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10 Dec 2002 : Column 217W—continued

Aircrew

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircrew in the United Kingdom forces were born in Scotland; how many are pilots of (a) combat aircraft, (b) transport aircraft and (c) helicopters, in each arm of the service; and how many are other aircrew by (i) arm of service and (ii) function. [85999]

Dr. Moonie: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Apache

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2002, Official Report, column 171W, on the Apache, what assessment he has made of the cost of upgrading the Apache's night vision system. [85379]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 9 December 2002]: The cost of a possible enhanced night vision system for Apache has yet to be fully established.

Atomic Weapons Establishments

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by the Atomic Weapons Establishments at (a) Aldermaston, (b) Burghfield and (c) Blacknest. [86064]

Dr. Moonie: As at 29 November 2002, the number of people employed at each of the Atomic Weapons Establishments (AWE) in the United Kingdom was as follows:

	Number
AWE Aldermaston	3,190
AWE Burghfield	317
AWE Blacknest	8
Total	3,515

The figures quoted are staff, both full and part-time, employed by AWE plc.

Barracks (Infantry)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to increase barrack accommodation in Scotland for infantry units; and at what locations. [86009]

10 Dec 2002 : Column 218W

Dr. Moonie: Major Army Infantry units are currently based at three locations in Scotland, detailed in the following table. We have no plans to increase accommodation for infantry units in those locations. The former Army Training and Recruitment site at Glencorse, near Penicuik, will, however, be occupied by an infantry battalion in the future.

Unit	Location
1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers	Fort George, Inverness
1st Battalion The Royal Scots	Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh
1st Battalion The Highlanders	Redford Infantry Barracks, Edinburgh

Challenger 2 Tanks

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank; and when desert modifications will be complete. [85664]

Mr. Hoon: Challenger 2 is a world class tank. In 1999 it exceeded very demanding reliability targets during a series of rigorous trials which tested the performance of the tank under simulated battlefield conditions. It has also given excellent service in Kosovo and Bosnia.

The Ministry of Defence expects that a range of measures identified to improve Challenger 2 performance in desert conditions will be completed in good time for any possible future operations.

Combat Assault Boot

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 473W, what steps he has taken to discover whether individual soldiers have failed to be issued with the combat assault boot because of recent production difficulties. [86690]

Dr. Moonie: There have been no reports of soldiers being without a pair of serviceable combat assault boots. If there were a shortage, units would report the problem and action would then be taken to resolve the issue. Moreover we have made positive checks with the chain of command who have found no evidence of soldiers being without boots. We have a system whereby orders are prioritised to ensure that all urgent demands are met. All such demands for combat assault boots are being met.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 473W on the combat assault boot which company manufactures the combat assault boot and where they are based; how many soldiers are issued with the combat assault boot; how many pairs are issued each year to each soldier; what representations he has received from individual units about the shortage of combat assault boots; and whether combat assault boots are issued to Royal Navy and RAF personnel; [86743]

(2) if he will make a statement on the (a) production and (b) availability of the combat assault boot. [86689]

10 Dec 2002 : Column 219W

Dr. Moonie: UK Safety, based in the United Kingdom, are the main manufacturer of the Combat Assault Boot (CAB). Iturri, based in Spain, also supply a relatively small number of boots. UK Safety relocated within the UK earlier this year and experienced some initial difficulties with production.

Every soldier is issued with two pairs of CAB during basic training and these are replaced as and when necessary through Unit Quartermasters. As explained in my answer of 2 December 2002, Official Report, column 473W 79,000 pairs of CAB were issued to Army Units for the year 1 November 2001 to 31 October 2002. We have not received any representations from units about shortages of CAB. No serviceman should be without at least one pair of serviceable CAB.

All Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel are issued with one pair of CAB, the exception being RAF Regiment and Royal Marines personnel who are issued with two pairs on the same basis as soldiers.

Contracts (Foreign Companies)

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of work he requires to be carried out in the UK on contracts awarded to foreign companies. [85427]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 5 December 2002]: It is the Government's policy to provide the armed forces with the equipment which they require at the best value for money for the taxpayer. Contracts are negotiated on an individual basis and there is no policy requirement for a particular percentage of work to be undertaken in the United Kingdom. However, as stated in our new defence industrial policy published on 14 October, the benefit to the UK economy from Ministry of Defence contracts is taken into account when selecting contractors. A copy of the Government's defence industrial policy is in the Library of the House.

Defence Staff

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the (a) British Forces Post Office, (b) Central Data Management Agency, (c) Defence Analytical Services Agency, (d) Defence Aviation Repair Agency, (e) Defence Bills Agency, (f) Defence Estates, (g) Defence Export Services Organisation, (h) Defence Procurement Agency, (i) Defence Scientific and Technical Laboratory, (j) International Visits Control Office, (k) Meteorological Offices, (l) Ministry of Defence Police, (m) Defence Scientific Advisory Council (n) Disposal Service Agency, and (o) Hydrographic Office; how many are employed in Scotland in each case; and what the personnel costs of each agency are. [85997]

Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civil and (b) military personnel are employed at (i) the Clyde Submarine Base, Faslane and (ii) the Royal Naval Armaments Deport, Coulport. [86001]

10 Dec 2002 : Column 220W

Dr. Moonie: The number of civilian and military personnel employed at HMNB Clyde and RNAD Coulport, including Ministry of Defence civilian and military personnel and employees of Babcock Naval Services, the industrial partner, but excluding crews on ships and submarines visiting or undergoing maintenance at these bases is:

	Civilian	Military
HMNB Clyde	3,042	1,677
RNAD Coulport	655	55

DERA

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) total staff budget for DERA and (b) the staff budget for DERA in Scotland was in the last year for which figures are available. [86007]

Dr. Moonie: DERA was disestablished on 1 July 2001, when two new organisations, QinetiQ and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), were created. QinetiQ is a plc, and all operational inquiries should be addressed to the Chief Executive. Dstl remains a part of the Ministry of Defence. For the financial year 2001–02, Dstl's total staff budget was #118.3 million. It is not possible to separate out the costs for the 52 employees based in Scotland as these individuals belong to a number of larger cost centre groups.

Dockyard Personnel

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civilian and (b) military personnel are employed at (i) the Dockyard, Rosyth and (ii) the Royal Dockyard, Devonport. [86063]

Dr. Moonie: The number of civilian and military personnel employed at the Royal Dockyards in Rosyth and Devonport is:

	Civilian	Military
Rosyth	2,205	10
Devonport	5,954	1,048

The totals include employees of the privately owned Rosyth and Devonport Dockyards and also Ministry of Defence civilian employees and military staff at both Rosyth and the Devonport Naval Base, which is adjacent to Devonport Dockyard. These figures exclude crews on ships and submarines visiting or undergoing maintenance work at the bases.

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