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22 Oct 2002 : Column 144W—continued
Weapons Decontamination
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's contingency plans for the decontamination of British weapons systems covered by (a) Sarin, (b) Soman, (c) Ebola, (d) VX and (e) other similar long-lasting substances. [76179]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 21 October 2002]: In the first instance we seek to deter the use of chemical or biological warfare agents against our forces, or those of our Allies. We have made it plain that the United Kingdom would take an extremely serious view of this step and that it would invite a proportionately serious response.
In the event of a release of chemical or biological agents we would seek to avoid direct exposure, and hence contamination, by using equipment and procedures that detect chemical or biological threats, warn of hazards and protect personnel. If exposure is unavoidable, individuals are equipped to decontaminate themselves and their personal equipment, and units to carry out decontamination to allow them to continue operating. Additional processes would be followed at the end of an operation.
Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System Rocket
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected cost is of the assessment phase of the British Army's Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System Rocket; and if he will make a statement. [76000]
22 Oct 2002 : Column 145W
Dr. Moonie: I can confirm that the Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System Rocket programme recently received initial gate approval to enter the Assessment Phase. The Defence Procurement Agency is currently in negotiations with the preferred bidder, which is a consortium led by INSYS. As negotiations are still underway, I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.
F35 Aircraft
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the F35 aircraft to reach the end of its service life. [75955]
Dr. Moonie: On current plans, the United Kingdom's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft is expected to remain in service until the 2040s.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what aspects of the design, development, equipment, manufacture and maintenance of the F35 aircraft are included in his estimates of the through-life costs of acquiring and operating these aircraft; and what costs of their deployment and operation are not included in his estimates; [75953]
- (2) what aspects of the design, development, manufacture, equipment and maintenance of the F35 aircraft were included in the intention to acquire up to 150 aircraft at a cost of up to #10 billion announced by his Department on 30 September; [75952]
Dr. Moonie: We currently estimate that the whole life cost of the United Kingdom's planned force of Joint Strike Fighters will be up to #28 billion in full resource terms, through to 2042. This includes acquisition costs of up to #10 billion dependent on aircraft numbers and how they are to be supported through life.
Development costs include the United Kingdom's contribution to the JSF Prime Contractor (Lockheed Martin) as covered by the System Development and Demonstration MOU, which we signed with the US in January 2001. They also include funding for the integration of certain United Kingdom weapons systems to be selected in due course, securing JSF's compatibility with United Kingdom Command and Control arrangements and ensuring compliance with our safety and environmental requirements.
Acquisition costs include the manufacture of complete aircraft including their engines and also certain related activities such as the provision of flight simulators. The production of weapons for operational use is not included within the whole life cost of JSF.
Maintenance and other in-service support costs are not included in the #10Bn but are in the #28 billion. The in-service support costs include the provision of spares, fuel, training, storage, aircrew, ground-crew and station personnel, and flying station service costs including utilities, and the maintenance of runways and hangars.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what payments he expects to make in each financial year from 2003–04 to 2011–12 in respect of the design, development, manufacture and purchase of the F35 aircraft; [75951]
22 Oct 2002 : Column 146W
- (2) what payments he has made and plans to make in the present financial year in respect of the design, development and manufacture of the F35 aircraft. [75949]
(3) what payments he expects to make in respect of the F35 aircraft in the financial year 2012–13 and each succeeding financial year while the aircraft is in service. [75956]
Dr. Moonie: We anticipate that the whole life cost of the United Kingdom's planned force of Joint Strike Fighters will be up to #28 billion in full resource terms. This includes up to #10 billion for the development and manufacture of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft to meet our Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA) requirement, dependent on the number of aircraft acquired and how they are to be supported through life. Of this figure, we forecast that some #2 billion will be spent on development activity.
I am withholding the information regarding the annual profile of this expenditure under Exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Indonesia
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussion he has had with the Indonesian military forces during the past year; and if he will make a statement. [76334]
Mr. Ingram: Defence contacts with Indonesia over the past year have been focused on taking forward a reform programme within the Indonesian armed forces under the aegis of the inter-Departmental Global Conflict Prevention Fund. This has the objective of promoting the emergence of democratically accountable and professional security forces. Contacts have included visits to the United Kingdom by Indonesian politicians, civilian government officials, police and military officers to discuss issues such as defence management, promoting greater transparency and accountability of military expenditure, rules of engagement and the role of the military in support of the civil authorities. United Kingdom visitors to Indonesia have covered similar issues. In addition, two Indonesian officers and one civilian attended a United Kingdom-sponsored ''Managing Defence in a Democracy'' course in September 2002 in Singapore and two Indonesian officers attended a United Kingdom-sponsored regional peacekeeping course in Bangkok in August 2002.
