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Income Support
Mr. Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances service men in HM forces may receive Income Support. [100336]
Mr. Spellar: Service personnel are eligible to receive social security benefits paid by the DSS on the same basis as civilians. It is, however, unlikely that any service personnel would be eligible for Income Support, given the qualifying criterion requiring a claimant to be working for less than 16 hours per week.
Type-45 Destroyers
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first vessel of the Type-45 destroyer programme will be delivered; and when he expects the last one to be completed. [100757]
Mr. Kilfoyle: On current plans, the first Type-45 destroyer will enter into service with the Royal Navy in 2007 and we expect that the last will enter service in 2014.
Kosovo
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many, and what kind of, strike aircraft were redirected from combat air patrols to offensive operations as a result of the deployment of the HMS Invincible Task Group to the Kosovo theatre of operations. [98564]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 30 November 1999]: The Sea Harriers based aboard HMS Invincible conducted 102 combat air patrols. As a result, it was possible for multi-role aircraft which might otherwise have been tasked with such duties to be switched to alternative missions. Given the size and complexity of the operation, however, it is not possible to quantify precisely how many aircraft and planned missions were directly affected in this way.
St. Malo Declaration
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discussions taking place, and the countries concerned, regarding the St. Malo declaration. [100835]
Mr. Hoon: At St. Malo in December 1998, the UK and France launched a major initiative aimed at building European security and defence. In conjunction with the member states of the European Union, NATO and the Western European Union, we are continuing to make good progress both in defining the improvements in capabilities needed and the necessary consultation and decision-making arrangements for responding to crises. The UK and France made a joint declaration on 25 November calling for a further decisive step to be taken at the Helsinki European Council on 10-11 December.
RAF Menwith Hill
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a minister from his Department last visited RAF Menwith Hill. [101132]
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Mr. Spellar:
Since 1 May 1997, no Minister of this Department has visited RAF Menwith Hill.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are under way through the Common Foreign and Security Policy consequential to the Cologne Summit to (a) modify and (b) unify European capabilities in (i) intelligence, (ii) strategic transport, (iii) command and control and (iv) defence industries; and if he will make a statement. [100999]
Mr. Hoon:
We are committed to strengthening Europe's military capabilities such that European nations are able to assemble, deploy rapidly and sustain the right mix of armed forces for specific NATO or EU-led operations.
We believe that European nations, co-operating together, should be able to undertake the most demanding crisis management operations up to Corps level. At the UK/French Summit in November 1999, we called on European member states to commit themselves to this goal at the Helsinki European Council. Additionally, we called for capability goals to be set and established in the fields of command and control, intelligence and strategic lift, and announced some bilateral measures to enhance our capabilities in these areas.
We also reaffirmed our conviction that strengthened European defence capabilities need to be supported by a strong and competitive European defence industry and technology.
Further discussions on these issues will be held by the EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council in Helsinki on 10-11 December.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future membership and remit of the (a) political and security and (b) military committees, established at the Cologne summit. [101001]
Mr. Hoon:
At the Cologne European Council, Heads of State and Government approved a report by the German Presidency which noted that, to support defence decision making, the EU might require a Political and Security Committee and a Military Committee.
The membership and role of these bodies will be discussed by the EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council in Helsinki on 10-11 December.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the establishment of an EU (i) situation centre, (ii) satellite centre and (iii) Institute for Security Studies, with reference to (a) function, (b) budget and (c) security clearance rating. [101002]
Mr. Hoon:
At the Cologne European Council, Heads of State and Government approved a report by the German Presidency which noted that, to support defence decision making, the EU might require a situation centre, a satellite centre and an Institute for Security Studies.
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Such bodies already exist under the auspices of the WEU. The future of these bodies, and of the relationship between the WEU and EU, will be further discussed by the EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council in Helsinki, on 10-11 December, and over the coming months.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the development of a central intelligence and analysis agency for the EU consequential to the Cologne Summit. [101105]
Mr. Hoon:
We are committed to strengthening Europe's military capabilities so that European nations are able to assemble, deploy rapidly and sustain the right mix of armed forces for specific NATO or EU-led operations.
The EU must be able to draw on intelligence and analysis capabilities in order to undertake a crisis management operation. We are discussing with our Allies and Partners, both in NATO and in the European Union, the best way of achieving this.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the appropriate decision-making bodies referred to in section 2 of the Cologne Presidency report on Strengthening of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. [101000]
Mr. Hoon:
The decision-making bodies referred to in section 2 of the Cologne Presidency Report are detailed in section 3 of the same Report.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries have agreed to contribute to the European Union Rapid Reaction Force; and what each nation will make available in terms of (a) personnel, (b) logistics, (c) ships, (d) aircraft, (e) artillery, (f) main battle tanks, (g) other armoured vehicles and (h) intelligence and surveillance capability. [101101]
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the UK units for tagged service within an EU framework, consequential to the Cologne Summit. [101104]
Mr. Hoon
[holding answer 2 December 1999]: At the recent UK/French Summit, we called on EU member states to commit themselves to being able to undertake, co-operating together, crisis management operations up to Corps level. In particular, this will mean developing the capabilities of existing national forces, from which such a deployment could be drawn case-by-case for specific NATO or EU operations. We are not creating a standing European Rapid Reaction Force.
This proposal will be discussed by EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council in Helsinki on 10-11 December. EU member states have not identified any national contributions that might be made available for EU-led operations if they agree this aim.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems have been identified with the cooking facilities and supply of hot water on HMS Ocean. [100879]
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Mr. Spellar:
No significant problems have been identified with the cooking facilities or supply of hot water on HMS Ocean.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects HMS Ocean to be in full working order; and if he will make a statement. [100878]
Mr. Spellar:
HMS Ocean has been in operational service since 12 March 1999. While the ship has experienced some equipment difficulties, this is not unexpected in the early period of operational life. The Department, the shipbuilder and the equipment manufacturers are working together to improve reliability. This ship has met her busy operational programme.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of repairs and alterations to HMS Ocean carried out since she was handed over to his Department. [100880]
Mr. Spellar:
This information is not readily available and I will write to the hon. Member. A copy of my reply will be placed in the Library of the House.
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