| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
16 Dec 2002 : Column 516W—continued
Naval Establishments (Unauthorised Entry)
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the incidents of unauthorised entry into (a) Royal Naval and (b) Royal Marines establishments in the UK in each of the last five years, showing (i) the numbers of intruders involved, (ii) the number of arrests made, (iii) the number of convictions secured and (iv) the number of cautions given in each case. [86482]
Mr. Ingram: Information on all incidents of incursion is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Some information is held by the MOD Police on incidents of incursion. As it will take some time to gather this data I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
NBC Training and Equipment
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding he has allocated to NBC training and equipment; whether he has plans to increase this funding; which regiments have specialist NBC training; what plans he has to extend that training; and if he will make a statement. [84853]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
All armed forces personnel are given training to protect themselves in a nuclear, biological and chemical military environment, as part of their basic training. This is refreshed at regular intervals. For financial year 2002–03 the full resource cost of operating the Defence Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Centre (DNBCC) Winterborne Gunner, which is the tri-service nuclear, biological and chemical training establishment, is expected to be approximately #4 million.
The Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Regiment is specifically trained to provide the UK's armed forces capability in biological weapon detection, chemical and nuclear survey and reconnaissance and personnel decontamination in a deployed military NBC environment. The cost of operating the regiment for financial year 2002–03 is planned to be approximately #24.5 million.
The level of NBC related funding and training is kept under constant review as part of the normal management process.
Operation Southern Watch
Mr. Keetch : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft have been assigned to Operation
16 Dec 2002 : Column 517W
Southern Watch; how many were fully serviceable in (a) May 2002, (b) August 2002 and (c) November 2002; and if he will make a statement. [85373]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 9 December 2002]: The number of airframes assigned to Operation Resinate—the United Kingdom contribution to Operation Southern Watch—depends on the operational task, which may change. In each of May, August and November 2002 the number varied between 15 and 17.
Serviceability varies daily, and is collated at weekly reporting points. The figures below are indicative, based on the closest flying day to the first reporting point of each month.
- On 2 May 2002 three airframes were unserviceable.
On 2 August 2002 two airframes were unserviceable.
On 7 November 2002 no airframes were unserviceable.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what major (a) variations and (b) delays there have been to the private finance initiative contract for the (i) Tidworth Water and Sewerage, (ii) RAF White Fleet, (iii) MHE Vehicles and (iv) Hazardous Stores Information System (HSIS); what the cost has been of the changes; whether the partners in the PFI were required to meet these costs; and if he will make a statement. [87132]
Mr. Ingram: As this information is not held centrally, I will write to the hon. Member once it has been collated and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what major variations and delays there have been to the Private Finance Initiative contract for (a) the Commercial Satellite Communication Service, (b) Tornado 6R4 Simulator, (c) Hank Simulator, (d) DAFS Helicopter Flying School, (e) Germany White Fleet and (f) Marine Support to Range and Aircrew Services since they were signed; what the cost has been of such changes and delays; which partners in the PFIs were required to meet these costs; and if he will make a statement. [86934]
Mr. Ingram: As this information is not held centrally, I will write to the hon. Member once it has been collated, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
RAF Bases
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total station operating budget was for each RAF base in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [86384]
Mr. Ingram: The table shows the RAF operating budgets for each of the United Kingdom RAF stations for Financial Year 2002–2003. It does not include
16 Dec 2002 : Column 518W
former RAF stations that have retained their name but which have been transferred to the ownership of another part of the Ministry of Defence.
| Station Name | Operating Costs (# million) |
|---|---|
| RAF Bentley Priory | 5.6 |
| RAF Boscombe Down (Support Unit) | 6.2 |
| RAF Boulmer | 22.9 |
| RAF Brampton/Wyton/Henlow | 39.5 |
| RAF Buchan | 19.4 |
| RAF Brize Norton | 141.6 |
| RAF Coltishall | 66.0 |
| RAF Coningsby | 66.8 |
| RAF Cosford | 64.2 |
| RAF Cottesmore | 59.9 |
| RAFC Cranwell | 141.7 |
| RAF Digby | 5.7 |
| RAF Fylingdales | 14.9 |
| RAF Halton | 41.0 |
| RAF High Wycombe | 18.0 |
| RAF Honington | 71.0 |
| RAF Innsworth | 12.4 |
| RAF Kinloss | 109.4 |
| RAF Leeming | 67.7 |
| RAF Leuchars | 64.6 |
| RAF Linton-on-Ouse | 22.7 |
| RAF Lossiemouth | 100.6 |
| RAF Lyneham | 128.4 |
| RAF Marsham | 98.5 |
| FSCTE Manston | 5.1 |
| RAF Neatishead | 17.1 |
| RAF Northolt | 21.8 |
| RAF Sealand | 6.6 |
| RAF Shawbury | 63.8 |
| RAF Spadeadam | 7.8 |
| RAF Stafford | 33.1 |
| RAF St. Mawgan | 49.1 |
| RAF St. Athan | 3.6 |
| RAF Uxbridge | 12.0 |
| RAF Valley | 40.5 |
| RAF Waddington | 75.2 |
| RAF Waddington | 75.2 |
| RAF Wittering | 52.4 |
| AWRTain, Pembrey Sands, Holbeach, Donn a Nook, Wainfleet | 3.0 |
Note:
The figures given in the table include the budget for any minor unit for which the station is responsible.
Salaries
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the defence budget salaries represent what the total sum was for (a) uniformed services and (b) MOD civilian employees; and the percentage paid out in (i) Scotland and (ii) overseas. [86010]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 10 December 2002]: Information on the defence budget, salaries as a proportion thereof and the breakdown of salary costs between military and civilian personnel for financial year 2001–02 is provided in the Ministry of Defence Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts for that year.
16 Dec 2002 : Column 519W
Information on the defence budget and salaries as a proportion thereof for the current financial year is provided in XThe Government's Expenditure Plans 2002–03 to 2003–04—Ministry of Defence". The breakdown between military and civilian personnel is estimated to be broadly similar to that in 2001–02.
Copies of the above documents are available in the Library of the House.
The percentage of salaries for service and civilian personnel paid in Scotland and overseas is in the table:
| Service personnel | Civilian personnel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 7.0 | 8.4 |
| Overseas | 19.6 | 3.1 |
Sea Harrier
Mr. Gerald Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the purpose was of the exercise held in Poland earlier this year involving FA2 Sea Harriers from 801 Naval Air Squadron; how the FA2 performed against MiG29 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [86443]
Mr. Ingram: The purpose of exercise Lone Kestrel was to promote understanding between two nations with emerging military links as part of the NATO exchange programme. This programme seeks to enhance interoperability between NATO units in order to enhance the combat effectiveness of the Alliance.
The Sea Harrier FA2 flew a variety of missions with Polish aircraft. Its performance was commensurate with the high standards of operations expected from the United Kingdom Forces and 801 Squadron gained valuable training from the exercise.
I cannot go into specific details on how the Sea Harrier FA2 performed against the MiG 29 aircraft during Exercise Lone Kestrel and am withholding this information under Exemptions 1a and 1b of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information which relates to defence.
Sergeant Major Andrew Gavaghan
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the (a) service career and (b) postings of Sergeant Major Andrew Gavaghan who served at Deepcut Barracks in 1995–96. [86079]
Dr. Moonie: The information requested is personal data protected by the Data Protection Act 1998, and cannot be released without the individual's consent. The information is also withheld in accordance with Exemption 12, privacy of an individual, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |