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4 Nov 2003 : Column 621W—continued

NATO Response Force

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the United Kingdom's commitments to the newly formed NATO response force. [135389]

Mr. Hoon: The NATO Response Force (NRF) was inaugurated on 15 October 2003, some 12 months ahead of schedule, with a limited interim capability.

The NRF is not a standing force and responsibility for providing elements of the force will rotate between nations. The Force Generation and associated force balancing for the NRF is a continuing process which

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means that both force offers and the subsequent make-up of the force, including the scale of individual national contributions, will change.

As the detailed information on the NRF received from NATO is classified, I am withholding precise details of the United Kingdom and other nations' offers of forces in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

However, I can say that the UK has made an initial contribution to NRF1 (October 2003 to January 2004) and NRF2 (January 2004 to July 2004) primarily consisting of maritime and air assets.

Aircraft Carriers

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress being made with the construction of the new aircraft carriers. [134436]

Mr. Ingram: The Future Carrier project is currently in the Assessment Phase and I refer my hon. Friend to my Written Ministerial Statement made on 16 September 2003, Official Report, columns 44–45WS.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the reduction in size of the two new aircraft carriers will have on operational plans for (a) the capability and use of the carriers and (b) the size of the crews. [134437]

Mr. Ingram: Final decisions have yet to be taken on the main specifications for CVF. The programme is currently in its Assessment Phase which is aimed at increasing the maturity of the design as well as optimising capability and value for money. The size of the vessels will continue to evolve as the design matures to meet the required capability. Crew size will similarly not be fixed until the design is sufficiently mature.

New Vessels

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new vessels for the Royal Navy have been approved but not yet launched; how many have been allocated names; and what names have been selected. [135411]

Mr. Ingram: A total of 12 vessels—three Astute submarines, six Type 45 destroyers and three Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) (LSD(A))—have passed Main Gate approval but have not yet been launched. All have been allocated names.

The Astute submarines are to be called HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful. The T45s will be called HMS Daring, HMS Dauntless, HMS Diamond, HMS Dragon, HMS Defender and HMS Duncan, and the LSD(A)s RFA Lyme Bay, RFA Mounts Bay and RFA Cardigan Bay.

Procurement Projects

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which procurement projects involve production of parts outside the UK; which countries are taking part in production; and for what reasons the contract was awarded for production overseas in each case. [133042]

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Mr. Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. (Exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the Nimrod Procurement project since June 2003. [133644]

Mr. Ingram: On 19 February, my noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Bach announced that the MOD and BAE Systems had reached agreement on the way ahead for the Nimrod MRA4 (and ASTUTE) programmes. Since then, we and BAE Systems have been working to agree a formal amendment to the Nimrod MRA4 contract. We hope to have this signed shortly.

RAF Recruitment

Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to change the admission rules for the RAF for individuals with anterior cruciate ligament damage, in relation to posts which do not require an active military role. [136033]

Mr. Caplin: Members of the armed forces, regardless of their role, can be required to serve anywhere in the world at any time, often in remote locations. As such they must be physically fit and able to meet the challenge that operating in these environments brings. Consequently, the Ministry of Defence has no plans to change its policy regarding the disqualification of individuals with anterior cruciate ligament damage from joining the armed forces.

Replenishment Tankers

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to purchase Henry J. Kaiser class replenishment tankers from the US Navy. [135339]

Mr. Ingram: We have no plans to purchase Kaiser class tankers.

Ship Naming

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his role is in the naming of Her Majesty's ships; and what his policy is in exercising that role. [135449]

Mr. Ingram: Her Majesty the Queen approves the names of warships on the recommendation of the First Sea Lord, as advised by the Ships' Names and Badges Committee and as endorsed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence.

Policy for naming ships of the Royal Navy is informed by a number of guiding principles. For example, many ship names have a long and illustrious heritage, and a name with a tradition of Royal Navy use is preferred. Other factors in making a selection include the number of battle honours associated with a name, and whether a name is already classically associated with a particular type of vessel. Alternatively, a ship's name might commemorate historically strong links between the Royal Navy and a particular town or district.

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Tanks

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational availability is of the (a) Warrior and (b) Challenger, broken down by unit; and what the overall availability targets are for these vehicles. [135392]

Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

TREASURY

Information Technology

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 11 June 2003, Official Report, column 891W, on open source operating systems, how many open source software solution procurements have taken place within the public sector procurement community in the last 12 months; and what percentage of the (a) IT contracts awarded and (b) value of IT contracts awarded this represents. [136447]

Mr. Boateng: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Alternative Investment Market

Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with the (a) London Stock Exchange and (b) Financial Services Authority on the alternative investment market becoming an unregulated market; [136078]

(2) what research he has carried out on the way in which an unregulated alternative investment market would affect companies and investors; [136079]

(3) what discussions he has had with the European Commission about the alternative investment market becoming an unregulated market. [136080]

Ruth Kelly: The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is a Recognised Investment Exchange (RIE) under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) and has to operate all its markets, including the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), in compliance with the recognition requirements for RIEs. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) supervises its compliance with these obligations.

AIM is also a 'regulated market' under the EU's Investment Services Directive (ISO). This means that it complies with the standards for regulated markets set out in the directive and can do business in other member states on the basis of mutual recognition of its regulatory status in the UK.

The LSE has indicated that it is planning to consult about removing AIM from the list of EU regulated markets. If this happens, AIM would not become an unregulated market. The LSE would still be required by the FSA to meet its existing UK regulatory obligations under FSMA with respect to the way it operates AIM. But there would be no mutual recognition of AIM'S regulatory status in the UK by other member states under the ISO. Treasury officials have discussed this issue with the LSE and the FSA.

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Because AIM is not going to become an unregulated market, the Treasury has not done any research about the impact of such a scenario on investors and issuers, nor have we discussed it with the European Commission.

Changing Jobs

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 17 September 2003, Official Report, column 863W, on changing jobs, whether similar schemes exist for those making the transition between poorly paid jobs. [136168]

Mr. Boateng: Similar schemes for those making the transition between poorly paid jobs do not exist. The Government have, however, introduced a range of policies to make work pay, including the national minimum wage and the working and child tax credits. Jobcentre Plus advisers also offer help and advice on request to people already in work and seeking new employment.

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