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Turkey

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey about the conditions of imprisonment of Abdullah Ocalan. [127686]

Mr. Vaz: We have not made any representations to the Turkish authorities specifically concerning Abdullah Ocalan's prison conditions. We are, however, aware of recent reports alleging deterioration in Mr. Ocalan's health and will continue to follow his case closely.

26 Jun 2000 : Column: 408W

DEFENCE

Departmental Vehicles

Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles operated by his Department were manufactured (i) in the UK, (ii) in the EU and (iii) elsewhere. [122262]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 17 May 2000]: In addition to combat vehicles, the Ministry of Defence operates a wide range of support vehicles procured or leased from over 130 different manufacturers. While details are not held centrally, it is assessed that the number of non-combat support vehicles (including long-term leased vehicles) is as follows:

(a) cars (up to and including estate cars)--7,700

(b) commercial vehicles (buses, fork-lift trucks, light vans and upwards)--15,300.

Country of manufacture is not recorded on the management information systems that are in place across the Department. For a fleet of 23,000 vehicles, the work involved to identify the country of manufacture could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Service Accommodation

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the impact on morale of the standard of family accommodation available to service personnel; [126507]

(2) what assessment he has made of the impact the delay in the housing refurbishment and improvement programme has had upon his ability to retain Army personnel. [126509]

Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence understands that Service personnel and their families expect Service family accommodation to be of good quality, and that poor quality accommodation can affect retention. Accommodation standards are set according to factors such as energy efficiency, double glazing and modern bathroom facilities. Currently around 60 per cent. of accommodation is Standard Two or above.

We are working hard to bring all family accommodation in Great Britain to Standard One. The Upgrade Programme to achieve this started in 1996. It is a significant investment programme and considerable progress has been made. We originally planned that most of the estate would be upgraded by November 2003 but the 1998 Stock Condition Survey revealed that the programme would involve more work than we predicted at the outset. As a consequence, we were forced to extend the target completion date to November 2005.

The Continuous Attitude Surveys, conducted among both serving personnel and their spouses, give objective evidence of morale and show that personnel are generally satisfied with the overall standard of Service families accommodation. Independent housing surveys conducted for the Defence Housing Executive also show that 82 per cent. of Service families are content with the standard of family accommodation.

26 Jun 2000 : Column: 409W

Technology, Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the 2001 budget and staffing levels for the ballistic missile defence component of the Technology, Readiness and Risk Assessment programme. [126951]

Mr. Hoon: The Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme is a three-year programme begun in July 1998. £12.5 million has been allocated for the overall programme, the work for which is being shared between the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and four UK defence contractors. The wide-ranging and consultative nature of the programme means that it is not possible to provide precise details of staffing levels, but the core team comprises 25-30 staff.

Ballistic Missile Defence

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of agreements on information exchange between the UK and USA with regard to anti-ballistic missile systems. [126943]

Mr. Hoon: The 1985 Memorandum of Understanding relating to Co-operative Research for the Strategic Defence Initiative is the sole agreement which provides the basis for information exchange between the UK and USA with regard to Ballistic Missile Defence.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent expenditure there has been by DERA on research into and evaluation of anti-ballistic missile systems. [126950]

Mr. Hoon: The recent research by DERA in the area of BMD has resulted from the MOD sponsored and funded study known as the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme (TRRAP). The three-year programme was begun in July 1998 at a cost of £12.5 million. Approximately 55 per cent. of the funds have been allocated to DERA with the balance allocated to UK industry.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if Field Marshal Sergeyev of the Russian Federation discussed ballistic missile defences at the meeting of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council on 9 June; and if he will publish the minutes of that meeting; [126941]

(2) what discussions have taken place between his Department and representatives of the Russian Federation concerning ballistic missile defences; and if he will publish the minutes of the meetings. [126940]

Mr. Hoon: The Government have discussed issues relating to the possible proposals for a US National Missile Defence system, and ballistic missile defence more generally, in the course of regular consultations with representatives of the Russian Federation on security- related issues. Most recently, the Russian Defence Minister, Igor Sergeyev presented in outline a Russian proposal on ballistic missile defence to NATO Defence Ministers in the NATO/Russia Permanent Joint Council on 9 June.

I am withholding records of these meetings under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

26 Jun 2000 : Column: 410W

Ballistic Missile Proliferation

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment NATO has made regarding the nature of the threat from ballistic missile proliferation. [126939]

Mr. Hoon: NATO prepares periodic classified assessments of threats to Alliance interests including those presented by ballistic missile proliferation.

AWE

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to ensure that the new operators of the Atomic Weapons Establishment sites will extend the policy on openness adopted by the previous operators. [127136]

Dr. Moonie: The contract to operate the Atomic Weapons Establishment specifically requires the operator to provide a Local Liaison Committee to serve as the formal interface between the sites and the local community, including elected representatives from interested organisations and local government agencies. The presence of the on-site Ministry of Defence compliance team will ensure that the policy is adhered to.

Porton Down

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of the armed services were in contact with Professor Peter Lachmann and his panel during their inquiry into the zinc cadmium sulphide trials which had been conducted by the Porton Down Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment; and if he will place the communications between them and Professor Lachmann and his team in the Library. [127131]

Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 April 2000, Official Report, columns 554-55W.

Army Base Repair Organisation

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of the contract recently awarded to the Army Base Repair Organisation; which other companies bid for this contract; what is the lifespan of the contract; if the contract was for a fixed price; and if he will make a statement. [127177]

Dr. Moonie: The Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) has recently been awarded a contract for the refurbishment of the generator sets used to power the UK Army's Digital Trunk Communications System (Ptarmigan). The work is designed to extend the life of the generators and covers up to 158 generator sets. Six other companies submitted bids for the work: BAe Defence Systems, G&M Power Plant Ltd., Hunting Engineering Ltd., Vickers Specialist Engines, Dowding & Mills (North Eastern) Ltd. and Marconi Power & Control Systems Ltd. The contract was awarded on a firm price (ie non-variable) basis and the work is expected to take some six months to complete. Details of the contract value are commercial- in-confidence and are withheld under Exemption 14 of the Code of Practice, which relates to information given in confidence.

26 Jun 2000 : Column: 411W

Staff Secondments

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who requested the secondment of the Deputy Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency to Thomson-CSF; who approved it; what was the cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [127180]

Dr. Moonie: The secondment of the former Deputy Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency to the UK headquarters of Thomson-CSF arose out of discussions between Ministry of Defence officials and the company's senior management and is part of the Ministry of Defence's wider interchange programme. As with all top level civil service appointments, it was approved by the Permanent Secretary. There is no additional cost to the Department as salary and associated costs will be reimbursed by the company for the duration of the secondment.

Several MOD officials are currently seconded to UK defence companies, and two are with major US defence companies. Secondments are a valuable means of ensuring that the MOD remains an intelligent customer and obtains best value for money. They are also in the spirit of modernising Government and public sector reform.

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