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Red Dragon Project
Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capacity of fixed wing aircraft work will be required
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for the Red Dragon Project in the Defence Aviation Repair Agency; and from where a shortfall will be made up by rotary wing aircraft work. [67733]
Mr. Ingram: Currently, there are 90 aircraft, on average, undergoing work in the St. Athan Fixed Wing Business Unit. Existing plans envisage Red Dragon project would cater for 48 fixed wing aircraft, and takes account of process improvements and future fleet reductions. Filling the facility will be dependent on the Defence Aviation Repair Agency successfully winning competitions for this work after the guaranteed order book expires in April 2004. There are no current plans to transfer rotary wing work to St. Athan.
War Graves
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with (a) the British Embassy in Paris, (b) the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and (c) the French Government concerning the graves of soldiers killed at the Somme. [68611]
Dr. Moonie: I have had no recent discussions with the British embassy in Paris, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or the French Government about war graves in the Somme. However, the embassy is maintaining close contacts with the French authorities who are involved with proposals for a third airport for Paris. Early indications had suggested this project might affect war grave cemeteries maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the Chaulnes area of the Somme.
The Ministry of Defence has had no further discussions on this subject since the new French Government made clear that it would be looking again, from first principles, at the need for a third airport in the Paris basin. We are monitoring this review process very closely; we do not expect an early conclusion to be reached.
Gurkha Soldiers
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will take steps to equalise the pensions paid to former Gurkha soldiers who served with the British forces with the pensions paid to other soldiers; [68452]
- (2) what steps he will take to provide equality of terms and conditions of employment for the Gurkha soldiers serving with the British armed forces. [68453]
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) on 7 May 2002, Official Report, columns 44–45W.
Royal Marines
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people joined the ranks of the Royal Marines in the past five years; what regions they were from; and how many of them are below the age of 17 years. [68538]
Mr. Ingram: In the last five years a total of 219 officers and 5,379 other ranks (RMORs) have joined the Royal Marines, as follows.
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| Officers | RMOR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 61 | 1,159 |
| 2000–01 | 41 | 1,117 |
| 1999–2000 | 39 | 1,148 |
| 1998–99 | 38 | 1,048 |
| 1997–98 | 40 | 907 |
Details on the regions of origin are not recorded. We do however, record for RMORs only, a southern and northern split from the Humber to north Wales. The figures for these two areas are:
- Southern region: 2,906
Northern region: 2,473.
Service Children's Education
Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the key targets are for 2002–03 for the chief executive of Service Children's Education. [69356]
Dr. Moonie: The chief executive has been set the following Key Targets for 2002–03:
Key Target 1—To meet the following percentage of pupils achieving Level 2 or above at the end of Key Stage 1 in:
- Reading: 90 per cent.
Writing: 92 per cent.
Spelling: 82 per cent.
Mathematics: 95 per cent.
- English: 78 per cent.
Mathematics: 75 per cent.
Science: 92 per cent.
- English: 77 per cent.
Mathematics: 78 per cent.
Science: 76 per cent.
Key Target 5—To maintain the following three-year rolling average of subject entries achieving passes at grades A-C at 'A' Level of 64 per cent.
Key Target 6—The following percentages of SCE schools are to achieve the grades stipulated below against the four attributes in Ofsted reports of:
- School climate: Grade 2 or above: 100 per cent.
Standards; Quality; Management and Efficiency.
Grade 3 or above: 100 per cent.
Grade 2 or above: 85 per cent.
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Key Target 9—Demonstrate customer satisfaction with a survey result of:
- For Army Continuous Attitude Surveys: 69 per cent. satisfaction or more.
India
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the talks with India concerning (a) India's acquisition of spare parts and strategic equipment for Indian Air Force Jaguar ground- attack fighters, (b) the purchase of a British aircraft carrier and (c) conclusion of the Hawk-100 Advanced Jet Trainer deal. [66019]
Dr. Moonie: In accordance with his ministerial responsibilities, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has the opportunity to discuss a range of defence matters, including defence export opportunities, with Ministers and senior officials from the Government of India. The purchase of a British aircraft carrier has not been formally raised by the Indians.
SanEagle
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to use the SanEagle for British reconnaissance missions; and if he will make a statement. [67423]
Mr. Ingram: The SanEagle equipment is not part of our current reconnaissance inventory, and is not known to the Ministry of Defence.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Crown Prosecution Service
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General with reference to the proposal to introduce a system where, before trial, interviews of certain key witnesses are conducted by the prosecutor in a limited category of cases, what categories of cases are being considered; and what criteria were used to establish categories of cases. [59342]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 12 June 2002]: No such proposal has been made. The Attorney- General has asked the Director of Public Prosecutions, as part of his review of the handling of the Damilola Taylor murder trial, to consider whether the time has come to introduce a system where, before trial, interviews of certain key witnesses are conducted by the prosecutor in a limited category of cases. The Director is due to report to the Attorney-General later this year and an announcement will be made at that time.
Damilola Taylor Case
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what the terms of reference are of the review being undertaken by the DPP in relation to the Damilola Taylor case. [59341]
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The Solicitor-General [holding answer 12 June 2002]: The DPP's review has the following terms of reference:
- To review the handling of the Damilola Taylor case, and in doing so,
consider the implications for the conduct of future cases and to make recommendations;
examine whether the time has come to introduce a system where, before trial, the prosecutor in a limited category of cases conducts interviews of certain witnesses.
Criminal Justice and Trial Units
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General which of the co-located criminal justice and trial units are located within the court; and what assessment she has made of the benefits of co-locating criminal justice and trial units within the court complex. [59465]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 12 June 2002]: There are currently no co-located criminal justice units or trial units located in court accommodation. It follows that no assessment of the benefits of co-locating within the court complex has been made.
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