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Departmental Budget (Nuclear Weapons)

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his departmental budget is allocated for expenditure on (a) the verification of nuclear arms agreements, (b) the dismantling of redundant nuclear weapons stocks, (c) research on the safe storage and transport of nuclear weapons and (d) the development of a new nuclear warhead or delivery vehicle for nuclear warheads (i) independently and (ii) in collaboration with the United States, using computer simulation facilities. [130846]

Mr. Hoon: The following sums are recorded as having been expended during 1999-2000:

(a) the verification of nuclear arms agreements--£4.2 million

(b) the dismantling of redundant nuclear weapons--£11.5 million

(c) work on the safe storage and transport of nuclear weapons makes use of information and capabilities gained in the various parts of the wider research programme rather than as a discrete activity. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

(d) There are no current plans for any replacement for Trident, and as published in the Strategic Defence Review, we are maintaining only the minimum capability to design and produce a successor should this prove necessary. There was therefore no expenditure on the development of a new nuclear warhead or delivery vehicle for nuclear warheads, (i) independently or (ii) in collaboration with the United States, using computer simulation facilities.

Territorial Army (Wandsworth)

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial provision he has made for the training of Territorial Army units in the London Borough of Wandsworth during the coming year. [131469]

Mr. Spellar: For financial year 2000-01, a total of £450,000 has been allocated to cover Man Training Days (MTDs) for Territorial Army units in the London Borough of Wandsworth. This reflects the levels of MTDs requested by the units themselves.

Sierra Leone

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security measures have been taken by his Department to ensure the safety of the UK military training team in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [131495]

Mr. Hoon: In view of the unstable security environment, the Short-Term Training Teams we have deployed to Sierra Leone include a contingent specifically tasked with Force Protection. British Forces have been provided with appropriate Rules of Engagement to allow them to defend themselves robustly if attacked.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the Government of implementing Operation Basilica in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [131496]

Mr. Hoon: The estimated costs of the two Short-Term Training Teams we have recently deployed to Sierra Leone under Operation Basilica amount to some £1.3 million.

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Victoria Cross

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been awarded the Victoria Cross since 1970; how many holders of the Victoria Cross are still living; and if he will make a statement. [131521]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 20 July 2000]: The Victoria Cross has been awarded to two people since 1970, on both occasions posthumously. There are currently 24 living holders of the Victoria Cross.

Chinook Helicopters

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract was signed to fit the RAF Chinook helicopter fleet with flight data recorders; what the original date for completion was; what the current estimate is for date of completion; and if he will make a statement. [131522]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 20 July 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 November 1997, Official Report, columns 151-53W. The programme of work is due to be completed by the end of August 2001.

Warships

Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 14 June 2000, Official Report, column 10W, for what reason he did not provide information on the most recent date on which a new warship was ordered for the Royal Navy. [132029]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 21 July 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 July 2000, Official Report, column 10W. This is the most recent order for a new RN warship.

Prior to this announcement the last RN warship order was on 14 March 1997 when an order was placed for the design and build of three ASTUTE class nuclear attack submarines.

Military Hospital, Northallerton

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the new Military District Hospital at Northallerton will open; and if he will make a statement. [131023]

Dr. Moonie: The new Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit at Northallerton NHS Health Services Trust opened on 1 July 1999.

Imaging Systems

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work his Department has commissioned from DERA on through-the-wall imaging systems; at what cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [131768]

Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence is currently conducting research into through wall imaging technology and techniques within both the Corporate and the Applied Research Programmes. In financial year 2000-01 this will amount to £370,000 in total. Work is planned to continue in this area.

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Michael John Smith

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those papers which have been removed by Ministry officials this year from Michael John Smith (PR 3345), in HMP Full Sutton. [132275]

Dr. Moonie: No papers have been removed from the prison cell of Michael John Smith by Ministry officials. Papers containing classified information in connection with the criminal prosecution of Mr. Smith were removed from his cell by the prison authorities, who were advised and assisted by Ministry of Defence officials. A full list of all documents removed was provided to Mr. Smith by the prison authorities. I am withholding this list under Exemption 4c of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will reply to the letter dated 19 June from Michael John Smith (PR 3345), currently in HMP Full Sutton. [132278]

Dr. Moonie: On the advice of the Treasury Solicitor, any correspondence received directly from Mr. Smith to my officials is forwarded to them for attention. Mr. Smith's letter of 19 June has been the subject of subsequent correspondence between the Treasury Solicitor, who acts on behalf of the Ministry, and Messrs A. S. Law, who act on behalf of Mr. Smith.

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates Michael John Smith (PR 3345) in HMP Full Sutton was visited by MOD HQ Sy2 Directorate; for what purpose; and what opportunities were afforded to Mr. Smith to have a legal representative in attendance. [132277]

Dr. Moonie: Searches of Mr. Smith's cell were conducted by the prison authorities on 15 and 23 June 2000. Ministry of Defence officials provided advice and assistance in relation to documents stored in the cell. The purpose of the searches was to remove classified information which Mr. Smith was not entitled to keep in his cell and to arrange for its secure storage within the prison. The documents were examined in a separate room, under the prison Governor's powers of search, which do not require the presence of a prisoner's legal representative. Mr. Smith and a member of the Board of Prison Visitors were present at the search on 15 June. Mr. Smith declined to be present at the search on the 23 June.

Bowman Project

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what sum his Department has paid to Archer in respect of the package 'O' contract for the Bowman Project in each month since April 1999; and if he will make a statement; [131627]

(2) what the budget of the Bowman Project was in (a) 1993 at (i) 1993 and (ii) 2000 prices and (b) 2000 at (A) 1993 and (B) 2000 prices; and what added capability has been required since 1993; [131628]

(3) if he will list the funds allocated for supply and support of the Bowman Project in (a) June 1999, (b) June 2000 and (c) June 2001; [131629]

24 Jul 2000 : Column: 382W

(4) what funding he will provide for the supply and support of the Bowman Project in (a) August and (b) September; and if he will make a statement; [131630]

(5) what (a) legal and (b) financial provision he has made for redundancy following the expiry of the Bowman package 'O' contract at the end of July; and what forecast of redundancy numbers his Department has made in respect of the work force of (i) Archer, (ii) Racal, (iii) ITT and (iv) other contractors. [131631]

Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

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