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Credit Ratings
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked. [107752]
Dr. Moonie: During the period of a contract, the Department will only carry out checks if it has reason to believe that any of its contractors may be in financial trouble.
Fuel Allocations
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many driving hours per year were provided for in Army fuel allocations for (a) Warrior variants, (b) Challenger 1, (c) Challenger 2, (d) Saxon variants, (e) AVF 430 variants, (f) Sabre, (g) Striker, (h) Scimitar, (i) Spartan, (j) Sultan, (k) Samaritan and (l) Samson in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [107551]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 2 February 2000]: The information is not available in the required format and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Driver hours are not used as an allocation currency for fuel. Overall activity levels for the vehicles in question are based, in all cases, on annual track mileage allocations for each vehicle type. Specific exercise activity levels are, in turn, determined against these allocations through the annual planning cycle and in-year management process. Fuel is allocated through this planning process based on comparisons of previous activity levels with future plans.
Satellite Systems
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the introduction of space-based infra-red satellite systems; and if he will make a statement. [108419]
7 Feb 2000 : Column: 31W
Mr. Hoon:
None. But matters relating to the Space Based Infra Red System are the subject of regular discussions between my officials and their US counterparts.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1999, Official Report, columns 454-55W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108203]
Dr. Moonie:
MOD approval is required for any proposed publication of research findings, or any open discussion of such findings, between contractors and third parties, including journalists. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with a presumption that approval will be given unless security, commercial or other overriding reasons dictate otherwise.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents there were in which deceased air crew were found guilty of gross negligence in aircraft that were not fitted with cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders since 1980; and what proportion of accidents involving military aircraft this represented. [108491]
Mr. Spellar:
There was one such accident: the RAF Chinook HC2 which crashed on the Mull of Kintyre on 2 June 1994. This represents one such finding in approximately 550 military aircraft accidents.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 2000, Official Report, column 165W, on Iraq, how many British aircraft came under fire before dropping their laser-guided bombs. [108433]
Mr. Hoon:
On the morning of 28 November 1999, coalition aircraft patrolling the southern no fly zone came under fire from Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery. During a further patrol later that day, coalition aircraft were again fired at by Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery. Coalition aircraft responded in self-defence by attacking one fire control radar and two batteries of anti-aircraft artillery. I am withholding information on the number of aircraft involved in specific incidents under Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) discussions were held and (b) agreements were reached during his recent meeting in Washington with his US counterpart. [108685]
Mr. Hoon:
I had a wide-ranging discussion covering matters of mutual interest with Defense Secretary Cohen during my recent visit to Washington.
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2000,
7 Feb 2000 : Column: 32W
Official Report, column 383W, on how many occasions he has used Exemption 7 of the Code of Access to Government Information in the past 12 months; and for what reason he used it in relation to the sale of the Old Ranges in Shoeburyness. [108226]
Dr. Moonie
[holding answer 3 February 2000]: Of 3,097 Parliamentary Questions answered in the past 12 months, information was withheld under Exemption 7 of the Code of Access to Government Information on 5 occasions. This exemption was used in relation to the sale of Old Ranges in Shoeburyness to protect commercially sensitive information which could have prejudiced negotiations with the prospective purchaser.
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft crashed in United Kingdom airspace in 1999. [108359]
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason there were more crashes of RAF aircraft in 1999 than in 1998 and 1997; and if he will make a statement. [108360]
Dr. Moonie:
The number of RAF aircraft accidents in 1999 went against the trend in the accident rate, which has been one of overall decline over the past 10 years. Fluctuations in this trend have occurred before, and we will be looking carefully to see whether there is any significance in last year's pattern of accidents. Initial investigations into the accidents have shown no common causal link.
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate an inquiry into the reasons for the higher incidence of crashes of RAF aircraft in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [108362]
Dr. Moonie:
As is normal practice, a RAF Board of Inquiry has been convened to carry out a full investigation and establish the cause of each crash. Once all the Inquiries have been completed, their reports will be scrutinised in depth to see whether any overall causal link may be established. Initial investigations indicate no common cause.
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the quality of training of RAF pilots; and if he will make a statement. [108361]
Mr. Spellar:
Assessment of the standards of training of RAF pilots is a continuous process. Pass rates are examined to ensure that they are correctly set in order that only suitable candidates graduate to the next stage of training and, eventually, to the front-line. Course syllabi are subject to review by both staff and students at the end of each course.
Last year the RAF adopted the Integrated Training Quality Management System; this assesses the efficacy of the flying training system by questioning pilots at each stage of the training on the suitability of the preceding course in preparing them for the next stage of training.
7 Feb 2000 : Column: 33W
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sums were spent on training RAF pilots in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000 and are planned for (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02. [108363]
Mr. Spellar:
The information is not available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sums were spent on the maintenance of RAF aircraft in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000; and what sums are planned for this purpose in (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02. [108364]
Mr. Spellar:
The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for part of the Defence Medical Services to use the former Staff College buildings at Camberley; and if he will make a statement. [108774]
Mr. Spellar:
We are presently examining a number of options for the future location of headquarters elements of the Army Medical Services. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the headquarters of the proposed Defence Catering Organisation will be moved to York; and how many (a) military and (b) civilian staff will be employed there. [108670]
Mr. Spellar:
The Defence Catering Group will be located at Ensleigh, near Bath.
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