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Airborne Early Warning Capability
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to acquire a future naval airborne early warning capability; and if he will make a statement. [129228]
Dr. Moonie: We plan to acquire a Future Organic Airborne Early Warning (FOAEW) system to replace the capability currently provided by Sea King airborne early warning helicopters. FOAEW will operate from
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the Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) and complement the deployment of the Future Carrier Borne Aircraft (FCBA). It will mount powerful radar systems to provide wide sensor coverage against both air and surface threats, and command and control for operations by the carrier air group. Expressions of interest for participation in the programme were sought from industry in February 2000. The planned in-service date for FOAEW is 2012.
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea King airborne early warning variants are in service; how old they are; and how many are operationally available. [129229]
Dr. Moonie: There are 13 Sea King Airborne Early Warning helicopters in service. Of these, nine are operationally available, with the remainder undergoing major maintenance programmes and a capability upgrade. Ten of the airframes were first delivered to the Royal Navy between 1969 and 1971 and converted to the Airborne Early Warning variant between 1982 and 1987. The other three airframes first entered Service as in between 1985 and 1986, being converted during 1997 and 1998.
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to withdraw the (a) Sea King airborne early warning and (b) Type 22 Batch II frigates from service. [129230]
Mr. Spellar: There are currently no plans to withdraw the Sea King Airborne Early Warning (Mk 2/7) aircraft from service.
Plans for the withdrawal from service of the Type 22 Batch 2 frigates currently in service are as follows:
- HMS Sheffield
- 2012--to be superseded by a T45 Destroyer
- HMS Coventry
- 2001--to be superseded by HMS St. Albans, a T23 Frigate.
Type 23 Frigates
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the Type 23 Frigates are due for refit in the next 12 months. [129231]
Dr. Moonie: One Type 23 Frigate, HMS Iron Duke, is due to start refit at Rosyth Royal Dockyard in spring 2001.
RAF Aircraft
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the Royal Air Force's total inventory of Tornado F3s; and how many are operationally available; [128708]
- (2) what is the Royal Air Force's total inventory of (a) Harrier GR7s, (b) Tornado GR1s and (c) Jaguar GR1s; and how many in (a), (b) and (c) are operationally available; [128706]
(3) how many Tornado GR4s are in operational service; [128705]
(4) how many (a) Tornado GR1, (b) Tornado F3 and (c) Jaguar GR1 are held in reserve; and how long it would take for the aircraft in (a), (b) and (c) to be returned to front-line duties; [128707]
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(5) how many Nimrod MR2s are (a) in service, (b) operationally available and (c) in the process of being upgraded to MR4 standard. [128703]
Mr. Spellar: The information requested is detailed in the table:
| Aircraft type | Total RAF inventory | Operating fleet(3) | Sustainment fleet(4) | Aircraft in storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado F3 | (5)138 | 85 | 29 | -- |
| Tornado GR1 | 110 | 73 | (6)36 | 1 |
| Tornado GR4 | 64 | 52 | (7)12 | -- |
| Jaguar GR1/GR3/GR3A | (8)98 | 38 | 7 | 12 |
| Harrier GR7 | 75 | 52 | (9)23 | -- |
| Nimrod MR2 | (10)22 | 18 | 4 | -- |
(3) Aircraft available to operational commanders
(4) Aircraft needed to sustain operations through major maintenance and upgrades
(5) 24 Tornado F3 currently not required by the RAF are on loan to the Italian Air Force
(6) 20 of these GR1 currently in conversion to GR4
(7) Three of these GR4 aircraft are on loan to DERA for trials
(8) 41 Jaguar GR1 are used as Ground Instructional Aircraft and are not available to fly
(9) Four of these Harrier GR7 are on loan to DERA for trials
(10) The Nimrod MR2s will be replaced by 21 Nimrod MRA4. Six airframes are currently in conversion to MRA4
The degree of operational urgency and availability of resources would dictate the time it would take to restore Tornado and Jaguar airframes in storage to front-line duties.
Belize
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of military assistance to Belize was in each year since 1992. [129078]
Mr. Spellar: The cost of military assistance provided by the Ministry of Defence to Belize has been as follows:
| Financial Year | £000 |
|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 542 |
| 1993-94 | 793 |
| 1994-95 | 806 |
| 1995-96 | 835 |
| 1996-97 | 502 |
| 1997-98 | 272 |
| 1998-99 | 213 |
| 1999-2000 | 275 |
Note:
Provisional estimate
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also provided military assistance through the supply of non- lethal equipment under the Belize Defence Aid Fund (BELDA) and military training under the UK Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS) and its successor Assistance to Support Stability with In-Service Training (ASSIST). The allocations for these funds were as follows:
| Financial Year | BELDA | UKMTAS/ASSIST |
|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 450 | 475 |
| 1993-94 | 400 | 260 |
| 1994-95 | 400 | 325 |
| 1995-96 | 400 | 325 |
| 1996-97 | 350 | 325 |
| 1997-98 | 300 | 300 |
| 1998-99 | 250 | 240 |
| 1999-2000 | 200 | 200 |
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SIFF Programme
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Successor SIFF programme, indicating when a final decision will be made. [129388]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 4 July 2000, Official Report, column 127W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces.
RAF Mildenhall
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Polish contractors were invited to bid for work on a support centre at RAF Mildenhall; and what reasons underlay the decision to include these contractors in the bidding process. [129403]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 6 July 2000]: Two Polish contractors, Exbud Joint Stock Company and Mostostal Zabrze Holding, were invited to tender for the contract to provide an Operations Support Centre at RAF Mildenhall.
The reasons for including these firms in the bidding process stem from Poland's membership of NATO.
The Support Centre at RAF Mildenhall has been identified as being eligible for NATO funding under NATO's Security Investment Programme (NSIP). The contract for this work has been opened to International Competitive Bidding (ICB).
Under ICB arrangements, firms nominated by NATO member nations that contribute to the NSIP funding must be invited to tender for the work.
The two firms in question were nominated by the Polish Embassy in London and invited to bid.
During the tender period both Exbud and Mostostal Zabrze declined to tender.
Meteorological Office
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to the Meteorological Office of the recruitment campaign undertaken in late 1999 and January seeking extra observers, including the cost of press advertisements. [129453]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. and learned Member.
Letter from Peter Ewins to Mr. James Wallace, dated 11 July 2000:
- I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost to The Met. Office of the recruitment campaign undertaken in late 1999 and January seeking extra observers. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of The Met. Office.
- The cost of the campaign, including the cost of press advertisement, was £26,340.
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Submarines
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the location and operational status is of each of the Royal Navy's (a) Trafalgar Class and (b) Swiftsure Class submarines. [129858]
Mr. Hoon: (a) Of the Royal Navy's seven Trafalgar Class submarines, three are operationally available and four are in refit, extended maintenance or repair.
(b) Of the RN's five Swiftsure Class, three are operationally available and two are in refit, extended maintenance or repair.
| Class | Operational or engaged in preparing for service, trials or training | Undergoing refit, extended maintenance or repair |
|---|---|---|
| Swiftsure | Sovereign | Sceptre (Rosyth) |
| Splendid | Spartan (Rosyth) | |
| Superb | ||
| Trafalgar | Trafalgar | Talent (Devonport) |
| Triumph | Tireless (Gibraltar) | |
| Turbulent | Torbay (Devonport) | |
| Trenchant (Devonport) |
The specific operational status and location of each operational submarine is classified for security reasons and is being withheld under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
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