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Trident
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans exist in respect of submariners in Trident submarines being trapped on the sea bed; if the Royal Navy has the capability to deal with such emergencies without the use of outside agencies; and if he will make a statement. [138803]
Mr. Spellar: The UK submarine Rescue Service has the capability to deal with rescue from any submarine without the use of outside agencies. However, every rescue attempt from a submarine trapped on the sea bed, regardless of nationality, has to be evaluated to determine the optimum solution taking into consideration speed/time and distance. This may mean that it is quicker to rescue distressed submariners using the assistance of other nations' submarine rescue assets.
European Airspace
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the adoption of the proposals of the European Commission for the creation of a common European sky on existing provisions and agreements, concerning the powers of Her Majesty's Government to make such arrangements with NATO allies. [139063]
Mr. Hoon: The Commission's proposals are still being developed. A formal presentation of the proposals is expected to be made to the Stockholm Summit in March 2001. The need to ensure sufficient access to airspace for both civil and military purposes will be highlighted, as will the need to respect national security and defence requirements. Bringing together civil and military expertise at European level, in co-operation with NATO, is an important element of the work being undertaken. I
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am content that our active engagement in the process will ensure that the defence needs of the UK and our allies will not be compromised.
Defence Aviation Repair Agency
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service and (b) civilian personnel are employed (i) by DARA and (ii) outwith DARA at RAF St. Athan. [138886]
Mr. Spellar: As at 1 October 2000, DARA employed 729 service personnel and 2,224 civilian personnel at RAF St. Athan. The non DARA personnel employed at St. Athan on that date were 669 service personnel and 340 civilians.
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many headquarters staff were employed by DARA at RAF St. Athan when it was launched in April 1999. [138883]
Mr. Spellar: There were 39 staff employed in the DARA Head Office at RAF St. Athan on 1 April 1999.
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the cost of re-locating DARA operations at RAF St. Athan to Cardiff International Airport. [138884]
Mr. Spellar: DARA are conducting a rigorous investment appraisal of the various options to provide modern infrastructure for its Aircraft Business Unit. This investment appraisal is not yet complete and an accurate cost is therefore not yet available.
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) military and (b) civilian personnel are employed by DARA at (i) Fleetlands, (ii) Almondbank and (iii) RAF Sealand. [139327]
Mr. Spellar: The number of personnel employed by DARA at its four locations is set out in the table.
| Locations | Civilian | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Fleetlands | 1,103 | 13 |
| Almondbank | 363 | 0 |
| Sealand | 1,070 | 184 |
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the annual cost of maintaining RAF St. Athan if DARA were to re-locate elsewhere. [139330]
Mr. Spellar: No decision has been made yet to relocate the DARA elsewhere. Options are being considered, and the extent of any relocation, if it were to go ahead, has not been decided. Until a full business case has been prepared, no estimate of the cost of maintaining RAF St. Athan without the DARA can be provided.
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian employees working for DARA at RAF St. Athan live in the Vale of Glamorgan. [139583]
Mr. Spellar: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who in his Department was involved in the appointment of the Chief Executive of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency; when he was appointed; and what criteria were used to assess his suitability for the post. [138273]
Mr. Spellar: The selection board for the Chief Executive of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency consisted of the Chief of Defence Procurement, the Air Member for Logistics, the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Civilian Management (Principal Establishment Officer) and the Non Executive Director of the Air Officer Communications, Information Systems and Support Services RAF Signals and Engineering Establishment (AOCSS's RAF SEE) Owners Board. The board was chaired by the Civil Service Commissioner and confirmed by Ministers. CE/DARA designate was appointed on 1 September 1998.
The Department was seeking an innovative Chief Executive to lead and motivate a diverse team during the creation and development of the new Agency, and to devise a strategy for moving the Agency to Trading Fund status in order to operate on a fully commercial basis. Candidates were asked to demonstrate experience at Director/Board level of successful change management to improve working methods and achieve cost reductions in an organisation relevant to the core business of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. In addition to commercial experience, financial acumen was also sought.
Service Personnel (Medical Treatment)
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter dated 19 October 2000 to the hon. Member for Gosport in reply to his question of 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 911W, if he will give figures of medically downgraded personnel in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) RAF for each of the preceding five years on the same basis. [139009]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the hon. Member for Gosport will receive a substantive answer to his question put down for priority answer on 28 July 2000 concerning the detailed strengths of doctors and nurses in each medical and surgical specialty in recent years. [139010]
Dr. Moonie: I wrote to the hon. Member on 14 November and copies of my letter have been placed in the Library.
Aircraft (Fuel Capacity)
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the fuel capacity is of (a) a Tristar and (b) a VC10 aircraft; and how many standard road fuel tankers it takes to fill (i) one Tristar and (ii) one VC10. [139164]
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Mr. Spellar: The fuel capacity of Tristar and VC10 aircraft and the numbers of standard road fuel tankers it takes to fill each is detailed in the table.
| Number of bowsers to fill aircraft | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of aircraft in fleet | Max fuel capacity (litres) | Civilian road bowser (35,000 litres) | |
| TriStar mark of aircraft | |||
| C2/C2A | 3 | 121,134 | 3.46 |
| KC1/K1 | 6 | 176,530 | 5.04 |
| VC10 mark of aircraft | |||
| CMk1(K) | 12 | 87,940 | 2.51 |
| KMk2 | 1 | 98,055 | 2.80 |
| KMk3 | 4 | 104,601 | 2.99 |
| KMk4 | 5 | 88,054 | 2.52 |
HMS Ocean
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems are scheduled to be resolved during the docking period of HMS Ocean; when it is estimated that the ship will be operational; what will be the cost of the repairs; and if he will make a statement. [138423]
Mr. Spellar: The next docking period of HMS Ocean is planned for early 2002 and is likely to span about four months. This is the first routine docking since acceptance, as required to meet Lloyd's survey standards, and is expected to cost in the region of £5 million. During this docking period, the opportunity will be taken to make modifications to the hull to improve the safety of the deployment of some of the landing craft.
In addition, when HMS Ocean returns from her current deployment, routine maintenance will be undertaken at her base port. During this maintenance, defect repair will also be undertaken; the most significant of these will be modifications to the landing craft davit arrangements, enhancements to the replenishment-at-sea facilities and changes to the main engine governors. These repairs are expected to cost in the region of £2 million.
HMS Ocean has been deployed on operations and exercises throughout the last two years and is currently on deployment with an amphibious ready group. As in all first of class ships, operating the vessel has indicated the need for improvements in some areas. These are being addressed in the programmed support periods.
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