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7 Jan 2003 : Column 44W—continued
Civil Contingencies Reaction Force
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces to be ready for deployment. [88388]
Mr. Ingram: Recruiting is now under way for the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces, whose establishment was announced on 31 October 2002. Our aim is that all 14 CCRFs should be available for deployment by the end of 2003, once they are fully recruited and have undergone an annual training cycle.
Civil Servants and Spending
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants are employed by his Department; and how much money was spent by his Department in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area. [87180]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 608W by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.
Information on financial performance in 2001–02 was published in the Ministryof Defence Consolidated Resource Accounts on 21 November 2002 (HC 47). Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. A breakdown of resource consumption by local authority area is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Convicted Servicemen
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 20W, how many persons have been permitted to remain or return to service in HM armed forces following conviction for (a) murder, (b) rape or serious sexual assault, (c) serious crimes of violence and (d) drugs-related crime; in each case what rank the offender held at the time of conviction; and how many years elapsed before each subsequent promotion. [88419]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Devonport Dockyard
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the nuclear refit complex at Devonport has received its certification for the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate. [86710]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 499W. With such large and complex nuclear facilities, there is no requirement for an overall approval. However, safety is paramount and no individual facility will be used without the appropriate regulatory approval.
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Since January 2002, approval has been given for the use of 9 Dock for the refit of HMS Vanguard; 14 Dock for the de-fuel of HMS Valiant; the Low Level Refuelling Facility for the storage of new nuclear fuel; and the rail link for the movement of nuclear fuel within the licensed site.
Dockyard Development (Portsmouth)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has claimed back from the developers at the (a) HMS Vernon and (b) Gunwharf sites in Portsmouth since its original sale because of the change in the level of development on the site since its sale was first agreed; when the money was paid, and if he will make a statement. [87795]
Dr. Moonie: To date the Ministry of Defence has received one payment in August 2002, rising from the clawback provisions in the disposal agreement for the Gunwharf Site (which incorporates the former HMS Vernon) and a further payment is under active discussion between the parties.
I am withholding the specific amounts in accordance with Exemption 13 (Third Party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Financial Dynamics
Jim Dobbin : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department directed UBS Warburg to hire Financial Dynamics; whether (a) he and (b) officials from his Department met employees of Financial Dynamics in the past two weeks; whether his Department is paying fees to UBS Warburg; and what discussions Sir Robert Walmsley has had during the past two months with senior officials from General Dynamics. [88354]
Mr. Hoon: The Government retained the services of UBS Warburg in early December to provide specialist financial advice. Financial Dynamics was retained for a short period as part of this arrangement. Ministry of Defence officials attended two meetings with officials of other Government Departments in December at which Financial Dynamics representatives were present.
Sir Robert Walmsley's only meetings with senior officials from General Dynamics in the past two months took place on 6 and 7 November during the ceremonies to mark the opening of the company's new facility at Oakdale and the related Bowman radio programme review.
Fire Brigades Strike
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) the general readiness of the armed forces for military operations and (b) the seagoing readiness of individual warships of the Royal Navy resulting from the diversion of armed services personnel to train for and provide cover for services withdrawn by the fire brigades. [87860]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 17 December 2002]: The provision of emergency fire cover has been carefully balanced with other demands on the services allowing
7 Jan 2003 : Column 46W
the maintenance of maximum flexibility for contingency tasking and operational deployments, as well as protection of public safety during firefighter's strikes.
Nevertheless, as I stated in the House on 4 November 2002, Official Report, column 16:
- Xthere must be knock on effect for the training regime, and the longer the strike runs the greater the effect will be. We must constantly review the situation; over time it will create problems for effective delivery and for other missions in which we may be called on to participate".
While we will be able to maintain a balance between key operational deployments and emergency cover, the longer service personnel are required to provide emergency firefighting cover the greater the penalty to other activities is likely to be.
Future Aircraft Carrier
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of a hybrid solution allowing both vertical and conventional landing aircraft to operate simultaneously in deciding on a platform for the future aircraft carrier. [87688]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 17 December 2002]: Such a solution was considered before we announced our decision, on 30 September last year, to proceed with the Adaptable carrier design. There are concerns about the viability and safety of a design configured to operate STOVL and CV aircraft simultaneously. Indications are that such a design would not be able to meet our sortie generation and simultaneous launch and recovery requirements without a significant increase in ship size. This would impact on construction and through life operations, as well as affordability.
Fylingdales and Menwith Hill
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent increases in security there have been at (a) Fylingdales and (b) Menwith Hill in Yorkshire. [88400]
Mr. Hoon: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Security at RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fylingdales is kept under review, and action to improve security is taken as appropriate.
Iraq
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to use the advanced short-range air-to-air missile as part of the UK's commitment to monitor the no-fly zones over Iraq. [87979]
Mr. Hoon: The Government are committed to providing our armed forces with the best possible equipment. The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) is carried by RAF Tornado F3 Air
7 Jan 2003 : Column 47W
Defence aircraft that form part of the United Kingdom's contribution to the international coalition monitoring the No-Fly Zones.
Landing Craft Utility Mk10
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract with BAE Systems for the 10 Landing Craft Utility Mk10 will be completed; what the outturn cost of this contract against the tender price is; and if he will make a statement. [87797]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Laser Target Locator Systems
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to procure laser target locator systems. [87930]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence is currently in the process of procuring Target Locating Equipment to allow Royal Artillery Forward Observers to be equipped with the same type of laser rangefinder as the Infantry's Mortar Fire Controllers. Target Location Equipment is also being procured as part of enhancements to the Warrior Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle and CVR(T) reconnaissance vehicle fleets.
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