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5 Dec 2002 : Column 925W—continued
Civilian Ships
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has in place for taking control of civilian ships should they be required in a war effort; and if he will make a statement. [85352]
Mr. Ingram: In order to meet our shipping needs in any future emergency, we would plan to charter civil shipping on the world-wide market to augment the capacity that our own ships give us. Where this is not possible, we would seek to use, where appropriate, either alternative types of ships or transport resources of allied or friendly nations or, as a last resort and in
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specific circumstances, we would requisition British shipping. Our assessment now is that there are currently enough military-useful British flagged merchant ships and United Kingdom seafarers to meet our defence needs. In concert with the Department of Transport, we continue to keep the situation under close scrutiny.
Communications Systems
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Bowman communications system will be replaced; and if he will make a statement on the Personal Role Radio. [84851]
Dr. Moonie: Bowman will provide a tactical, secure, voice and data communications system for all three Services in support of land and littoral operations from 2004, in place of the Clansman family of radios. Bowman is expected to continue in service for over 20 years.
The Personal Role Radio was formally accepted into service in January 2002, two months earlier than forecast and within planned cost. This is a good example of Smart Acquisition and, as reported by the National Audit Office, the Royal Marines who used it on Exercise Saif Sareea II were delighted with its performance. It has also been used successfully in Afghanistan.
Dyn Corp
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the employment policies of Dyn Corp in relation to its tendering for an MOD contract. [84625]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not routinely scrutinise the employment practices of companies tendering for MOD contracts, unless the transfer of public sector, or ex-public sector, employees out of the public sector under the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations is likely to be involved. In these cases, the MOD will consider contractors' track records on previous TUPE transfers and employment relations issues as part of the general evaluation of proposals for managing staff issues, and within the framework of existing EU regulations.
Eurofighter
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast in-service date for the Eurofighter was on 1 December (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001 and (e) 2002; and if he will make a statement. [84832]
Dr. Moonie: The forecast in-service dates for the Eurofighter (now Typhoon), as published in the National Audit Office's report on the MOD's Major Projects, were as follows:
(a) June 2002; (b) June 2002; (c) June 2002; (d) June 2002. The forecast in-service date on 1 December 2002 was June 2003.
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast total cost of the Eurofighter project was on 1st December (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001 and (e) 2002; and if he will make a statement. [84833]
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Dr. Moonie: The forecast total cost of the Eurofighter (now Typhoon), as published in the National Audit Office's report on the Ministry of Defence's Major Projects, is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| (a) | 14,649 |
| (b) | 14,727 |
| (c) | 18,832 |
| (d) | 18,896 |
| (e) | 18,663 |
These figures exclude support costs and reflect, from 2000, the conversion of the Department's accounts from a cash to a resource basis, introducing new cost elements such as interest on capital and depreciation.
Harrier
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what air defences the Royal Navy will have when the RN Sea Harrier is withdrawn from service; [84840]
- (2) how much it will cost to upgrade the RAF Harrier to take over the role of the Sea Harrier when it is withdrawn from service; and what the capability shortfall is. [84839]
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 21 May 2002 Official Report, columns 164–65W and 26 September 2002, Official Report, column 328W. In addition, I can confirm that the upgraded Sea King airborne early warning aircraft has now entered service with the Royal Navy.
Hercules
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what it would cost to move the Hercules C13J simulators from Lyneham to Brize Norton. [85287]
Mr. Ingram: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 7 of the Code of Access to Government Information. The information is commercially sensitive.
Legal Services
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 6W, on legal services, on how many occasions in each of the past 10 years the Ministry of Defence has paid for the defence of an individual charged with a criminal offence when the offence arose as a result of actions undertaken in the course of employment; and if he will make a statement. [85368]
Mr. Ingram: There has been no reason to collect these data therefore the information requested is not available.
Merlin Helicopters
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government is on target to deliver the remainder of the 44 Royal Navy Merlin helicopters that are due for delivery by December 2002; what the in-service date is of
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those remaining aircraft; if he will outline the overall cost of the Merlin Helicopter Programme; and if he will make a statement. [85358]
Dr. Moonie: All 44 of the Royal Navy Merlin Mkl helicopters have been delivered. The final aircraft was delivered on 2 December 2002.
The overall cost of the Merlin Mkl Helicopter programme is £4.183 billion.
Military Bases (Legal Officers)
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of UK military bases have an independent legal officer on site; and if he will make a statement. [85367]
Dr. Moonie: Independent legal officers are not provided on military sites. Personnel may make use of a range of welfare and support services separate from the chain of command or they may raise complaints, to the Defence Council if necessary. They may also obtain legal advice privately if they wish.
Naval Operating Fleet
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by ship type, the Royal Navy's (a) required operating fleet, (b) total departmental fleet and (c) actual operating fleet, of ships owned or leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [85353]
Mr. Ingram: As of 4 December 2002, the details of Royal Navy ships, including ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, are as follows:
| Type | Required operating fleet | Total dept. fleet | Actual operating fleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Carriers | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Destroyers/Frigates | 31 | 31 | 26 |
| AMPHIBIOUS | 3 | (1)1 | (2)0 |
| Submarines (Trident) | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Submarine (Fleet) | 12 | 12 | 6 |
| RFA | 21 | 21 | 20 |
| Minehunters | 22 | 22 | 17 |
| PATROL VESSELS | 5 | (3)4 | 5 |
| Patrol Craft | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| ANTARCTIC PATROL SHIP | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| SURVEY VESSELS | 4 | 2 | 2 |
(1) Two in build.
(2) HMS Ocean is expected to return to Fleet Time in mid December.
(3) One in build.
Naval Vessels
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Navy vessels that are unfit for active duty; and if he will make a statement. [85357]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr. Lewis) on 27 November 2002, Official Report, columns 334–35W. This provides a list of the Royal Navy vessels currently in refit or undergoing repairs, and which are thus unavailable for active duty. In addition, HMS Nottingham will shortly arrive in the
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United Kingdom for repair and HMS Talent is along side awaiting the start of a planned refit in 1st quarter 2003.
Overseas Deployments
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are deployed overseas; and how many were overseas on 25 December in each of the last three years. [83468]
Mr. Ingram: The figures for the average number of personnel from each Service deployed on Military Tasks overseas for the quarter ending 30 September 2002, the most recent figures available, are shown in the following table. Please note that the figures do not include personnel either preparing for or recovering from deployments on Military Tasks.
| Number | Percentages of trained strength | |
|---|---|---|
| Navy (including Royal Marines) | 3,888 | 10.4 |
| Army | 8,783 | 8.6 |
| Air Force | 3,841 | 7.9 |
The figures for personnel deployed overseas on 25 December in each of the last three years is not available in the required timescale. I will write to the hon.Member with the requested information and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
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