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25 Feb 2003 : Column 433Wcontinued
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department had for the Daedalus site at Lee-on-the-Solent in (a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000 and (d) January 2003; and when the plans changed in each case. [99012]
Dr. Moonie: In 1990 HMS Daedalus, an operational Fleet Air Station, had been identified for closure as part of the Royal Navy's rationalisation of its fixed wing flying capability.
In 1995 the site was in the process of rundown prior to closure, and early disposal planning work had commenced, involving complex legal and planning issues. A development strategy was agreed with the two local planning authorities
By 2000 the marketing of the site had commenced, but additional planning and other issues delayed marketing. Against that background, and following the publication of "In Trust and On Trust: A Strategy for the Defence Estate" in June2000, a review of all Ministry of Defence establishments commenced. In July 2001, it was confirmed that the site had potential for future MOD re-use and investment. Part of the site has since been included within a private finance iInitiative to provide MOD service family married quarters. In January 2003 it was recognised that some peripheral parts of the site might be capable of disposal without detriment to potential re-use of the remaining core site by MOD. The master planning and marketing strategies to implement this were under consideration prior to the approach by the Home Office on 11 February. Tuesday 25 February 2003.
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to construct housing for MOD personnel at the Daedalus site. [99013]
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Dr. Moonie: The Defence Housing Executive, an Agency of the Ministry of Defence, is inviting PFI bidders to tender for the build of 148 houses in the Gosport area, to meet the needs of Service families. Part of the Daedalus site, sufficient to build these houses, will be offered to bidders. Planning permission has however been sought for up to 300 houses in case a further development for Service family occupation is needed at a later date.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Type 42 destroyers and (b) Type 23 frigates are to be considered for removal from the fleet. [98233]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answers my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence gave on 30 April 2002, Official Report, column 745W to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) and on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 458W to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth).
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been an acceleration since the completion of the Strategic Defence Review in the rate at which Type 42 destroyers are expected to be paid off. [98243]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 457W, to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth). The Strategic Defence Review envisaged the progressive replacement of the capability provided by the Type 42 destroyer with a new vessel. The Type 45 destroyer is planned to come into service from 2007. On this basis, there has been no advancement of the Type 42 destroyers' expected pay off dates since the completion of the SDR.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) mail, (b) E-blueys, (c) private telephone calls up to 20 minutes per week, (d) E-mail, (e) newspapers, (f) library services, (g) BFBS, (h) combined services entertainment, (i) Expeditionary Forces Institute, (j) operational fitness equipment, (k) rest and recuperation and (l) free laundry are available to all members of all forces deployed to the Gulf; and if he will make a statement. [95907]
Mr. Ingram (holding answer Monday 17 February 2003: All elements of the Operational Welfare Package (OWP) listed are provided to all United Kingdom military personnel already deployed to the Gulf in support of Operations Resinate and Oracle. We are building up the OWP as quickly as possible for UK military personnel deploying overseas in preparation for possible operations against Iraq.
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the MOD has to develop the use of HMS Sultan. [98625]
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Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 12WS. HMS Sultan was identified by the Defence Training Review as a potential location for the proposed Electro-Mechanical Engineering Defence Training Establishment. A final decision on the future utilisation of HMS Sultan will be made in the light of the options currently being studied in conjunction with industry.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Imams are attached to the three services. [98847]
Dr. Moonie: There are currently no Imams attached to the Naval Service, Army or RAF. This is due to the relatively small number of Muslims serving in the armed forces. However, the armed forces have a representative-Religious Adviser from each of the major world religions, including Islam, and are working with the Religious Advisers and the nationally recognised Inter Faith Network to establish a network of local religious contacts for service personnel from those faiths.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans he has to limit the damage to Iraq's power supply in the event of war. [97482]
Mr. Hoon: Any military action would be in conformity with international law, including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. In all our military planning, very careful attention is applied to minimising the risk of damage to civilian infrastructure. I am withholding further information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the feasibility of establishing safe havens in Iraq in the event of war. [97485]
Mr. Hoon: In the event of any military operation, we would take very seriously our obligations to the civilian population of Iraq and our contingency planning takes this into account.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans have been made for (a) civilian casualties and (b) humanitarian operations in the event of military action in Iraq; what role British forces will play in such operations; whether he has issued formal guidance on (a) and (b); and if he will make a statement. [97772]
Dr. Moonie: Unlike Saddam Hussein, the United Kingdom takes very seriously its current and potential responsibilities towards the Iraqi people. In the event of conflict, United Kingdom forces will take the utmost care to minimise the risk to the civilian population through the careful choice of targets and the selection of weapons appropriate to those targets.
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Although it is to be hoped that Iraq may yet choose to comply fully with UNSCR 1441, detailed contingency planning is underway to take into account the humanitarian consequences of any potential conflict. Formal guidance will be issued in the unfortunate circumstance that it becomes necessary to do so.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) the US Administration and (b) others concerning the protection and preservation of Iraq's ancient cities and monuments in the event of military conflict in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement. [97871]
Mr. Hoon: Any military action would be in conformity with international law, including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. In all our military planning, very careful attention is applied to minimising the risk of damage to all civilian sites. I am withholding further information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) remit, (b) timetable, and (c) proposed expenditure for the Joint UAV Experimentation Project is. [99072]
Mr. Ingram: The Joint UAV Experimentation Programme (JUEP) will explore the potential of UAVs to significantly enhance future military capability. A variety of activities will be undertaken, ranging from computer modelling and simulation to hands on experience of complete UAV systems operating as part of multi-national exercises. It is intended to establish an initial JUEP capability in 2003. Costs are yet to be established, but total expenditure is likely to be in the region of £65 million over a three-year period.
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