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Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the date of original build completion, (b) the date of acceptance into service, (c) the anticipated date of decommissioning, (d) the number of crew, (e) the stores carrying capacity where appropriate and (f) the ownership of (i) RFA Diligence, (ii) RFA Grey Rover, (iii) RFA Gold Rover, (iv) RFA Black Rover, (v) RFA Brambleleaf, (vi) RFA Bayleaf, (vii) RFA Orangeleaf, (viii) RFA Oakleaf, (ix) RFA Fort Rosalie, (x) RFA Fort Austin, (xi) RFA Fort Victoria, (xii) RFA Fort George, (xiii) RFA Argus, (xiv) RFA Sir Bedivere, (xv) RFA Sir Geraint, (xvi) RFA Sir Percivale, (xvii) RFA Sir Tristram, (xviii) RFA Sea Crusader and (xix) RFA Sea Centurion. [99147]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is contained in the following table:
Note:
Sea Centurion was leased from Ocean Arrow and was returned to her owners in 2002.
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Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to (a) replace and (b) add to vessels in the RFA fleet; and if he will make a statement. [99293]
Mr. Ingram: The Royal Navy decommissioned two O-class RFA Fleet tankers during financial year 200001: RFA Olwen (commissioned in 1965) and RFA Olna (commissioned in 1966). Two new Wave-class Auxiliary Oilers (AO) RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler are expected to enter service in early spring this year.
On current plans four of the five Landing Ships Logistics, RFA Sir Geraint, Sir Tristram Sir Percivale and Sir Galahad are expected to be replaced by four larger and more capable Bay Class vessels in 2004 and 2005.1 also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 514W, to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr. Lewis).
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what navy ships have been decommissioned since 1997; and what their final destination was. [97286]
Mr. Ingram: A total of 31 Navy ships have been decommissioned since 1997. This figure includes three Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships.
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Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are stationed in Sierra Leone; what changes in numbers have taken place in the last month; and if he will make a statement on the current military situation in Sierra Leone. [99453]
Mr. Ingram: On 31 July 2002 the security situation in Sierra Leone was judged to be benign enough to end Operation Silkman (the overarching operation for United Kingdom forces in Sierra Leone), leaving a self-sustaining UK-led International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT). The IMATT currently involves some 120 personnel, comprising 108 UK personnel plus a number of internationals. Six additional UK personnel have been assigned to IMATT within the last month.
To display our continued commitment to the settlement process in Sierra Leone on 21 February we deployed a Company Group from 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles plus HQ and supporting elements (eg logistics and medical)in total around 310 people. HMS Iron Duke and RFA Black Rover are also planned to deploy to Sierra Leone waters in the next few weeks as a further demonstration of UK commitment.
The security situation in Sierra Leone is satisfactory. This deployment demonstrates the UK's continued support to the Government of Sierra Leone, and our
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ability to conduct such deployments rapidly and at short notice, notwithstanding our involvement in operations elsewhere in the world.
The UK also provides the Chief Of Staff, six HQ staff officers and 15 Military Observers to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial help is available to producers who wish to (a) supply and (b) use combined heat and power. [98901]
Mr. Morley: The Government's draft Strategy for combined heat and power (CHP) to 2010, consulted on last year and available in the Library to the House, details the range of Government support measures currently in place for CHP. The main measures include:
Eligibility for Enhanced Capital Allowances;
The £50 million, two-year, Community Energy grant programme; and
Reduction in VAT on certain grant-funded domestic micro-CHP installations.
Emphasise the benefits of CHP and community heating whenever planning or sustainable development guidance is introduced or reviewed.
Work with Ofgem to ensure a level playing field under NETA for smaller generators, including CHP.
Set targets for use of CHP in the Government Estate.
Explore incentivising CHP within any expansion of the domestic Energy Efficiency Commitment from 2005.
Support field trials designed to evaluate the benefits of micro-CHP.
Invite the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust to review their current and future programmes to ensure they reinforce delivery of our CHP target.
Work on a framework for pilot projects under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme for which CHP projects may be eligible.
Mr. Meacher [pursuant to his answer, 18 December 2002, Official Report, c. 800W]: My answer was sent in error, referring to HFC as opposed to CHP. The answer below corrects the original.
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There has been no assessment made of the change in use of CHP by companies covered by climate change agreements. The agreements set targets for improvements in energy efficiency, which in some cases take account of the potential for CHP in the facility. In other cases, operators are required to make an assessment of the potential for CHP, which may result in a change to their targets. Operators are free to meet their targets in a range of ways.
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