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Junior Officers
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the into productive service requirement is for junior officers this year; and if the requirement will be achieved. [2697]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 10 July 2001]: The into productive service target for junior officer multi-engined pilots in the RAF for the financial year 2001–02 is 55. Unfortunately, problems with the Tucano training fleet at the end of last year meant that the number of fast jet students restreamed to multi-engined aircraft training was fewer than expected and this is the main contributing factor to the target not being met. The current forecast is for 44 multi-engined aircraft pilots to join front line squadrons from Operational Conversion Units in 2001–02. The position is expected to recover in subsequent years.
Nancekuke
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what materials were deposited in the sea off the North Cornish coast when CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned. [2664]
Dr. Moonie: There is no comprehensive record of materials which were deposited into the sea off the north Cornish coast when Chemical Defence Establishment (CDE) Nancekuke was decommissioned.
All plant used in toxic or hazardous operations at Nancekuke was thoroughly decontaminated. All decontaminant was neutralised, diluted and tested on representative local marine species, namely prawns and gobies, before disposal into the sea.
Chemical warfare agents and their precursors were generally destroyed by incineration or transferred to CDE Porton Down. Some precursors and other materials were however treated and disposed of as above. These included approximately 1 tonne of pralidoxime mesylate (treated with sodium hypochlorite before disposal), arsenic chloride (31 litres were hydrolysed then oxidised with sodium hypochlorite before disposal) and 7 kg of a mixture of ethylphosphonyl dichloride and ethylphosphonyl difluoride (hydrolysed and neutralised before disposal).
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a statement on the environmental assessment being undertaken at RAF Portreath. [2666]
11 Jul 2001 : Column: 519W
Dr. Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 522W. Work on the further land quality assessment has been completed. The expert consultant's report has been received and my officials are considering its recommendations and options for remediation work. The next stage will entail discussions on the way ahead with the Environment Agency and Kerrier district council.
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sea monitoring has been undertaken since CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned. [2665]
Dr. Moonie: Sea monitoring is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, and its forerunner the National Rivers Authority. No monitoring other than the routine monitoring of South West Water's sewage outfall pipes has been undertaken.
Porton Down
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, announced on 1 May, will gather evidence and recollections from staff who organised the experiments. [3404]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 May 2001, Official Report, columns 415–16W.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2001, Official Report, column 133W, on Porton Down, what plans he has to assign more officials to carry out the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme. [3406]
Dr. Moonie: We plan to take on a further member of staff, probably a higher executive officer (Grade C2).
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2001, Official Report, column 133W, on Porton Down, if he will arrange for service volunteers to give their recollections of the Porton Down volunteer programme in a public forum. [3407]
Dr. Moonie: No. Service volunteers are free to give us their recollections in any way they wish.
War in Space
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce the threat of war in space. [3165]
Mr. Hoon: The UK and its assets are not considered to be under threat from war in space. The UK was a Depository State of the Outer Space Treaty, which places important limitations on the military use of space, and the UK supports further consideration of issues relating to the prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
Army Absentees
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units of the British Army use (a) the legbrace and (b) orange shirts printed "Prisoner" in respect of absentees. [2496]
11 Jul 2001 : Column: 520W
Bermuda Regiment
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Bermuda Regiment is part of the British Army. [3044]
Mr. Ingram: No. The Bermuda Regiment is an internal security force whose role is to help the Bermuda Police Service maintain law and order. Although there are strong links between the Regiment and the British Army, it is not part of it.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Bermuda
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans he has to consult Parliament about proposed amendments to the Bermuda constitution; and if he will make a statement; [3043]
- (2) if he will take steps to ensure that no Order in Council to amend the Bermuda constitution is enacted without hon. Members being given a reasonable period of time to consider the proposed amendments; and if he will make a statement. [3034]
Mr. Bradshaw: Orders in Council to amend the Bermuda constitution are made under Section 1 of the Bermuda Constitution Act 1967, which provides that any such Order shall be laid before Parliament after being made.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it a requirement that there is general agreement by all relevant parties in Bermuda about the membership and terms of reference and functions of the proposed boundary commission to be set up consequent on amendments sought to the Bermuda constitution by the Bermuda Government. [3035]
Mr. Bradshaw: The composition and terms of reference of the Bermuda Constituency Boundaries Commission are laid down in the Bermuda constitution. There is no intention to change the composition of the commission. Consultations have been undertaken with the political parties in Bermuda about the terms of reference and functions of the commission, with a view to that body making recommendations regarding possible single- member constituencies.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the (a) Governor and (b) Deputy Governor of Bermuda is paid; by whom; and what other allowances and emoluments accrue to each office. [3039]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Government of Bermuda make provision in their budget for salary and other allowances of the Governor, and for the Governor's office. The Governor is paid in accordance with Bermuda civil service pay scales; the Deputy Governor, who is a member of HM diplomatic service, is paid in accordance with FCO pay scales.
11 Jul 2001 : Column: 521W
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the use of conscription in Bermuda; and if he will make a statement. [2492]
Mr. Bradshaw: Conscription is regulated by the Bermuda Defence Act 1965. Amendment to this Act requires legislation in the House of Assembly in Bermuda.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the new Governor of Bermuda will be appointed. [2854]
Mr. Bradshaw: An announcement will be made in the usual way at the appropriate time.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the process of consultation followed by his Department in respect of the appointment of the Governor of Bermuda. [2855]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Governor of Bermuda is appointed following consultation with the Premier of Bermuda.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set up a constitutional conference prior to amending the Bermuda constitution by Order in Council. [3036]
Mr. Bradshaw: There is no requirement to call a constitutional conference before amendment of the Bermuda constitution. But consideration of the most appropriate way forward is given on a case-by-case basis.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates (a) the Governor and (b) Foreign Office Ministers met (i) Bermuda Government Ministers and (ii) members of the Bermuda parliamentary Opposition to discuss proposals to amend the Bermuda constitution by Order in Council in the last two years. [3038]
Mr. Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
- (a) The Governor frequently meets Government of Bermuda Ministers and Opposition members. Meetings specifically to discuss proposals to amend Bermuda's constitution were hosted by the Governor at Government House in April 2001. Several Government Ministers and members of the opposition attended these talks.
- (b) FCO Ministers met Government of Bermuda Ministers to discuss proposals to amend the Bermuda constitution in October 2000 and December 2000. They met members of the Bermuda parliamentary Opposition in December 2000 and January 2001.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions a constitutional conference has been held prior to amendments being approved by Order in Council to the Bermuda constitution since 1971. [3037]
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