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7 Nov 2002 : Column 471W—continued
Future Aircraft Carrier Programme
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when an announcement will be made as to the successful tender for the Future Aircraft Carrier programme. [79271]
Dr. Moonie: Stage 2 of the CVF Assessment phase completes on 20 November. We then intend to select a preferred contractor not on the basis of a traditional bid analysis but through an assessment of the contractors' performance and output since the start of the Assessment phase in November 1999. An announcement on the preferred contractor is scheduled for early next year.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Future Aircraft Carrier programme. [79268]
Dr. Moonie: The Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programme is progressing well and the recent announcement of the innovative adaptable design is evidence of this. Risk reduction and design work is continuing and we remain on course to select our preferred contractor early next year and approve investment in the build programme at the end of 2003. The In Service Dates of the two ships remain 2012 and 2015 respectively.
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Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs he estimates will be created through the design and manufacture of the Future Aircraft Carriers in the UK. [79270]
Dr. Moonie: It is still too early in the Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programme to make an accurate forecast of the number of jobs that will be created or sustained by the CVF programme. Much will depend on the shipbuild strategy adopted by the preferred prime contractor and the split of work between the participating construction and final assembly facilities. However, taking into account the supply chain, the programme may involve around 10,000 jobs throughout the United Kingdom.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft will be for the Future Aircraft Carrier programme. [79269]
Dr. Moonie: The primary aircraft for the Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) will be the Joint Combat Aircraft. The Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter has been identified as the aircraft with the best potential to fulfil that role and this was reinforced by the announcement on 30 September that we had selected the Short Take Off Vertical Landing variant to operate from CVF. The ships will also carry Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft and helicopters from all three services in a variety of roles.
Ageism
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what strategies his Department has to ensure that there is no ageism in recruitment and retention processes. [79289]
Dr. Moonie: Equality of opportunity for all staff is a key feature of Civil Service employment. The Ministry of Defence's personnel and employment policies and procedures have been subject to equality-proofing, including the removal of any unfair discrimination on the basis of age. To underpin this, the MOD has a programme of action on equality and diversity involving the training and development of line and personnel managers, and the monitoring of recruitment, selection and performance management statistics. Training in equal opportunities is mandatory for all recruitment panel members.
In addition, the MOD, like other Departments, has conducted a thorough review of its age retirement policy in light of the Government's commitment to tackle ageism in the workplace as set out in the Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment published in 1999.
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of new recruits to his Department in the past two years were aged 50 and over. [79301]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 4 November 2002]: The information requested is shown in the tables:
| Under 50 | 50 and over | Total | % Over 50 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Year 2001–2002 | Ministry of Defence | 4,443 | 1,289 | 5,732 | 22.5 |
| Trading Funds | 1,141 | 223 | 1,374 | 16.2 | |
| Total | 5,584 | 1,512 | 7,106 | 21.3 |
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| Under 50 | 50 and over | Total | % Over 50 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Year 2000–2001 | Ministry of Defence | 5,200 | 1,348 | 6,548 | 20.6 |
| Trading Funds | 1,134 | 116 | 1,251 | 9.3 | |
| Total | 6,334 | 1,464 | 7,799 | 18.8 |
Notes:
1. Figures exclude casual and Royal Fleet Auxiliary staff.
2. The following methods of recruitment have been included recruitment by CSC, by Department, Re-instatement/Re-employment and unknown.
3. Where the parts do not equal the sum a number of staff with ''unknown'' age were identified.
4. Financial years run from 1 April to the 31 March.
Invincible Class Carriers
Mr. Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the steps being taken by the Government to ensure that bids to build the replacement for the Invincible Class Carriers take account of UK dry dock facilities; and if he will make a statement. [78989]
Dr. Moonie: In line with Government policy on warship construction the Royal Navy's two new Future Aircraft Carriers (CVFs) will be built in the United Kingdom. This is clearly understood by both of the candidate prime contractors for CVF—BAE SYSTEMS and Thales—and as part of their work to date they have assessed the capabilities of a number of sites throughout the United Kingdom that have the potential to participate in the build (construction and outfitting of modules or blocks of the vessel) and assembly (the joining together of the blocks into a whole ship in a suitable dry dock). No final decisions have yet been made.
Recruitment
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent in recruiting staff to his Department in (a) London and (b) the south east in each year since 1997. [78562]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 4 November 2002]: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Aircraft Landings
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian aircraft landings and take-offs were recorded at RAF Machrihanish during each of the last five years. [78734]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not hold records of civilian aircraft movements. The Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd lease part of the RAF Machrihanish site, known as Campbeltown Airport, and are not able to provide the information sought.
Research Projects
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list research projects his Department (a) has funded in the last five years and (b) is funding into the health outcomes of (i) service personnel who participated in UK nuclear tests and (ii) their offspring. [79188]
Dr. Moonie: In the last five years the Ministry of Defence has funded a study by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) into the
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incidence of multiple myeloma, other cancers and other causes of death amongst nuclear test veterans. This study follows on from two earlier studies, the results of which were published in 1988 and 1993. The results of this third study are expected to be published early next year. Funding is also provided to the NRPB for the maintenance of a database that has been used during the compilation of these studies.
No funding has been provided for health studies of the offspring of nuclear test veterans. Current information on radiation health effects suggests that studies of cancer among people exposed to radiation are likely to prove a more sensitive means of detecting such effects than studies of their children. There is no scientific or medical evidence that shows that the health or other physical problems suffered by the offspring of nuclear test veterans can be attributed to their father's or grandfather's participation in the test programme.
Afghanistan
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to date is of maintaining British troops in Afghanistan. [79985]
Mr. Ingram: The cost of Operations in Afghanistan for 2001–2002 was estimated to be #261 million and this was published in Spring Supplementary Estimates.
I will write to my hon. Friend shortly concerning expenditure in 2001–2002 and 2002–2003 and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of UK operations in Afghanistan has been since 11 September; and if he will make a statement. [57603]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 21 May 2002]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Diversification Council
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Diversification Council has been established; and if he will make a statement. [79874]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence Diversification Council is currently being set-up. It will be chaired by my hon. Friend, the Under Secretary of State for Defence, and will include representation from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Regional Assemblies, Trade Unions and Industry.
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