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Chinook Helicopters

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many spare gearboxes for Chinook helicopters are kept in stock; and where the Chinook gearboxes are supplied from. [14352]

Mr. Ingram: There were 30 serviceable gearboxes for Chinook helicopters in stock as at 9 November 2001. These gearboxes were supplied by Boeing.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chinook helicopters (a) are in operation, (b) were deployed in Exercise Saif Sareea 2 and (c) are grounded because of a shortage of spare parts. [14630]

Mr. Ingram: As at 9 November, 27 Chinook helicopters were in operation and four were deployed on Exercise Saif Sareea 2. No Chinook helicopters were grounded because of a shortage of spares but a total of 13 aircraft were undergoing scheduled maintenance, repair or modification.

Apache Helicopters

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache helicopters there are in the United Kingdom; and how many he plans to buy. [14381]

Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence is contracted to purchase a total of 67 Apache aircraft. Currently we own 17, which are based in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache operating manuals there are in the UK; if Apache operating manuals may be consulted by non- military personnel in the UK; and if DERA personnel are authorised to use Apache operating manuals. [14351]

Dr. Moonie: The Apache operating manuals are all computer-based Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETPs), which may be loaded onto any computer with the appropriate current user licence. The Ministry of Defence has purchased in the region of 465 laptop computers to receive the software.

Within the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), both military and non-military personnel are currently authorised to consult the Apache IETPs. The non-military

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personnel are either civil servants or employees of Westland Helicopters Ltd. (WHL), who are assembling the aircraft under licence from Boeing.

Prior to the vesting of part of the former DERA as QinetiQ plc on 1 July 2001, DERA personnel at the Aircraft Testing and Evaluation (AT&E) facility Boscombe Down, as part of MOD, had access to the Apache operation manuals. However, when these staff transferred to QinetiQ, they were temporarily unable to have access to such proprietary information pending the amendment of WHL's licence with Boeing. The licence amendment was submitted in July and US State Department approval was given on 1 October 2001. Once this approval is implemented, QinetiQ personnel will again be authorised to use the manuals, in support of MOD work.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if DERA personnel had access to the Apache Operating Manual before DERA was privatised; and if he will make a statement on the changes that have occurred in DERA's security classification since privatisation, with special reference to co-operation with the United States of America. [14354]

Dr. Moonie: Prior to the vesting of part of the former DERA as QinetiQ plc on 1 July 2001, DERA personnel at the Aircraft Test and Evaluation facility Boscombe Down, as part of the Ministry of Defence, had access to the Apache operating manuals and other proprietary information.

QinetiQ's security arrangements are in line with those of other defence contractors, who carry out work on sensitive contracts for MOD, other Government Departments and international collaborative partners, including the United States of America.

Eurofighter

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British involvement there is in the manufacture of the cockpit frame for Eurofighter; what proportion of the parts of the Eurofighter cockpit are British made; which overseas countries are supplying components to the Eurofighter cockpit frame; which other parts of Eurofighter will be British made, and if he will make a statement. [14353]

Dr. Moonie: The front fuselage of the Eurofighter aircraft, which includes the cockpit frames, is manufactured by BAE Systems Warton as part of the UK's agreed overall aircraft programme work-share of approximately 36 per cent. Eurofighter cockpit equipments are manufactured by various consortia, comprising companies from the four Eurofighter Partner Companies from UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. Work is shared as far as practicable in line with the overall programme work-share. Other parts that are British-made are the front canards, right wing leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps, various avionic equipment and a significant number of major engine parts.

Royal Naval Reserve

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Naval Reserve personnel are serving on operations. [14625]

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Dr. Moonie: Twenty RNR personnel have volunteered to be called-out to serve on current operations. This figure excludes naval service reserves engaged on other duties in support of the regular armed forces—eg those serving on full-time reserve service teams in a wide variety of appointments.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Promotions

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in the financial years (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99, (e) 1999–2000 and (f) 2000–01; and if she will make a statement. [12275]

Dr. Howells: The Department's spending on information literature for the period 1996–97 to 2000–01 is as set out. Figures for 1995–96 are not available in the form requested.

Year£
1996–97501,366
1997–98338,761
1998–99288,100
1999–2000448,238
2000–01448,140

No advertising and campaign material was produced during this period.

Youth Hostels Association

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received concerning the financial situation of the Youth Hostels Association; and if she will make a statement. [12148]

Dr. Howells: We have received over 60 representations on the financial situation of the Youth Hostels Association for England and Wales (YHA). On 30 October 2001 I had a productive meeting with representatives of the YHA to discuss their difficulties and possible sources of help. The Government are pursuing several practical options to assist the YHA. We will also respond shortly to the recommendations in the report of the Rural Task Force, "Tackling the Impact of Foot and Mouth Disease on the Rural Economy" published on 18 October 2001.

Royal Palaces

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 355W, on the occupation of flats in the royal palaces, if she will list the residents. [11798]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 1 November 2001]: The list of persons who occupy residences in the Occupied Royal Palaces other than members of the Royal Family at 31 December 2000 is as follows:




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The total of (i) and (ii) is 39 and the list of posts by job title is as follows:



































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