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New DERA

Mr. Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the new name and logo selected for new DERA. [157333]

Mr. Hoon: DERA announced on 5 April that its new name, when it becomes a plc in July, will be QinetiQ. The name will also serve as a logo.

The process for generating and deciding on a new name cost £42,000. The design work needed to devise an associated corporate identity for all areas of NewDERA where the name will be used has cost a further £365,000.

The application of this design work to new stationery, signs, marketing literature, etc. is still ongoing with a view to formal introduction when the plc is formed on 1 July.

It is too early to calculate the final cost of this. It is important to note, however, that even if the name had not been changed, such work would in any case have been required in order to adapt NewDERA to its new status as a plc.

Submarine Communications

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to provide the Royal Navy submarine fleet with an extra high frequency communications capability compatible and interoperable with that now used by the US Navy in their submarine communications; and if he will make a statement. [157737]

Mr. Spellar: The Ministry of Defence has identified a requirement for the Royal Navy's submarine fleet to be fitted with a satellite communications capability that is compatible and interoperable with the US Navy's next

24 Apr 2001 : Column: 234W

generation Extremely High Frequency (EHF) system. Options to meet the requirement are being evaluated as part of the SKYNET 5 programme.

Related studies to address the integration of EHF satellite communications terminals into submarines are just getting under way.

India

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he has had with his Indian counterpart in the past year. [157745]

Mr. Hoon: George Fernandes, the former Indian Defence Minister, and I met on two occasions in the past year. Our first meeting was during his official visit to the UK in June 2000, the second was during my visit to India last December as a guest of the Indian Government.

I have also met the new Defence Minister, Jaswant Singh, three times in the past year, in his capacity as Foreign Minister.

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministry of Defence staff are based in India in connection with procurement and disposal programmes. [157747]

Mr. Hoon: Service and civilian Ministry of Defence staff based at the British High Commission in New Delhi have a role in promoting UK procurement and disposal programmes as a part of their wider responsibilities.

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits have been made by Defence Procurement Agency personnel to India in the past two years. [157744]

Mr. Hoon: During the period 6 April 1999 to 5 April 2001, no duty visits were made by Defence Procurement Agency personnel to India.

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which former Royal Navy warships are in service with the Indian Navy; and what the date was of their commission into the Royal Navy. [157746]

Mr. Spellar: There are two former RN ships currently in service with the Indian Navy. They are:

(i) Ex HMS Hermes (renamed INS Viraat), a Hermes Class aircraft carrier.

(ii) Ex HMS Andromeda (renamed INS Krishna), a Leander Class frigate that was converted to a Training Ship for IN operations.

HMS Hermes and HMS Andromeda were originally commissioned into RN service in November 1959 and December 1968 respectively.

HMS Tireless

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects HMS Tireless to be operational; and if he will make a statement. [157750]

Mr. Spellar: HMS Tireless is expected to return to operations in May.

24 Apr 2001 : Column: 235W

Future Aircraft Carriers

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what implications further delay in the down select for the Joint Strike Fighter would have on (a) the timings and (b) the cost of the development and construction of the two future aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [157735]

Mr. Hoon: The procurement strategy for the carriers has been designed to ensure coherency with the future carrier borne aircraft project, and the decision on the selection of a JSF variant. The time and cost implications for the future aircraft carrier programme of a delay in the down select of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) would depend on the nature and length of any delay, and an assessment of its likely impact on both programmes.

Eurofighter

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will place the orders for the (a) second batch and (b) third batch of the Eurofighter within the planned total of 232 aircraft. [157719]

Mr. Hoon: We currently plan to place orders for the second and third tranches of Eurofighter aircraft in 2003 and 2007 respectively.

Link 16

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to install Link 16 in naval and air platforms; and what the projected in-service dates are for each aircraft type and class of vessel. [157727]

Mr. Spellar: Link 16 is already in service on the Tornado F3 and Sentry E3D aircraft, and the UK Air Defence Ground Environment. Additionally, on current plans, we will install Link 16 in several in-service naval and air platforms as follows:

In-service platform	ISD with Link 16
Type 42 destroyer (Batch 2 and 3)	2004
CVS (Invincible Class)	2004
Sea King AEW	2002
Nimrod (R)	2003
Sea Harrier FA2	2004

Major new naval and air platforms, such as Eurofighter and the Type 45 destroyer, will be provided with situational awareness through secure tactical data links, in many cases by installing Link 16.

Nuclear Submarines

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy SSNs are operational; and if he will make a statement. [157736]

Mr. Spellar: HMS Triumph is currently operational. HMS Tireless is expected to return to operational status in May and HMS Superb is due to return to operational status in June.

HMS Valiant

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy personnel are tasked with the maintenance of HMS Valiant. [157739]

24 Apr 2001 : Column: 236W

Mr. Spellar: HMS Valiant has currently 18 staff. Not only do the ship's staff carry out routine maintenance work and safety checks but they are also responsible for the continuous security of the submarine.

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of HMS Valiant. [157738]

Mr. Spellar: HMS Valiant has been decommissioned from the Royal Navy and will be stored afloat at Devonport.

HMS Norfolk

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which private contractors are involved in the maintenance of the main gun armament of HMS Norfolk; what role Royal Navy personnel will have in the maintenance and repair of the gun system; and if he will make a statement. [157740]

Mr. Spellar: BAE Systems are responsible for the majority of support but routine on board maintenance and repair work of the 4.5 inch MK8 Mod I gun fitted to HMS Norfolk will be undertaken by suitably trained RN personnel.

Rosyth

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Navy maintenance and refit work is under way at Rosyth; and what work is scheduled to be undertaken at Rosyth over the next three years. [157742]

Mr. Spellar: HMS Sceptre, HMS Spartan, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Liverpool, HMS Atherstone, HMS Sandown and HMS Inverness are currently undergoing maintenance and refit work at Rosyth Royal Dockyard. We recently announced the intention to contract with the dockyard owners for the refits of five Type 23 Frigates, all of which are planned to start during the next three years. In addition, on current plans for the next three years, work is also scheduled to be undertaken on: HMS Illustrious, HMS Invincible, HMS Ledbury, HMS Brecon, HMS Cottesmore, HMS Dulverton, HMS Inverness, HMS Bridport and HMS Dumbarton Castle.

Foot and Mouth

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the implications are for the defence budget of his Department's contribution to meeting the foot and mouth emergency; and if he will make a statement. [157728]

Mr. Spellar: There are no significant implications for the defence budget arising from the support the armed forces are giving to MAFF during the current foot and mouth outbreak. It is normal practice when assistance is given to other Government Departments that additional costs will be refunded to the defence budget at the end of the crisis. The Ministry of Defence costs of combating the disease are, however, expected to be minor in comparison with the overall cost of fighting the disease.

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