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RAF Buchan
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to visit RAF Buchan. [125570]
Mr. Hoon: I have a full programme of visits to Service establishments but have no plans at present to visit RAF Buchan.
Hydrographic Office
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office for the financial year 2000-01. [126064]
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Dr. Moonie: The key targets set for the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office in 2000-01 are as follows:
- Process and promulgate priority safety information within stated time scales from receipt of data.
- To achieve 100 per cent. of the endorsed and funded Defence Programme to cost, quality and timeliness targets, in particular short notice operational requirements as defined in Tasking Authorisation Forms (TAFs).
- Prepare changes to the Framework Document by October 2000, and agree the principal changes as part of the Quinquennial Review by June 2001.
- Achieve efficiency measure of 13.5 per cent. growth in "Value Added" per member of staff (based on FY 1995-96) by 31 March 2001.
- Review Pay Policy, and Reward and Performance Management, and implement a new system for the FY 2000-01 pay round.
- A Technical Programme, addressing infrastructure and new product development, to be communicated and delivered to time and budget--as set each year.
- Break even taking one year with another and achieve an average Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) during the plan period of 7.5 per cent.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when, during the past six months, he, his Ministers or the Chief of Defence Procurement have met the chairman or chief executive of (a) Aerospatiale, (b) BAE Systems, (c) Boeing, (d) Daimler Chrysler Aerospace, (e) General Dynamics, (f) Lockheed Martin, (g) Raytheon and (h) Rolls Royce. [117152]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 3 April 2000]: During the period October 1999 to March 2000, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Ministers for Defence Procurement and the Armed Forces, the Chief of Defence Procurement and I have met the Chairman or Chief Executive of the companies mentioned as follows:
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| Secretary of State for Defence | Minister for Defence Procurement | Minister for the Armed Forces | Under-Secretary of State for Defence | Chief of Defence Procurement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Aerospatiale | 29 March 2000 | 22 October 1999 | None | 22-24 February 2000 | 6 May 2000 |
| (b) BAE Systems | 30 November 1999 | 23 November 1999 | 29 March 2000 | 22-24 February 2000 | None |
| (c) Boeing | None | None | None | None | None |
| (d) Daimler Chrysler Aerospace | None | None | None | None | 13 December 1999 |
| (e) General Dynamics | None | None | None | None | 23 March 2000 |
| (f) Lockheed Martin | 17 February 2000 | None | None | None | None |
| (g) Raytheon | 7 December 1999 | None | None | None | None |
| (h) Rolls Royce | 4 March 2000 | None | 29 March 2000 | None | 21 December 1999 |
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RNAS Prestwick
Ms Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost to his Department of rescinding the lease of the site of RNAS Prestwick (HMS Gannet); and if he will make a statement. [125802]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Type 45 Destroyers
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned in-service date is for the first Type 45 destroyer; and if he will make a statement. [124996]
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Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the armed forces gave him on 2 November 1999, Official Report, column 87W.
Type 42 Destroyers
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to ensure the effectiveness in the air defence role of Type 42 destroyers prior to all Type 45 destroyers entering into service; and if he will make a statement. [124995]
Dr. Moonie: The introduction into service of the Type 45 destroyer equipped with the Principal Anti-Air Missile System will provide the improved naval air defence capability which the Royal Navy will need. In the
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meantime, we have a programme of enhancements to the Type 42 destroyer and its GWS30 Sea Dart weapon system under way. We will continue to consider what further enhancements may be required while Type 42 destroyers remain in service.
Weapons Systems (Funding)
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional funding has been made available in (a) this and (b) the previous financial year to restore deficiencies in weapons systems and spares of critical equipment, listing in each case the (i) weapons system or type of spare, (ii) deficiency identified and (iii) estimated date of deficiency rectification. [124220]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 5 June 2000]: The Strategic Defence Review contained a number of specific measures targeted at improving the sustainability of our forces, on which we spent £11.4 million last year and £11.3 million this year on Priming Equipment Packs for Tornado GR1/4 and Harrier GR7 aircraft to enhance their deployability. Other funding has been directed at our medical services as previously announced. Work on weapon systems and spares is an on-going process and affects systems across Defence: a more detailed answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Challenger II
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in purchasing track for Challenger II to a new design. [125315]
Dr. Moonie: The Department is shortly to enter a competition phase for the selection of a track which might be taken forward into a trials and assessment phase. Subject to successful trials it is possible that production of new track could begin in 2002 and that there would then be a phased transition over a number of years from old to new track.
Asbestosis
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation is available to former service personnel for work-related asbestosis. [124988]
Mr. Spellar: Compensation arrangements for Service personnel and former Service personnel who suffer illness as a consequence of exposure to asbestos are the same as for those killed or injured or who develop a disease from any other cause attributable to their service. Service personnel were, however, prevented by Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 from suing for compensation until 15 May 1987 when The Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 repealed Section 10. Since then Service personnel have, like any other employee, been entitled to sue the Ministry of Defence for compensation where they have suffered as a result of the Department's negligence. The repeal of Section 10 was not made retrospective. The War Pensions Agency pays compensation to former Service personnel for illness caused before the repeal of Section 10, in the form of a war pension and other allowances.
National Missile Defence System
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of (a) the cost and
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(b) the length of time required to upgrade RAF Fylingdales in the event of a request from the United States for United Kingdom assistance in the deployment of the proposed National Missile Defence System. [125077]
Mr. Hoon: We have not received a request from the US regarding the use of any facilities in the UK as part of the proposed US National Missile Defence system. Nor would we expect one until after a US decision to proceed with deployment of the proposed system. We would consider such a request carefully, taking into account a wide range of factors, including a detailed assessment of the proposed nature and duration of any works requested. The question of financial costs associated with proceeding with deployment of the proposed US National Missile Defence system is first and foremost a matter for the US.
POWs (Japan)
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Government Departments he is consulting on the issue of a gratuity payment to former prisoners of war held in Japan. [125459]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Social Security and the Department of Health are being consulted.
Statistics
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123835]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 25 May 2000]: The Ministry of Defence collects a wide range of manning and establishment statistics on a regional basis, not all of which are centrally held. Many of these statistics can be analysed on a constituency basis using Geographic Information Systems. It is therefore not possible to give a meaningful list of statistics collected by parliamentary constituency as this would incur disproportionate cost.
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