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Royal Navy
29. Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on staff amenities and support services on board Royal Navy ships. [96151]
Mr. Kilfoyle: The staff amenities and support services on board Royal Naval ships vary widely according to their size, age and role. Typically, all ships are provided with mess and galley facilities together with recreational facilities such as TVs, video recorders, books and fitness equipment. As part of our policy for people, measures to improve the amenities on ships, including the extension of satellite TV, welfare communications and internet facilities where possible, are being progressed.
Front Line Logistics
30. Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to improve support to the front line in respect of logistics. [96152]
Mr. Spellar: Following the Strategic Defence Review, we have established the post of Chief of Logistics, to command a unified Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), to replace the Single Service logistics commands. The DLO will be fully operational by April 2000, and has already begun to rationalise logistics and spread best practice across the Services. The DLO is involved in implementing the Smart Procurement Initiative, which aims to make the initial procurement of equipment and subsequent provision of spares, repairs and overhaul more efficient and responsive to the needs of the Services.
As part of the reorganisation of the management of logistics in my Department, we are creating two new Joint Force Logistic Component headquarters. The first is due to become operational in 2001 and the second in 2003. In addition, a number of new support units have been created to strengthen lines of communication, including two combat service support squadrons, a local resource section, a petroleum troop and a rations troop. In addition, our plans following SDR to create a fifth engineer logistic squadron have been brought forward from 2002 to late 2000.
Kosovo
31. Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on future commitments in Kosovo. [96153]
Mr. Hoon:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Ms Follett) on 8 November 1999, Official Report, column 678.
8 Nov 1999 : Column: 401
33. Mr. Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to improve service welfare telephone allowances. [96155]
Mr. Spellar:
We recognise the importance of personnel deployed on operations being able to telephone home. We increased the free telephone allowance from 3 to 10 minutes in the Strategic Defence Review last year. The previous Secretary of State for Defence, Lord Robertson, announced on 28 September 1999 a further increase, doubling the allowance to 20 minutes a week. This was to take immediate effect and demonstrated our commitment to the welfare of Service personnel.
34. Mr. Clapham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on UK forces' involvement in patrolling the no-fly zone in northern and southern Iraq. [96156]
Mr. Hoon:
Coalition patrols of the no fly zones remain an essential humanitarian task in support of UN Security Council Resolution 688 as they prevent Saddam Hussein from using his airforce against the Iraqi people in the north and south. Since the end of Operation Desert Fox last December, Saddam has waged a systematic campaign against coalition aircraft carrying out these patrols. Some 215 Iraqi aircraft have violated the No Fly Zones, and there have been over 500 other direct threats against our aircrew, including missile attacks and heavy anti-aircraft fire. Coalition responses are limited strictly to proportionate action in self-defence against Iraqi weapons and facilities which pose a direct threat to our forces.
Mr. Rammell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to reduce the problem of overstretch. [96142]
Mr. Spellar:
We remain firmly committed to tackling overstretch in the Armed Forces. Recruitment is improving and measures are under way to improve retention. These include improvements to the operational welfare package, for example: free telephone calls home, and a guaranteed period of post operational tour leave, as well as measures in support of families put in place through the role of the Service Families Task Force. We believe that measures such as these, combined with improved recruiting, and retention initiatives already in place, will help to reduce overstretch.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the helmet pointing system being delivered with the Apache helicopters; how long he expects the helmet pointing system for the helicopters to be in service before being upgraded; and what the cost of the upgrade will be. [95346]
8 Nov 1999 : Column: 402
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 John Howe to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 8 November 1999:
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many orders for aircraft carriers he expects to place in the next year; and when tenders will be invited for such orders. [95512]
Mr. Hoon:
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my right hon. Friend.
Letter from John Howe to Mr. Frank Field, dated 8 November 1999:
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programmes are subject to European joint procurement structures. [96228]
Mr. Hoon
[holding answer 28 October 1999]: 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 John Howe to Mr. Iain Duncan Smith, dated 8 November 1999:
8 Nov 1999 : Column: 403
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the European joint procurement structures which have been set up and those which are due to be set up over the next year. [96225]
Mr. Hoon
[holding answer 28 October 1999]: 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.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the helmet pointing system being delivered with the UK Apache helicopters. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
The cost of the helmet pointing system being delivered with the Apache helicopter is not separately identified within the package deal contract which was signed with GKN Westland Helicopter Ltd in March 1996, at a value of some £2Bn. There are no current plans to upgrade the system, but we continue to monitor developments in this field and are exploring opportunities to collaborate with the US Army in providing a longer term upgrade.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many orders for aircraft carriers he expects to place in the next year and when tenders will be invited. This matter falls to me for answer within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
The Strategic Defence Review set out our plans to replace our existing aircraft carriers from 2012 with two larger and more capable vessels. Tenders for the Assessment Phase of the programme, which will develop overall design proposals for the carriers, were released to industry in January 1999. Bids were received from two industry teams in May and, subject to the outcome of commercial negotiations, it is planned to place up to two contracts by the end of the year. Bids for the Demonstration and Manufacture Phase are expected in 2003 and contract placement is scheduled for 2004.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about what programmes are subject to European joint procurement structures. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
The Counter Battery Radar (COBRA) is currently the only fully integrated programme involving the UK managed by a "European Joint Procurement Structure", the Organisme Conjoint de Cooperation en Matiere d'Armement (OCCAR). In addition, the Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV), Medium Range TRIGAT and Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) programmes have been nominated to move to OCCAR management, subject to agreeing satisfactory arrangements with the participating countries.
In addition, two programmes involving the UK are managed by NETMA, an organisation founded under the auspices of NATO but with European partners.
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