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Vaccine-related Illnesses
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department and the War Pensions Agency intend to take to prevent soldiers from contracting vaccine-related illnesses in the future; and if he will make a statement. [139725]
Dr. Moonie: We endeavour to reduce the possibility of vaccine-related illnesses by offering vaccinations only when there is a justification for their use; by using only UK licensed vaccines, as far as possible; endeavouring as far as possible not to give multiple vaccines concurrently; and training MOD medical staff in the correct administration of vaccines.
Royal Navy Fixed-wing Pilots
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed relocation of Royal Navy fixed-wing pilots from Yeovilton to the Midlands and on feedback from service families in relation to this proposal. [140127]
Mr. Spellar: As a result of the Strategic Defence Review decision to create Joint Force Harrier, Sea Harrier squadrons (and support staff) from RNAS Yeovilton will transfer to RAF Stations Cottesmore and Wittering in 2003. Relocation briefings have been given to Service and civilian personnel and their families. Informal feedback to date from these briefings indicates interest in schooling opportunities, the availability of Family Married Quarters, house prices and opportunities for work in the local area. The intention is to continue this form of communication with those involved to ensure their family relocation is made as smooth as possible. In addition, a questionnaire has been sent to all personnel earmarked for transfer. The anonymous results of this will be analysed by early spring.
RAF Henlow
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effects the changes initiated by the Defence Logistics Organisation have had on employment at RAF Henlow. [140077]
Mr. Spellar: RAF Henlow is home to elements of two Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) business units--the Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA) and the Directorate General Defence Logistics Information Systems (DG Def Log IS).
The former RAF Signals Engineering Establishment Agency, whose headquarters were at RAF Henlow, merged with the DCSA in April 2000 and became the DCSA's Directorate of Engineering and Interoperability, retaining its HQ at RAF Henlow. The future size and shape of this Directorate is under review as part of the DLO's goal of delivering effective front line logistic support at greatly reduced cost. While this review has been under way there have been restrictions on recruitment locally to ensure that staff are not appointed into posts which might be subject to change. There has also been a reduction in contracted-in support. Any changes proposed will be subject to full consultation.
Elements of DG Def Log IS have also been established at RAF Henlow. These have incorporated the former Henlow based Logistic Support Services Agency and the
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Stevenage based Logistics Information Systems (RAF) project. Some 40 posts have been transferred into RAF Henlow as a result.
National Missile Defence
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place between representatives of Her Majesty's Government and (a) George W. Bush and (b) Al Gore in respect of National Missile Defence; and if he will make a statement. [140310]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 24 November 2000]: The Government have held regular discussions on the proposed US National Missile Defence system, and related issues, both with the current US Administration, including Vice President Gore, and with advisers to Governor Bush.
NATO Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's contribution is to the NATO ballistic missile defence programme. [140017]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 24 November 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 27 November 2000, Official Report, column 417W.
Defence Attaches
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much it cost to maintain the system of defence attaches in the last 12 months. [140706]
Mr. Spellar: In the 12 months to the end of October 2000 the cost was £25.88 million.
Diego Garcia
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are deployed at the US base of Diego Garcia. [139980]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 27 November 2000]: There are 40 British service personnel based on Diego Garcia. They are responsible for providing various security and administrative functions.
HMS Coventry
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what renovations are under way on HMS Coventry; what the cost of the renovations is; what plans the Royal Navy has for HMS Coventry over the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [140740]
Mr. Spellar: There are no renovations currently under way on HMS Coventry. Her last docking period was undertaken earlier this year, at a cost of about £5.5 million, to ensure she will be available for operational duties until she is due to be withdrawn from service in late 2001. Following her naval decommissioning, HMS Coventry will be available for disposal.
DERA Bid
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to date, including staff costs,
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consultancies and consultation of the DERA Boscombe Down bid for the future strategic tanker aircraft project. [140587]
Dr. Moonie: The costs to date of the DERA Boscombe Down element of the bid for the main operating base for the future strategic tanker aircraft project are in the region of £175,000. The cost have been incurred over a two year period.
Territorial Army
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make further changes to the location of the Territorial Army units. [140883]
Mr. Spellar: Three changes are to be made to the locations of units announced as part of the Territorial Army restructuring on 17 November 1998, Official Report, columns 749-71 by the then Secretary of State for Defence. These involve:
- Changing the final location of HQ 101 Bn REME (V) from Harry Weale Hall, Queensferry to Hightown Barracks, Wrexham.
- Changing the location for 59 Sig Sqn (V) from Deysbrook to Aintree and sell Deysbrook Barracks complete.
- Changing the location of A (The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)) Company, 52nd Lowland Regiment from TAC Dalmeny Street to TAC East Claremont Street.
In addition, the intention is to retain the TA Centre in Chorley to house E Sqn 5 GS Med Regt. which will be moving from Hull.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Publications
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on publications since 1 January. [136639]
Kenya
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on aid to Kenya. [136620]
Clare Short: Following the appointment of a reform team in July 1999, a reform agenda was put in place in Kenya. This led to Kenya negotiating new support from the IMF and the World bank, conditional on improvements in economic management and action against corruption. Britain is providing budget support of £30 million on the same conditions. This brings our total planned assistance to poverty reduction in Kenya in 2000-01 to £64 million, including £15 million to help relieve Kenya's worst drought for several decades.
Palestine
Mr. Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the individual schools in the Palestinian Authority area which have been
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the beneficiaries of United Nations Works and Relief Agency development assistance for Palestinian education since 1995-96. [140446]
Clare Short: Funding for UNRWA has been for its core budget, and the development of a five-year education plan, rather than individual schools.
Mr. Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the individual schools in the Palestinian Authority area which have been the beneficiaries of United Kingdom development assistance for Palestinian education since 1995-96. [140447]
Clare Short: Nearly all of the schools in the Palestinian Authority have benefited in some way. All primary school head teachers, and most secondary school heads, have participated in a School Review and Development Planning programme, and over 12,000 teachers have received support for their personal development.
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