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Incremental Acquisition

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of the practice of incremental acquisition for (a) the cost of ownership of warships and other major vessels, with particular reference to the depreciation or write-off rate applied to equipment replaced by enhanced items, (b) adjustments to the base cost for the purpose of calculating annual carrying charges and (c) the calculation of depreciation bases generally. [98240]

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Mr. Ingram : I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

International Military Services

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what claims for payment against the Government of Iraq in respect of contracts with International Military Services are outstanding. [99075]

Mr. Ingram: There are no claims for payment outstanding against the Government of Iraq in respect of contracts with International Military Services.

Land Mines (Gulf)

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the (a) possession and (b) possible use of landmines by Allied forces in the Gulf. [93939]

Mr. Ingram: The United Kingdom as a State Party to the Ottawa Convention does not possess operational anti-personnel landmines and will not use them. Allies' intentions are a matter for them. United Kingdom Forces will not provide any assistance for the use of anti-personnel landmines.

Land-Attack Cruise Missiles

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the value of equipping future Type 45 destroyers with land-attack cruise missiles. [98236]

Mr. Ingram: As was made clear in the SDR New Chapter in July 2002, in post-Cold War conventional military operations there has been an increased emphasis on the need for precision in the use of force, to minimise unintended casualties and accidental damage.

The ability to conduct covert stand-off reconnaissance and surveillance, the accurate pin-pointing of targets, the updating and communication of targeting information in near real time and the ability to strike hard with a high degree of precision, will all be important. Land attack cruise missiles can play a key role in such a scenario. This capability is presently provided by submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles.

The principal role of the Type 45 Destroyers will be Anti-Air Warfare. However, they are being designed and built with significant space and weight margins to enable incremental acquisition, should an emerging requirement necessitate a different equipment fit. Our requirements are being kept under review and, under such circumstances, the design could be modified to incorporate improved land attack capabilities, including a land attack cruise missile system.

Landmines Act

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review Section 5 of the Landmines Act 1998. [98818]

Mr. Ingram: None.

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Military Secondments

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom military personnel, broken down by rank and service, are currently (a) seconded to, (b) attached to, (c) under the operational command of and (d) on personnel exchanges with units or ships of the United States armed forces that (i) are deployed in South West Asia, the Gulf region or the Middle East, (ii) are on route to that region and (iii) have been ordered or alerted to deploy to that region. [98718]

Mr. Ingram: As at 14 February 2003, 31 United Kingdom military personnel serving as British Exchange Officers with United States units were either deployed or warned to deploy to South West Asia, the Gulf Region and the Middle East.

I am withholding information on the service and rank of these individuals under Exemption 1 (defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for United Kingdom military personnel who are (a) seconded to, (b) attached to, (c) under the operational command of and (d) on personnel exchanges to armed forces in countries which become party to an armed conflict that the United Kingdom is not a party to. [98719]

Mr. Ingram: Decisions on the arrangements for such United Kingdom military personnel would be made in the light of the circumstances pertaining at the time.

MRAV Programme

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on delays to the MRAV programme; and for what reasons he plans to procure fewer vehicles than was originally envisaged. [97189]

Mr. Ingram: The tri-national MRAV programme remains within its original time and cost approvals. However, there have been delays to the delivery of the first prototype vehicle and the Integrated Logistics Support programme. All partners are only contractually committed to the end of the development phase of the MRAV programme. No formal decisions on the number of MRAV vehicles to be procured have yet been made. Our plans for all acquisition programmes are continually under review and MRAV is no exception.

Nancekuke

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, columns 513–14, on RAF Portreath, what studies excluding environmental surveys have been undertaken by (a) the Government or (b) agencies on behalf of the Government with respect to (i) past and (ii) current activities at Nancekuke in Cornwall in the last 30 years. [98384]

Dr. Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Libraryof the House.

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Naval Deployment

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportions of (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines (i) personnel and (ii) equipment are scheduled for (A) despatch to the Gulf, (B) other duties and (C) maintenance, repair and refit. [98247]

Mr. Ingram: As at 18 February 2003, some 27 per cent. of Royal Navy surface ships and submarines, 15 per cent. of Royal Navy and 45 per cent. of Royal Marine trained personnel were deployed, or en-route, to the Gulf region. This compares with around 41 per cent. of Royal Navy surface ships and submarines, 14 per cent. of Royal Navy and 6 per cent. of Royal Marine trained personnel deployed on other tasks, including Operation Fresco. Some 32 per cent. of surface ships and submarines are currently in maintenance, repair or refit.

No further major Royal Navy or Royal Marine deployments are currently scheduled for the Gulf.

Naval Refits

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in establishing estimated through-life costs of warships and other RN and RFA vessels; whether the estimates will be published in the Annual Major Projects Report; and when key stages on the route to publication will be reached. [98242]

Mr. Ingram: Whole life cost estimates are being developed for all major Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels as part of the Ministry of Defence's Through Life Management Planning process. The first phase of this work is due to complete in March 2003. A note on progress in developing whole life cost information was contained in Major Projects Report 2002, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. It is planned that Major Projects Report 2003 will include whole life cost data on the 20 projects for which the main investment decision has been taken. This will include the Astute submarine, the Type 45 Destroyer and the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary). The National Audit Office expect to publish their report at the end of the year.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the HMS Glasgow refit will be complete; how much it will cost; whether it is on budget; what the target date is for completion; when the ship will be ready for service; and if he will make a statement. [98848]

Mr. Ingram: HMS Glasgow has not undergone a refit. The ship was in extended readiness and regeneration work has been carried out in preparation for her re-joining the Fleet, to ease the short-term programming gap created by HMS Nottingham's unavailability. This package of work cost approximately £2.5 million, and was completed in December 2002 and within budget. On the return of ship's personnel from Operation Fresco, HMS Glasgow will undergo Sea Trials and training requirements before returning to the Fleet.

This regeneration work will enable HMS Glasgow to be available for operations until HMS Nottingham returns to service in November 2004, after which, on current plans, she will be in Extended Readiness.

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Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the repairs being carried out on the HMS St. Albans; when it will be ready for service; and if he will make a statement. [98849]

Mr. Ingram: The final cost of the incident involving HMS St. Albans, including her repair, is not yet known, but it is estimated to be less than £5 million. The repair work has been completed and the ship commenced harbour training on 11 February 2003. Although the crew from St. Albans have been assisting in Operation FRESCO, the ship is currently able to undertake some basic sea safety training, prior to the start of Operational Sea Training, scheduled for the end of March. This training is planned to complete in the summer and the vessel will then be available for operational tasking.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the (a) HMS Monmouth and (b) HMS Campbeltown refit will be complete; how much it will cost; whether it is on budget; what the target date is for completion; when the ship will be ready for service; and if he will make a statement. [98341]

Mr. Ingram: HMS Monmouth's refit at Rosyth is planned for completion in June 2003 and following associated sea trials she is expected to be ready for operational deployment later that month. The final refit costs will be determined once all work is completed, but are expected to remain within budget and be in the region of £19 million.

HMS Campbeltown's refit at Devonport is planned for completion in March 2003 and following associated sea trials she is expected to be ready for operational deployment in April 2003. Like HMS Monmouth, her final refit costs will be agreed once all work is completed, but are expected to remain within budget and be in the region of £10 million.

Both refits involve necessary equipment refurbishment and enhancements to their operational and support systems.

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