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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 23 October 2001
DEFENCE
Merlin Helicopters
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Merlin helicopters will be delivered to the Royal Navy in each of the next three years; [9696]
- (2) how many pilots have been trained to fly the Merlin helicopter; [9694]
(3) when Merlin helicopters will be deployed on an operational basis with the Royal Navy; [9697]
(4) what the Royal Navy's inventory of Merlin helicopters is; and how many are operational. [9695]
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Mr. Ingram: On current plans, the first squadron of Royal Navy Merlin helicopters will be fully operational and ready for deployment in May 2002 with further squadrons progressively achieving this status up to 2005.
A total of 44 Merlin HM Mark 1 helicopters has been ordered for the Royal Navy. Of the 34 aircraft already delivered, 14 are in the operational fleet. The remaining 10 aircraft are due to be delivered by the end of financial year 2002–03.
To date 31 Royal Naval pilots and eight RAF pilots have been trained to fly the Merlin helicopter, with a further five Royal Naval and two RAF pilots currently undergoing training.
Defence Aviation Repair Agency
Mr. Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Aviation Repair Agency for 2001–02. [10122]
Mr. Ingram: Key targets have been set for the chief executive of DARA for financial year 2001–02. The targets reflect the agency's move to trading fund status and are as follows:
| Title | Details | Target |
|---|---|---|
| KT 1—Quality | The Quality of Service of the DARA | To have no more attributable Customer Concerns (recorded on F760/761) than the baseline set on the average performance of FY 99–00 and FY 00–01 as a percentage of quantity. |
| KT 2—Financial | A measure of the Return on Capital Employed (RoCE) | To achieve a 6 per cent. Return on Capital Employed (RoCE) |
| KT 3—Efficiency 1 | A measure of the reduction in Unit Production Price | To achieve at least an annual 2 per cent. reduction (with a target of at least a 15 per cent. reduction over five years) in unit production prices of a basket of products deemed to be representative of DARA business, baselined from the commencement of Trading Fund (1 April 2001) |
| KT 4—Efficiency 2 | Increase in Order Intake (Non-Allocated Work) | To achieve a 100 per cent. increase in Order Intake (for the first three years of trading) from a FY 00–01 baseline |
| KT 5—Efficiency 3 | Increase in Commercial Revenue | To achieve a 15 per cent. increase in Commercial Revenue (from non-UK Armed Forces), from a FY 00–01 baseline |
Serco
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts being administered by Serco on behalf of his Department. [8575]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The following contracts are being administered by Serco Ltd. on behalf of this Department.
- SATC2/031
ICSS/1042
DE32/7113
CB/STC5/5010
AARC1B/00034
CDCRBG/1253
NRTA1B/0135
DLO/MTSC/0006
MCP12B/366
STC8/009
N/ISFS/10121
CHOTS/12671
MCP12A/102
SMC41B/1917
SMC42B7421
SCSS1A/2029
SCSS1A/2016
CP21B/1236
- MCP21B/0312
DEO32/7077
LC1/0031
NUW31A/0015
WS32/7052
WS31/6066
CB/STC2/189
WS32/7050
WS32/7047
CB/STC1/1003
LC1/0020
NWE22A/0114
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CP11B/2006
STC1/1000
A/13B/7014
WS31/6027
NMT2B/2003
SL41A/0053
WS32/7002
NUW83A/1820
SL(WS)1/1009
SL20/SC/0583
SLS21A/211
WS12/106
NUW83A/1688
SLS21A/90
SLS32B/1911
- ML32B/1462
PTC/CB/00517
CSIS/00033
CSIS/00032
DE031/6078
STRS/00012
MWABC/20052
UWS2C/0035
CASSC/0004
NWC1/004
SMC42D/5025
NLS23B/0034
SCSS1D/010
LC5/235
CB/STC2/385
LC8/380
LC5/044/2
WS22/5881
DEO33/8035
DEO32/7076
DEO32/7073
CB/STC2/284
CDCRBG/1209
NLS25A/0003
LC1/0025
WS33/8025
CSE2B/6037
LC1/0016/2
- CB/STC/3041
CDCRBG/1169
WS31/6054
ABRO1A1/1901
NUW81B/1623
WS31/6040
WS31/6037
MT(N)3A/0067
CP11A/1024
WS32/7006
ESW1B/2012
SLS21A/254
SM21A/5022
SLWS2/2011
WS12/109
SL41C/100
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CB/SL22B/2006
SL24B/1
ICS2A/113427
DE32/7114
TORPC/1001
CBC/1A/0006
ICS2A/112381
AOSIPT/588
TORPC/01004
CBCS/SC222
CP(PI)0001
- NIMES/5004
NWE22B/0153
ABRO1B1/2321
DEO33/8045
NCSM2B/1550
STC5/5001
ABRO1C2/2231
SCSS2B/1112
SCSS1A/1142
DEO32/7074
DEO32/7075
NUW31A/0014
NSM61A/0019
SMC42A/5283
NUW81B/1615
LC4/0320
WS32/7043
CB/STC3/3048
LC7A/00010
NNR/512
SES2B/67
CP11A/1077
CB/STC3/3005
WS33/8002
PROC1C/44345
WS32/7029
WS32/7007
CISE21A/2066
- SL41A/0027
SL41C/119
CISP2A/07
SLS21A/252
NUW83A/1746
SL22A/2237
WS12/103
CB/SL21D/0028
8194530/01M.
Biological Detection Devices
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will open for public inspection at the Public Record Office the files located at DEFE 55/97 and DEFE 55/100 regarding tests of biological detection devices and joint US/UK biological detection experiments in 1977. [6579]
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Dr. Moonie: No. The reports include details of US biological detection equipment and I am therefore withholding the information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Biological Warfare
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many simulated exercises have been carried out in respect of biological and chemical weapon attacks on the UK in each of the last five years. [8622]
Mr. Hoon: The Ministry of Defence is responsible for providing military aid to the civil authorities support to the Home Office in the event of a biological or chemical weapons terrorist attack upon the UK. On average, seven crisis response exercises are carried out by the MOD each year. In addition, a large number of low level training exercises are conducted each year at unit and sub-unit level.
The Home Office also supports a counter-terrorist exercise programme for police forces, other Government Departments and agencies. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will write to my hon. Friend with further details of that programme and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces Pension Scheme
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to amend the armed forces pension scheme to allow benefits to be paid to partners of service men and women killed on active service; and if he will make a statement. [8204]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The Ministry of Defence does not currently have any plans to amend the armed forces pension scheme (AFPS) to allow benefits to be paid to partners of service men and women killed on active service. However, following the recently completed consultation period on the review of the AFPS, representations on a range of issues, including this one, will be taken forward for further consideration.
Departmental Contracts
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those sites operated by (a) his Department and (b) contractors responsible to his Department, which are (i) required to comply with and (ii) exempt from compliance with the Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations 2001. [8761]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Civilian Contractors (Insurance)
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has made to provide insurance for civilian contractors deployed on operations; and if he will make a statement. [9393]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) expects contractors to provide insurance appropriate to the conduct of their business. However, there are a limited number of risks that industry is unable to insure itself against, or where the cost of obtaining such insurance is
23 Oct 2001 : Column: 114W
prohibitive. In such cases the MOD would consider indemnifying industry for these specific and very limited circumstances. Hitherto, consideration of an indemnity for contractors and their personnel on deployed operations has been on a case-by-case basis, but the MOD is considering, with representatives of industry, standard arrangements for these activities.
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