| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Fire Service
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans he has made to give emergency assistance to the Fire Service in case of a national firefighters' strike. [92900]
Mr. Spellar: The Ministry of Defence has longstanding arrangements with the Home Office to provide emergency fire cover at their request in the event of industrial action in the Fire Service. Our ability to respond to such a request would depend on the nature and extent of the request and on our operational commitments at the time.
Eurofighter
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many export orders have been placed for the Eurofighter; and if he will make a statement. [93280]
Mr. George Robertson: There have been no export orders for Eurofighter as yet, although the prime contractor, Eurofighter Gmbh, has identified a number of potential early customers.
Tomahawk Missiles
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans the Government have to procure Tactical Tomahawk missiles currently under development in the United States; and if he will make a statement; [91331]
- (2) what plans the Government have to give individual Swiftsure and Trafalgar class SSNs on-board capability for the tactical targeting of Tomahawk missiles; and if he will make a statement. [91332]
Mr. George Robertson: I will write to the right hon. and learned Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government expect to conclude negotiations with the United States Department of Defense for the replenishment of Tomahawk missile stocks; and if he will make a statement. [91327]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 26 July 1999]: 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.
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 200
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 27 July 1999:
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions have been made in his Department's budget for the planned refurbishment of the Royal Navy's Block III Tomahawk missiles for (a) this financial year and (b) the next financial year. [91329]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 26 July 1999]: 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 27 July 1999:
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first planned refurbishment of the Royal Navy's Block III Tomahawk missiles will take place; and if he will make a statement. [91330]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 26 July 1999]: 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 27 July 1999:
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the final selection for the future aircraft carrier is planned to take place; and if he will make a statement. [91334]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 26 July 1999]: 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.
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 201
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 27 July 1999:
Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of animals in defence research. [93788]
Mr. Spellar:
The independent Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Jeremy Lucke, has recently published its third annual Report. The Committee was set up in 1996 specifically to keep under review the care and welfare arrangements of animals used in defence research. I am placing a copy of the Report in the Library of the House.
The use of animals in defence research is concerned with providing the Armed Forces with safe and effective protection against hazards encountered while conducting their duties, and is kept to the absolute minimum.
The Committee's Report highlights the work being done by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency to find alternatives to the use of animals. In particular, the increasing use of in-vitro studies will lead to a reduction in the number of animals used. For example, use of such technology means that experiments to test the effectiveness of decontaminant and barrier creams against a chemical warfare agent, which would otherwise have needed up to 90 animals, was achieved without using any animals at all.
There is still much to be done in developing technologies which allow the use of animals in experiments to be further reduced. We welcome continuing scrutiny by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and aim to minimise the use of animals as far as possible, against the continuing requirement to research effective measures to counter the hazards faced by the armed forces in the conduct of their duties.
Dan Norris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency for the financial year 1999-2000. [93790]
Mr. Spellar:
The key targets set for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency for the financial year 1999-2000 are as follows:
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 202
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reason for the purchase of protective shields for mobile phones by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency together with an explanation of the perceived use of such devices. [93285]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about when the Ministry of Defence expects to conclude negotiations for the replenishment of TOMAHAWK missile stocks. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
Negotiations with the United States Department of Defense for the replenishment of RN TOMAHAWK missiles used in the Balkans are progressing and we expect a contract to be placed by the end of August.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the budgetary provision for refurbishment of the Royal Navy's Block III TOMAHAWK missiles for this and next financial year. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
No provision has been made in this and the next financial year as no RN TOMAHAWK missile refurbishment are planned during this period. Refurbishments are planned to commence from 2003.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the first planned refurbishment of the Royal Navy's Block III TOMAHAWK missiles. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
I can confirm that the first refurbishment of Royal Navy TOMAHAWK missiles is planned for 2003.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Ministry of Defence's plans for the future aircraft carriers. This matter falls to me for answer within my responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
Bids have been received from two industrial teams for the next phase of the programme (the Assessment Phase) which will develop overall design proposals. Subject to the satisfactory conclusion of this process, we plan contract placement for the Assessment Phase this Autumn. Bids for the Demonstration and Manufacture Phase are scheduled for 2003 with contract placement scheduled for 2004.
1. Return on capital employed
Consistent with Treasury requirements, to achieve at least 6 per cent. return on capital employed.
2. Manpower charging rates
To set manpower chargeout rates for 2000-01 which reflect a reduction in DERA overheads compared with 1999-2000 budgeted levels.
3. New business
To increase new business income (from customers other than the MOD) to £140M in 1999-2000.
4. Professional standing
To increase the number of staff elected as Fellows of professional bodies by 10 per cent.
5. Progress on work
To achieve on time 90 per cent. of the agreed milestones on work for MOD customers.
6. Customer satisfaction
To increase the level of customer satisfaction, as measured by customer surveys.
7. Defence diversification
To establish at least six Defence Diversification Offices across the UK.
Three year rolling targets carried over from 1998-99:
Over a period of three years, to achieve a 20 per cent. increase in peer reviewed publications per professional.
Over a period of three years, to increase by 50 per cent. the number of scientific teams assessed as 'world class' in the technical assessment exercise.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |