House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 2 Mar 2000 (pt 1)

2 Mar 2000 : Column: 325W

Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 2 March 2000

DEFENCE

Cadets

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to improve recruitment to the cadet branch of HM armed forces. [105144]

Mr. Spellar: Recruitment to the cadets is undertaken through the local and national initiatives of each individual cadet force. The three Services provide funding and advice to these national youth organisations, with the help of the Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations.

Army funds support Army Cadet Force recruitment, including the recent "Attitude" marketing campaign. Phase 2 of this successful national campaign to recruit cadets and adult instructors will start later this year.

RAF funding and advice supports local recruiting initiatives by the Air Training Corps. Advice and support from the Services and MOD is available where required to units of the Combined Cadet Forces. Although the Sea Cadet Corps is an independent charitable body, the Royal Navy provides support and advice in the context of recruitment.

In addition, we fully expect that the additional £3 million we have made available over a four-year period following the Strategic Defence Review, for a range of manpower, training equipment, and infrastructure enhancements for all cadet forces, will further encourage cadet recruitment.

Peat Compost

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to phase out the use of peat compost in gardens (a) owned and (b) tended by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [110727]

Dr. Moonie: In line with the MOD's Departmental Plan on the Greening Government Initiative, my Department is looking at ways to ensure that any use of peat in the maintenance of its grounds is substituted by organic waste. This reflects the advice within the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Greening Operations Guide.

Defence Catering Agency

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to transfer the Defence Catering Agency to York. [109444]

Mr. Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 February 2000, Official Report, column 33W, to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key).

2 Mar 2000 : Column: 326W

Nuclear Weapons Exercises

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names, dates and locations of the nuclear weapons exercises being organised by his Department during 2000. [112366]

Mr. Spellar: The following nuclear weapon accident response exercises are planned to be held during 2000:

Date Name Location

May 2000 Exercise BOWLINE Coulport

June 2000 RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(1) Wiltshire

July 2000 RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(1) Oxfordshire

July 2000 Exercise SENATOR North of England

September 2000 RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(1) South Glamorgan

September 2000 UK/US Exercise Norfolk

October 2000 RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(1) Suffolk

November 2000 RAF nuclear weapon convoy Standardisation To be decided

Date	Name	Location
May 2000	Exercise BOWLINE	Coulport
June 2000	RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(1)	Wiltshire
July 2000	RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(1)	Oxfordshire
July 2000	Exercise SENATOR	North of England
September 2000	RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(1)	South Glamorgan
September 2000	UK/US Exercise	Norfolk
October 2000	RAF Station NAR team Standardisation(1)	Suffolk
November 2000	RAF nuclear weapon convoy Standardisation	To be decided

(1) RAF Station Nuclear Accident Response (NAR) teams provide immediate response forces for the air transportation of nuclear weapons

European Peacekeeping Corps

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 63W, on the European Peacekeeping Force, what is his policy on the level of capabilities the European Peacekeeping Corps should attain, in terms of (a) operational deployment range and (b) optimal UK commitment. [112387]

Mr. Hoon: As explained in my answer of 24 January, there is no intention of creating a "European Peacekeeping Corps". At the Helsinki European Council EU states committed themselves to being able, by 2003, to deploy rapidly and sustain up to 50,000-60,000 troops capable of the full range of Petersberg tasks.

The operational range of these forces and the question of national contributions are being discussed as part of the follow-up work to Helsinki under the Portuguese Presidency. No decisions have yet been taken.

Embassy Staff

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out since 1 January 1995 on the value for money provided by defence attaches and advisers at British embassies; and on what dates each of them was concluded. [112368]

Mr. Hoon: The MOD in conjunction with the FCO carried out a detailed and comprehensive review of attache and adviser placement and their roles as part of the follow up work to the Strategic Defence Review. This review, which was approved by the Defence Council on 20 September 1999, determined where British Defence attaches and advisers should be accredited to best serve British Defence interests abroad. The Official Committee for Service Attaches and Advisers (OCSAA) subsequently scrutinised each post in every Defence Section prior to approving, on 20 October 1999, the implementation plan which will bring into effect the changes agreed in the review.

2 Mar 2000 : Column: 327W

Dimming Sun

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the nuclear weapon accident exercise, Dimming Sun, will be held, and where. [112365]

Mr. Spellar: It is planned to hold the UK/US joint nuclear weapon accident response exercise Dimming Sun in Norfolk in June 2003. The precise date and location have not yet been finalised.

Royal Irish Regiment

Mr. McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the outcome of the investigation by the officer in command into the appearance in photographs of members of the Royal Irish Regiment in uniform with banners of the Orange Order; [112686]

Mr. Spellar: The circumstances surrounding the publication of a photograph of the Royal Irish Regiment in the Andersonstown News on 15 January 2000 are currently under investigation by the Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police. The investigation is in its final stages and a report is expected later this month.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 67W, on the Royal Irish Regiment, when the Royal Military Police will complete its investigation; and if he will publish its conclusions. [111945]

Mr. Spellar: The investigation by the Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police is in its final stages and a report is expected later this month. I will write to my hon. Friend in the light of the outcome and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Microwave Communications Link

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what purpose and at what cost he has purchased a microwave communications link between Shrewton telephone exchange and Salisbury Plain training area. [112546]

Mr. Spellar: This microwave telephone link will allow greater access to the public telephone system for troops wishing to make welfare calls from the training facility at Copehill Down. The cost to the Ministry of Defence was £6,674.

HMS Vigilant

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the naval and other vessels that were within one hour's sailing distance from the site of the Solway Harvester disaster on 11 January; what was the precise location of HMS Vigilant at this time; what was the cause of damage to the radar system of HMS Vigilant and what was the time taken for repairs carried out before docking at Faslane, while in harbour, and elsewhere; and if he will place a copy of the submarine's log for the period from 8 to 15 January in the Library. [111949]

2 Mar 2000 : Column: 328W

Mr. Spellar: No Royal Navy ships or submarines were within one hour's sailing distance from the site of the Solway Harvester disaster on 11 January. At the time the mayday was raised, the nearest vessel was the RFA Bayleaf, which was some 30 miles west of the Solway Harvester's position. HMS Vigilant was in the Atlantic Ocean conducting training in deep water. I am withholding her precise location under exemption 1 (Defence Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. HMS Vigilant returned to Faslane on 14 January for repairs to a defective seal on her radar mast, sailing again on 16 January.

Private Security Companies

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the private security companies employed (a) currently and (b) in the past three years by his Department; for what purpose they have been employed; at what cost; and at which locations. [112547]

Mr. Spellar: The following private security companies are currently employed by the Ministry of Defence:

Burns International Security Services (UK) Ltd.

Chilport (UK) Ltd.

Chubb Guarding Services

Dardan Security Ltd.

Initial Security Ltd.

Medway Ports

RCO Support Services

Reliance Security Services Ltd.

Securicor Guarding Ltd.

Securi-Guard Ltd.

Serco