| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Investment
Mr. Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what account the Church Commissioners take of scripture in their investment decisions. [135371]
Mr. Stuart Bell: The Commissioners' ethical investment policy is exercised in the context of their duty to manage their inherited assets to provide financial support for the Church of England's ministry, especially in areas of need and opportunity.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION
Privatisation (NAO Review)
33. Mr. David Heath: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what discussions he has had with the Comptroller and Auditor General on the resources available to the NAO to review the effectiveness and economy of the privatisation of public assets. [135368]
Mr. Sheldon: Over the past 10 years the National Audit Office has published more than 50 reports on privatisations and a variety of public/private partnerships. The Public Accounts Commission last met on 18 July to consider and approve the National Audit Office's Corporate Plan for 2001-2002 and beyond. The resources to be made available to the National Audit Office will include provision to enable it to continue its work on this important area.
6 Nov 2000 : Column: 5W
DEFENCE
Territorial Army
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the size of the Territorial Army. [134414]
Mr. Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2000, Official Report, column 271W.
Trafalgar Class Submarine
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the state of seaworthiness is of each Trafalgar class submarine. [134918]
Mr. Spellar: HMS Torbay, HMS Trenchant and HMS Talent are currently undergoing refit and repair at Devonport. The initial phase of the inspection programme for Trafalgar class submarines has shown that, of these, HMS Trenchant is clear of the defect affecting HMS Tireless, which is being prepared for repair in Gibraltar. Of the remaining submarines, HMS Trafalgar and HMS Turbulent show early signs of the defect and are alongside at Devonport. HMS Triumph has been found to be clear of the defect and will return to operational duties shortly.
Chinese Armed Forces (UK Visits)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions during May and June on which representatives of the Chinese armed forces visited the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose, (b) itinerary and (c) cost to his Department of each. [134428]
Mr. Hoon: [holding answer 26 October 2000]: There were three visits to the United Kingdom by representatives of the Chinese armed forces in May and June this year. These were:
1. A PLA Logistics Delegation of six officers (led by a Major-General) visited the UK between 10-12 May in order to study the logistics organisation in the UK armed forces. The delegation visited the Defence Logistics Organisation in Bath, Andover and Yeovilton, and the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol. The costs of the visit were met by the Chinese.
2. The PLA Air Force Command College visited the UK between 28 May-4 June in order to learn about UK defence policy, the organisation of the RAF and its concept of operations in a joint environment. The delegation consisted of eight college staff (led by a Major-General), twenty-eight students, five interpreters, and eleven aircrew. They visited the MOD in London, RAF Brize Norton, RAF High Wycombe, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Cranwell and BAE Systems in Warton. There were also cultural visits to London and Edinburgh. The cost of the visit to the MOD was approximately £10,000.
3. General Cao, the Head of the Chinese General Equipment Department, and an accompanying delegation of twelve officers visited the UK between 18-25 June as part of an ongoing programme of senior military visits and ministerial exchanges. The General visited the MOD in London, the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol, the Defence Logistics Organisation in Bath, BAE Systems in Farnborough and Warton, and Racal Electronics in Crawley. There were also cultural visits to London and Scotland. The cost of the visit to the MOD was some £15,700.
6 Nov 2000 : Column: 6W
In addition, a Chinese officer was attending the Royal College for Defence Studies course (which runs from January to December), and another officer was conducting English Language Training at the Defence School of Languages in Beaconsfield between 19 June-8 August. The cost of this training to the MOD was approximately £50,000 and £5,000 respectively.
All of these visits were part of our wider efforts to develop a substantive defence relationship with China through regular balanced and reciprocal engagement in order to promote confidence-building and dispel mistrust.
Defence co-operation forms a key part of the UK's overall strategy of constructive engagement with China, and improving contacts with the Chinese in all areas.
Defence Medical Services
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reserves there were in the Defence Medical Services in (a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Navy in (i) 1992-93, (ii) 1993-94, (iii) 1994-95, (iv) 1995-96, (v) 1996-97, (vi) 1997-98, (vii) 1998-99 and (viii) 1999-2000. [134294]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The numbers of reservists in the Defence Medical Services for the years 1992 to 2000 are set out in the tables. They comprise members of the Volunteer Reserve Forces and the Regular Reserve Forces. The latter are ex-Regular personnel who retain a specific liability to call-out on leaving the Regular Forces. The figures do not include ex-Regular personnel who are not in a Reserve Force, but who retain a general liability to recall to the Regular Services in a serious crisis as defined in the Reserve Forces Act 1996. RAF figures are available only from 1 April 1998 as prior to this date medical and non-medical reservist manpower figures were not recorded separately.
| Year | Royal Naval Reserve | Territorial Army | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 370 | 6,125 | -- |
| 1993 | 340 | 5,955 | -- |
| 1994 | 233 | 5,355 | -- |
| 1995 | 328 | 5,086 | -- |
| 1996 | 278 | 4,758 | -- |
| 1997 | 256 | 4,475 | -- |
| 1998 | 275 | 4,434 | 182 |
| 1999 | 276 | 4,223 | 231 |
| 2000 | 289 | 4,395 | 233 |
Note:
Figures are as at 1 April except for the Territorial Army for 1992 and 1993. The Territorial Army figure for 1992 is as at 1 May 1992 and for 1993 includes officers as at 1 March 1993.
Notes:
1. Royal Fleet Reserve figures are as at 1 January. The figures comprise non-commissioned personnel only as figures for officers are not available and no figures are available prior to 1 January 1997.
2. Army Reserve figures are as at 1 April except for 1992 and 1993. The Army Reserve figure for 1992 is at 1 May 1992 and for 1993 includes officers as at 1 March 1993.
3. Air Force Reserve figures are as at 1 April.
6 Nov 2000 : Column: 7W
Research Projects
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how long his Department has given to BAE Systems RO Defence and Thomson Racal Defence to complete the radar counterstealth research; what response each company has made to the deadline; and if he will make a statement; [135702]
- (2) how many industry proposals to conduct three-year research projects into the new innovative radar counterstealth technologies his Department is reviewing; what is the estimated cost of each proposal; and if he will make a statement; [135748]
(3) what targets his Department has set for Category B work to be undertaken for the purpose of inventive research; what percentage of the research budget is allotted for such research; what this represents in cash terms; and if he will make a statement; [135714]
(4) if (a) BAE Systems RO Defence, (b) Thomson Racal Defence and (c) the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency have responded to his Department's mandates for three-year research projects; and if he will make a statement; [135713]
(5) what assessment he has made of the impact of radar counterstealth technology on the exploitation of the stealth technology currently in use; if use of radar counterstealth technology will increase the ability to avoid detection; and if he will make a statement. [135753]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |