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6 Oct 2003 : Column 1169W—continued
Manning Control Review
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers subject to Manning Control have made official complaints of harassment and bullying of them or their family during the MCP process in the last six years; and what steps are used to punish individuals who are proven to have bullied or harassed soldiers. [130008]
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Mr. Caplin: The data requested are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Ministry of Defence has a policy of zero tolerance towards all forms of bullying and harassment. Appropriate disciplinary or administrative action will be taken against any individual(s) found guilty of practising or condoning such behaviour.
Military Equipment
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with European partners on interoperability of military equipment with that of the United States of America. [130797]
Mr. Ingram: Regular discussions are held with our European partners on equipment capability issues. An important aspect is interoperability of equipment with Allies including the United States of America.
Ministry of Defence Police
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes there have been in procurement funding for the Ministry of Defence Police in the last five years. [130803]
Mr. Caplin: The bulk of the Ministry of Defence Police budget is taken up with the staff costs relating to pay and allowance. However, that part of the budget that is allocated to the procurement of capital items was, for the previous four years:
| Capital investment | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 4,829,000 |
| 1999–2000 | 2,649,000 |
| 2000–01 | 1,851,000 |
| 2001–02 | 1,746,000 |
| 2002–03 | 1,460,000 |
A budget of £2.045 million has been set for the present year 2003–04.
Missile Defence
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that the activities undertaken at RAF Fylingdales are in the national interest of the United Kingdom. [131281]
Mr. Ingram: RAF Fylingdales has operated as a ballistic missile early warning station for some 40 years, and provides an essential component of United Kingdom defences. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence told the House on 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 698, we are satisfied that the upgrade of the radar at RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes will also be in the national interest. The Ministry of Defence is negotiating an annex to the recently signed Ballistic Missile Defence Memorandum of Understanding with the United States to cover the upgrade, and is discussing with the US the operational arrangements for its use in missile defence. These agreements will ensure that UK interests are protected.
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Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the silos at RAF Molesworth were last inspected under the terms of the INF Treaty 1987. [131282]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 28 February 2003, Official Report, column 739W.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations where he has permitted the X-band system to be based. [131283]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 7 March 2003, Official Report, column 1257W. The position remains that the United States has not asked us to site an X-Band radar in the UK, nor are we aware of any plans to do so.
MOD Deployments
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the deployments of (a) Ministry of Defence Guard Service and (b) Ministry of Defence Police officers abroad. [130776]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence Police are currently deployed in Kosovo (67 officers), Pitcairn Island (two officers) arid Bosnia Herzegovina (two officers). In addition, there are currently two officers in Iraq assessing conditions and training requirements.
Ministry of Defence Guard Service personnel are not deployed overseas.
Smuggling (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the armed forces in combating smuggling in Northern Ireland. [131231]
Mr. Ingram: HM Customs and Excise have the lead responsibility for combating smuggling. Under long-standing arrangements the armed forces can provide support when requested by the civil power. In addition if, during the course of their normal duties, the armed forces discover instances of suspected smuggling this information is passed to the civilian authorities.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer Question 120316, tabled by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South on 18 June. [129801]
Mr. Caplin: I replied on 11 September 2003.
Pilot Training
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average monthly flying training time of trainee pilots in the RAF were in the last seven years. [130790]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Trainee pilots in the Royal Air
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Force undertake a minimum of 62 hours Elementary Flying Training (EFT) during their first year, before being streamed for fast jet, rotary wing or multi-engine pilot training. Flying hours will then depend on which aircraft type their training has undertaken. For example, fast jet trainees normally undertake 130 hours Basic Fast Jet Training, 70 hours Advanced Flying Training and 52 hours Tactical Weapons Training following completion of EFT, over a further two-year period. All students undertake relevant ground school training prior to each flying phase.
Procurement (EU Harmonisation)
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with European partners on the harmonisation of European rules on procurement; and when he expects the harmonisation of European rules on procurement to be completed. [130793]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has not had any direct discussions with European partners on harmonisation of European rules on procurement. It does, of course, contribute when invited to do so to the overall UK response to proposals for changes to the existing EC Public Procurement Regulations.
RAF Lyneham
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has commissioned into possible aerospace commercial use that could be made of RAF Lyneham. [130872]
Mr. Ingram: A study was commissioned by the Royal Air Force into the potential for commercial development at RAF Lyneham, which reported in March 2002. This included investigation into the potential for both passenger and freight services. It revealed minimal potential for the site mainly due to the vicinity of other airports and the need for considerable investment for a likely minimal return.
Research and Development (EU Harmonisation)
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with European partners on the co-ordination of European research and development in defence industries and the effect of co-ordination on research and development projects involving the United States of America. [130795]
Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, has not held any recent discussions on the co-ordination of research and development in defence industries, nor has he any immediate plans to do so. However, officials have regular contact with their European and US counterparts.
The Ministry of Defence collaborates on research with those nations who can significantly contribute to our capability requirements. Our aim is to generate technology that both United Kingdom and partner foreign industries can access. We seek to do this on both transatlantic and European axes.
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RNAS Yeovilton
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Lynx replacement at RNAS Yeovilton. [131232]
Mr. Ingram: The Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft, which is planned to fulfil the role currently undertaken by Lynx HMA Mk3 and Lynx HMA Mk8 based at RNAS Yeovilton, is provisionally planned to enter service later this decade. The project is presently in the assessment phase, in which the capability offered by the Westland Helicopters Ltd. Future Lynx proposal is being evaluated. The outcome of this assessment will result in a decision on the procurement of a replacement for Lynx early in 2004.
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on site security at RNAS Yeovilton. [131233]
Mr. Ingram: All aspects of security at RNAS Yeovilton are maintained and administered in accordance with the requirements of the current Joint Service Publication (JSP) 440—The Defence Manual of Security. Security arrangements throughout the Royal Navy Estate, including RNAS Yeovilton, are subject to a programme of regular audit inspections by the Director of Naval Security's Integrated Contingency Planning Area Teams.
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