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20 Nov 2003 : Column 1258W—continued

Defence Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of the defence budget was

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spent in each of the regions of the United Kingdom (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of the total in each of the last five years; [140357]

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

Defence Finance

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn for the (i) Commander-in-chief Fleet, (ii) General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland), (iii) Commander-in-Chief Land Command, (iv) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, (v) Chief of Joint Operations, (vi) Chief of Defence Logistics, (vii) Second Sea Lord/Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and (viii) Adjutant General were for the financial years 1999–2000 to 2002–03, broken down by management group. [139686]

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

Defence Medical Services

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) regular and (b) reservist consultants (i) have served with and (ii) are serving with the Defence Medical Services on Operation Telic; and for how long they have been deployed. [122176]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 30 June 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Defence Procurement

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out his policy on defence procurement. [140100]

Mr. Ingram: Our Acquisition Policy is set out in the Ministry of Defence Policy Paper No 4—Defence Acquisition. The Policy is driven by the need to secure and sustain the defence capabilities at the best value for money and at a price we can afford. Competition remains the principal means of achieving value for money, although we will consider alternative strategies, such as partnering, where they are more appropriate.

Our Defence Industrial Policy, published in October 2002, sets out in more detail our approach to considering industrial issues in our Acquisition system.

MOD Policy Paper No 4—Defence Acquisition is available in the House of Commons Library and via the website: http://www.mod.uk/issues/acquisition/index. htm

Defence Industrial Policy Paper No 5: http://www. mod.uk/issues/industrial—policy.htm

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Defence Stores Management Computer

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the abandonment of the Defence Stores Management Computer. [139053]

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

Defence Training Estate (Civilian Vehicles)

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what powers and in what circumstances a civilian vehicle (a) on and (b) off tracks on the Defence Training Estate may be confiscated; and by whom. [139947]

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

Departmental Staff

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East. [125387]

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

EU Directives

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the EU directives implemented by the Department since 8 June 2001. [126601]

Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence is consulted by other Government Departments on the negotiation or implementation of various European Directives. But EU Directives do not generally relate specifically to the MOD and the MOD has not been the lead Department in implementing any EU Directives since June 2001.

European Working Groups

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with achieving transparency in respect of the European working groups for which his Department is responsible. [105745]

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

Formation Readiness Cycle

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the formation readiness cycle; and whether it has met the delivery aims set out in the Strategic Defence Review. [140223]

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

Future Aircraft Carrier

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated date of delivery is of the first

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ship in the future aircraft carrier project; and in which financial year peak procurement expenditure is expected to fall. [110264]

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

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on progress with the future aircraft carrier programme; [140225]

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

Future Command Liaison Vehicle

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Future Rapid Effects System programme on procurement of the Future Command Liaison Vehicle. [139687]

Mr. Ingram: The number of Future Command Liaison Vehicles (FCLV) ordered takes into account the current analysis of the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) requirement.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his written statement of 6 November 2003, Official Report, column 44WS, on Future Command Liaison Vehicle, what armoured vehicle arrangements will be made for the RAF Regiment; and how many vehicles from the manoeuvre and support brigades' fleet will be used to make up the shortfall. [139688]

Mr. Ingram: The RAF Regiment's requirement is being met by its current fleet of TUM (Land Rovers) and Saxons, and these will continue to be supported through life.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to make a decision on the procurement of the second batch of the Future Command Liaison Vehicle. [139689]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Alvis Vickers Limited for an initial batch of 401 Future Command and Liaison Vehicles, with the option to purchase a further 400 vehicles. We continue to keep our requirement under review, taking into account the Armoured Fighting Vehicle Rationalisation and Future Army Structure studies, as well as progress with the Future Rapid Effects System programme.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom jobs he forecasts

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will be involved with each of the bidders for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contract; and if he will make a statement. [140041]

Mr. Ingram: The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft PFI competition has yet to be concluded. Our decision will be based on the solution that provides the required capability at best value for money. Both bids could be expected to create or sustain several thousand jobs in the United Kingdom.

Fylingdales

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has collated on the health of the population in the vicinity of Fylingdales. [139361]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has not collated any research on the state of health of the local population near RAF Fylingdales. The radar there operates well within health guidelines established by the National Radiological Protection Board. Local health authorities are however undertaking their own research in response to public concerns raised on this matter.


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