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Radiation (Chatham Dockyard)
Mr. Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former Chatham Dockyard workers who were subjected to radiation have received compensation to date. [64561]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 206
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many New Deal candidates have taken up appointments in his Department; what percentage they are of his Department's civilian workforce; and what their appointments are. [65626]
Mr. Spellar:
As at 1 July 1999, the MOD has employed 15 people on short-term and three people on permanent appointments from the New Deal initiative, representing less than 1 per cent. of the civilian workforce. There are currently 17 New Deal candidates in post, a further four awaiting pre-employment checks and the Employment Services are attempting to fill another 37 posts identified as suitable for New Deal candidates.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his estimate of the proportion of the defence budget taken by (a) civilian and (b) armed forces salaries on (i) 31 March 2000, (ii) 31 March 1999, (iii) 31 March 1998 and (iv) 31 March 1997 and assuming future pay awards match the Government's inflation assumptions on (1) 31 March 2002 and (2) 31 March 2003; [71672]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission a review study of the cancers reported in the early National Radiological Protection Board studies in cases involving multiple myeloma. [74730]
Mr. Spellar:
Earlier studies by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) embraced all cancer related illnesses including multiple myeloma. The overall conclusion of these studies was that the total incidence of cancer among nuclear test veterans was less than among the general population and no higher than among the control group. I announced on 25 February 1999 that my Department would fund a further study to address the incidence of multiple myeloma among nuclear test veterans. This is because there was some uncertainty about the incidence of this particular illness following the first NRPB study; and we wish to assess whether or not there is any significance in the recently reported increased rates.
Mr. Davidson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Landing Platform Docks contract is (a) on schedule and (b) proceeding to budget; and if he will make a statement; [75127]
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 207
(3) what stage the work on the Landing Platform Docks contract has reached for (a) the first and (b) second ship; and if he will make a statement. [75128]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chief of Defence procurement instructions have been issued since 1 June 1998; and how many were unclassified. [82246]
Mr. Spellar:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 27 July 1999:
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers aged under 18 years are stationed in (a) Yugoslavia and (b) Kosovo. [89126]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 26 July 1999, Official Report, column 52, to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon).
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which United Kingdom shipbuilders have facilities to build an aircraft carrier with a displacement in excess of 45,000 tons. [92400]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Ottaway) on 16 July 1999, Official Report, column 352. The size of the new aircraft carriers is currently estimated to be up to 40,000 tonnes.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what options have been considered for aircraft
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types to operate from the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy. [92420]
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. Member.
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 27 July 1999:
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the proposed (a) displaced weight and (b) overall length of the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy. [92421]
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. Member.
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 27 July 1999:
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are used for the processing of plutonium removed from warheads for refurbishment. [92814]
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 my hon. Friend.
Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 27 July 1999:
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(2) what estimate he has made of (a) the civilian and (b) the armed forces salary bills in the financial year 1999-2000. [71673]
(2) what (a) detailed and (b) major changes his Department has sought to make to the design of the ships under the Landing Platform Docks contract; what was the
cost to his Department of such changes; what measures have been taken to ensure that costs do not increase on the contract; and if he will make a statement; [75126]
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about Chief of Defence Procurement Instructions. This matter falls to me for answer within my responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
Twenty-three Chief of Defence Procurement Instructions have been issued since 1st June 1998. All of them were unclassified, but a number contain information about the Defence Procurement Agency's procedures which could prejudice the effective conduct of the Agency and would, therefore, be withheld under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
No new Chief of Defence Procurement instructions have been issued since April. Although they remain extant they are being replaced by the Acquisition Management System which fulfils a similar function in respect of Smart Procurement procedures.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the aircraft options for the new aircraft carriers. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
The combat aircraft to equip the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy is known as the Future Carrier-Borne Aircraft (FCBA). A strong contender for FCBA is a variant of the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), and the UK is participating in the Concept Demonstration Phase of its development. We are also assessing a navalised version of the Eurofighter, the US F-18 Super Hornet, the French Rafale-M and an advanced version of the Harrier. No decision has yet been made on the choice of aircraft to meet the FCBA.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the proposed displaced weight and overall length of the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy. This matter falls to me to answer within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
The current estimate is that the new aircraft carriers will displace up to 40,000 tonnes and have an overall length of approximately 300 metres. The final decision on their design, including their size, however, will be influenced by the selection of the Future Carrier-Borne Aircraft late next year.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence which asked what facilities are used for the processing of plutonium removed from warheads for refurbishment. 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 all such work is carried out in specialised facilities at AWE Aldermaston.
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