2 Mar 2000 : Column: 325W
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.
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.
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
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 |
(1) RAF Station Nuclear Accident Response (NAR) teams provide immediate response forces for the air transportation of nuclear weapons
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Private security companies are employed at the following sites:
2 Mar 2000 : Column: 329W
(2) if members of the Royal Irish Regiment have been disciplined as a result of their appearance in photographs in uniform with banners of the Orange Order. [112685]
Burns International Security Services (UK) Ltd.
Other private security companies employed by the Ministry of Defence in past three years (who are no longer employed) are:
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
Solo Security Services
Thorn Security.
Centuryan Security Ltd.
Private security companies have been employed on general guarding duties at some 40 sites (just under half of which are awaiting disposal) throughout Great Britain. The total whole life cost of current contracts is £32 million.
Guarda Security plc.
Alamein Barracks
Ashford Barracks
Cambridge House
Cheadle Hume (Pay and Pensions Agency)
Cwrt-Y-Gollen Training Camp
Defence Clothing and Textile Agency, Caversfield
Defence Munitions Depot, Broughton Moor
Defence Storage and Distribution Centre, Aston Down
Distribution Outlets, Aldershot
Finningley and Harrogate (Army Site and Government Buildings)
Garats Hay Barracks
Glen Parva Barracks
HMS Forest Moor
HMS Forward
HMS Osprey
Holton Heath
Merryfield Airfield, RNAS Yeovilton
NATO Mooring and Support Depot, Fairlie by Largs
Norton Manor Camp, Taunton
Oakington Bks
Ordnance Support Unit, Burscough
Pembroke Dock
RAF Cowden
RAF Edzell
RAF Greenham Common
RAF Kemble
RAF Macrihanish
RAF Oakhanger
RAF Quedgeley, Moreton and Stirling Lines
RAF West Raynham
RAF Wroughton
RM Sites, Plymouth
RMB Chivenor
RN Sites, Plymouth
RN Sites, Portsmouth
Saighton Camp, Chester
Shoeburyness (Army Site)
St. Georges Bks, Gosport
Support Engineering Facility, Exeter
Waste Disposal Site, Gillingham
Woodbridge (Army Site).
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