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13 Feb 2003 : Column 866W—continued
Missile Defence
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research NATO is carrying out on (a) theatre missile defence and (b) ballistic missile defence of Europe. [96947]
Mr. Hoon: NATO has decided to conduct two feasibility studies related to missile defence. The first was launched in July 2001 and addressed Active Layered Tactical Ballistic Missile Defence. The study is nearing completion.
The second feasibility study is related to protection of Alliance territory, forces and population centres, but is still in the preparatory stage and is unlikely to
commence before the end of 2003.
NATO
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of British membership in NATO was in (a) 1990, (b) 1995 and (c) 2000; and what percentage of the Department's budget was paid to NATO in each those years. [93941]
Mr. Hoon: The United Kingdom's direct contributions to NATO's Security Investment Programme and Military Budget are paid directly from the UK Defence Budget. The Defence Budget also pays a very small amount to the NATO Civil Budget (the main portion is paid by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office).
I am unable to provide the financial details for 1990 as this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information for 1991, 1995 and 2000 is shown in the table.
| Year | UK payment to NATO(£ million) | Defence budget (£ million) | Percentage of Defence budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 199.6 | 23,637 | 0.92 |
| 1995 | 110.8 | 21,439 | 0.52 |
| 2000 | 105.8 | 23,548 | 0.45 |
Night Vision Equipment
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what personal night vision equipment is in service with (a) infantry, (b) Royal Marine units, (c) RAF and (d) Fleet Air Arm aircrew. [96937]
Mr. Ingram: As at 7 February 2003, the personal night vision equipment in service with the Infantry, Royal Marines and RAF is set out in the following table. This is a snapshot in time as the figures change on a daily basis. Information is not held centrally for the Fleet Air Ann aircrew, but I will write to the hon. Member when
I have the information and place a copy in the Library of the House.
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| Description | Infantry | Royal Marines | RAF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal Imager—short range surveillance (LION) | 47 | 15 | 0 |
| Thermal Imager—medium range surveillance (SOPHIE) | 0 | 63 | 1 |
| Thermal Imager. Can be tripod mounted (OTIS) | 57 | 0 | 0 |
| Thermal Imager. Can be tripod mounted (SPYGLASS) | 391 | 49 | 61 |
| Weapon sight thermal imager (TADS) | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Light weight hand held or head mounted ER device and image intensifier (GPNVG) | 1,345 | 13 | 386 |
| Mono goggle IR device. Hand held or head mounted. Image intensifier (MNVG) | 70 | 0 | 0 |
| Head mounted image intensifier (HNVG) | 1 | 5 | 20 |
| Mono goggle IR device hand held or head mounted. (HMNVS) | 286 | 433 | 0 |
| Light weight head mounted image intensifier (LUCIE) | 46 | 12 | 0 |
| Weapon sight. Can be hand held. Image intensifier (CWS) | 10,828 | 679 | 1,137 |
| Weapon sight. CWS with afocal lens (Maxikite) | 153 | 126 | 0 |
| Small Arms Night Sight. Weapon sight. Image intensified (SANS) | 0 | 156 | 0 |
| Sniper Night Sight weapon sight. Image intensifier (SNS) | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Head Mounted Night Optic. Goggle (HMNO) | 0 | 84 | 0 |
Operation Southern Watch
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the RAF's Tornado GR4s are capable of supporting Operation Southern Watch duties; and if he will make a statement. [97194]
Mr. Ingram: All RAF Tornado GR4s within the Actual Operating Fleet are capable of supporting Operation Southern Watch.
13 Feb 2003 : Column 868W
Operation Telic
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF units will be participating in Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement. [97195]
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the RAF (a) units and (b) assets to be deployed to the Gulf region; what the last three operational tours of each was; and what units are earmarked to replace those currently being deployed.
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 11 February 2003]: A list of the RAF units from which assets have currently been assigned to Operation TELIC as in the following table. Approximately 100 fixed-wing and 27 rotary-wing aircraft have been assigned to Operation Telic.
Notes:
1. Where less than three operations are shown the unit has not completed any further operational tours.
2. Helicopter units are identified by station, not Squadron.
13 Feb 2003 : Column 869W
At present it is premature to speculate about the duration of any military deployments or about the rotation or replacement of the forces involved. No United Kingdom forces have been committed to any military action against Iraq and there is still time for Saddam to comply fully with UNSCR 1441 and avoid disarmament by force.
Royal Navy Ships
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether further reductions in Royal Navy (a) warships and (b) submarines are envisaged in consequence of the new chapter of the Strategic Defence Review. [94544]
Mr. Hoon: As I said when announcing its publication, the New Chapter provided a "mandate for accelerating the modernisation and evolution of the armed forces" (18 July 2002,Official Report, column 461). The Defence White Paper, which I intend to publish later this year, will explain our plans to use the additional resources made available in Spending Review 2002 for further investment in the capabilities to enable the Royal Navy to meet the challenges posed by the changed strategic context.
Tank Procurement
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the expenditure by his Department on tank procurement in each year from 1990–91 to 2008–09 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [95778]
Mr. Ingram: Expenditure on tank procurement during the period 1990 to 2002 is shown in the table.
| Direct procurement expenditure | |
|---|---|
| 1990–94 | — |
| 1994–95 | 31 |
| 1995–96 | 73 |
| 1996–97 | 12 |
| 1997–98 | 36 |
| 1998–99 | 352 |
| 1999–2000 | 412 |
| 2000–01 | 282 |
| 2001–02 | 281 |
| 2002 to present | — |
Planned expenditure on tank procurement over the period 2003–09 has yet to be decided. As part of our evaluation of the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES),
we are investigating the possibility of including a direct fire (light tank) variant. FRES is still in its Concept Phase and has yet to go through the first stage of the formal approval process (Initial Gate).
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