| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Unexploded Ordnance
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the percentage of unexploded ordnance which results from cluster bombs dropped from (a) 5,000 feet, (b) 10,000 feet, (c) 15,000 feet, (d) 20,000 feet and (e) 25,000 feet. [104806]
Mr. Spellar: Approximately 5 per cent. of the bomblets within a Cluster Bomb fail to detonate when they impact. Regardless of the height from which they are dropped, this figure does not vary.
AWE Aldermaston
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conviction by the Environment Agency in December of AWE Aldermaston for unauthorised discharges of tritium. [105066]
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.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 January 2000:
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 60W
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will make a statement on the conviction by the Environment Agency in December of AWE Aldermaston for unauthorised discharges of tritium.
On 13 December 1999, Hunting-BRAE, the current management and operating contractor for the Atomic Weapons Establishment, pleaded guilty at Newbury Magistrates' Court to three charges in connection with the unauthorised discharge of low level tritium into the Aldermaston Stream and were fined a total of £17,500 plus costs of £4,220. The Environment Agency, who issued the summons, have stated that the discharges have no significant health or environmental consequences. They also accept that the stream is the best available method of discharge and have allowed AWE to
continue with this. For their part, Hunting-BRAE have stated that the discharges were made in the belief that the Environment Agency were aware of the situation and had condoned it.
Indonesia
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his Department's policy on requests from the Indonesian Government for back up support for military hardware already sold to them; [104836]
- (2) what requests have been made by the Indonesian Government over the last 12 months for the renewal and replacement of military equipment that has been sold to the Indonesian regime; and if he will make a statement. [104835]
Mr. Kilfoyle: Requests for licensable back-up support for existing military hardware overseas are considered case by case in line with the criteria which the Foreign Secretary announced to the House on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26-29W and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.
While the exact details are commercially confidential, we understand that prior to the EU embargo a number of British companies were in discussion with the Indonesian Government about the supply of both spares for existing items and new defence equipment.
The EU embargo lapsed at midnight on 16 January 2000. Any future UK defence equipment to Indonesia will again be subject to case by case consideration under the criteria referred to above.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105805]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
It is my Department's aim, in line with wider Government policy, to create a non-smoking working environment, in so far as this reflects the wishes of staff. In fact, many MOD sites already operate a no smoking policy. Detailed guidance on smoking policy within MOD is promulgated in the departmental Health and Safety Handbook, Joint Service Publication 375, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures his Department has to ensure that elected representatives for an area are consulted on possible future disposals of MOD property in that area prior to discussions with local government officers. [105149]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 17 January 2000]: My Department liaises closely with local authorities in considering options for the future of defence sites to ensure that local planning issues are taken into account in deliberations. Decisions to close MOD establishments and subsequently dispose of sites are taken by Ministers and colleagues, and I write to inform hon. Members before our officials inform local authority representatives.
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 61W
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by (a) service, (b) rank or grade and (c) location of workplace the numbers of qualified lawyers working for his Department. [105651]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 19 January 2000]: The table gives the service, rank and location of qualified lawyers working for my Department.
(15) As the Naval Service does not have a dedicated legal service, not all qualified RN personnel are currently serving in legal appointments
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 62W
In addition to those given in the table my Department also uses the services of the Treasury Solicitors Litigation team, based in London; the Crown Solicitor in Belfast and Robson Mclean, a commercial firm under contract to supply advice on Scottish legal matters. Various independent specialist solicitors and Counsel are used as the need arises.
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 63W
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the fees his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies collect; how much has been raised or it is anticipated will be raised from each of these fees from 1989-90 to 2004-05; and which of these fees count as negative expenditure. [105997]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Unlike certain other departments the Ministry of Defence, its agencies and associated public bodies do not raise fees under legislative authority at present. Charges are, however, raised for a number of activities which are carried out on a discretionary basis, and figures are provided in the table for those from which
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 64W
the largest amounts of revenue are realised. These figures are derived from those reported to the Treasury and Parliament in the Department's annual Fees and Charges return and for that reason do not extend beyond 2000-01.
All the charges listed can be used to offset the expenditure to which they relate. In some cases, retained receipts will count as negative expenditure in national accounts aggregates but in other cases, may score as tax revenues.
Charges are raised for a number of other activities of insufficient value to warrant inclusion in the Fees and Charges return, but this information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 63W
| Activity | 1989-90 | 1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign and Commonwealth Training | 44.500 | 47.300 | 58.877 | 34.135 | 39.522 | 31.166 | 40.313 | 34.353 | 14.211 | 15.310 | 15.833 | 16.754 |
| Loan Service Personnel | 38.825 | 30.898 | 29.017 | 25.867 | 21.794 | 22.207 | 29.870 | 27.388 | 26.128 | 19.875 | 21.525 | 22.613 |
| Meteorological Office | 34.952 | 40.000 | 38.500 | 44.500 | 43.300 | 44.000 | 44.700 | 46.300 | 52.257 | 47.809 | 46.714 | (19)-- |
| Government Pipeline and Storage System | 21.449 | 24.853 | 29.529 | 25.753 | 24.126 | 21.870 | 20.087 | 22.225 | 23.271 | 16.944 | 17.695 | 16.315 |
| Hydrographic Office | 13.670 | 15.960 | 19.458 | 21.700 | 19.800 | 21.300 | 25.600 | 30.200 | (18)-- | 34.000 | (19)-- | (19)-- |
| DESO Support to Industry | 5.200 | 7.800 | 2.800 | 1.500 | 2.600 | 0.800 | 2.700 | 0.800 | 3.300 | 1.700 | 1.700 | 1.700 |
| Service Children's Education | 3.930 | 4.207 | 4.200 | 3.589 | 4.318 | 4.065 | 3.107 | 2.105 | 2.195 | 1.582 | 1.574 | (19)-- |
| Empire Test Pilot School | 2.114 | 1.460 | 3.575 | 2.658 | 2.995 | 3.460 | 5.594 | 3.980 | 2.810 | 4.560 | 2.780 | 6.210 |
| Royal College of Defence Studies | 0.441 | 0.707 | 0.734 | 0.800 | 0.803 | 0.941 | 1.041 | 1.146 | 1.342 | 1.352 | 1.321 | 1.483 |
| Joint Service Command and Staff College(16) | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 1.497 | 1.543 | 1.815 | 1.871 |
| HQ UKSC(G)--Training Facilities(17) | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 2.656 | (19)-- | (19)-- |
| HQ UKSC(G)--Pay Bureau Facilities(17) | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 6.931 | (19)-- | (19)-- |
(16) The Joint Service and Staff College came into existence in September 1997, before this costs for the single Service staff colleges were included within the return for Foreign and Commonwealth Training.
(17) This activity did not reach the threshold for reporting until 1998-99.
(18) For technical reasons no figure was reported for 1997-98.
(19) Forward estimates are not available for all activities.
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 63W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |