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Friend or Foe System

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of upgrading the Identification Friend or Foe Mk Xa systems to the system Mk XII standard; and how many systems will undergo this upgrade. [97137]

Mr. Kilfoyle: 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 10 November 1999:



    The competition to select an equipment supplier for the Successor Identification Friend or Foe programme is currently underway. Consequently, it could prejudice the Department's negotiating position if the estimated cost of upgrading the Identification Friend or Foe MKXa systems to the system MKXII standard were revealed. This information is therefore withheld in accordance with exception 7 to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.


    The number of the systems to be upgraded is likely to be in the order of 1000 transponders and 600 interrogators for some forty platform types.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many successor identification Friend or Foe system contracts have been awarded; and what is the total value of these contracts. [97136]

Mr. Kilfoyle: 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 10 November 1999:



    Sixty two contracts have been awarded to study the fitting of a Successor Identification Friend or Foe system to a number of platforms. Separately, a contract has been placed for the development, production and installation of a Successor Identification Friend or Foe system on Tornado F3 aircraft fleet. The total value of these contracts amounts to £92M, of which approximately 75% is for Tornado F3 and the remaining 25% for the study work.

Mr. Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to purchase the Raytheon Systems Ltd. successor identification Friend or Foe system; and what representations he has received with regard to this technology. [97213]

Mr. Kilfoyle: 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.

10 Nov 1999 : Column: 549

Letter from John Howe to Mr. Syd Rapson, dated 10 November 1999:



    We have received bids from Raytheon Systems Ltd and Marconi Avionics into the Successor Identification Friend or Foe equipment supplier competition. The bids are currently being assessed and I am therefore unable to comment further at this stage. However, I can assure you that all the relevant factors will be taken into account in selecting a preferred bidder.

Defence Evaluation Research Agency

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the Defence Evaluation Research Agency public-private partnership. [97237]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 5 November 1999]: A number of organisations and individuals, including representatives from academia, industry, local government, trade unions, DERA staff, and our international collaborative partners, have responded to the consultation document on the DERA public-private partnership (PPP) published by the Ministry of Defence in May. In addition, there have been a number of formal and informal representations.

As I announced on 26 October 1999, Official Report, column 768, work is continuing on a PPP solution for DERA and key stakeholders will continue to be consulted as this work is taken forward.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what developments there have been in the joint MOD- industry sub-group investigating the Defence Evaluation Research Agency public-private partnership. [97236]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 5 November 1999]: The National Defence Industries Council sub-group on the DERA public-private partnership was formed to provide a mechanism to enable the Ministry of Defence and industry to understand each other's positions on key issues. Both sides have agreed that the sub-group achieved its remit in the two meetings that were held in July. Further meetings will be arranged if issues arise in the continuing work which warrant specific senior level discussion or resolution. Consultation with industry and others is continuing as we take forward work on the DERA PPP.

Trigat Missiles

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of replacing the Milan 1 ATGW systems with the medium range Trigat missiles. [97875]

Mr. Kilfoyle: 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.

10 Nov 1999 : Column: 550

Letter from John Howe to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 10 November 1999:



    The MR TRIGAT programme is planned to replace the Milan Anti-Tank Guided Weapons System. The cost of this replacement programme was published in the Major Project Report 1998 as £806 Million; this cost is still in line with our current estimates.

Bright Star 99

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Naval forces were deployed in the Bright Star 99 exercise. [97880]

Mr. Spellar: The following Royal Naval and Royal Marine Units were involved in Exercise Bright Star 99:



    40 Commando Royal Marines


    Commando Logistics Regiment Royal Marines


    Elements of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery


    Elements of 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers


    539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines


    The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines from the Commando Training Centre RM Lympstone


    Key:


    LPH--Landing Platform Helicopter


    LPD--Landing Platform Dock


    T22--Type 22 Frigate


    T42--Type 42 Destroyer


    MCMV--Mine Countermeasures Vessel.

Hawk Aircraft (India)

Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department is giving to British Aerospace in connection with its bid to sell Hawk aircraft to India. [95055]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 2 November 1999]: British Aerospace has been offering Hawk aircraft for sale to the Indian Government for a number of years, in response to

10 Nov 1999 : Column: 551

an Indian Air Force requirement for an advanced jet training aircraft. During this period, the Company has received Government advice and support, co-ordinated by the Defence Export Services Organisation in the Ministry of Defence, whose role it is to provide such assistance to UK industry in accordance with the Government's policy on defence exports.

Young Personnel

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received in the last six months on the deployment of under 18-year-old service personnel in combat. [97133]

Mr. Spellar: In the past 6 months there have been 9 parliamentary questions, 70 parliamentary inquiries and an Early Day Motion related to the deployment of personnel who are aged under 18. My Department has also received 85 letters from members of the public on the topic in the same period.

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