicopter. However, RAF
24 Jun 1999 : Column: 451
Support Helicopters, including the Chinook, are available to transport members of the Royal Family if required, subject to other operational requirements.
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what talks have taken place between British Military personnel and the Chief of Staff of the Gambian armed forces in recent months; and what was the purpose of the talks. [87948]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Two British military officers visited Gambia in May this year. The purpose of the visit was primarily fact finding, but also to make contact with the Gambian military. During the visit the British officers paid a call on the Chief of Staff of the Gambian armed forces, Colonel Jatta. Discussions covered regional peacekeeping matters.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of submarine spent nuclear fuel cores that have been transported to Sellafield in each of the last 10 years. [87706]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 22 June 1999]: The number of spent submarine fuel cores that have been transported to BNFL Sellafield for long term storage in each of the last 10 years was:
| Year | Fuel cores |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 3¼ |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | ¼ |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 (to date) | 1 |
These figures are rounded to the nearest ¼ reactor fuel core. Each "NTL3M" transport container will carry a number of individual components equivalent to ¼ of a submarine reactor fuel core.
NATO Peacekeeping Force (Young Soldiers)
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the deployment of under 18 year olds from British armed forces in the international peace force in Kosovo. [87976]
Mr. Doug Henderson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Ms Jones) on 22 October 1998, Official Report, column 1161, in which I stated that Service personnel would no longer be deployed if under 17 years of age. That policy applies to the operations currently underway in Kosovo.
Greenwich Hospital
Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the annual financial estimates and accounts for Greenwich Hospital. [88574]
24 Jun 1999 : Column: 452
Mr. Spellar:
Greenwich Hospital is a Crown charity, of which my right hon. Friend is the sole trustee. It derives all its income from its property and investments and applies it for the benefit of seafarers and their dependants. I am today laying before Parliament copies of the audited accounts for Greenwich Hospital for 1997-98. Following an undertaking given during the passage of the Greenwich Hospital Bill in 1967 by the then Under-Secretary of State for the Navy (Mr. Foley) it has been the practice also to place in the Library of both Houses copies of the annual financial estimates for Greenwich Hospital which, nowadays, are prepared solely for this purpose. This practice no longer serves a useful purpose, given the more informative published financial accounts, and I have therefore decided to discontinue it.
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to replace stocks of Tomahawk missiles used in the Kosovo theatre; what contracts exist with the United States for replacement of Tomahawk stocks; and if he will make a statement. [87829]
Mr. George Robertson:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 24 June 1999:
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) total expenditure by his Department on Tomahawk missiles from the United States and (b) average cost of each missile, including support costs. [87831]
Mr. George Robertson:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. and learned Member.
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley, to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 24 June 1999:
24 Jun 1999 : Column: 453
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tomahawk missiles were (a) available for use by the British armed forces and (b) in stock on (i) 20 March and (ii) 16 June. [87833]
Mr. George Robertson:
I am withholding the detailed information you requested under Section 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Sufficient Tomahawk missiles were available throughout the conflict to enable the UK to maintain its significant contribution to the successful NATO campaign.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about proposals for the replacement of stocks of TOMAHAWK missiles used in the Kosovo theatre, and contracts with the United States for replacement of TOMAHAWK stocks. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
The arrangements for obtaining replacement TOMAHAWK missiles for those expended in the Kosovo campaign are being discussed with the US government. The US government is approaching these discussions in a positive manner but I am unable to provide further details at present.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Ministry of Defence's total expenditure on TOMAHAWK missiles from the United States and the average cost of each missile, including support costs. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
Total expenditure on the procurement of Tomahawk missiles, under the current Foreign Military Sales case with the US, is to be some £52M. The average procurement cost per missile is just over £800K. In addition each missile is likely to need two planned refurbishments at a cost of £210K per refurbishment, but no such payments will be incurred for missiles which have been expended.
Missile costs make up only a part of the overall cost of procuring the Tomahawk system. Overall costs include the procurement of the missiles, test and training systems, submarine weapon handling, and fire control systems, and provision of a mission planning and targeting facility.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |