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Exports (Indonesia)
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was (a) the number of staff employed by the Defence Export Services Organisation in Indonesia in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1997-98 and (b) the budget of DESO's branch office in Indonesia in (1) 1996-97 and (2) 1997-98. [93291]
Mr. Spellar: The details are as follows:
| Number of staff employed by DESO in Indonesia | The Budget of DESO's branch office in Indonesia (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 1 UK based civilian | 88,000 |
| 1 locally engaged driver | ||
| 1 locally engaged PA/clerk for two months | ||
| 1997-98 | 1 UK based civilian | 179,000 |
| 1 locally engaged driver | ||
| 1 locally engaged PA/clerk for eight and a half months |
The increase in 1997-98 is due to rent payments of £86,000 which were paid in advance for three years. Naturally, under these arrangements, no payment was due in 1996-97.
Child Support Agency
Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 July 1999, Official Report, column 417, on the Child Support Agency, if deductions from pay to meet child maintenance assessments are made when this would take total deductions over the 25 per cent. limit. [93371]
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 203
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will implement the recommendation made by the Defence Committee in its Second report (The Appointment of the New Head of Defence Export Services HC 512) to commission a detailed assessment of the full costs and benefits of defence exports for the UK; and if he will make a statement. [93558]
Mr. Spellar:
The Government welcome the Defence Select Committee's invitation to provide a more systematic and detailed assessment of the full costs and benefits of defence exports for the UK. Work has been set in hand and we will inform the Committee of the conclusions when this is complete.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the terms of reference of the Technical Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme established to address the technical requirements of a United Kingdom ballistic missile defence programme; and if he will make a statement on their work since establishment. [92963]
Mr. George Robertson:
The Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme is a three year programme which was initiated following the Strategic Defence Review. It forms part of the Corporate Research Programme. Its purposes are (i) to monitor developments in the potential threat and the technologies available to counter it and (ii) to establish a position from which a national requirement for fielding an active ballistic missile defence system could be developed, should one become necessary. The programme focuses on the characteristics of ballistic missiles, the performance of radar and other sensors, the guidance of interceptors, and their potential to defeat ballistic missile warheads including those containing biological or chemical agents.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Swindon (Ms Drown) of 21 July 1999, Official Report, columns 534-35, about the defence response to the threat posed by biological and chemical weapons, what expenditure he plans in this area additional to the level of spending previously earmarked for (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02. [93337]
Mr. George Robertson:
In our report, "Defending Against the Threat from Biological and Chemical Weapons", we outlined plans resulting from the Strategic Defence Review and subsequent work to enhance our biological and chemical defence capability. The additional expenditure over the next three years is expected to be some £12 million in 1999-2000, £22 million in 2000-01 and £31 million in 2001-02.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the operating costs in the last financial year of the units involved in biological and chemical defence tasks. [93314]
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 204
Mr. George Robertson:
In 1998-99, the units dedicated to biological and chemical defence tasks were the Royal Yeomanry and the Defence NBC Centre. The operating cost of those units was some £5 million.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HQ Land Command at Wilton has stand-by generators adequate to ensure security of electricity supply to meet all normal requirements. [92964]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Headquarters Land Command has four generators that would provide immediate backup if the main supply of electricity were to fail. This is sufficient to maintain the essential requirements of the headquarters.
Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the incidence and expected future trends in the use of Spade Adam training base for tactical low-flying training involving heavy jets; [93322]
(3) if he will make a statement on the incidence and expected future trends in tactical low-flying training over the Border Region in heavy jets. [93321]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Livsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Welsh Colonels have served in the Royal Regiment of Wales during the past 10 years. [93324]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
In the period between 1989 and 1999, there have been eight Commanding Officers in the Royal Regiment of Wales. It is not mandatory for serving personnel to provide details of their ethnic origin and when they do those details are given on a confidential basis. It would not therefore be appropriate to provide details on an individual basis, but I understand that four of the Commanding Officers in the period have classified themselves as Welsh.
Mr. Livsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Welsh Commanding Officers are serving in the Royal Regiment of Wales. [93323]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Since 1 July 1999, there has been only one Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Wales, and consequently only one Commanding Officer. It is not mandatory for serving personnel to provide details of their ethnic origin and when they do those details are given on a confidential basis.
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has made of the reduction in cost
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 205
overruns for major projects in each of the next five years arising from the introduction of the Smart Procurement initiative; and if he will make a statement. [93548]
Mr. George Robertson:
I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Judy Mallaber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department is providing to the Government of Sierra Leone following the Lome Peace Agreement. [93789]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I am pleased to announce today that the Government are prepared to offer up to 20 UK military observers to an expanded United Nations Observation Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL). This is a substantial increase from the five who are currently deployed with UNOMSIL.
This clearly demonstrates our support for UN peacekeeping operations. The UN Mission has a vital role in upholding peace and democracy in Sierra Leone and we should play our part in that process.
Over and above our support for the UN, we already have in place an eight-man training team to advise on basic training for recruits to the new Sierra Leone army. This team will help to establish more professional and better-trained armed forces.
We also currently have a military officer and civilian adviser in Freetown. Their role is to assist the Government of Sierra Leone in undertaking a review of Sierra Leone's Defence Policy, the roles of the Ministry of Defence and Defence Headquarters, and the size and shape of a new Sierra Leone Armed Forces. The aim of this project is to ensure appropriate civilian control and accountability of the armed forces.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the prospects for continued production in the UK by Volvo; [69322]
(3) if he will make a statement on the closure of the Irvine Truck plant; and if he will list the contracts in place with Volvo; [69320]
(4) what representations he has received from Volvo on the closure of the Irvine plant. [69321]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
(2) if he will list the number of low-flying training flights across the Scottish borders by heavy jets at (a) 100 and (b) 250 feet for the last five years for which figures are available; [93320]
(2) if he will assess the (a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of withdrawing the MOD contract with Volvo Trucks; [69319]
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