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Phoenix UAV System
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Phoenix UAV system was deployed in Kosovo. [95972]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 2 November 1999]: Yes. A Royal Artillery Phoenix Battery was deployed to Macedonia in June 1999 to conduct reconnaissance operations in support of operation ALLIED FORCE. Subsequently the Battery moved into Kosovo as part of the UK contribution to KFOR and assisted in verifying the Yugoslav withdrawal and compliance with the provisions of the Military Technical Agreement. The Battery was withdrawn in September.
Under-18-year-olds
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake not to use members of the forces in conflict situations if they are under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement. [96087]
Mr. Spellar: We recruit volunteers into the Armed Forces from the age of 16. Some of these personnel join their units, having completed training well into their 17th year, but prior to their 18th birthday. While the number involved is relatively small, these trained personnel who, having joined their units, contribute to the operational effectiveness of that unit. Removing these personnel from units would undermine unit cohesiveness as well as operational effectiveness. It would also be unpopular with the personnel themselves and could exacerbate the problems of retention and overstretch.
Porton Down
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make available full details of experiments at Porton Down to the relatives of former participants in those experiments who are now deceased; and if he will make a statement. [96720]
Mr. Spellar: A dedicated 'Porton Down Volunteers Helpline' was set up in February 1998 to deal with inquiries from former service volunteers, or their relatives, wishing to obtain information about the experiments in which they participated. Following an inquiry, all the information held in the Porton Down records relating to the volunteers' attendance at Porton Down, together with an explanation of the type of tests in which they participated, is made available. The amount of information held can vary, depending on the type of test and when it took place. Former volunteers or their relatives are invited to visit Porton Down if they wish to examine the records for themselves and discuss their experiences with scientific staff.
Anyone wishing to contact the Helpline should write to Porton Down Volunteers, Room 37/Building 106, DERA Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SB4 OJQ. Alternatively, they can telephone them on 0845 603 9140.
3 Nov 1999 : Column: 219
Special Advisers
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Special Advisers are currently employed by his Department; and what was the ratio of Special Advisers to Ministers in each of the last eight years. [96716]
Dr. Reid: Special Advisers are appointed by and work for the Secretary of State for Scotland of the day.
I have three Special Advisers, one of whom is part-time and unpaid.
| Special advisers | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 3 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1992 | 2 |
Departmental Staff
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants were working in his Department and where their primary location was for June, July, August, September and October. [96727]
Dr. Reid: The total numbers of civil servants working in my Department at the end of each month was as follows (the figures include the staff of the Advocate General's office shown in brackets):
| London based | Edinburgh based | |
|---|---|---|
| June | 29(5) | 18(17) |
| July | 32(5) | 18(17) |
| August | 32(5) | 21(19) |
| September | 33(5) | 23(19) |
| October | 33(5) | 31(20) |
In addition I have three Special Advisers, one of whom is part-time and unpaid.
3 Nov 1999 : Column: 220
Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the running costs for his official residences since June and estimate the annual cost for 1999-2000. [96722]
Dr. Reid:
I have no official residences.
Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the level of payments to Ministers who were formerly in his Department since 7 May. [96723]
Dr. Reid:
From 7 May until 16 May, the Ministers of The Scottish Office were:
From 17 May until 28 July, Mr. Macdonald, Lord Sewel and Lord Macdonald were Ministers in my Department at the level of Parliamentary Under-Secretary. Lord Sewel and Mr. Macdonald also received payments on leaving the Government on 28 July, in accordance with section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Mr. Brian Wilson MP was appointed to my Department on 29 July and is paid at the level of Minister of State.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the projects undertaken by his Department using mice from his Department's mouse-breeding facilities since 1 May 1997. [94468]
Mr. Morley
[holding answer 19 October 1999]: Officials in my Department have prepared a list of projects in the following table.
3 Nov 1999 : Column: 219
The right hon. Donald Dewar MP
The right hon. Helen Liddell MP
Mr. Henry McLeish MP
Mr. Sam Galbraith MP
Mr. Calum Macdonald MP
The Lord Sewel of Gilcomstoun
The Lord Macdonald of Tradeston.
Mr. Dewar was paid as Secretary of State, Mrs. Liddell and Mr. McLeish at the level of Ministers of State and the other Ministers at the level of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, except Lord Macdonald, who was unpaid.
3 Nov 1999 : Column: 221
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