| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Iraq
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions, in each of the last six months, RAF aircraft patrolling the (a) northern and (b) southern no-fly zones in Iraq have been fired on; on how many occasions coalition forces have retaliated; and what targets have been destroyed as a result. [115913]
Mr. Hoon: During the six months from October 1999 coalition aircraft have been fired at by surface-to-air missiles or anti-aircraft artillery on over 200 occasions in both the northern and southern no-fly zones. Coalition forces responded in self-defence to these and other threats on some 50 days against almost 90 targets related to the Iraqi air defence network.
Hong Kong
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what land is still owned by his Department in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [116213]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence retains ownership of the Cassino Lines Gurkha Cemetery, San Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong, and the Cape Collinson Military Cemetery, Chai Wah, Hong Kong.
Military Land
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the estimated acreage of military land in the UK surplus to requirements on 1 March. [116212]
Dr. Moonie: Land which is declared surplus to defence requirements is disposed of. The Strategic Defence Review set a target of £700 million for estate disposals over the four years to 2001-02 and we are well on track to achieve that figure. Figures for the hectarage of land in disposal are not held centrally but I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
Property Procurement
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department in each of the last three years in procuring new buildings and land. [116457]
Dr. Moonie:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
27 Mar 2000 : Column: 28W
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the RFAs Olwen and Olna last put to sea. [116453]
Mr. Spellar:
RFAs Olwen and Olna were last at sea in July 1999 and November 1999 respectively.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he has issued to the Territorial Army on compliance with the Working Time Directive. [116345]
Mr. Spellar:
No specific guidance has been issued to the Territorial Army, although general guidance has been given to the armed forces, much of which is relevant to the Territorial Army. It is our intention to issue further guidance to the reserve forces, in light of the amendments to the Working Time Regulations contained in SI 3372/99, within the next two months.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which credit organisations his officials are discussing access to credit by members of HM Forces and their families; and if he will make a statement. [116131]
Mr. Spellar:
Service families are occasionally refused credit because credit scoring systems used by some credit lenders do not take account of the mobility expected of Service families. This is a particular problem for Service personnel who have not lived at the same address for three years or who are registered as Service voters. My Service Families Task Force is in discussions on this issue with the British Bankers Association and the Finance Leasing Association. These organisations represent the majority of credit lenders in this country.
Mr. Alasdair Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what barrack accommodation is currently surplus to requirements in Scotland and awaiting disposal; and if he will estimate the potential single accommodation capacity of these barracks. [116224]
Dr. Moonie:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Alasdair Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many places (a) are currently available and (b) will be available by 2001, in training camps in Scotland for (i) Kirkcudbright, (ii) Barry Budden and (iii) Cultybraggan. [116225]
Mr. Spellar:
The number of bed spaces (a) currently available and (b) available in 2001, in training camps in Scotland at (i) Kirkcudbright, (ii) Barry Budden and (iii) Cultybraggan are as follows:
| Training camp | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkcudbright | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Budden | 507 | 507 |
| Cultybraggan | 600 | 600 |
27 Mar 2000 : Column: 29W
A training camp is planned for Kirkcudbright which will offer accommodation for up to 480 soldiers in due course.
Mr. Alasdair Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many single accommodation places exist for each of the services in Scotland for (a) officers and (b) other ranks by location; and if he will estimate the total number of service personnel that could be accommodated onshore in Scotland if all available accommodation was utilised. [116226]
Dr. Moonie:
The information requested is not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House when this information has been collated.
Mr. Salmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marine, (c) Army and (d) RAF personnel there are in Zimbabwe; what roles they are fulfilling; and how many Zimbabweans are receiving military training in the UK. [116262]
Mr. Spellar:
Nine British Army and two RAF UK military personnel currently serve in Zimbabwe as part of the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) Southern Africa. The BMATT's main role is to provide regional peacekeeping training in countries throughout the Southern Africa region.
In addition, two Army personnel (the UK Defence Adviser and his assistant) provide advice to the British High Commissioner in Harare on defence issues.
A total of four Zimbabwean officers are currently receiving training in the UK.
Mr. Salmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the station operating budget for each RAF base in the UK in the last year for which figures are available. [116223]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if UK military personnel provided advice to the Indonesian Armed Forces in respect of their 9 May 1996 assault on the village of Geselama to rescue foreign and Indonesian hostages held by West Papuan rebels; and what UK military personnel were (a) present at and (b) took part in the assault. [116106]
Mr. Battle:
I have been asked to reply.
I refer to the reply given by the then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon) on 23 July 1999, Official Report, column 727W. We worked closely with the Indonesian authorities to help ensure the safe release of the hostages. But Her Majesty's Government does not comment on the operational aspects of kidnap cases.
27 Mar 2000 : Column: 30W
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the criteria which determine which recipients of child benefit receive letters inviting them to move to four-weekly payment in arrears. [115852]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 22 March 2000]: The administration of child benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |