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Chinook Helicopters

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the total value of contracts in relation to the order for Chinook HC3 helicopters is; [137223]

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(2) on what date is it intended that the Chinook HC3 helicopters ordered by the RAF will be delivered to a squadron to undertake their envisaged duties; [137222]

(3) pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2003, Official Report, column 37W, on Chinook helicopters, what reasons have been given to his Department by the US Department of Defense for its decision not to purchase the Chinook HC3 helicopters ordered by the RAF; whether the Chinook HC3 helicopters delivered to the United Kingdom have since been made airworthy; whether the Chinook HC3 helicopter retained by Boeing Helicopters at Philadelphia has been delivered to the United Kingdom; where the Chinook HC3 helicopters ordered for the RAF were stored prior to their shipment to the United Kingdom; what assessment was made of the conditions in which they were stored; what assessment was made of the condition of each of the helicopters following this storage; what his plans are for disposal of the fleet; what specific role the Chinook HC3 helicopter was intended to fulfil when the original order was placed with Boeing in October 1995; whether other helicopters have been evaluated for this role since then; and if he will make a statement. [137295]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 10 November 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departmental Current Account

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money is in his Department's current account; and if he will make a statement. [137516]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence, along with all other spending Departments, draws down Voted Supply at the beginning of each month from the Exchequer into its principal current account at the Office of Paymaster General. The amount of money in this current account will vary considerably during the month, typically from in excess of £2 billion at the beginning of the month to under £200 million at the end of the month. The balance in this account is monitored on a daily basis to ensure there are sufficient funds to meet the oncoming expenditure requirements in the rest of the month.

Eurofighter

Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Government's commitment to the Eurofighter Typhoon project. [138383]

Mr. Ingram: The Government remain committed to the Typhoon programme. Production of the Tranche 1 aircraft is well advanced. Discussions with our three partner nations and with Industry regarding the order for Tranche 2 are ongoing. The order for Tranche 3 is not expected before 2007.

Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what procedures would be followed in the case of the four Eurofighter Typhoon project partners choosing to reduce the number of aircraft ordered under the third tranche of the programme; [138384]

(2) what financial penalties the UK would face in the case of it not proceeding with Tranche III of the Eurofighter Programme. [138382]

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Mr. Ingram: Under the collaborative procurement arrangements for the project, the attribution of costs and savings from any reduction of the third tranche of aircraft would need to be discussed and formally agreed between the four participating nations. No such discussions have taken place.

HMS Vanguard

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected commissioning date is of HMS Vanguard; where the nuclear reactor power range tests will be carried out prior to commissioning; and if he will make a statement. [137550]

Mr. Ingram: HMS Vanguard is currently undergoing a Long Overhaul Period (Refit) (LOP(R)) and has not been decommissioned. As with any United Kingdom nuclear-powered submarine that has been defuelled and refuelled, Vanguard's nuclear reactor will undergo power range testing in the final stages of the LOP(R). This testing forms part of the LOP(R) work package and all LOP(R)s take place at Devonport Dockyard. Vanguard is due to return to service during the fourth quarter in 2004.

Infantry Battalions

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 425W, on infantry battalions, what discussions he (a) plans to hold and (b) has held with representatives of the Scottish infantry battalions prior to producing the Defence White Paper. [138203]

Mr. Ingram: There are currently no plans to hold discussions with representatives of the Scottish infantry battalions, prior to producing the Defence White Paper; nor have there been any recent discussions with them. Representations have, however, been received from representatives of a number of battalions throughout the United Kingdom.

Investment Strategy

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Investment Strategy for his Department will be published for this year; and if he will make a statement. [137915]

Mr. Ingram: The Defence Investment Strategy is published biennially following the settlement of each Spending Review. The current strategy is set out in the 2002 Defence Investment Strategy, which can be found on the Ministry of Defence's web page at www. mod.uk/linked files/issues/invstrat2002.pdf. We expect to publish the next Defence Investment Strategy in Autumn 2004.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many investigations have been held in Iraq into incidents involving confirmed civilian fatalities allegedly caused by United Kingdom military personnel since the end of the conflict. [136966]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 6 November 2003]: We investigate every incident in which we can confirm that there has been a civilian fatality allegedly caused by

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United Kingdom military personnel. We record centrally cases in which the initial investigation finds there are grounds for the Special Investigations Branch to conduct a formal investigation.

As at 12 November the Special Investigation Branch had begun 17 investigations.

Menwith Hill/Fylingdales

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what applications have been made in 2003 for (a) extensions to existing facilities and (b) construction of new facilities at (i) the National Security Agency Menwith Hill Station and (ii) RAF Fylingdales bases in Yorkshire; and which were granted. [138069]

Mr. Ingram: In accordance with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Circular 18/84, development by the Crown does not require planning permission. Government Departments do however consult with local planning authorities and provide "Notice of Proposed Development" before proceeding with work that would otherwise require planning permission. Local planning authorities treat such notices in the same way as they would a statutory planning application.

Between 1 January and 31 October 2003, 15 Notices of Proposed Development were given to Harrogate borough council, the local planning authority for RAF Menwith Hill. Of these, six notices were for extensions to existing facilities and nine were for construction of new facilities. There were no objections by the planning authority to 11 proposals, and four proposals are awaiting a decision.

During the same time period, two Notices of Proposed Development were given to the North Yorks Moors National Park Authority, the local planning authority for RAF Fylingdales. Both are for construction of new facilities. There was no objection by the planning authority to one proposal, while the other proposal is awaiting a decision.

Missile Defence

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his written statement of 12 June 2003, Official Report, column 57WS, on missile defence, he is now in a position to publish details of the bilateral arrangements to which he referred. [138022]

Mr. Hoon: On 3 October, I placed a copy of the Framework Memorandum of Understanding on Ballistic Missile Defence in the Library of the House.

As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement on 12 June, further MOUs on the upgrade of the radar at RAF Fylingdales and on technical co-operation continue to be negotiated and remain confidential between the respective Governments at this stage.

Note of Dissent (Directions)

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of the right hon. Member for Dunfermline East (Mr. Gordon Brown), of 30 October Official Report, column 311W, on Note of Dissent (Directions), if he will place in the Library a copy of his direction; and if he will make a statement. [136968]

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Mr. Ingram [holding answer 6 November 2003]: A copy of the Ministerial Direction has today been placed in the Library.

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