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3 Jun 2003 : Column 41W—continued
Naval Air Squadrons
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates the whole of 800 NAS and 801 NAS have been deployed at sea in each of the past three years. [115320]
Mr. Ingram: The following table lists dates where all available pilots or aircraft from 800 NAS and 801 NAS have been deployed at sea:
| 800 NAS | 801 NAS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17 April-9 July | |
| 8 September-5 November | 24 January-12 June | |
| 2001 | 22 January-6 February | |
| 5 September-7 September | 29 January-15 February | |
| 6 February-8 March | ||
| 18 June-30 June | ||
| 2002 | 12 February-18 February | |
| 15 April-15 June | ||
| 3 September-18 October | Nil | |
| 2003 | 5 May-13 May | Nil to date |
Ordnance
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure on ordnance was in the UK for 2002–03. [115415]
Mr. Ingram: The total procurement cost of munitions in the United Kingdom for 2002–03 was £411 million.
SA80 Rifle
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what continuing works will be carried out on the SA80 following the end of the conflict in Iraq. [115599]
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Mr. Ingram: The phased introduction of the modified SA80 weapon system—the SA80 A2—will continue until the completion of the programme in 2006. Minor improvements to the weapon and its ancillaries, such as the cleaning kit, are being trialled and will be taken forward as necessary.
Sea Harriers
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to withdraw Sea Harriers earlier than dates previously announced. [115321]
Mr. Ingram: There are no current plans to withdraw the Sea Harrier FA2 aircraft from service earlier than dates previously announced.
Trainer Jets
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Finmeccanica concerning (a) its proposals to supply Aermacchi jets to the Royal Air Force, (b) its commitment to build the jet in the UK and (c) its commitment to use Rolls-Royce as its engine supplier. [115119]
Mr. Ingram: No discussions have been held with Finmeccanica. Officials have, however, held a number of informal discussions with Aermacchi in connection with our requirement for a future Advanced Jet Trainer. These discussions have been exploratory in nature. Accordingly, no commitments have been entered into either by Aermacchi or the Ministry of Defence.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contractors who have been asked to provide proposals to supply trainer jets to the Royal Air Force; and by what criteria bids will be assessed. [115121]
Mr. Ingram: A formal proposal has been received from BAE Systems following an initial unsolicited proposal in October 2001. Exploratory discussions have been held with both Finmeccanica and representatives of Lockheed Martin and Korean Aerospace Industries. However, neither has been invited to submit a formal proposal. We are currently considering the BAE Systems proposal. A decision on the way ahead is expected by the end of June 2003. A number of criteria will be taken into account, including economic, industrial and potential export factors as well as value for money for the taxpayer and the need to ensure that their proposal meets our capability requirement.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the Government's procedures regarding competitive tendering will apply in the case of the supply of trainer jets to the Royal Air Force. [115123]
Mr. Ingram: We are currently considering whether to accept a proposal from BAE Systems to meet our requirement for an Advanced Jet Trainer or to acquire this capability through a competition. A decision on the way ahead is expected by the end of June 2003.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs that would be safeguarded in the event that Her Majesty's Government were to award BAE Systems the contract to supply Hawk advanced trainer jets; whether the potential job losses resulting from a
3 Jun 2003 : Column 43W
decision to put the contract out to competition will be taken into account by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [113905]
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the effects on the workforce of BAE Systems if he does not accept its bid to meet the RAF's advanced trainer requirement; [113997]
- (2) if he will make a decision about the Hawk Advanced Trainer before the end of June; and if he will make a statement. [113996]
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has received from BAE Systems to supply trainer jets to the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement. [115122]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 19 May 2003, Official Report, column 580W, to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh).
Type 23 Frigates
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to change the withdrawal from service dates of Type 23 Frigates; and whether the withdrawal date of any Type 23 is under review. [115329]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 12 May 2003, Official Report, column 47W, and 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 158W, to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis).
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Coffee
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Minister of State for International Development if the Government will offer financial support for the monitoring of the International Coffee Organisation's Quality Improvement Scheme. [114334]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
The European Union is responsible for paying the membership subscriptions of all EU member states at the International Coffee Organisation (ICO). The ICO Secretariat administers the Quality Coffee Scheme and part of the subscriptions of member countries is used to monitor the Scheme, primarily by gathering information from exporting members.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Coffee
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations for action she will make at the International Coffee Organisation/World bank coffee conference on 19 May 2003 in London. [114332]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
3 Jun 2003 : Column 44W
The European Commission will speak on behalf of EU member states at the International Coffee Organisation/World Bank Conference. The Conference aims to bring together producers from developing countries, Government officials, experts from international organisations, advocacy groups and industry representatives to discuss alternatives such as diversification, quality, added value and market development in order to help coffee producers increase their income and improve living standards. It is hoped that the Conference will help to develop ideas for specific programmes and activities which could make a real contribution to solving the coffee crisis.
BAE Systems
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government have guaranteed the industrial participation agreement between BAE Systems and the South African Government. [115172]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
Her Majesty's Government have not guaranteed the industrial participation agreement between BAE Systems and the South African Government.
Progressive and Hereditary Illnesses
Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will make it her policy to promote protection of employees with progressive illnesses from being dismissed, from the point when symptoms are diagnosed; [113907]
- (2) if she will make it her policy to promote employment protection for people with hereditary conditions. [113908]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: I have been asked to reply.
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) already protects from discrimination in employment, and other areas, a great many people who are disabled from progressive and hereditary conditions. This protection will be significantly extended as a result of draft Regulations we laid on 8 May 2003 under the European Communities Act 1972 which would ensure that, in October 2004, the DDA's employment provisions will cover over a million more employers as well as occupations such as the police, barristers and partners in partnerships. We are also considering, for inclusion in a draft Disability Bill that we will publish later this year, extending the DDA's approach to progressive conditions to cover more people with cancer and HIV.
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