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Cluster Bombs
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the figures provided by his Department for the number of BL755 cluster bombs used during Operation Allied Force include bombs (a) used during (i) training and (ii) trials and (b) dumped at sea following aborted missions; [111077]
- (2) which types of aircraft operated by Her Majesty's Armed Forces used BL755 cluster bombs during Operation Allied Force. [111078]
Mr. Spellar: RBL755 cluster munitions, the medium altitude variant of the weapon, were used by RAF Harrier GR7 aircraft during Operation Allied Force. During the operation, (i) none was used for training, (ii) 12 were used in trials and (iii) none was jettisoned at sea following aborted missions.
Recycling
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of documentation used by his Department is (a) made from recycled paper and (b) collected for recycling. [111596]
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 37W
Dr. Moonie:
The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, it has been the Ministry of Defence's policy to use recycled paper wherever it is practicable.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the causes of the accidents involving (a) a Chinook HC2 in Oman in 1999, (b) an RAF Harrier GR7 in Coldstream in 1999, (c) an RAF Jaguar GR1 in Moray Firth in 1999 and (d) an RAF Tornado F3 in Torness in 1999; what steps have been taken since with regard to each case; and if he will make a statement. [111460]
Dr. Moonie:
Each of these RAF aircraft accidents is the subject of an ongoing RAF Board of Inquiry. I am unable to comment at this stage about the cause of any of these accidents.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of the damage to (a) the Tornado F3 that crashed in Torness in 1999, (b) the RAF Jaguar GR1 which crashed in Moray Firth in 1999, (c) the RAF Harrier GR7 which crashed in Coldstream in 1999 and (d) the Chinook HC2 which crashed in Oman in 1999; what was the cost of the damage in each case; and if he will make a statement. [111461]
Dr. Moonie:
In the first three of these accidents, the aircraft was destroyed beyond economic repair. The approximate cost of the aircraft involved was as follows:
The Chinook HC2 that crashed in Oman is repairable, but the extent of the damage is still being surveyed.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the boarding school allowance money the MOD spent in the independent sector in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and what proportion is forecast for 2000. [111140]
Mr. Spellar:
The total cost of Boarding School Allowance (BSA) and the estimated amount of money spent by MOD on Independent Schools during the academic years 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 is as follows:
(a) Tornado F3 that crashed near Torness power station: £25 million
(b) Jaguar GR1 that crashed in the Moray Firth: £10 million
(c) Harrier GR7 that crashed in Coldstream: £16 million
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | (8)1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cost of BSA | 59.831 | 59.205 | 58.999 | 61.846 |
| Estimate for STABIS Schools(9) | 3.920 | 3.847 | 4.332 | 5.167 |
| Estimate for Independent Schools | 55.911 | 55.358 | 54.667 | 56.679 |
| Percentage | 93.45 | 93.50 | 92.66 | 91.65 |
(8) Average for the year based on Autumn Term only
(9) State maintained boarding schools
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 38W
Equipment
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all legally binding agreements relating to the supply of defence equipment or services his Department has with foreign Governments. [111484]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 22 February 2000]: There is a range of Government to Government supply arrangements, as described in the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls for 1998 (page 128). Sales agreements covering disposal to overseas governments of UK Services' surplus equipment are legally binding. Other Government to Government arrangements are set out in Memoranda of Understanding and Letters of Offer and Acceptance. While we treat the latter as binding on the Government, they are not legally binding agreements.
Trident
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department plans to take following the ruling by Sheriff Margaret Gimblett on Trident in October 1999. [111520]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 22 February 2000]: The Lord Advocate has referred Sheriff Gimblett's judgment to the High Court of Judiciary for its determination. It would therefore clearly be inappropriate for the Government to comment on it at this stage. The United Kingdom's minimum nuclear deterrent is consistent with international law.
Low Flying Training
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the Air Force's low flying training programme. [112304]
Dr. Moonie: Military low flying training is kept under continuous review.
WALES
Recycling
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of documentation used by his Department is (a) made from recycled paper and (b) collected for recycling. [111608]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department operates a purchasing policy which gives full weight to environmental considerations in the procurement of all goods and services. The current paper contract provides paper that is at least 80 per cent. post consumer waste, produced using environmentally chlorine free pulp from sustainable forests.
Information is not held centrally on the percentage of recycled paper in documentation which was produced externally, but which is used by my Department.
My Department has a staff of 39, and a correspondingly small production of waste paper. We do not therefore keep formal records of waste recycled, but we recycle paper as a matter of routine.
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 39W
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date an urgent search was ordered in Wales for those people named in the Waterhouse report as being unsuitable to work with children. [111368]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The National Assembly for Wales e-mailed a letter dated 15 February to local authorities, health authorities and trusts in Wales on the morning of 16 February.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions concerning the need for improved traffic flows at the Wales-England border at Shotwick; and if he will make a statement. [107421]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have made no such representations. I understand that the Highways Agency are carrying out a study of the A5117 Deeside Park Junctions, which includes the junction at Shotwick. Progress will continue to be monitored closely by the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if all food served at his Department's official functions meets the standards of production required of domestic producers. [109771]
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: All food served at departmental official functions is provided by an external caterer registered on the list of approved Government hospitality suppliers, and obliged to meet all legal requirements and relevant regulations governing the procurement and preparation of food and related activities.
Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate of Government expenditure and revenue in Wales, updating the Welsh Office assessment of 1994-95 made in January 1997. [111615]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
No update of the report "Government Expenditure and Revenue--Wales 1994-95", which was produced in January 1997, has been undertaken.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings he has attended in the past six months with the Prime Minister to discuss Objective 1 funding for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [111687]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I see the Prime Minister regularly to discuss a number of issues.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average cost of issuing a media release from his Department in 1999. [110268]
28 Feb 2000 : Column: 40W
Mr. Paul Murphy
[holding answer 16 February 2000]: The average cost of sending out a press notice from my Department in 1999 was something in excess of £40 for each press release.
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