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Ministerial Accommodation
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what publicly owned accommodation is made available to him in his official role; how many nights he has been in residence at each of these properties in the last 12 months; and what the total cost was of maintaining each of these properties in the last 12 months. [55104]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 9 May 2002]: None.
Service Accommodation
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 April 2002, Official Report, column 9W, with reference to paragraph 5.14 of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body 31st report 2002, what estimate has been made of (a) the number and (b) the cost of repeat repairs in (i) single living accommodation and (ii) service family accommodation in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [55270]
Dr. Moonie: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Ministry of Defence is making substantial investment in service accommodation. In particular, we are now assessing industry's bids for the single living accommodation modernisation prime contract.
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Remote Ammunition Facility, Tamar
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the estimated date is of completion of the remote ammunition facility in Tamar; [55806]
- (2) what the estimated cost is of construction of the remote ammunition facility in Tamar. [55805]
Dr. Moonie: Work undertaken over the last few years has established that the effects a weapons explosion would have on a submarine and its surroundings is not as extensive as previously thought. This led to a revised safety assessment which has shown that the improvements to safety that RAFT would have provided for submarines can be met through the existing berthing facilities at Devonport naval base. The project has therefore been suspended.
Some £15 million has been spent over the 10-year life of the project. Further costs relating to the cancellation of planned work may be payable and will be subject to negotiations with the contractor.
RAF Landing Fees
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what average landing fees were paid by the RAF in respect of aircraft landing at (a) RAF airfields and (b) airfields operated under licence by third parties during the last complete year. [55817]
Dr. Moonie: No landing fees are charged for RAF aircraft landing at RAF airfields. In the financial year 2001–02, £2.08 million was authorised for payment for handling and landing in respect of RAF aircraft landing at commercial airports in the United Kingdom and £2.23 million for those services outside the United Kingdom. These costs exclude payments made direct by aircrew at airfields. Costs include handling, navigation, parking and overshoot charges in addition to landing fees. Information on the cost of landing fees alone and payments made by aircrew is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In addition, landing fees of £0.345 million were charged for RAF aircraft landing at airfields operated by QinetiQ.
Aircraft Movements (West Freugh)
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft movements were handled by air traffic control at West Freugh airfield in each of the last 10 years. [55818]
Dr. Moonie: The following aircraft movements were handled by air traffic control at West Freugh airfield in each of the last 10 years.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 6,397 |
| 1993 | 9,038 |
| 1994 | 6,315 |
| 1995 | 7,140 |
| 1996 | 7,905 |
| 1997 | 11,644 |
| 1998 | 11,847 |
| 1999 | 8,384 |
| 2000 | 5,973 |
| 2001 | 3,861 |
These figures do not include overflights or range runs.
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Royal Ordnance
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of Royal Ordnance. [55786]
Dr. Moonie: Royal Ordnance Defence (ROD) is a private company that is wholly owned by BAE Systems. It has been operating against a background of sharp decline in the worldwide demand for defence equipment. The Ministry of Defence is aware that ROD is currently carrying out a manufacturing strategy review to optimise its business such that it will remain viable and competitive in the defence sector. Any decisions that emerge from this review are a commercial matter for the company. ROD has also indicated that it intends to invest substantially in a number of sites across the United Kingdom. The MOD remains confident that ROD will continue to be a major producer of munitions for the United Kingdom armed forces, particularly through the framework partnering agreement that has been established between ROD and the MOD.
BUTEC and Rona Ranges
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 31W, what his policy is on the inclusion in the arrangements, negotiated with QinetiQ, of guarantees that levels of current provision by the BUTEC and Rona range will be maintained for the full term of the arrangement and that levels of investment will be maintained; and if he will make a statement. [56002]
Dr. Moonie: In its negotiations with QinetiQ, the Ministry of Defence will seek to agree the provisions of levels of service which will meet the MOD's requirements for usage of the BUTEC and Rona ranges. The required level of service will be reviewed periodically throughout the life of the contract.
Armed Forces (Media Interviews)
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is issued governing the giving of media interviews by serving members of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [55754]
Dr. Moonie: Invitations for service personnel to take part in media interviews are usually made by broadcasting and press authorities through official departmental channels. If, however, members of the armed forces are invited directly to take part in radio or television broadcasts, or undertake press interviews, there is guidance in the Queen's Regulations that instructs personnel on how to report the approach, and if the interview is sanctioned, guidance about the handling of the interview and not being drawn on any policy issue which is, or may become, a matter of controversy between political parties.
Army Horses
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Army's policy is on the tethering of horses; and if he will make a statement. [55877]
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Dr. Moonie: The tethering or 'picketing' of horses is the military method of tying horses to a rope or peg in the open in order to prevent injury. The recommended method is to use a single long rope, stretched along the ground, or preferably suspended 3 to 4 ft high, to which each horse is separately tied with a head rope. Heel ropes tied to pegs may also be used in order to prevent a horse kicking the next horse. Details of the preferred methods to be used are laid out in the "Manual of Horsemanship, Equitation and Animal Transport" (WO Code 7193, 1937) and "Animal Management" (HMSO 1956).
Retirement Ages
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement concerning flexible retirement dates for his Department's civilian personnel. [56409]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has completed its review of age retirement policy. The conclusions are being considered and we shall make an announcement about them in the coming weeks.
Wind Farms
Ms Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many wind farm proposals his Department has opposed in the last three years; and where those proposals were situated. [56413]
Dr. Moonie: Of the 506 proposals received during the last three years, the Ministry of Defence has objected to a total of 238. There have been a greater number of objections within the three tactical training areas (in central Wales, north Scotland and the border region of northern England/southern Scotland), but out of these areas there is no set pattern as to where the objections lie.
Ms Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which areas are unsuitable for the building of wind farms because of the effect on radar and low- flying aircraft. [56415]
Dr. Moonie: All wind farm proposals are considered individually by the Ministry of Defence, on a case-by-case basis, which examines their potential effects on our ability to train pilots safely and on operational capabilities.
In some circumstances wind turbines have the potential adversely to affect radar and other communications depending on their position in relation to particular installations. Research is currently under way with the Department of Trade and Industry to address this issue.
The presence of wind turbines in most areas of the United Kingdom would present no difficulty to low flying aircraft because these and other naturally tall structures are taken into account as part of route planning.
The United Kingdom has three specially designated tactical training areas (TTA) that are available for authorised military operational low flying training.
The three TTAs are located in central Wales, north Scotland and the border region of northern England/ southern Scotland. Within these areas military fast jets may operate down to a height of 100 ft separation distance and a proliferation of obstacles could negate the value of the training. Units also make use of these areas for
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specialised night training. In these areas wind farm developments may compromise flight safety to an unacceptable level.
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