House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 May 2000 (pt 3)

Ministers (Trade Union Financial Support)

Mr. Norman: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Ministers who are in receipt of financial support from a trade union, indicating the nature of that support. [121209]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 8 May 2000]: The information requested is not held centrally. There is no requirement for Ministers to inform me of the handling of their private interests.

Correspondence

Mr. Norman: To ask the Prime Minister (1) which Minister in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has been invited to reply to the letter sent to him on 5 April by the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells concerning the Ministerial Code; and when a reply will be sent; [121201]

Official Report

(a)

(b)

The Prime Minister [holding answer 8 May 2000]: I replied to the hon. Member on 17 May. A copy of my reply has been placed in the Library of the House.

European Federation of Retired and

Elderly Persons

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the European Federation of Retired and Elderly Persons on (a) the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference and (b) developments in European Union policy since 1997. [121502]

The Prime Minister: The Government are in regular contact with a wide range of non-governmental organisations on European issues. I last received representations from the European Federation of Retired and Elderly Persons in a letter of 28 February on the IGC.

19 May 2000 : Column: 289W

My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, replied to this letter on my behalf on 11 May.

Hunting with Hounds

Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of a ban on hunting with hounds. [122528]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster) on 11 November 1999, Official Report, columns 787-88W.

DEFENCE

HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the annual running costs of HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid. [121702]

Mr. Spellar: The average annual running costs for HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid (in her present standby role) are approximately £24.66 million and £2.61 million respectively. This includes repairs and maintenance, manpower, fuel and other costs (such as port and harbour dues) where applicable.

Type 45 Destroyers

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and where the first two Type 45 destroyers will commence construction; and what will be their in-service dates. [122465]

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. Robert Key, dated 19 May 2000:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the first two Type 45 destroyers. This matter falls to me to answer within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
As you are aware, the contract to complete Preparation for Demonstration (PFD) for the Type 45 was placed with Marconi Electronic System (MES, now BAE SYSTEMS) on 23 November 1999. BAE SYSTEMS was also appointed as the Prime Contractor for the Type 45 Programme. We are keen to ensure that we retain our ability to conduct effective competition for follow-on Type 45 destroyers. To this end, both BAE SYSTEMS Marine (YSL) Ltd and Vosper Thornycroft are involved in the PFD contract so that, from the outset, we have a design that has evolved with the active participation of both yards, enabling the efficient construction of Type 45s at either yard.
It is currently planned to place the Demonstration and First-of-Class Manufacture (DFM) contract with the Prime Contractor later this year, to meet an in-service date for the first-of-class ship of 2007. The detailed contractual arrangements for the DFM contract remain under consideration with the Prime Contractor but out plans are that the first of class is assembled and launched at the BAE SYSTEMS Marine (YSL) yard on the Clyde. The timing of the contract for the second ship of the class and where it will be built are still under consideration but value for money will be the key factor.

19 May 2000 : Column: 290W

Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the development of an advanced amphibious assault vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [122377]

Dr. Moonie: While we continue to keep our amphibious requirements under review, we have no plans at present to develop an advanced amphibious assault vehicle capability.

Rapier Contract

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) timescale for the delivery and (b) total cost of the contract for the support system for the Rapier FS132 surface-to-air missile system; if the contract was for a fixed price; and if he will make a statement. [122376]

Dr. Moonie: The Rapier FSB2 surface-to-air missile system came into service in 1988. A contract for the support of the Rapier FSB2 system was signed with Matra British Aerospace (MBD) on 1 April 2000. Under the contract MBD will assume responsibility from MOD for the management, storage, repair and distribution of Rapier FSB2 spares until 2006-07 when the FSB2 goes out of service. The transfer of responsibility will take 12 months as the new arrangements are put in place. The contract was let for a maximum price of approximately £24 million (including VAT) and includes an incentive arrangement whereby any savings made by MBD are shared with MOD.

Armed Services (Egg Suppliers)

Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2000, Official Report, column 390W, if the eggs referred to as being of British origin were laid in the United Kingdom. [122741]

Dr. Moonie: Yes.

Asbestos (Millbay Dock)

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation has been given to civilian dockyard workers for work-related asbestosis at Millbay Dock, Plymouth, in the last 10 years. [122693]

Dr. Moonie: No work-related compensation has been paid by the Ministry of Defence in respect of workers at Millbay Docks, Plymouth, as these Docks are not, and never have been, the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence or the Royal Navy.

Operation Danish Bacon

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy on Operation Danish Bacon; and if he will make a statement. [122700]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 18 May 2000]: UK participation in Surgical Training Exercises in Denmark was suspended in 1998 and an internal review of MOD surgical training methods was set in hand. As a result of that review, an independent study by eminent representatives from appropriate fields was commissioned. They investigated the suitability and effectiveness of other training methods and witnessed a complete Surgical

19 May 2000 : Column: 291W

Training Exercise. The study team were satisfied that the treatment of the animals was entirely humane and appropriate steps were taken to avoid suffering during all phases of the exercises. They could identify no equally effective alternative to the use of live animal models in order to prepare our surgical teams for the treatment of trauma under battlefield conditions. They concluded that to ensure the best possible treatment for injured Service personnel and civilians during conflict, it is entirely appropriate and necessary for our military surgical teams to resume participation in the Surgical Training Exercises. On the basis of this advice, we have decided that UK participation in the Danish Surgical Training Exercises should resume when we are invited.

Open Government

Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for information he received under the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last parliamentary session; and how many were granted. [121850]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 18 May 2000]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 18 May 2000, Official Report, columns 216-17W by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Pay and Personnel Agency

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Pay and Personnel Agency for 2000-01. [123431]

Dr. Moonie: The Chief Executive of the Pay and Personnel Agency (PPA) is responsible for providing pay and personnel information services for the Ministry of Defence as defined in the agency framework document. During 2000-01 the PPA will be set the following challenging key performance targets:

1. To make 100 per cent. of all payments to staff by the due date (excluding late payments caused by invalid claims or late notification outside the control of the Agency).
2. To keep error rates within the following limits:
6 per 1,000 payments of weekly industrial pay
6 per 1,000 payments of monthly non-industrial pay
20 per 1,000 awards of pension
15 per 1,000 payments of expenses
3. By 31 March 2001 to demonstrate a 3 per cent. increase in customer satisfaction.
4. To meet the Department's requirement for implementing agreed pay and grading changes.
5. By 31 March 2001 to complete training of 100 per cent. of all staff in leadership or change management or customer service as appropriate.
6. To establish "centre of excellence" operations for pensions administration by 31 March 2001.
7. To deliver the financial objectives resulting from the PPA Efficiency Review and included in the Agency's service level agreement with the owner.

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