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21 Jan 2003 : Column 209W—continued
RAF (Contractors)
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place for evaluating the financial stability of contractors working on behalf of the RAF. [88641]
Mr. Ingram: Works requirements are advertised in the Ministry of Defence Contracts Bulletin, and where appropriate, the Official Journal of the European Community. The adverts request that companies wishing to express an interest in tendering submit
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specific details to demonstrate their financial standing. This will normally be confirmation of the firms registration on Construction Line (a database jointly maintained by Department of Trade & Industry and Capita on behalf of all Government Departmens), details of a companies registration with an official list maintained by another Member State, or a statement of the firms overall turnover and turnover on construction works over the last three years.
Tender lists are thus drawn up using contractors of proven and established financial health, workload and performance.
The financial standing of contractors is regularly monitored and vetting is carried out where appropriate.
As a result of signs that the company might be in trouble the financial standing of Inframan Ltd was under review just prior to the company going into administration on 12 December 2002
RAF Leuchars
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Inframan Ltd. and its continuing role at RAF Leuchars. [88598]
Mr. Ingram: Inframan Ltd. was placed into Administration on 12 December 2002. Grant Thornton were appointed as administrators of Inframan by the High Court of Justice.
With effect from 19 December 2002 Grant Thornton concluded a transaction with Steill Ltd., a subsidiary of Alfred McAlpine plc, for acquisition of the assets of Inframan Ltd.
It is intended that the existing contracts between Inframan Ltd. and the Ministry of Defence will shortly be transferred to the new owners.
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much is owed to sub-contractors in respect of work completed at RAF Leuchars. [88599]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not hold the information requested.
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the main contractor at RAF Leuchars changed in 2002. [88600]
Mr. Ingram: Hyder Infrastructure Management Ltd. were appointed the main contractor at RAF Leuchars in April 2001 following a competitive tender process to support Commander Royal Engineers (Airfield Section) re-role. Hyder Infrastructure Management Ltd. changed their trading name briefly to Inframan Ltd. by Special Resolution as provided by Section 28(1) of the Companies Act 1985. As a consequence the contract was amended to reflect the contractor's new name and the change referred to was in name only.
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place for (a) reimbursing sub-contractors who are due monies from Inframan Ltd. and (b) allowing them to reclaim assets from RAF Leuchars for which they have not been paid. [88639]
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Mr. Ingram: Sub-contractors who are owed money by Inframan Ltd. should present their claim to the administrators, Grant Thornton, who were appointed administrators of Inframan Ltd. on 12 December 2002.
Sub-contractors who wish to make a reservation of title claim in respect of stock supplied to Inframan Ltd. should equally present their claim to Grant Thornton.
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sums have been paid to Inframan Ltd. in each month since their appointment as contractor to RAF Leuchars. [88640]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is withheld in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information as it is Commercial in Confidence.
SA80 Rifle
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the SA80; and if he will make a statement. [91413]
Mr. Ingram: The SA80 modification programme has significantly improved the reliability and performance of the weapon. Extensive trials were carried out across all climatic conditions before the modified weapon was introduced. More recent trials and demonstrations in Afghanistan and Oman have established beyond doubt that the weapon is reliable and accurate, and can be maintained in an operational environment.
Tomahawk
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which SSNs have been given Tomahawk capability; which further SSNs will be refitted with Tomahawk capability; and when these refits will take place. [91031]
Mr. Ingram: The following RN SSNs have been made Tomahawk capable:
- HMS Splendid;
HMS Triumph;
HMS Trafalgar; and
HMS Turbulent.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Bio-waste
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's position on forthcoming EU negotiations on a bio-waste directive. [89620]
Margaret Beckett: I cannot at this stage be precise as we have yet to see a Commission proposal for a bio-waste directive. A proposal is expected to come forward later this year. In general terms, we will seek to protect UK interests, while negotiating constructively for a positive outcome. We recognise that a well thought out
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and relevant bio-waste directive could play an important role in achieving our aim of a sustainable waste management system.
Chewing Gum
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will meet the manufacturers of chewing gum to discuss the impact of their product on the environment; and if she will explore the potential for biodegradable chewing gum. [91348]
Alun Michael: At the suggestion of my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy), I met the Wrigley's company on 8 January to discuss the effect chewing gum has on the environment. The meeting was positive and we agreed to hold further discussions to explore measures that would help to minimise the irresponsible disposal of chewing gum.
Cod Fisheries
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what evidential basis her Department stated that fisheries in cod related fisheries will be able to fish for 15 days per month, with reference to the terms of Annex "VII to regulation 2341/2002. [91772]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 20 January 2003]: Annex "VII to the Regulation provides in paragraph 6a for nine days at sea per month for fishing vessels carrying demersal trawls, seines or similar towed gear of mesh size equal to or greater than 100mm except beam trawls. Paragraphs 6b and 6c provide for the Commission to allocate additional days to Member States in certain circumstances. During the Council the Commission confirmed to me that on the basis of these paragraphs the UK will be allocated a further six days per month for vessels carrying the above gear types, bringing the total to 15.
Contracts
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which companies her Department and its predecessors have had contracts with since 1 May 1997; what the period of those contracts was; and what areas of work they (a) are and (b) have been involved in. [91216]
Alun Michael: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in (a) the Department and (b) each of the agencies it sponsors; and what the equivalent figures were for 1997. [90675]
Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 16 January 2003, Official Report column 697W.
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Drainage Boards
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what legal rights drainage boards have to carry out their duties. [91180]
Mr. Morley: Internal drainage boards have powers to exercise a general supervision of all matters relating to the drainage of their districts. These are set out in the Land Drainage Act 1991.
Farm Subsidies
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her most recent estimate is of the cost to the average British family of all subsidies paid to the farming industry and to rural areas in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [90256]
Mr. Morley: Transfers to producers under agricultural policies take place through taxpayer expenditure and through higher prices to consumers. We estimate that the total average weekly cost, to a notional family of four, of all transfers under the CAP and UK national agricultural policies was between £11-£12 in 1999 and £9-£10 in 2000 (the latest year for which estimates are available).
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