PFI
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many private finance initiative schemes are agreed and operating; for what projects within his Department private finance initiatives have been agreed; what the value of each project is; what the start date of each of the projects is; what the life of the contract is; and if he will make a statement. [76496]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has signed 45 PFI deals with a total capital value of #2.3 billion. The deals are listed below.
22 Oct 2002 : Column 147W
| Name | # Million | Financial Year Signed | Contract Length (Years) | Operational |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany White Fleet | 52.00 | 1995 | 5 | Apr-96 |
| Storage Facilities | 21.90 | 1996 | 40 | Dec-01 |
| Hazardous Stores Information System (HSIS) | 1.00 | 1996 | 10.5 | Dec-97 |
| MHE Vehicles | 1.00 | 1996 | 5 | Dec-96 |
| TAFMIS (IT) | 41.00 | 1996 | 10 | 97/98 |
| RAF White Fleet | 35.00 | 1996 | 5 | Jul-96 |
| DHFS (Helicopter Flying Sch.) | 73.50 | 1996 | 15 | Apr-97 |
| Tidworth Water & Sewerage | 6.00 | 1997 | 20 | Sep-98 |
| Hawk Simulator | 19.00 | 1997 | 15 | Dec-98 |
| Electronic Messaging Service (Armymail) | 33.00 | 1997 | 10 | Sep-97 |
| DFTS | 70.00 | 1997 | 10 | 97/98 |
| Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility | ||||
| (MSHATF) | 114.00 | 1997 | 40 | 98/99 |
| Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) | 264.00 | 1997 | 12 | Jan-98 |
| Joint Services Command and Staff College | 93.00 | 1998 | 30 | Sep-00 |
| RAF Lyneham Sewerage | 4.00 | 1998 | 25 | Aug-98 |
| RAF Fylingdales (Power) | 7.00 | 1998 | 25 | Yes |
| Yeovilton Family Quarters | 8.00 | 1998 | 30 | Jun-99 |
| RAF Mail | 12.00 | 1998 | 10 | Apr-00 |
| RAF Cosford/Shawbury Family Quarters | 15.00 | 1998 | 25 | Dec-99 |
| RAF Lossiemouth Family Quarters | 24.50 | 1998 | 20 | Aug-99 |
| Attack Helicopter Training | 165.00 | 1998 | 25/30 | No |
| Light Aircraft Flying Training (LAFT) (Bulldog) | 20.00 | 1998 | 10 | Apr-99 |
| Central Scotland Family Quarters | 25.00 | 1999 | * | Jan-01 |
| NRTA Fire Training | 22.50 | 1999 | * | Dec-99 |
| Tornado GR4 Simulator | 61.70 | 1999 | 34 | Oct-01 |
| Army Foundation College (AFC) | 73.00 | 1999 | 30 | May-00 |
| DIS/IT (Touchstone) | 5.00 | 1999 | * | Dec-99 |
| Commercial Satellite Communication Service—INMARSAT | 2.50 | 2000 | 5 | Apr-01 |
| Tri-Service Materials Handling | 35.00 | 2000 | 10 | Nov-00 |
| Defence Animal Centre (DAC) | 11.00 | 2000 | * | Jan-02 |
| RAF Sentry E3D Aircrew | 7.00 | 2000 | 30 | Oct-01 |
| Lynx Aircrew Training | 15.00 | 2000 | 12 | No |
| Defence Electronic Commerce Service (DECS) | 9.00 | 2000 | 10 | Dec-00 |
| Main Building Redevelopment Headquarters | 415.00 | 2000 | 30 | Aug-00 |
| Naval Comms | 55.00 | 2000 | 27 | No |
| Tri-Service White Fleet | 40.00 | 2000 | 10 | Aug-01 |
| Wattisham Family Quarters | 34.00 | 2001 | * | Mar-02 |
| Defence Housing Executive IS (DOMIS) | 11.00 | 2001 | 10 | Oct-01 |
| Astute Class Training Service (ACTS) | 41.00 | 2001 | * | No |
| Bristol, Bath, Portsmouth Family Quarters | 72.00 | 2001 | * | No |
| Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) | 54.90 | 2001 | 20 | No |
| Marine Support to Range and Aircrew services | 11.30 | 2001 | 10 (with an | |
| option to | ||||
| extend to 15) | Apr-02 | |||
| Materials Handling Equipment Services (Follow on) | 38.80 | 2002 | 8 | Aug-02 |
| Strategic Sealift (Ro-Ro Ferries) | 175.00 | 2002 | 25 | No |
| Field Electrical Power Supplies (FEPS) | 57.87 | 2002 | * | No |
| 45 Signed deals | 2,359.47 |
Note:
* Where details of contract length are not held centrally for all projects, I will seek the information and write to the hon. Member when it becomes available.
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