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Military Attaches

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the proportion of military attaches' time allocated to promoting military exports; and if he will indicate what priority this is given in their job description. [140460]

Mr. Spellar: Support to the Defence Export Sales Organisation (DESO) is one of the core functions of an attache. However, the priority given in their job description varies according to the export prospects in the host country. Defence Sections in embassies and High Commissions are set annual objectives that reflect British interests in that country.

A survey of attache output in Financial Year 1999-2000 revealed that, on average, 11 per cent. of attaches' time was devoted to supporting DESO.

Ships

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for a future offshore patrol

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vessel for the Royal Navy; when he will place an order for Type 45 destroyers; and which Royal Navy ships will participate in Exercise Saif Sareea II. [140220]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 24 November 2000]: We are currently examining whether our requirement for offshore patrol vessels could be provided more cost effectively through leasing or other innovative arrangements. To that end, initial expressions of interest have been sought from industry and the response is being considered.

As I announced on 11 June 2000, Official Report, columns 701-02, we expect to place a contract with BAE Systems for the construction of the first three Type 45 Destroyers by the end of this year.

Saif Sareea II will involve a Naval Task Force, led by HMS Illustrious, of up to 24 Royal Navy vessels and support ships. Its composition has yet to be finalised.

Depleted Uranium (Gulf Veterans)

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations were made to his Department at the International Conference on Hazards of Depleted Uranium in November; and if he will make a statement on progress on the testing of former (a) servicemen and women and (b) medical auxiliaries who served in the Gulf War for depleted uranium contamination. [140515]

Mr. Spellar: My Department was not represented at the Campaign against Depleted Uranium's International Conference against Depleted Uranium Weapons held on 4 and 5 November 2000. No representations have been received subsequently.

My Department's policy on testing Gulf veterans for uranium was set out in the paper, "Testing for the presence of depleted uranium in UK veterans of the Gulf conflict: The Current Position" dated 19 March 1999, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. On 8 September 1999, I offered independent tests specifically for depleted uranium to those Gulf veterans who privately had their urine tested for depleted uranium in Canada before that date. A draft protocol under which that testing might take place was sent to veterans' representatives on 1 November 1999 for comment. My officials are hoping to have further discussions on this protocol with veterans and their representatives.

LR5 Vessel

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the operational capabilities of the LR5 submersible rescue vessel and the procedure for rescuing trapped submarines in cases where rescue submersible vessels cannot lock on the submarine concerned. [140762]

Mr. Spellar: The LR5 has the capability to rescue from all Royal Navy submarines to depths of up to 400m and to angles of up to 60 degrees. In addition, by using the Scorpio, a remotely operated vehicle, emergency life support supplies can be provided to a distressed submarine to increase the probability of survival. RN submarines also carry an escape system which allows for

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escape from a stricken submarine by use of survival suits and escape towers. This system is effective to a depth in the region of 180m.

HMS Kent

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what renovations have been carried out on HMS Kent since it was recommissioned to the Royal Navy; what was the cost of these renovations; and if he will make a statement. [140708]

Mr. Spellar: HMS Kent was first commissioned on 8 June 2000. No renovations have been undertaken but a package of work to install a recently introduced upgrade to the weapon system, which was not part of the original build contract, was undertaken along with other planned maintenance by Fleet Support Ltd. at Portsmouth between 7 August and 27 October. The total cost was about £1.8 million.

HMS Ocean

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the crew on the HMS Ocean; what plans he has to (a) repair and (b) replace its engine; how the cabin flat vibration will be resolved; what the cost will be of the necessary renovation; and if he will make a statement. [140713]

Mr. Spellar: As a result of operational experience, we plan to increase the overall complement for HMS Ocean by 33 personnel, including six in the Air Department, by April 2001.

There are no plans to replace HMS Ocean's main engines. The only significant repairs in this area will be to the main engine governors, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 November 2000, Official Report, column 12W. It is estimated that these repairs will cost about £75,000.

