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27 Feb 2003 : Column 662W—continued

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

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:

ShipBuild completion dateDate of acceptance into servicePlanned decommission dateCrew complementApproximate stores capacityOwnership
Diligence19811984200653 RFA77 Embarked forceFuel: 1,400 sq mMOD
Grey Rover19701970200754 RFAFuel: 6,000 sq mFresh water: 300 sq mOil: 66,000 litresMOD
Gold Rover1974 1974200754 RFAFuel: 5,500 sq mFresh water: 300 sq mOil 66,000 litresMOD
Black Rover19741974200753 RFAFuel: 6,000 sq mFresh water: 300 sq mOil: 66,000 litresMOD
Brambleleaf19761980200958 RFAFuel: 31,000 sq mFresh water: 1,400 sq mMOD
Bayleaf19821982200958 RFAFuel: 28,700 sq mFresh water: 1,400 sq mLombards Leasing Services
Orangeleaf19751984200858 RFAFuel: 31,000 sq mFresh water 1,400 sq mLloyds Industrial Leasing Ltd.
Oakleaf19811986201536 RFAFuel: 38,700 sq mFresh water: 1,300 sq mJames Fisher Ltd.
Fort Rosalie197819782013106 RFA12 RN28 CivilianAmmunition, food and general Naval stores: 10,100 sq mMOD
Fort Austin197919792014106 RFA12 RN26 CivilianAmmunition, food and general naval stores: 10,100 sq mMOD
Ford Victoria19931994201996 RFA13 RN23 CivilianFuel: 12,000 sq mFresh water: 370 sq mOil: 137,000 litresAmmunition, food and general Naval stores: 6,400 sq mMOD
Fort George19931994201995 RFA13 RN28 CivilianFuel: 12,000 sq mFresh water: 370 sq mOil: 136,000 sq mAmmunition, food and general Naval stores: 5,900 sq mMOD
Argus19811988200882 RFA69 Embarked forceFuel: 3,700 sq mMOD
Sir Bedivere1967Ship LifeExtensionProgramme19981967201159 RFA352 Embarked forceAmmunition and cargo: 660 sq m vehicles: 12 Challenger tanks, 31 large vehicles, 56 Land Rovers or 26 cargo containers on tank deck; 19 large vehicles, 50 Land Rovers or 20 cargo containers on vehicle deckMOD
Sir Geraint19671967200452 RFA250 embarked forceAmmunition and cargo: 600 sq m vehicles: 14 Challenger tanks, 23 large vehicles, 62 Land Rovers or 20 cargo containers on tank deck; 34 large vehicles, 63 Land Rovers or 30 cargo containers on vehicle deckMOD
Sir Percivale19681968200552 RFA301 Embarked forceAmmunition and cargo: 600 sq m vehicles: 14 Challenger tanks, 23 large vehicles, 62 Land Rovers or 20 cargo containers on tank deck; 34 large vehicles, 63 Land Rovers or 30 cargo containers on vehicle deckMOD
Sir Tristram19671967200451 RFA238 embarked forceAmmunition and cargo: 600 sq m vehicles: 12 Challenger tanks, 56 Land Rovers or 26 cargo containers on tank deck; 26 cargo containers on tank deck; 31 large vehicles, 67 Land Rovers or 33 cargo containers on vehicle deckMOD
Sea Crusader19961996200318 RFA2,300 lane metres capacityNouvelles Orientations

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 2000–01: 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).

Ships (Decommissioning)

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.

Navy shipsdecommissioned since1997Final destination
HMS PeacockPhilippines
HMS PloverPhilippines
HMS StarlingPhilippines
HMS BirminghamScrap (Commercial Sale)
HMS BattleaxeBrazil
HMS BoxerNot yet known
HMS BeaverScrap (Commercial Sale)
HMS BraveNot yet known
HMS LondonRomania
HMS BicesterGreece
HMS BerkeleyGreece
HMS OrkneyTrinidad and Tobago
HMS OrwellGuyana
HMS BlackwaterBrazil
HMS SpeyBrazil
HMS ArunBrazil
HMS ItchenBrazil
HMS HeraldCommercial Sale
HMS ShetlandBangladesh
HMS AlderneyBangladesh
HMS IntrepidNot yet known
HMS BulldogCommercial Sale
HMS CromerRenamed Hindostan and redesignated fortraining use
HMS CoventryRomania
HMS BeagleCommercial Sale
HMS FearlessNot yet known
HMS SheffieldNot yet known
HMY BritanniaExhibition, Port of Leith, Edinburgh
RFA OlnaScrap (Commercial Sale)
FRA OlwenScrap (Commercial Sale)
RFA ResourceCommercial Sale

27 Feb 2003 : Column 664W

Sierra Leone

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

27 Feb 2003 : Column 665W

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).

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Combined Heat and Power

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:


The Energy White Paper, published on 24 February, set out the following further range of measures to support CHP.


Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the change in use of CHP by companies covered by climate change agreements; and if she will make a statement. [87880]

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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