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Iraq

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on reports of recent incursions into the northern no-fly zone in Iraq by military aircraft from the Turkish air force. [156407]

Mr. Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave him on 26 March 2001, Official Report, columns 447W and 526W.

Depleted Uranium

Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the sources were of the uranium used in the manufacture of depleted uranium-based ammunition used by UK forces. [156209]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 30 March 2001]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Valerie Davey), on 27 February 2001, Official Report, columns 608-09W, and also to the answer he gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins), on 15 March 2001, Official Report, column 675W.

Colchester Garrison

Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 2001, Official Report, column 14, when his Department sought approval from Colchester borough council for temporary residential accommodation for the Parachute Regiment; when approval was given; when construction will commence; when the accommodation will be ready for occupation; and if he will make a statement. [156526]

Dr. Moonie: The application for the erection of temporary accommodation was submitted to Colchester borough council on 24 November last year. The local authority gave approval on 26 February 2001, subject to the temporary accommodation being removed as soon as permanent accommodation is available or before 28 February 2005, whichever is sooner. Construction is due to commence by the end of April and as stated to the hon. Member in my answer of 19 March 2001, Official Report, column 14, the accommodation should be available for occupation by the Parachute Regiment by mid-August this year.

Warships

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which UK companies have the capacity to design and build destroyers and frigates for the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [154045]

Mr. Hoon: Currently BAE Systems Marine and Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. are the only UK shipbuilders with the capability to undertake both the detailed design and build of such vessels, though other companies could acquire the capability.

However, the most challenging aspect of modern warship procurement lies in the ability to integrate highly complex weapon systems, which is why we seek to place prime contracts on companies with this broader systems capability. Such companies may or may not be shipbuilders themselves.

2 Apr 2001 : Column: 23W

Ministerial Meetings

Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ministerial meetings with hon. Members have been cancelled by Ministers since 1 January. [155233]

Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence Ministers' diaries are all maintained electronically and information on cancelled diary appointments is not retained by the system.

MOD Police (Housing)

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department's police officers who transfer to the Ministry of Defence Police lose their entitlement to housing allowances; and if he will make a statement. [155119]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 23 March 2001]: In answering this question I have assumed that the reference is to Home Department police officers who join the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). In the event of an officer from a Home Department police force joining the MDP, the Chief Constable may, at his discretion, recognise any entitlement to housing allowance earned through service with the Home Department force.

Royal Marines (Whale Island)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the total costs of setting up HQ Royal Marines at Whale Island, Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [155799]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 27 March 2001]: HQ Royal Marines was the result of an amalgamation and rationalisation of three former Royal Marines Headquarters organisations: the Department of Commandant General Royal Marines from London, the Headquarters Commando Forces from Plymouth and the Headquarters Training and Reserve Forces from Poole. The total cost of setting up the HQ, including the interim relocation to HMS Vernon, is not readily identifiable and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, the capital cost of the build at Whale island, including VAT and fees, was some £4.5 million.

Armoured Vehicle Training

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the training of crews for armoured vehicles takes place; which locations will close as a result of training being put out to contract; and if he will make a statement. [155803]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 27 March 2001]: Individual training for crew members of armoured vehicles takes place within armoured unit locations in the UK and Germany and at the Armour Centre, Bovington. The proposal to introduce a partnering arrangement for the delivery of such training will not result in the closure of any existing locations.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people will be made redundant as a result of training for crews of armoured vehicles being put out to contract; and if he will make a statement. [155804]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 27 March 2001]: The proposals from the three consortiums bidding for the partnering arrangement to deliver individual training for

2 Apr 2001 : Column: 24W

crew members of armoured vehicles will not be received until the end of May but are not expected to result in significant redundancies. Trades Unions have been consulted over the PFI and civil servants involved will have the option to transfer to the selected Partner under TUPE--Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1998--arrangements or will be redeployed within the Department.

Nuclear Contamination

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bases which are (a) operational, (b) closed and (c) leased to the United States in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) British overseas territories are contaminated with pollutants; and what action has been taken to remediate and restore contaminated areas. [156401]

Dr. Moonie: The information requested is not held centrally. However, it is Ministry of Defence policy to undertake decontamination of contaminated land where there is a significant risk to health and safety or to the environment, or where land is earmarked for disposal. On sites earmarked for disposal, remediation is generally confined to the removal of ordnance and other defence- specific contaminants where a civilian contractor might not have the relevant experience. Where appropriate, provision is made within the sale agreement for the purchaser of surplus defence land to remediate it to a standard fit for the proposed new use.

Chinook

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the FADEC-related nuisance faults experienced on the Chinook Mk2 helicopter fleet in the six months up to and including 2 June 1994, indicating in each case their safety significance and whether this was understood by the crews. [156367]

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

Service Accommodation (Council Tax)

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the basis for calculating contributions in lieu of council tax for (a) single serviceman's accommodation and (b) service family accommodation, (i) at home and (ii) overseas; and if he will make a statement. [156393]

Mr. Spellar: All service accommodation in England, Scotland and Wales is formally exempt from the council tax regime. Instead, the Ministry of Defence pays contributions in lieu of council tax (CILOCT) to local authorities, broadly equivalent to the amount of tax that would otherwise be due. The average contribution, determined by the type of property occupied, is then recovered from service occupants with their accommodation charge. The system allows a uniform payment wherever personnel are posted, including overseas. In Northern Ireland CILOCT is not paid as domestic rates are still in force.

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, for each local authority in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland, he will list the contribution paid in lieu of council tax in the latest year for which figures are available; and the total sum paid in each country. [156394]

2 Apr 2001 : Column: 25W

Mr. Spellar: The Ministry of Defence pays approximately £40 million in respect of contributions in lieu of council tax (CILOCT) to some 240 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales. CILOCT does not apply in Northern Ireland where domestic rates are still in force. I will write to the hon. Member with details for each local authority and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average sum recovered in contributions in lieu of council tax from (a) married and (b) single armed forces personnel, by rank, (i) at home and (ii) overseas, in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [156395]

Mr. Spellar: All members of the armed forces pay the same amount of contributions in lieu of council tax (CILOCT), in relation to the type of property occupied, wherever they are serving. The only exception is for those serving in Northern Ireland where domestic rates are still in force. For those living in a Service Family Accommodation, the current CILOCT charge is between £526 and £1,161 per annum depending on the type of quarter. Personnel occupying single accommodation pay a lower annual CILOCT charge of between £22 for other ranks and £69 per annum for officers, because of the lower valuation of this type of accommodation.

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel, in addition to their contribution in lieu of council tax, pay council tax on an unoccupied private residence; and if he will make a statement. [156392]

Mr. Spellar: We do not keep records of how many Service personnel own private properties. All Service personnel living in Service accommodation who also own a private property remain liable to pay council tax on their own property to the local authority concerned. It is for local authorities to interpret the relevant regulations regarding "sole or main" residence criteria. There have been a handful of cases in which they have refused to allow Service home owners a reduction on their private property when they also have a Service family quarter and pay a full council tax contribution for that quarter via the Contributions in Lieu of Council Tax scheme. Although the Ministry of Defence is not in a position to determine the actions of local authorities, my officials have raised individual cases with the relevant local authorities.

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