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Sandown-class Minehunters
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract for the last two of the Sandown-class minehunters will be completed. [118903]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 20 April 2000:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when the contract for the last two of the Sandown Class Mine Hunters will be completed. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
HMS Blythe is due to be delivered to the Ministry of Defence on 31 March 2001.
HMS Shoreland is due to be delivered to the Ministry of Defence on 31 December 2001.
The contract also covers a 2 year warranty period for the completion of any outstanding work or defects after the delivery of each ship.
Aircraft Carriers
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with bringing into service the two new aircraft carriers; whether the target set in the Strategic Defence Review has been adhered to; and if he will make a statement. [119168]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Ilford, North (Ms Perham) and for Plymouth, Sutton (Mrs. Gilroy) on 17 April 2000, Official Report, columns 678-80.
20 Apr 2000 : Column: 641W
Online Services
Mr. Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the services which (a) his Department and (b) the executive agencies responsible to his Department (i) provide online and (ii) expect to be deliverable online by 2002. [119444]
Dr. Moonie: So that the Cabinet Office can publish the spring 2000 report monitoring progress towards delivery of all Government services electronically by 2005, we are currently collecting data which will include our progress on delivering 25 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2002. I do not want to pre-empt that report, but I can say that we currently provide a range of services electronically that include receiving recruitment applications and providing general and specialist information.
British Meat (Armed Services)
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) lamb, (b) pork, (c) chicken and (d) turkey purchased for the armed services was of British origin in the last 12 months. [119702]
Dr. Moonie: The supply of food to the armed forces is contracted out to 3663. Our policy is aimed at sourcing British products wherever these are competitively priced. Our contractor advises that over the last 12 months the following percentages of meat were sourced in the UK--2 per cent. lamb; 100 per cent. pork; 50 per cent. bacon and gammon; and 30 per cent. chicken. No turkey was sourced in the UK.
Meteorological Office
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Meteorological Office for 2000-01. [120296]
Dr. Moonie: The Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office is responsible for providing meteorological and related environmental services, including climate change prediction, to a wide range of customers, including the armed forces, Government, civil aviation, shipping, emergency services, media, commerce, industry and general public. It also undertakes research related to meteorology and climate. During 2000-01, the Meteorological Office will be set the following challenging targets:
Key Target 1:
To achieve a value for the Numerical Weather Prediction Index of at least 101.6 index points on 31 March 2001, from a baseline of 100.0 on 31 March 2000;
Key Target 2:
To achieve a value for the Service Quality Index of at least 107.1 index points on 31 March 2001, from a baseline of 100.0 on 31 March 1997, in line with customer requirements. The Index covers representative services and products for defence, civil aviation, public and business customers;
Key Target 3:
To achieve a value for the Efficiency Index of at least 103.7 index points on 31 March 2001, from a baseline of 100.00 on 31 March 2000;
Key Target 4:
To achieve an overall return on capital employed in 2000-01 of not less than 0 per cent., while returning an operating profit of at least £13.7 million before strategic investments;
20 Apr 2000 : Column: 642W
Key Target 5:
To achieve strategic investments in 2000-01 of at least £13.5 million.
Key Target 6:
To achieve a total contribution from commercial activities in 2000-01 of not less than £3.575 million.
In addition, a new Staff Skills Index will be developed during 2000-01. The aim will be to establish a baseline of staff competency levels, derived from the Meteorological Office's new competency-based method of staff appraisal, so that sensible targets can be set and announced for subsequent years.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take in respect of (a) British military personnel serving in Zimbabwe and (b) Zimbabwean military personnel receiving training in the UK. [119866]
Mr. Spellar: There are no plans to change the position of British military personnel based in Zimbabwe or Zimbabwean military personnel currently receiving training in the UK. Nevertheless, we continue to keep the situation under review.
DERA
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many posts at the DERA establishment in Aberporth, Ceredigion will (a) transfer to NewDERA and (b) be retained within his Department as a result of his proposals in the public/private partnership consultation document. [119984]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman), 17 April 2000, Official Report, columns 366-67W, which outlined our proposals for the DERA public-private partnership. These are described in more detail in the consultation document, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House, and on the Internet at www.mod.uk/commercial/ppp/dera/.
Under our current proposals, we envisage that the capabilities provided by Aberporth will form part of the NewDERA company. It is, therefore, likely that posts at Aberporth would transfer. However, no final decisions will be taken until the current consultation exercise comes to an end. We will of course listen carefully to views and comments received during this process.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Lord Levy
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2000, Official Report, column 413W, if he will list the meetings between Lord Levy and (a) ministers and (b) officials within his Department on Government business other than in his capacity as the Prime Minister's personal envoy delivering messages in the Middle East. [117782]
Mr. Byers: Neither I nor any of my Ministers has met Lord Levy on Government business.
20 Apr 2000 : Column: 643W
Gas and Electricity Bills
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the annual amount spent by the average consumer on (a) gas and (b) electricity where payment is by (i) a pre-payment meter and (ii) direct debit. [118913]
Mrs. Liddell: Provisional estimates of average domestic gas and electricity bills for domestic consumers in 1999 are as follows:
| Payment method | Standard Quarterly credit | Monthly direct debit | Pre-payment meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas(16) | 305 | 267 | 318 |
| Electricity(17) | 265 | 256 | 282 |
(15) Averages weighted by customer numbers
(16) An annual consumption level of 18,000kWh has been assumed
(17) An annual consumption level of 3,300kWh has been assumed. Customers with electric central heating are likely to consume considerably more electricity
These figures are published annually in the Department's annual "Digest of UK Energy Statistics" and in the "Energy Report".
Gas-fired Power Stations
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when a calculation was made of the total amount of the increase of emissions which would result from the moratorium on gas-fired power stations; and what it was. [119286]
Mr. Byers: Our White Paper, "Conclusions of The Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee", Cm 4071, stated that it was not possible to quantify the impact of the new energy framework on emissions. This is because the aim of the policy is not to achieve any particular outcome in terms of fuel mix in generation but to create a level playing field so that all forms of generation can compete equally and as a temporary precautionary measure to ensure the artificial encouragement for new gas plant that has arisen from distortions to the electricity market does not artificially undermine security and diversity of supply.
I announced on Monday 17 April that I would be lifting the stricter consents policy in October 2000 as soon as the new electricity trading arrangements were in place. The Government are determined to meet the UK commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12½ per cent. below 1990 levels in 2008-12. The stricter consents policy and the timetable for its lifting is entirely consistent with meeting that target, and with moving towards our goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. on 1990 levels.
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