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Trident
24. Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest cost is of the current Trident nuclear fleet. [109425]
Mr. Hoon: As my predecessor announced on 21 April 1999, the total acquisition cost for Trident is currently estimated to be £12,870 million. About 90 per cent. of this figure was already committed before this Government took office.
21 Feb 2000 : Column: 726W
Veterans Advice Unit
25. Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many calls have been received by the Veterans Advice Unit. [109426]
Mr. Spellar: Since becoming operational in October 1998, the Veterans Advice Unit has received 9,198 inquiries up to the end of January this year on a wide range of topics. Many of the inquiries have required follow-up work by the Unit's staff. Arrangements are now in hand for the Veterans Advice Unit to have a discrete Internet e-mail address and it is expected that this service will become available during March.
Armed Forces Capacity
26. Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the armed forces to meet current commitments. [109427]
Mr. Hoon: Following the Strategic Defence Review, the MOD has introduced a new strategic planning process which ensures that there is a policy-led re-evaluation of defence plans every year, or more frequently if required. In addition, we keep the level of commitments under constant review. As a result we have been able to reduce commitments in Bosnia, Kosovo, the Gulf and East Timor.
Royal Navy
27. Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss spending on the Royal Navy. [109428]
Regimental Museums
28. Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to secure the future of regimental museums. [109429]
Dr. Moonie: Following the review of Regimental Museums conducted in 1997, a policy statement defining the Army's policy towards Regimental and Corps Museums was developed. This policy statement formalised the relationship and responsibilities of the Army towards its Regimental and Corps Museums. The support that is provided to Regimental Museums in line with this policy is reviewed periodically.
European Collaborative Defence Projects
29. Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in how many European collaborative defence projects the UK is presently involved. [109430]
Dr. Moonie: The UK is involved in 44 collaborative defence equipment projects involving European partners. They are as follows:
(12) Both UK and Germany are currently in negotiation with the Netherlands for their inclusion in the GTK/MRAV programme.
(13) The UK has declared that they are to withdraw from Long Range TRIGAT at the end of the Development Phase.
(14) FOAS (Future Offensive Air System) is not a collaborative project per se but the UK and France are collaborating on common technologies related to FOAS.
21 Feb 2000 : Column: 728W
Submarines
30. Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when all Trafalgar and Astute class submarines will be capable of firing Tomahawk land attack missiles. [109431]
Dr. Moonie: HMS Triumph is already capable of firing Tomahawk land attack missiles (TLAM). Work to adapt HMS Trafalgar to fire TLAM should be completed before the end of the year. It is currently planned that the adaptation of the remaining Trafalgar Class submarines will be completed by about 2006.
The Astute class submarines are planned to be built TLAM-capable and the initial three are due to enter service between 2005 and 2008.
Departmental Efficiency Programme
31. Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of his Department's efficiency programme, including a list of the 250 measures most significant in terms of savings during each of the four financial years following publication of the strategic defence review. [109432]
Mr. Spellar: As offered in evidence to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee on 12 January, my Department will be providing the Committee with a more comprehensive list of efficiency measures shortly. We will then be happy to discuss how we can take forward the Committee's wish to examine the Department's efficiency programme in more detail.
Learning Forces Initiative
32. Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's learning forces initiative. [109433]
Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's Learning Forces Initiative. [109405]
Mr. Hoon: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave my hon. Friend for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Mr. Ennis) earlier today.
21 Feb 2000 : Column: 729W
General Pinochet
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from Her Majesty's Defence Attache in Chile concerning the effects on Chilean defence purchasing of the arrest of General Pinochet; and if he will make a statement. [110113]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 14 February 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in another place by my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement to the noble Lord Lamont of Lerwick on 10 January 2000, Official Report, House of Lords, column 72WA. This reflects advice given by our Embassy in Santiago.
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