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Large Transport Aircraft
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's requirement for the procurement of large transport aircraft. [101655]
Mr. Kilfoyle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 8 November 1999, Official Report, column 397W.
Naval Vessels
Mr. Ottaway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the planned deployments overseas by naval vessels which have been cancelled this year, indicating the reasons for cancellation. [101614]
13 Dec 1999 : Column: 30W
Mr. Spellar:
Three deployments away from the UK/Northern European theatre have been cancelled this year. These were the deployment of an Amphibious Task Group to the West Indies in May and June for operational reasons related to Kosovo; a deployment by an Aircraft Carrier Group to the USA and Caribbean from February to April for operational reasons relating to the Gulf; and a submarine deployment to the Gulf in March for operational reasons relating to Kosovo. I gave details on 8 December 1999, Official Report, column 560W of the naval vessels which had been withdrawn this year from exercises in the UK/Northern European theatre.
Mr. Tony Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what advice he has sought on the legality of British nuclear deterrence policy; [102127]
Mr. Hoon:
Legal considerations are always taken into account in the formulation and application of defence policy. I am confident that our nuclear policy and posture, as set out most recently in the Strategic Defence Review, is entirely compatible with our obligations under international law.
Mr. Tony Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which section or sections of his Department are responsible for nuclear targeting policy. [102125]
Mr. Hoon:
Our nuclear missiles are not targeted. Within the Ministry of Defence, the Chief of the Defence Staff acts as principal adviser on the operational deployment of our nuclear deterrent. He is supported in this role by a range of senior officers and officials.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy in respect of the employment of women in posts in the Royal Marines. [101936]
Mr. Spellar:
We are committed to equality of opportunity in the Armed Forces, and some 73 per cent. of the posts within the Naval Service are already open to women. The possibilities for further extending employment opportunities for women were considered in the Strategic Defence Review. It was decided that posts in the Royal Marines General Service, and similar posts in the other Services whose primary role in battle is to 'close with and kill the enemy', should be subject to further work to assess the potential impact on combat effectiveness of opening such posts to women. This work is currently in hand.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what correspondence he has received in the past two years concerning paramilitary infiltration of the Royal Irish Regiment (a) at Alma barracks, Catterick and (b) elsewhere; and what standing orders have been
13 Dec 1999 : Column: 31W
issued concerning (i) display of paramilitary insignia and emblems and (ii) possession or distribution of documents and other materials. [102031]
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date rules governing the security of classified documents and sensitive personal information were changed to restrict access by units of the Royal Irish Regiment; and if he will make a statement. [102032]
Mr. Spellar:
Members of the Royal Irish Regiment are afforded the same access to classified information as any member of the British Army holding similar rank, position and responsibility. That access is strictly limited on a 'need to know' basis.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for each of the buildings under his Department's control how many rooms are set aside for (a) ethnic minority religious use, (b) pregnant and nursing mothers and (c) smokers. [102329]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
There are over 90,000 buildings on the Defence Estate of which a number will have rooms allocated for religious observances of staff, pregnant and nursing mothers and smokers as required. The number of rooms set aside for such purposes is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Jim Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in fitting satellite television facilities on Royal Navy ships. [102343]
Mr. Spellar:
The majority of the RN's major warships are currently fitted with conventional domestic satellite equipment which provides reception while in harbour in European waters. To allow reception while at sea, two of the aircraft carriers, HMS Invincible and HMS Illustrious, have been fitted with a gyro-stabilised satellite television dish. This type of dish will be also fitted to the third aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal, during her current refit at Rosyth. As there is no room to fit these dishes on the remaining major warships, an alternative system, which utilises existing satellite communications equipment, is currently being trialled. This system would allow the ship's crews to see broadcasts within about 12 hours of transmission. If the trials are successful, we plan to commence installation on board the major warships.
The minor war vessels receive terrestrial television, and there are currently no plans to enhance this facility to include satellite television.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance produced by his Department's Medical Assessment Programme for the administration of tests to monitor the effects of depleted uranium exposure experienced by military and medical auxiliary personnel involved in the Gulf War in 1991. [102175]
13 Dec 1999 : Column: 32W
Mr. Spellar:
MAP policy on testing for uranium was set out in a MOD paper published on 19 March 1999 entitled "Testing for the Presence of Depleted Uranium--The Current Position". A copy of the paper is in the Library of the House. In summary, testing for uranium is carried out when, in the judgment of the MAP physician, there is a clinical need. The patient is required to provide urine over a 24-hour period which is then tested by a suitably accredited laboratory. Advice on Depleted Uranium is contained in the MOD's publication intended for GPs and other health professionals entitled "Gulf Veterans' Illnesses: Information Pack" dated May 1999. A copy is in the Library of the House.
I have in addition offered to arrange independent testing specifically for depleted uranium for those Gulf veterans who have privately had their urine tested for depleted uranium in Canada. This offer was made specifically to address the concerns of those tested. A draft protocol, under which this testing will take place, has been passed to veterans associations and others for comment. I will place a copy of the agreed protocol in the Library of the House in due course.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1999, Official Report, column 454W, on the terms of service of young people in the armed forces, if he will list the steps to which he referred and by which his Department will ensure the compatibility of personnel policies with the Human Rights Act 1998. [102445]
Mr. Spellar:
Further to my answer of 7 December 1999, Official Report, column 454W, my Department maintains a constant review of its personnel policies. We have not yet identified any need to make changes to the current terms of service of young people in order to ensure compatibility with the Human Rights Act 1998.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the inquiry by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch into the RAF Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre was independent of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [101402]
Mr. Spellar:
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is an independent part of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. It is not unusual for the Ministry of Defence to take advantage of their expertise to examine the site of a military aircraft accident and/or undertake a full or limited wreckage analysis; this was the case with the Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre.
(2) what review of nuclear targeting policy he has conducted since the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons of 8 July 1996; and if he will make a statement. [102126]
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