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Aldermaston
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many French personnel have visited AWE Aldermaston in the last 12 months. [88140]
Mr. Spellar: During the period 1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999, a total of 82 French personnel visited AWE Aldermaston.
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits of US personnel to AWE Aldermaston have occurred in the last 12 months. [88137]
Mr. Spellar: During the period 1 June 1998 to 31 May 1999, a total of 110 visits to AWE Aldermaston by US personnel, involving one or more individuals, took place.
Tanks (Yugoslavia)
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many tanks were (a) destroyed and (b) significantly damaged during the military action against Yugoslavia. [88079]
Mr. George Robertson [holding answer 24 June 1999]: Now that KFOR troops have deployed into Kosovo, a fuller assessment of the damage inflicted on Yugoslav forces is under way. This will take some time to complete. But the measure of the campaign's success lies in the fact that it resulted in the withdrawal of Milosevic's troops from Kosovo, the entry of KFOR and the return of the refugees.
Controlled Substances (Emissions)
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the letter of 3 October 1998, D/MIN/(DP)(TG)/3521/98M, on atmospheric pollution, what collaborative research and development programmes aimed at identifying further alternatives to ozone- depleting substances in the applications where they are still necessary have been carried out in the last nine months; and what reduction has taken place in controlled substances where acceptable alternatives are available. [87386]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 29 June 1999]: In my response to the hon. Member's earlier question on this subject on 18 January 1999, Official Report, columns 312-13, I reported on the continuing progress made by the MOD in reducing its use of ozone depleting substances.
Since the beginning of the year, a number of CFC and halon systems have been converted to alternative substances. The Royal Navy has completed the conversion or replacement of refrigeration plant on HMS Fearless, HMS Illustrious, HMS Leeds Castle, HMS Sultan, HMS Lancaster and RFA Black Rover. Modification kits have been procured for conversion of refrigeration plants on HMS Spartan, HMS Torbay and HMS Trenchant, and for a chilled water plant on HMS Spartan. Installation of a new chilled water plant has started on HMS Torbay. Action has been taken to procure the kits for conversion of
30 Jun 1999 : Column: 161
refrigeration plants on the Type 23 frigates. The Army has completed trials of alternatives to halon fire extinguishants for use in in-service armoured vehicle engine compartments and an acceptable fire extinguishant has been identified. A programme of work to convert these systems is now being drawn up. Work to convert CFC environment cooling systems in armoured vehicles has also started. The Defence Procurement Agency has completed the majority of its trials of alternative refrigerants in equipment for which it is responsible and the final report on the conversion of the Challenger 2 engine fire protection systems is expected during July. The Royal Air Force has completed the conversion of refrigerators on all but two of the E3 Sentry aircraft; these remaining aircraft will be modified as soon as operational commitments allow. In a number of cases, equipment that used ozone-depleting substances has been decommissioned as surplus to requirements. At DERA Chertsey, for example, this has reduced the installed quantity of CFC refrigerants by approximately 230 tonnes.
The use of CFC refrigerants will be necessary until conversion programmes can be completed or, where conversion is not technically and economically feasible, until equipment is removed from service. For halon systems which protect, amongst others, existing aircraft, ship machinery spaces and armoured vehicle crew compartments, acceptable alternatives have not been identified, despite considerable international effort. The MOD Corporate Research Programme is funding a study by DERA into alternative fire extinguishants for use in normally occupied enclosed spaces. The study has identified two classes of material with promising fire extinguishing properties. These are the tropodegradable bromoalkenes and a range of phosphorus-containing compounds. The aim is to identify one or more chemicals with good performance and acceptable toxicological and environmental characteristics. This work is being undertaken in close collaboration with the US Advanced Agent Working Group and the US Department of Defence's Next Generation Fire Suppression Technology Program. The Royal Navy continues its sponsorship of research into water mist technologies for potential use in fire protection in new warships. The work has demonstrated that low pressure fine water spray systems with certain additives can give a very effective performance and this work will be validated with real-scale tests over the next 18 months. Close contact is being maintained with the US Navy and US Coast Guard who are also developing water-based technologies for use in future ships.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to market test services previously supplied to it by the Security Facilities Executive. [87775]
Mr. Spellar:
SAFE, now the Security Facilities Division of the Cabinet Office, continues to supply specialist security advice and services. The MOD has not market tested these services.
30 Jun 1999 : Column: 162
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the broad areas of assistance that have been provided to date to France to aid their stockpile stewardship programme. [88141]
Mr. Spellar:
The MOD continues to maintain contacts with France on a range of technical and scientific issues relating to nuclear weapons. I am withholding more specific information under the terms of Exemption Category I of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the European Communities working groups which met over the last 12 months with a representative from his Department in attendance; if he will list the number of times each met; if he will indicate the nature of the Government's representation; and if he will make a statement. [88484]
Mr. Spellar:
Ministry of Defence officials have attended meetings of POLARM, an ad hoc EU working party on European armaments policy, on four occasions in the last 12 months.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place copies of the minutes of the nine meetings of the Aldermaston Health and Safety at Work Committee in the Library. [89018]
Mr. Spellar:
I have arranged for this to be done.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the new BMW-Rover deal on United Kingdom suppliers to the company. [88501]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: The new R30 model this investment secures comes into production in 2003. Rover have therefore yet to open discussions with suppliers. The action taken by the Government to secure the future of Longbridge will provide opportunities for UK suppliers which otherwise would not have been available.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the conditions he has set for the Government investment in Rover, Longbridge. [88503]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: The exact conditions of the aid package to Rover are commercially confidential.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the Small Business Service; and if he will make a statement. [89517]
30 Jun 1999 : Column: 163
Mr. Byers:
The Government are planning to set up a Small Business Service with three main tasks: to act as a voice for small businesses at the heart of Government; to simplify and improve the quality and coherence of Government support for small businesses; to help small firms deal with regulation and ensure small firms' interests are properly considered in future regulation.
We want to ensure that opportunities for enterprise are open to all; and to create an environment where more entrepreneurs emerge and are successful.
The Small Business Service will be headed by a Chief Executive who will report to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and have direct access to Ministers across Government. He or she will have a substantial and wide-ranging role, including:
One particular proposal is to set up the Small Business Service as a Next Steps Agency within the Department of Trade and Industry as from April 2000.
Other key proposals include:
Committee
a right to be consulted on all new Government legislation presented to Parliament in Westminster that is likely to affect small businesses; and a right to be consulted on all new proposals for business support likely to affect small business in England;
representing the interests and concerns of small firms and ensuring they are taken into account by Government;
responsibility for ensuring that all Government services directed primarily or mainly to small businesses are accessible through Small Business Service local outlets, thus taking forward the Business Link network;
I am today launching a public consultation on the Small Business Service, which includes a range of proposals in addition to the role and responsibilities of the Chief Executive.
responsibility for ensuring that the delivery of business support services reflects local priorities so that it is business-led and Government-backed. In addition, local delivery arrangements will be shaped by the overall economic strategies developed by the Regional Development Agencies.
creating an independent advisory body--the "Enterprise Council" to advise the Chief Executive and report regularly to Ministers on matters of concern to small business;
Copies of the consultation document and a summary leaflet with the main proposals have been placed in the Library of the House. I am inviting comments on my proposals by 30 September.
making the Small Business Service responsible for managing the Government's Enterprise Fund;
making the Small Business Service responsible for providing practical help with payroll administration;
giving the Small Business Service responsibility for providing co-ordinated information for small firms on their regulatory obligations and for developing ways to work with regulators so as to ensure that they provide information and guidance material tailored to the needs of small businesses.
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