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20 May 2003 : Column 673W—continued
Medical Staff (Gulf Deployment)
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many junior doctors in the reserve forces have been mobilised to provide medical support to operations in the Gulf and Iraq; of these, how many are in band three posts in the NHS and receiving compensation for the loss of income, including NHS band three payments; and if he will make a statement. [109323]
Dr. Moonie: As at 14 April 2003,12 reservist junior doctors had been mobilised in support of military action against Iraq. Of these, 11 are receiving financial assistance for loss of civilian earnings in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1996, and one is known to be employed in a NHS band three post.
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Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior NHS consultants have been deployed to serve with TA medical services in field hospitals in the Gulf. [113897]
Dr. Moonie: As at 15 May 2003, the number of NHS consultants deployed to the Gulf to serve with the TA medical services in field hospitals stands at 43.
Military Trucks
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military truck contract; for what reason the announcement on the military truck contract has been delayed; and whether (a) the present bidders will remain the same and (b) new companies will be invited to tender. [114159]
Mr. Ingram: All existing bidders for the Support Vehicle contract have been invited to address shortfalls in their current bids. New bidders will not be invited to participate in the competition.
Northern Ireland
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the reports of Sir John Stevens. [112276]
Mr. Ingram : Sir John Stevens submitted his interim report to the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the 17 April 2003. All enquiries should therefore be directed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Nuclear Sites
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for nuclear sites run by his Department, other than those operated by contractors, to be regulated under the (a) Nuclear Installations Act 1965 and (b) Radioactive Substances Act 1993; and if he will set out international (i) safety and (ii) environmental conventions that apply to defence nuclear sites. [114076]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Nuclear Submarines
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the disposal of the Royal Navy's redundant nuclear submarines; and whether he plans to move these submarines from their present location. [112023]
Mr. Ingram: Industry are in the process of submitting outline proposals for undertaking the work to store intermediate level waste from our decommissioned nuclear powered submarines. An exercise will then determine the most effective procurement strategy, and detailed evaluation, which will inform a further period of public consultation, will lead to the selection of potential bidders who will be invited to undertake more detailed negotiations. This is expected to take around three years to complete and after further public consultation will result in the selection of a preferred bidder, solution and site. Currently we have no plans to move our decommissioned nuclear powered submarines from their present locations.
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Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce a PFI scheme for the management of defence nuclear waste from nuclear submarine decommissioning. [114073]
Mr. Ingram: We are undertaking a project to determine the interim land storage arrangements for Intermediate Level Waste from decommissioned nuclear powered submarines, and industry are in the process of submitting outline proposals for undertaking the work. Private Finance Initiative, partnering and prime contracting are the procurement options currently being considered, with PFI being the preferred option in accordance with Treasury Guidelines. PFI will only be pursued, however, if it can be demonstrated that it offers the most effective procurement strategy.
Phoenix
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK defence industry retains the capability to remanufacture Phoenix Air Vehicles. [113956]
Mr. Ingram: The United Kingdom's defence industry retains the capability to resume manufacture of Phoenix Air Vehicles, although there are, at present, no plans to request it to do so.
Sponsorship
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of his Department's projects have received sponsorship in the last financial year; who the sponsor was in each case; what the nature of each project was; what time period was covered by each project; what the total cost of each project was; how much money was involved in each sponsorship deal; and if he will make a statement. [112402]
Mr. Ingram: Details of individual amounts of sponsorship valued at more than £5,000 are published in a supplementary document to the Department's Annual Perform Copies are available in the libraries of the House. The 2003 Report will be published in the autumn.
Systems amd Equipment Exhibition
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the countries from which buyers (a) have been and (b) will be invited to the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition; [114541]
- (2) on which days the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition will be open to (a) overseas customers, (b) the press and (c) the public; [114542]
(3) what the estimated cost is of the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition to the UK Government; [114543]
(4) how many visitors are expected at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition. [114544]
Mr. Ingram: The exhibition is an international trade event organised by a commercial company. It will be open by invitation to overseas visitors and accredited members of the media from 9 to 12 September 2003 inclusive. The event will not be open to the public.
The organisers hope to attract some 25,000 visitors.
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The full list of countries from which Official Defence Delegations will be invited to attend is not yet complete. I will write to my hon. Friend when final details are available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
The direct cost to the Ministry of Defence identified centrally is estimated at some £400,000. In addition, representatives of Her Majesty's Government may carry out activities associated with the exhibition, as part of their normal duties, which could be identified only at disproportionate cost.
Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Urgent Operational Requirements for tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. [113957]
Mr. Ingram: There are currently no plans to acquire tactical UAVs through the Urgent Operational Requirements' (UOR) process. In line with normal practice, operational requirements are kept under review and the UOR procedure will be used if such a need is identified to enhance our surveillance and reconnaissance capability.
Trafalgar Day
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial support his Department is proposing for the Sea Cadets to assist in Trafalgar Day celebrations; and if he will make a statement. [114958]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence provides annual funding of nearly £8 million to the Sea Cadet Association under a Memorandum of Understanding and lends other forms of practical support. The SCA will be drawing on this to fund Sea Cadets' participation in the Trafalgar Day celebrations.
Typhoon
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on measures taken to ensure that the Typhoon can be used on the future large aircraft carrier. [114511]
Mr. Ingram: We have no plans, nor any requirement, for Typhoon to operate from our future aircraft carriers.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Bylaws
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 27 April 2003, Official Report, column 332W, on bylaws, if he will make a statement on the content of applications received by the Department of Environment from Ards borough council requesting permission to invoke new bylaws in the past 10 years; when they were received by the Department of Environment; what action has been taken towards granting permission on each separate application; how many of these applications are within the power of the Department to confirm; and when local government authorities are notified that an application has not been successful. [113458]
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Angela Smith: In total four applications are currently with the Department of Environment for confirmation of bylaws. Each application contains a large number of provisions, which fall within one of the eight model sets of Home Office bylaws. The main provisions proposed under each set of bylaws are as follows:
- 1. Under "Pleasure Grounds, Public Walks and Open Spaces" bylaws for the regulation and management of playgrounds; the control of certain sports; the protection of flora and fauna; the erection and removal of structures and restrictions on vehicles.
2. Under "Seashores, Esplanades and Promenades" bylaws for the control of public meetings; restrictions on the use of noisy instruments; the control of animals; restrictions on vehicles; entry to public conveniences and interference with life-saving equipment.
3. Under "Good Rule and Government" bylaws for restrictions on noisy music and the use of noisy instruments; the control of reckless/wilful behaviour; the control of games near streets and nuisance from roller skating in public places.
4. Under "Good Rule and Government" bylaws relating to the control of district council car parks.
All four applications are within the power of the Department to confirm and in one case joint confirmation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is required. The Department of Environment has not notified any district council during the period that its application has not been successful.
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