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Kosovo (NATO Ordnance)
27. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of how much NATO ordnance was (a) directed against imposter targets and (b) dumped unexploded in the Adriatic as a result of bad weather during the war in Kosovo. [122666]
Mr. Spellar: NATO's assessment of the air campaign was made public by the then Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Wesley Clark, in September last year. It is the most comprehensive assessment undertaken and is explained in detail on NATO's website www.nato.int/ kosovo/press/p990916a.htm. The Ministry of Defence has not undertaken a separate assessment of how much NATO ordnance was directed against decoy or imposter targets.
It would not be appropriate to comment on behalf of other nations, but no UK aircraft dropped ordnance in the Adriatic during the campaign.
Training
28. Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of opportunities for training with live ammunition in each of the last five years. [122667]
Mr. Spellar: Service personnel are trained, individually and collectively, in all aspects of their roles, and live firing of weapons is one element of a balanced training programme which is subject to the constraints of time, money and infrastructure. The opportunities available to military personnel to train with live ammunition vary according to the specialisation of the individual concerned, and also according to the operational role of the formed unit to which that individual belongs. Because most live firing is carried out at unit level, the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Territorial Army (Balkans)
29. Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of Territorial Army soldiers serving in the Balkans. [122668]
Mr. Spellar: A total of 3,975 Territorial Army soldiers have been mobilised for duty in the Balkans since December 1995. Their role has been to provide individual reinforcements with a variety of skills to Regular Units on operational tours, and fill a number of staff appointments in the various Headquarters in the Balkans.
Sierra Leone
30. Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the use of United Kingdom forces in Sierra Leone. [122669]
Mr. Hoon: United Kingdom Forces deployed to Sierra Leone in early May have done an excellent job. They deployed to get UK nationals out and, in securing the airport at Lungi, they were able to help UNAMSIL while reinforcements flew in. The operation has been a success: hundreds of UK nationals were evacuated; thousands of
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UN reinforcements have flown in. The arrival of capable, well-equipped reinforcements has helped create a much more stable and secure environment than when UK forces arrived. We expect to be able to have withdrawn the bulk of our troops from Sierra Leone by mid-June. We will, however, continue to provide UK military observers to UNAMSIL and training and advice to the Government of Sierra Leone, as part of our wider programme of assistance.
35. Dr. George Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects British Forces to leave Sierra Leone. [122674]
Mr. Hoon: We expect the bulk of British forces deployed to Sierra Leone, including 42 Commando, to leave by mid-June. We will, however, continue to provide UK military advice and training in accordance with our wider programme of assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone. We will also continue to work with UNAMSIL.
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral statement of 23 May 2000, Official Report, columns 863-65, concerning Sierra Leone, what United Kingdom weapons and ammunition will be issued to any military organisation other than the Sierra Leone army; and how the distribution of such arms will be controlled and monitored. [124055]
Mr. Hoon: Light weapons and ammunition will be distributed to Government of Sierra Leone Armed Forces only. Their distribution will be overseen by UK military personnel in Sierra Leone. We have received firm assurances from President Kabbah that they will only be used by regular Sierra Leone soldiers in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights standards.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment of British forces in the area of Sierra Leone. [123714]
Mr. Hoon: I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement I gave to the House on 23 May 2000, Official Report, columns 863-74.
RAF (Fast Jet Pilots)
31. Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Fast Jet pilots there are in the RAF according to (a) establishment level and (b) actual manning level; and what the percentage shortfall is. [122670]
Mr. Spellar: The position on 1 April 2000, the latest date that figures are available, was as follows:
| Requirement (1) | Trained strength | Deficit | Percentage shortfall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ranks | 882 | 846 | 36 | 4.1 |
| Junior Officer Pilot(2) | 550 | 452 | 98 | 17.8 |
(1) Includes non-flying posts for which aircrew experience and knowledge are required. The majority of these non-flying posts require senior officers.
(2) Flight Lieutenant (and Squadron Leader specialist aircrew) and below included in all ranks total. This is the RAF's most critical manning category.
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Royal Navy Frigates
33. Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy frigates are operationally available. [122672]
Mr. Spellar: 27 Royal Naval Frigates are currently operationally available. The remainder are in extended maintenance or refit.
Peacekeeping
34. Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes there have been in the peacekeeping role of United Kingdom forces in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [122673]
Mr. Spellar: The peacekeeping role of UK forces was set out in the Strategic Defence Review. There has been no change to that role in the last three years. As my hon. Friend will be aware, UK forces have been engaged in a number of peacekeeping and other peace support operations in the Balkans and elsewhere in that period.
The prevention, containment and resolution of conflict is a vital element in the maintenance of international stability and security to which this Government are committed. UK forces will therefore continue to make an appropriate contribution, in concert with others, to both peacekeeping and other peace support operations.
Smart Procurement
36. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings have been identified as a result of the Smart Procurement Initiative. [122675]
Mr. Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings have been identified as a result of the Smart Procurement Initiative. [122656]
Dr. Moonie: As part of the Strategic Defence Review we set ourselves a target of saving £2 billion on equipment procurement expenditure over the 10 years to 2007-08 through the introduction of Smart Procurement. We are on track to achieve that target, in that the sum of cost reductions identified and made in successive planning rounds is approaching the £2 billion mark and, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's announcement last month on the Strategic Air Lift and future missile for the Eurofighter aptly demonstrates, we are delivering the programme set out in the Strategic Defence Review.
BVRAAM
37. Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the beyond visual range air-to-air missile. [122676]
Mr. Hoon: I announced on 16 May the Government's intention to procure the METEOR missile, offered by a consortium led by Matra BAe Dynamics, as the beyond visual range air-to-air missile for the Eurofighter aircraft. Our decision will give the RAF the most advanced air to
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air missile in the world, and will ensure that Eurofighter can combat all projected air to air threats well into its service life.
Surplus Assets (Disposal)
38. Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in achieving the target for disposal of surplus assets contained in the Strategic Defence Review. [122677]
Dr. Moonie: The Strategic Defence review set a £700 million target for gross receipts from the sale of surplus property assets over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02. In 1998-99 £158 million was achieved, with a further £286.5 million being realised in 1999-2000.
The Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) was set a target to reduce the book value of spares holdings by 20 per cent., and is on target to meet this by April 2001.
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