There are currently no problems with cabin flat vibration. Following rectification work by the shipbuilder on the starboard gearbox, vibration has been reduced, and a Lloyd's Register noise survey in February confirmed that noise levels in the accommodation spaces were generally satisfactory. This work was undertaken under guarantee procedures, at no cost to the Department.

US National Missile Defence

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 3 July 2000, Official Report, column 2, when he expects to receive proposals from the US Government on Fylingdales. [140741]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 28 November 2000]: We would not expect a request regarding the use of facilities in the UK until after a decision by the US to begin deployment of their proposed National Missile Defence system. President Clinton announced on 1 September his decision not to authorise the deployment of such a system at the present time and it will now be for his successor to decide how to proceed. We have made it clear that we would consider any such request carefully in the light of circumstances in which it were made.

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Vanguard Submarines

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to inspect the four Vanguard class submarines following the discovery of reactor defects on HMS Sceptre and HMS Tireless. [140386]

Mr. Spellar: Vanguard Class submarines have a different design of reactor plant and are not at risk from the defect seen in HMS Sceptre. Consequently, there is no need to inspect them specifically for this defect.

Vanguard Class submarines have a component on their reactor plant that has the same function as the defective component in HMS Tireless. However, the component is of a different design and is far less susceptible to failure. Having taken advice from the Design Authority (Rolls-Royce Naval Marine) and from our independent nuclear safety advisers (AEA Technology), Ministry of Defence safety authorities are satisfied that the component is not at risk of failure and have endorsed the continued operation of these submarines. This component, on the Vanguard Class submarines, will be inspected during a maintenance period as part of the routine reactor plant in-service inspection programme.

Nuclear Decommissioning

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total cost of nuclear decommissioning to his Department over the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement on how this will be funded. [140388]

Mr. Hoon: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

RAF St. Athan

Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the size of the site at Royal Air Force St Athan. [140987]

Mr. Spellar: The site covers approximately 1,000 acres.

Death and Injury Cases

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of death and serious injury to civilian and military personnel and members of the public have led to compensation payments by the (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) RAF in each of the last 10 years; what total settlements were made in compensation cases involving death and injury for each year in the same period; and if he will make a statement. [140752]

Mr. Spellar: Common law claims against the Ministry of Defence are handled centrally and compensation is paid from central funds. Our claims databases do not, at present, record information in such a way that it can be comprehensively broken down into the categories set out in the question. Additionally, our records do not go back as far as the ten years requested. The following table does, however, set out the total number of claims of all types received, the total number settled and the overall in-year claims expenditure since 1992-93. When reading these figures, it must be borne in mind that claims may not

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always be settled in the year they are received. There is therefore no direct correlation between the numbers received and settled in any one year.

Year	Received	Settled	Cost (£m)
1992-93	9,652	4,590	25.0
1993-94	9,983	4,709	35.3
1994-95	9,788	4,917	69.6
1995-96	7,927	4,825	52.2
1996-97	7,686	4,811	49.9
1997-98	7,678	5,242	69.2
1998-99	7,328	4,791	75.2
1999-2000	6,739	4,668	75.9

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Crown censures have been issued against the armed forces in each of the last 10 years as a consequence of death and injury cases involving civilian and military personnel and members of the public; and if he will make a statement. [140753]

Mr. Spellar: Over the last 10 years a total of nine Crown censures have been issued against the armed forces as a consequence of death and injury cases involving civilian and military personnel and members of the public. The details by year, Service and category are as follows:

Year	Service	Injuries
1990	Navy	Injury to MOD civilian
1992	Army	Injury to member of the public
1993	Army	Death of two children(17)
1993	Army	One death and one injury(17)
1995	Navy	Injury to two MOD civilians
1997	Army	Death of child(17)
1999	Army	Injury to MOD civilian
1999	Army	Death of MOD civilian
2000	Army	Death of Service cadet

⁽¹⁷⁾ Members of the public

In addition, a Crown censure is currently pending against the Navy, concerning injury to a Serviceman.

The MOD takes its health and safety responsibilities seriously and has acted upon the lessons learned from the Crown censure hearings. In all cases, procedures and control measures have been modified with a view to preventing any reoccurrence of the incidents that led to censure.

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