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NORTHERN IRELAND
Portadown, RUC
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations were made by (a) individuals, (b) businesses, (c) churches and (d) political representatives to the Portadown Sub Division of the Royal Ulster Constabulary between 1 January 1997 and 27 April 1997 regarding the security and safety of nationalists in Portadown town centre; and what steps were taken by the RUC in respect of such representations. [101809]
Mr. Ingram: There is no record of any such representations having been made during this time.
Company Numbers
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the change in the number of companies in Northern Ireland in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available. [102482]
Mr. Mandelson: Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
DEFENCE
EU Co-operation
17. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on defence co-operation with other EU member states. [100970]
Mr. Hoon: We continue to develop our bilateral and multilateral defence relations with the other EU member states.
In particular, we want to strengthen the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, so that Europe can speak with authority and act decisively in response to crises where the North Atlantic Alliance as a whole is not engaged.
We are making good progress with our Allies and Partners both in the European Union, in the Western European Union and in NATO.
21. Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made since the St. Malo agreement in promoting Anglo-French co-operation in defence. [100974]
37. Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made since the St. Malo agreement in promoting Anglo-French co-operation in defence. [100991]
Mr. Hoon:
Work has been taken forward on planning for non-combat evacuation operations; joint exercises; improved links between operational headquarters;
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co-ordination of naval deployments; information exchanges on peacekeeping activities; Year 2000 computer problems; logistics; and arrangements for dealing with the media.
Specific examples of co-operation are: the posting of liaison offices into operational headquarters, the attachment of HMS Somerset, and later HMS Grafton, to the French Foch Carrier Task Group in the Adriatic during the Kosovo conflict; and co-operation on media handling during the Kosovo conflict. We also signed a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement at the UK/France Summit held on 25 November.
18. Mr. Forth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings he has had with his US and European counterparts to discuss ballistic missile defence. [100971]
Mr. Hoon:
We have a continuous dialogue with the US, and with our European allies on ballistic missile defence issues. The US has briefed us--nationally and in NATO--on their current thinking on the possible deployment of a National Missile Defence System.
19. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of MOD land and property sold since July 1998. [R] [100972]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Gross total receipts from the disposal of land and buildings in Financial Year 1998-99 was £158 million. We expect to receive £261 million in Financial Year 1999-2000. The Strategic Defence Review set a four-year target of £700 million for Financial Year 1998-99 to 2001-02 and we are on track to achieve this.
20. Mr. Miller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the Government's plans to procure replacements for the current Invincible class of aircraft carriers. [100973]
35. Mr. David Stewart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the Government's plans to procure replacements for the current Invincible class of aircraft carrier. [100988]
Mr. Hoon:
Competitive contracts for the Future Aircraft Carrier Assessment Phase were awarded on 23 November to British Aerospace Land and Sea Systems and Thomson-CSF Naval Combat Systems. The Assessment Phase will investigate options for carrier design and by 2003 deliver proposals for the demonstration and manufacture of the vessels. The carriers are scheduled to enter service in 2012 and 2015.
22. Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum estimated life of wiring in military aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [100975]
Mr. Spellar:
Replacement intervals for electrical wiring are not prescribed in advance. Wiring is rigorously inspected during maintenance and replaced as necessary.
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Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military aircraft have been grounded as a result of advice on the safety of Kapton wiring. [100925]
Mr. Spellar:
None. However, following two instances of electrical fires on RAF Harrier aircraft in 1991, the Harrier GR5 and GR7 fleets were restricted to operational flying only for a short period. Subsequent investigation showed that the fires had occurred as a result of the mis-routeing of wires. Modifications were subsequently introduced to improve the electrical installation.
24. Dr. Palmer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the prospects for creating a European force for rapid intervention in crises. [100977]
Mr. Hoon:
We need to address the shortfalls in European military capability, as highlighted by experience in Kosovo and identified in the Western European Union's audit of European assets and capabilities, and in NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative.
EU member states have committed themselves to strengthening their existing military capabilities so that European nations are able to assemble, deploy rapidly and sustain more effective forces for specific NATO or EU-led operations. We are not proposing to create a standing European Rapid Reaction Force.
25. Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the work of the force research unit of the intelligence corps in Northern Ireland during the past decade. [100978]
Mr. Spellar:
The Force Intelligence Unit (FIU) provides analytical support and security advice to assist the RUC in defeating terrorism.
26. Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much extra the Government are spending on the Defence Medical Services over the next three years as a result of the comprehensive spending review. [100979]
Mr. Spellar:
The Strategic Defence Review made an additional £140 million available for the Defence Medical Services over the four years from 1998-99 to 2001-02, of which around £125 million falls in the years 1999-2000 to 2001-02.
27. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of all the efficiency measures taken in 1998-99 that contribute to the overall efficiency programme. [100980]
Mr. Spellar:
Some 1,300 measures contributed to the successful achievement of £594 million worth of efficiency in 1998-99, £89 million more than the target. A list of representative measures and a further list of the most significant measures for this period has been supplied to the House of Commons Defence Committee. The representative list is contained in the Minutes of Evidence Taken before the Defence Committee on
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21 April, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. My Department does not hold a centrally compiled list of efficiency measures, nor does it duplicate activities delegated to managers for proper control of the detail of the efficiency programme.
28. Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on troop levels in Kosovo. [100981]
Mr. Spellar:
British forces in Kosovo currently contribute a framework Brigade headquarters and two battle groups plus supporting elements. As our Allies have increased their contribution to KFOR operations, we have been able to make a commensurate reduction to the number of British forces deployed in the region without detriment to KFOR's overall capability. Our contribution to KFOR now numbers less than 4,000--down from a peak of 10,400. KFOR as a whole continues to operate at its intended strength of around 50,000.
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