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Sea Harriers

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 April 2002, Official Report, column 823W, on Sea Harriers, if he will estimate the value of savings that will be made as a result of the withdrawal of Sea Harrier force in each year until 2012. [51764]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 22 April 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 16 April 2002, Official Report, columns 823–24W.

5 Squadron

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings will be made from the standing down of 5 Squadron. [49762]

Mr. Ingram: The down declaration of 5 Squadron in October 2004 was assumed in the 1999 Eurofighter Force Planning Assumptions and was part of a series of measures related to the introduction of Eurofighter. The Squadron's down declaration was designed to release manpower and other resources to allow the build up of Eurofighter squadrons to begin. As such, 'savings' arising from the down declaration of 5 Squadron will be offset elsewhere in the Defence programme. The decision to down declare 5 Squadron early, by January 2003, was taken to produce a more effective and efficient Tornado F3 capability pending the arrival into RAF service of the Eurofighter. Its aircraft and most of the Squadron's personnel are being redistributed among the other Tornado F3 squadrons. However, savings of approximately £2 million over two years are expected.

Unexploded Ordnance (Kenya)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last five years

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personnel specialised in the clearance of unexploded ordnance have been deployed to Kenya in the aftermath of British Army training exercises there. [48932]

Mr. Ingram: A squadron from 33 Engineer Regiment has deployed to Kenya five times in the last five years. This annual exercise, in support of the Kenyan Authorities, to clear unexploded ordnance from areas used by the British Army in Kenya is under way now. In addition, every infantry exercise—wherever it takes place—deploys with personnel trained in the clearance of unexploded ordnance.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) people and (b) animals have been killed as a result of unexploded ordnance left following British Army training exercises in (i) Kenya and (ii) other foreign countries in the last five years. [48933]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's records indicate that no people have been killed as a result of ordnance left behind following British Army training exercises overseas. While any deaths of animals may be reported locally, the MOD does not hold records of such incidents centrally and they could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) types and (b) amounts of ordnance have been used during each British Army training deployment to Kenya during the past 12 months. [49304]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 April 2002]: The Ministry of Defence does not yet have a complete record of all the ammunition used during the past 12 months. I will write to the hon. Member when these details are available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the safety arrangements are for British Army training exercises in Kenya, with regard to protecting civilians from unexploded ordnance; [49309]

(2) what arrangements are in place to clear up ordnance left unexploded following British Army training exercises in Kenya. [49305]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 April 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 18 July 2001, Official Report, columns 400–02.

Army Training

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which the British Army train on land which is also used for grazing. [49259]

Mr. Ingram: The British Army trains in many countries including the USA, Canada, Kenya, Botswana, Malaysia, Oman, Australia and New Zealand and across much of Europe. It is quite possible that many of the areas on which we train are also used for grazing, however this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the terms of the agreement between the UK and Kenyan Governments under which British Army troops are regularly deployed to Kenya for training purposes. [49307]

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Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 April 2002]: British Army deployments to Kenya are carried out under the terms of the memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Kenya, which was renewed on 19 December 2001. The terms are confidential between ourselves and the Kenyans, and I am therefore withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Air-to-surface Weapon

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement in progress in introducing a new intermediate-range air-to-surface weapon system for RAF strike aircraft. [50005]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 17 April 2002]: The capability to attack surface targets at intermediate range (35 to 100 nautical miles from the delivery platform) from RAF strike aircraft has been given the title SPEAR (Selective Precision Effects At Range). Studies into how the SPEAR capability might be best achieved are still ongoing. However, work to date has indicated that one single system may not be the most cost-effective solution, as the required effects of SPEAR will vary according to the various scenarios and target types against which it is used. The capability may, therefore, need to be realised through improvements to weapons to enter service in the short to medium term, as well as the introduction of a new system (or systems). Time scales for the delivery of the capability will depend upon which solution is chosen.

Aircraft Carriers

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place the order for two British aircraft carriers. [51133]

Dr. Moonie: We currently plan to award a contract for the build of two new Future Carriers for the Royal Navy in 2004.

Missile Development

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's involvement is in research and development of a successor system to the Harpoon missile. [50784]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 18 April 2002]: There are currently no plans to replace the Harpoon missile, which it is planned will remain in service with air and surface units for some considerable time. The Ministry of Defence is not therefore undertaking research and development for a successor system.

A project to enhance the Anti Surface Warfare offensive capability of the Royal Navy's surface ships is currently in the concept stage; as part of this a minor study has been undertaken to assess the performance of improvements to the existing Harpoon missile, which could form a potential solution should the requirement be confirmed.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the future air-to-surface guided weapon; and which Royal Navy helicopters will be equipped with this weapon when it becomes operational. [50782]

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Dr. Moonie [holding answer 18 April 2002]: The Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) programme is early in its concept stage. The programme aims to provide the core offensive anti-surface warfare capability currently delivered by the Sea Skua missile carried by Royal Navy Lynx helicopters. On current planning assumptions, when FASGW enters service it will be carried by the Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft.

HMS York (Sea RAM Trial)

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the trials of Sea RAM with HMS York; and what plans he has to procure the weapon system. [50783]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 18 April 2002]: The Sea RAM trial on HMS York was completed in September 2001. Although the equipment was returned earlier than anticipated, the majority of the trial objectives were achieved. The data gathered will be used to inform equipment capability decisions and to feed into other research and studies.

We have no immediate plans to procure the system, but it will be considered along with other options for a potential enhancement to our close-in defensive capability.

Type 675 Jammer

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to procure a successor system to the type 675 jammer, to be fitted to type 45 and other future warships. [50788]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 18 April 2002]: The type 675 jammer was taken out of service some years ago and we have no plans at present to fit a successor system to our future warships, though we continue to research jamming technologies.

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