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20 Oct 2003 : Column 375W—continued
Private Tesoni Vakacakaudrove
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements were made for the inquest into the death of Private Tesoni Vakacakaudrove at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, on 6 October 2002. [132191]
Mr. Ingram: These arrangements are a matter for HM Coroner in line with the Coroners' system in England and Wales.
Sergeant Roger Timothy Paul Clements-Hunt
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles and of what description were involved in the motor accident resulting in the death of Sergeant Roger Timothy Paul Clements-Hunt on 8 March 2001 on army exercise in Germany; and what the findings of the health and safety investigation were. [132192]
Mr. Ingram: The two vehicles involved in this incident were a Danish registered Heavy Goods Vehicle and a Ministry of Defence (Army) Leyland DAF 4 ton GS truck. The incident was the subject of an investigation by the German Civil Authorities. I am not aware of any separate health and safety investigation.
Corporal Thomas Rees
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result was of the accident inquiry following the death of Corporal Thomas Rees on 23 May; and what the principal recommendations of the inquiry were. [132193]
Mr. Ingram: This incident has been investigated by the appropriate Civil Police authority, the Land Accident Investigation Team, and the Health and Safety Executive. The Health and Safety Executive has yet to report its findings. An Army Board of Inquiry will be convened in due course. It would be inappropriate for me to comment until all this work has concluded.
Defence Export Services Organisation
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures the Defence Export Services Organisation undertakes to ensure that special commissions for which it grants permission represent legitimate fees for services rendered. [132363]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence Export Services Organisation does not authorise the payment of commissions.
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether BAE Systems sought or obtained clearance from his Department or from the Defence Export Services Organisation for payment of agency commission in connection with the sale of defence equipment to South Africa; [132365]
- (2) whether British Aerospace (a) sought and (b) obtained clearance from (i) his Department and (ii) the Defence Export Services Organisation for the payment of agency commission in connection with the sale of defence equipment to Qatar. [132367]
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Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence gave on 1 September 2003, Official Report, column 899W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests for special commissions have been referred to the Defence Export Services Organisation since 1995; and how many such requests DESO have granted, in which countries and on what dates. [132364]
Aldermaston
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many over-flights in the controlled airspace of Aldermaston have been recorded for each year since 2001 for which figures are available; and how many prosecutions have followed. [132659]
Mr. Caplin: Since 2001 there have been three alleged incursions by military aircraft into the restricted airspace around AWE Aldermaston. The RAF Police Defence Flying Complaints Investigation Team investigated all these incidents and in each case it was found that no breach of the restriction had occurred. Alleged incursions of the restricted airspace by civilian aircraft would be the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport.
Colchester Garrison
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the Ministry of Defence Police have jurisdiction over former Ministry of Defence dwellings and areas of the Colchester Garrison which have been sold by Annington Homes to private owners; [132813]
- (2) whether the security of military personnel and dependants living in Ministry of Defence housing at the Colchester Garrison has been reviewed following the disposal of dwellings by Annington Homes; and if he will make a statement. [132812]
Mr. Caplin: The security situation in the Colchester estates that are now occupied by Service families housed by the Defence Housing Executive (DHE), owner-occupiers and civilian housing association tenants, is unchanged since I replied to the hon. Member's question on this matter on 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 246. The regular routine patrols continue and there has been no increase in crime since DHE's releases of surplus property and the lease of properties by AHL to Colne Housing Association.
Any incidents arising in the DHE patch are the responsibility of Ministry of Defence Police (MDP); the Essex police cover the non-DHE areas, and the two police forces assist each other when required. The Royal Military Police also patrol the estate. Overall these arrangements imply a greater police presence and better response times than anywhere else in Colchester.
75 per cent. of the DHE properties have the recommended level of door furniture security; the remainder have chains and spy holes but, in some cases, only 3-lever locks. These will be replaced with 5-lever locks in this financial year.
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Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he has been consulted by Annington Homes over (a) the disposal of former Ministry of Defence dwellings at the Colchester Garrison and (b) proposals by Annington Homes for the development of private housing on the site; [132814]
- (2) what discussions he has had with Annington Homes on proposals to demolish former Ministry of Defence housing at the Colchester Garrison and build private housing. [132811]
Mr. Caplin: Annington Homes Ltd (AHL) have not consulted the Ministry of Defence over the disposal of former MOD dwellings at Colchester Garrison or their proposals for the development of private housing on the site. Under the terms of the 1996 Sale Agreement it is entirely a matter for AHL how they dispose of the houses for which MOD has no future requirement and has handed back, or how they choose to redevelop a surplus site.
Departmental Staff (Scotland)
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the manning changes in Ministry of Defence staff in Scotland for each quarter since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [132544]
Mr. Caplin: The number of civilian personnel located in Scotland in each quarter since January 1997 to October 2003 is set out in the table.
(1) Results shown are for all permanent staff including Trading Funds.
(2) A function previously performed in the Deputy Chief Defence Staff Commitments DCDS (P&P) area was transferred to the private sector.
(3) Management of Clyde dockyards moved to private sector.
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Detached Duties
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the taxation of armed forces pay during detached duties. [133173]
Mr. Caplin: I have no plans for such discussions.
National Army Museum (North)
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has held with the Treasury on the granting of permission for the construction of the National Army Museum (North). [131703]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has had discussions with the Treasury on the National Army Museum (North) project and officials from both Departments last met, together with NAM staff, on 4 September 2003.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obstacles remain to the commencement of works at the National Army Museum (North); and when he envisages such work will begin. [131704]
Mr. Caplin: Work continues to resolve a range of outstanding issues on this project, though none is currently thought to be insurmountable.
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