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JP233 System
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exports of JP233 Runway Denial System the Government have approved; and if he will make a statement on JP233 system support technicians with respect to their recall from abroad by his Government. [91880]
Mr. George Robertson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 July 1999, Official Report, column 286. The Government are strongly committed to applying the terms of the Ottawa Convention under which JP233 would be prohibited as an anti-personnel landmine. The recall or reassignment to other tasks of any technicians working overseas is a matter for their employer.
Chinook Helicopters
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (1) pursuant to his answer of 14 July 1999, Official Report, column 229, if he will place the full contents of the Air Safety Action Message CH-47-99-ASMA-02 161228Z in the Library and indicate the actions taken by his Department for each of the checks identified; [92096]
- (2) if he will assess, in relation to the crash of Chinook ZD576, the circumstances of the US incident that resulted in the issuing of the Air Safety Action Message CH-47-99-ASAM-02 161228Z; and if he will make a statement; [92088]
(3) if he will list the reported instances of hydraulic contamination reported on Chinook helicopters for each year since 1993; [92086]
(4) if hydraulic contamination has been identified as the (a) possible and (b) confirmed cause of instances of uncommanded flight manoeuvres on the Chinook helicopter since December 1993; [92087]
(5) if Air Accidents Investigation Branch personnel investigating the fatal crash of RAF Chinook ZD576 have identified problems relating to hydraulic contamination; and if he will make a statement; [92061]
(6) what instances of (a) confirmed and (b) suspected hydraulic contamination have been reported on Chinook helicopters since the issuance of the Air Safety Action Message CH-47-99-ASAM-02 161228Z. [92085]
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what design changes were made to the FADEC software for RAF Chinook MK2 after May 1994; and what was the cost to his Department of this work; [92329]
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 49
(3) pursuant to his answer of 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 96, on Chinook helicopters, what was the cost to his Department of the redesign changes incorporated in the FADEC software by Textron Lycoming between 1989 and June 1994; [92323]
(4) how many representations he has received since 1 May, requesting that he re-open the inquiry into the loss of the RAF Chinook on the Mull of Kintyre. [92330]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I will write to the hon. Members and copies of my letters will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what criteria the Government will decide what proportion of the costs incurred by the British armed forces (a) during the air campaign over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and (b) as part of the contribution to KFOR, will be met from the Treasury Contingency Reserve and what proportion from his Department's budget; and if he will make a statement. [92295]
Mr. George Robertson:
As I explained to the House on 21 June 1999, Official Report, column 743, it has been agreed with my Treasury colleagues that the Reserve will cover the net additional costs of those operations where my Department is unable to accommodate them without detriment to other commitments.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops the UK has pledged to KFOR; how many have been deployed so far; and when he expects all the UK troops pledged to KFOR to be deployed. [92823]
Mr. George Robertson:
The United Kingdom has provided all of the forces for NATO which were requested by NATO. We currently have around 10,000 personnel committed to KFOR operations.
The withdrawals of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles and the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, which I announced on 19 July 1994, Official Report, column 418, means that number will reduce to around 7,000 by mid-October as other nations build up their contributions.
The UK contribution to KFOR will be kept under review.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) he, (b) British military personnel and (c) his officials, (i) have had and (ii) will have with (1) French, (2) German and (3) Spanish authorities to review operations surrounding the Kosovo conflict. [91577]
Mr. George Robertson:
The Ministry of Defence is looking at the lessons learned from the Kosovo conflict, and is contributing to similar work at NATO. I and my
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 50
Department will continue to have contacts with Allies, including France, Germany and Spain on a wide range of issues, including lessons learned.
Mrs. Mahon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers aged under 18 years are currently deployed in NATO's K-FOR in (a) the Balkans and (b) Kosovo. [92126]
Mr. George Robertson:
Information is not available in precisely the detail requested. However, as at 1 June 1999, 17 soldiers aged under 18 were stationed in the former Yugoslavia.
Mr. Alan Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to provide a figure for the number of Serbian tanks destroyed in Kosovo. [92493]
Mr. George Robertson:
The NATO Munitions Effectiveness Assessment Team is carrying out a full assessment of the damage inflicted on Serbian military vehicles. Their findings are expected by the end of the year.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he will make for the winter accommodation of British forces in Kosovo in respect of (a) corimec cabins, (b) new hard-walled buildings and (c) requisitioned buildings; and what is the latest date by which (i) these decisions must be taken and (ii) the purchase and construction cycle must start and finish. [92490]
Mr. George Robertson:
On Friday 23 July, the Defence Procurement Agency placed a contract with Hunting Engineering Ltd. to supply, build, maintain and operate temporary field accommodation (TSA) for our forces in Kosovo at an estimated cost of about £110 million. TFA will comprise hard-walled living accommodation, appropriate to the range of weather conditions encountered in the area, together with administrative and other facilities. The accommodation is planned to be fully deployed by December and is expected to obviate the need to occupy requisitioned buildings.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people recruited to each of the armed forces in the most recent year for which figures are available had been a member of the (a) Army Cadets, (b) Sea Cadets, (c) Air Training Corps and (d) Combined Cadet Force. [92540]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Full information is not available to answer the question precisely as raised. The information available for Financial Year 1998-99 is as follows:
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 51
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the expenditure made by his Department on the Concept Demonstration phase of the Joint Strike Fighter project for each financial year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000. [91336]
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. Member.
(2) pursuant to his answer of 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 96, on Chinook helicopters, if the redesign changes incorporated in the FADEC software undertaken by Textron Lycoming between 1989 and June 1994 were covered by warranty; [92324]
Of the people who joined the Army, 2,762 had been members of the Army Cadets, and 562 had been members of the Combined Cadet Force.
Of the people who joined the Naval Service, it is known that 371 had been members of the Sea Cadets, 232 had been members of the Combined Cadet Force, and 456 had been members of either the Air Training Corps or the Army Cadets. This is based on research covering about 85 per cent. of entrants in the year.
Of the people selected to join the Royal Air Force, 693 had been members of either the Air Training Corps or the Combined Cadet Force (RAF section).
| Year | £ Million |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | Nil |
| 1996-97 | 9.0 |
| 1997-98 | 46.7 |
| 1998-99 | 34.1 |
| 1999-2000 | 21.0 (Forecast) |
All figures are at outturn prices for the years in question.
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