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Defence Logistics Organisation
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the expenditure overspend for the Defence Logistics Organisation in the current year; what the principal cause of the overspend is; and how the overspend is to be funded, broken down by in-year spending reductions under other budget headings of his Department. [62221]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence Logistics Organisation is under remit to operate within its Control Totals for the current financial year 2002–03 and there is no reason to believe that it will overspend.
Tornado
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of the Tornado F3 MLU programme. [62236]
Mr. Ingram: The Tornado F3 fleet has not undergone a Mid-Life Update programme.
A capability sustainment programme to integrate the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) onto the aircraft is nearing completion at a cost of £125 million.
In addition, the Tornado F3 fleet is currently undergoing, or planned to undergo, a number of upgrade activities that will maintain the aircraft's operational capability for the remainder of its in-service life. The work comprises integration of secure communication
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equipment, a Successor Identification Friend or Foe system, an instrumentation enhancement to aid training and a programme to maximise the effectiveness of the AMRAAM, and will cost an additional £125 million.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects Tornado fighters fitted with AMRAAM to be operational; and what radar system will be fitted to such Tornado fighters. [62230]
Dr. Moonie: There are currently 94 Tornado F3 aircraft operational with Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
The current radar system fitted to the Tornado F3 is the Foxhunter Air Intercept radar known as the A124. There are no plans to change it.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the AMRAAM missiles fitted to Tornado F3 aircraft are able to be used to their full capabilities. [62238]
Dr. Moonie: A capability sustainment programme to integrate the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) on the Tornado F3 aircraft is nearing completion. A further programme of work to optimise the effectiveness of AMRAAM is currently under way to enable the Tornado F3 fully to exploit the missile's capability. This work is due to be completed in the spring of next year.
Gurkhas
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the Government of Nepal concerning the treatment of former British Army Gurkhas in Nepal by the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [62219]
Mr. Ingram: The Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO) is one of a number of ex-Gurkha organisations based in Nepal. Unfortunately, there have been reports in the past of GAESO activists using threats of violence to extort money from former Gurkha soldiers. This is unacceptable intimidation of sometimes weak and vulnerable pensioners who have provided this country with dedicated service over many generations. In light of these reports, the then Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar) wrote to the Prime Minister of Nepal in April 2000. Our concerns were also reinforced during subsequent visits to Nepal by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Defence. The British Embassy in Kathmandu also maintain regular contact with the Nepalese Government and police authorities. There have been no reports of illicit fund raising since October 2001.
Harrier GR9
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what extra training Sea Harrier pilots will have to undergo to convert to Harrier GR9; and what the cost will be of that training per pilot. [62336]
Mr. Ingram: We expect Sea Harrier FA2 pilots to undertake a course lasting approximately 12 weeks, comprising approximately 35 hours of flying, in order to convert to the Harrier GR7 aircraft. The content of the
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conversion course has yet to be finalised but the majority of training will be learning how to operate the aircraft weapons systems and sensors.
It is anticipated that the conversion course will be cost neutral because Sea Harrier FA2 pilots would have flown approximately the same number of hours to retain currency in that aircraft during a similar period. No additional resources have therefore been needed for this training.
Tank Regiments
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he plans to reduce the number of tank regiments in the British Army; [62226]
- (2) if he plans to reduce the number of Challenger 2 tanks in the British Army; and if he will make a statement. [62222]
Mr. Ingram: There are no plans to reduce the number of tank regiments or the number of Challenger 2 tanks in the British Army.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) establishment and (b) fully trained manned strength was of each tank regiment in the British Army in March of each of the past five years; and if he plans to reduce the establishment of the regiments. [62227]
Mr. Ingram: The establishment and trained manned strength of regiments equipped with Challenger 2 tanks 1 as at 1 April 2002 and in each of the previous four years is detailed as follows. There are no plans to reduce the establishment of these regiments.
- 1 8 Squadron 1 Royal Tank Regiment/Joint Nuclear Biological and Chemical Regiment retains Challenger 2 tanks in their role as the demonstrations squadron at Warminster.
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Parachute Regiment
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment target figure was for each battalion of the Parachute Regiment at the end of the year 2001; what the actual figures were in each case; and if he plans to cut the establishment target figures for the Parachute Regiment. [62228]
Mr. Ingram: The establishment and trained manned strength of the three regular battalions of the Parachute Regiment as at 1 January 2002 is detailed in the table.
| Establishment | Strength | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 PARA | 620 | 599 |
| 2 PARA(4) | 686 | 695 |
| 3 PARA | 687 | 712 |
| Total | 1,993 | 2,006 |
(4) The figures provided for both the establishment and strength of 2 PARA do not include the Gurkha Reinforcement Company that was attached to the battalion up until 1 April 2002.
Due to the reorganisation of 16 Air Assault Brigade announced in December 2001 and the inclusion of 1 PARA within the Brigade structure, it is planned to adjust the establishment of the three regular parachute battalions, towards a common figure of about 650.
Infantry Recruitment
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of infantry recruits was generated by (a) the Recruitment Group and (b) by the regiment's own efforts in the last 12 months. [62231]
Mr. Ingram: Army recruiting is an integrated operation involving both the Army Training and Recruiting Agency's Recruiting Group and the Field Army. All recruits are enlisted at an armed forces career office, and no central record of the source of their interest is maintained, although Recruiting Group is developing a contacts management database that will provide a broad indication of this in due course.
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