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20 Jan 2003 : Column 67W—continued

Royal Navy

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what vessels are (a) stationed on Atlantic Patrol Ship (South) duties and (b) assigned to Standing Naval Force Mediterranean duties. [91229]

Mr. Ingram: APT(S) is currently gapped because of the commitment to provide emergency fire cover during industrial action by the firefighters' union. Meanwhile the RN contributes to the significant UK presence in the South Atlantic with the Falkland Islands patrol vessel, HMS Leeds Castle, the APT(S) tanker, RFA Grey Rover and the ice patrol ship, HMS Endurance deployed to the region.

The RN ship allocated to Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (SNFM) is HMS Northumberland having relieved HMS Edinburgh on 19 December 2002. HMS Northumberland was due to join SNFM on 15 January 2003 but will now join the group on 28 January 2003 following an extended period of operational sea training and maintenance.

Naval Task Group 2003

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which foreign navies will be participating in Naval Task Group 2003; and which foreign warships will be involved. [91519]

Mr. Ingram: The French Navy and Italian Navy will participate during part of the Naval TaskGroup 2003 (NTG 03) deployment and have allocated the French Destroyer FS Primauguet and the Italian Frigate ITS Granatiere respectively. Their participation is at the personal invitation of Commander in Chief Fleet and the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff to their respective counterparts. Their integration is considered routine

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business and follows a similar attachment by the French Frigate FS Aconit throughout the Naval Task Group 2000 deployment.

For completeness, but whilst not strictly part of the NTG 03 deployment, a French Minehunter, FS Cassiopee, will also integrate with the MCM Group deploying to the Gulf region on 20 January 2003.

NBC Suits

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether defects have been found in Mk IV NBC suits supplied to the Armed Forces; and what inspections are routinely made. [91042]

Mr. Ingram: No defect reports have been received regarding the Mk IV NBC suits supplied to the Armed Forces. There is no requirement to carry out routine inspections of the Mk IV NBC Suits, as they are vacuum-packed by the manufacturer for long-term storage. Units are responsible for ensuring the integrity of the packaging before they are issued.

Oilfields and Fishing Grounds

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Naval units are deployed in the protection of (a) UK oilfields and (b) UK fishing grounds. [91231]

Mr. Ingram: The Royal Navy does not allocate units specifically for the protection of British oilfields. However, RN ships, including those on fishery protection duties, conduct many routine operations and exercises around the United Kingdom throughout the year and any of these ships could be diverted if required to meet a specific requirement. In addition, the fleet ready escort, a frigate or destroyer continuously available at a high state of readiness, is at short notice to respond to any incident in UK waters.

The RN currently has seven ships allocated to the fishery protection squadron. These ships are deployed in accordance with Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs requirements and conduct fishery patrols throughout British fishery limits, excluding Scottish waters which are covered by the Scottish Fishery Protection Agency. HMS Lindisfarne, Guernsey and Atherstone are currently on patrol.

Operation Fresco

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what elements of the armed forces have been withdrawn from Operation Fresco for other duties; what units will replace them in each case; what areas of the country each will cover in the event of a firefighters' strike; and how long each unit has been training for fire fighting duties. [91029]

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Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 January 2003]: The following units and sub units from 16 Air Assault Brigade are to be withdrawn from Operation Fresco once replacements have been trained:


An equal number of replacements will be drawn from:


Replacement forces began a rolling programme of training on 15 January. They will receive the same training package as those personnel being withdrawn from Operation Fresco duties. All units will have completed their training by 25 January but only those that have completed their training prior to 21 January will be able to assume Operation Fresco duties for a strike that day. Consequently, elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade will remain committed until the full complement of replacements are available to provide emergency cover. This ensures that there will be no diminution of the level of commitment to provide emergency fire and rescue cover nor a reduction in the quality of that cover.

A direct correlation between the locations of those being withdrawn and the replacements cannot be made. This is because adjustments are being made to the deployment locations of a number of units in addition to those listed above and some of the units will only be deployed on Operation Fresco for a strike on 21 January. There will not, however, be any change in capability at any of the temporary fire stations.

Pay Review Body

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the appointment of the new Chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body; and if he will take a statement. [91044]

Mr. Hoon: The present Chairman, the right hon. Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, does not leave her appointment until spring 2004. The announcement of her successor will be made at the appropriate time.

RAF Uxbridge

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for RAF Uxbridge. [90342]

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Mr. Ingram: As part of the Ministry of Defence Estate London (MODEL) project, it is proposed that the United States Navy (USN) should be offered the opportunity to consolidate its London operations at Uxbridge, in place of the seven sites in the London area it currently occupies. The site would remain the property of Her Majesty's Government. The changes are subject to formal MOD approval procedures, discussions with the USN and the United States approval procedures. Should the USN not participate in the project, the site will be considered for alternative Government use, and if none is found, it is likely that the site will be disposed of.

Part of the Service Family Housing may be retained for use by MOD Service families. The historic RAF Bunker will be retained separately and preserved as a site of historic interest.

Retirement Age

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the compulsory retirement age of 60 for some Ministry of Defence employees; and if he will make a statement. [90219]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 January 2003]: The Ministry of Defence, like other Government Departments, has recently completed a thorough review of its retirement policy for civilian staff in light of the Government's policy. Some two-thirds of the work force already have the option to work up to the age of 65. The review concluded that our current policy was consistent with departmental needs and that any change, including extending this option to those who currently have to retire at age 60, should be made through the implementation of the legislation on age discrimination that the Government are committed to introduce by 2006. We shall also have regard for the outcome of the consultation on greater flexibility for individuals to work beyond the present retirement age which the Government have initiated in the recently published Green Paper on Pensions.

Ricin

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library unrestricted information about ricin from the Laboratory of the Government Chemist. [91431]

Dr. Moonie: This question has been transferred to me for response because it was Ministry of Defence scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down who have been responsible for the identification of ricin in the recent terrorist alert.

The Laboratory of the Government Chemist was privatised in 1996 and no longer has any official status. Therefore, in response to your request for unrestricted

information on ricin to be placed in the Library of the House, I will make arrangements to place such information from Dstl in the Library. Information on ricin is already available from the Department of Health website.

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