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Tanker Ships

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what commercial tanker ships his Department has chartered to move fuel between British naval bases in the past 12 months. [125085]

Mr. Spellar: In the past 12 months the Ministry of Defence has not chartered any commercial tanker ships to move fuel between British naval bases.

HMS Cambridge

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the closure of HMS Cambridge. [125010]

Mr. Spellar: The proposed closure of HMS Cambridge is now subject to formal consultation, which is not due to complete until 26 June 2000, and a formal statement on the closure cannot be made until after this date. However the recommendations of the Investment Appraisal were that, following the cessation of live gunnery firing at HMS Cambridge, it was likely that the remainder of the establishment's training activity, namely Non Firing Gunnery Training, Board and Search Training and Naval Military Training, could be delivered more cost-effectively elsewhere. Indications are that the earliest date that a co-ordinated closure could be achieved is April 2001. Live firing for initial and career course training ceased in October 1999.

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Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings will accrue from the closure of HMS Cambridge. [125056]

Mr. Spellar: Following the cessation of live gunnery firing at HMS Cambridge, it was likely that the remainder of the establishment's training activity, namely, Non Firing Gunnery Training, Board and Search Training and Naval Military Training, could be delivered more cost-effectively elsewhere. The completed Investment Appraisal shows that, against a capital cost of £7.8 million, the projected overall savings to the Ministry of Defence over the 25 years appraisal period would be £112 million (net present value £49 million). The capital cost is for transferring training to HMS Raleigh, HMS Collingwood and HMS Dryad.

Missiles

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what live-fire training exercises are planned to take place in the next 12 months using Sea Eagle missiles. [125005]

Mr. Spellar: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training exercises involving the live firing of Sea Eagle missiles have taken place in each of the past 10 years. [125081]

Mr. Spellar: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training exercises involving the live firing of Exocet missiles have taken place in each of the past 10 years. [125008]

Mr. Spellar: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to procure further stocks of Exocet missiles for use by the Royal Navy. [125006]

Mr. Spellar: We have no plans to procure further stocks of Exocet missiles for use by the Royal Navy. The Exocet missile system has been gradually withdrawn from service since October 1997 as it has become obsolete. The removal of the Exocet system from service is more than adequately offset by other very capable systems deployed in many other ships in the Royal Navy, including the superior Harpoon Anti Ship missile.

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what stocks of (a) Exocet, (b) Sea Eagle and (c) Sea Dart missiles are retained by the Royal Navy. [125011]

Mr. Spellar: Both Exocet and Sea Eagle were formally removed from Royal Navy service in 1999 and all remaining missile stocks are currently subject to disposal action.

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The Sea Dart remains in operational service. Accordingly, I am withholding detailed information on this system in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Exocet missiles are routinely carried by Type 22 Frigates in service. [125007]

Mr. Spellar: Exocet missiles are no longer in Naval service, and none are carried by Type 22 Frigates in service.

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what upgrade and refurbishment work is planned to take place on the Royal Navy's stock of (a) Exocet and (b) Sea Dart missiles in the next 12 months. [125012]

Mr. Spellar: The Royal Navy's Exocet missiles have become obsolete and have gradually been withdrawn from service. Therefore no upgrade or refurbishment work on these weapons is planned. The removal of the Exocet system from Service has been offset by other very capable systems deployed throughout the Royal Navy. A contract for the final phase of the Sea Dart missile refurbishment programme was placed on 23 May 2000. This is to ensure that the Royal Navy has sufficient serviceable Sea Dart missiles until 2015, the current planned out of service date for the weapon system.

Meet Your Navy Programme

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which ships have been withdrawn from the Meet Your Navy programme running from 26 May to 9 July. [125058]

Mr. Spellar: RFA Fort George was withdrawn from the Meet Your Navy programme to support operational commitments in Sierra Leone, but has been replaced by RFA Olna.

Nuclear Submarines

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submariners are allocated to crew each decommissioned nuclear submarine. [125057]

Mr. Spellar: Eleven nuclear submarines have left RN service, of which two continue to be manned by a reduced ship's company (Valiant with 22 personnel and Renown with 43 personnel) until they complete the de-fuel, de-equipping and lay-up process.

Partnership for Peace

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department's officials last met their Croatian counterparts; and what discussions were held on the Partnership for Peace initiative. [125003]

Mr. Hoon: My officials last met their Croatian counterparts for UK-Croatia Bilateral Defence Talks held in the UK on 19 April 2000. The Croatian delegation was led by the Assistant Minister for Policy, Mr. Ivan Kozlica, who covered a wide range of subjects focusing on the new Government's commitment to root and branch reform of the armed forces.

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Discussions also touched upon Croatia's potential entry into the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. The Croatian delegation reiterated not only their Government's strong commitment to meeting the internationally agreed conditions for PfP membership, but also Croatia's intention to play a more constructive role in regional security.

Given the momentous political changes over the last six months the UK was pleased to support Croatia's early admission to PfP, which was achieved at the Florence Ministerial on 24 and 25 May.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role Britain has played in Partnership for Peace activities with Croatia. [125004]

Mr. Hoon: Croatia was admitted to the Partnership for Peace programme during the Florence Ministerials on 24 and 25 May 2000 and is now eligible to participate in Partnership for Peace (PfP) activities. Prior to that date Croatia, not being a PfP member, did not take part in PfP activities. Croatia is now deciding on the activities in which she will participate and will be an effective contributor to PfP.

Israel

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits have been made by Defence Procurement Agency personnel to Israel in the last year. [117560]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 3 April 2000]: This information is not held centrally, but from a survey of the present DPA organisation I understand that there were 13 such visits by staff.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Enterprise and Skills Development

14. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what initiatives his Department have established within schools to encourage the development of enterprise and skills relevant to business. [123347]

Jacqui Smith: The new National Curriculum, which will be introduced in schools from autumn, encourages schools to provide enterprise education to develop pupils' confidence, self-reliance and willingness to embrace change. We are also working with the Department of Trade and Industry to develop a website to support teachers in this.

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