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1 Mar 2004 : Column 690W—continued
Aircraft Carrier
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the future aircraft carriers will each be able to operate more than 40 aircraft. [154670]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1178W.
Chinook Helicopters
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the (a) functional and (b) operational differences are between the Mark 2 Chinook helicopter, the Chinook 47-H and the Mark 3; [156221]
- (2) how the FADEC system in the Mark 2 Chinook differs from that available to the (a) Mark 2a, (b) the Chinook 47-H and (c) the Mark 3; [156222]
(3) what problems the software changes made to FADEC on the MH47 address; what necessitated these changes; who asked for these changes to be made; what functionality they provide for the MH47 that is not available to the Mark 3 Chinook; for what reasons these changes were not incorporated in the Mark 3 FADEC; when these changes are due to be incorporated; and if he will make a statement; [156223]
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(4) whether the validation process of the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook is the same as that used in the (a) Mark 2, (b) Mark 2a and (c) MH47 Chinook; what that process comprises; who was contracted to conduct this process for the (i) Mark 2, (ii) Mark 2a, (iii) MH47 and (iv) Mark 3 Chinook; to whom the contractor sub-contracted this work; and if he will make a statement; [156224]
(5) what work has been conducted on FADEC in the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter at Boscombe Down; what reports Boscombe Down has produced on the work; whether independent sub-contractors produced reports on the Mark 3 FADEC; and if he will make a statement; [156225]
(6) whether (a) Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd., (b) Chandler Evans Controls Systems and (c) Boeing Helicopters Corp. have given undertakings to his Department about the FADEC fitted to the Mark 3; [156226]
(7) what problems the (a) Mark 2 Chinook, (b) Mark 2a Chinook and (c) MH47 Chinook helicopters displayed which the Mark 3 was designed to solve; [156229]
(8) what the basis was for his Department's decision to procure the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; and if he will make a statement; [156230]
(9) what tests are required to (a) the aircraft as a whole and (b) component parts, on the Mark 3 Chinook prior to its gaining release to full operational service other than the flight trials being conducted at Boscombe Down; what tests are still to be completed; and when he expects this release to be granted; [156231]
(10) what cost-benefit analysis was conducted prior to initiating procurement of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; who undertook this analysis; and what the results were. [156232]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the right hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Defence Finance
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total value is of assets belonging to his Department, broken down by United Kingdom region; and if he will break down the assets by (a) estates, (b) kit, (c) plant, machinery and vehicles, (d) capital spares, (e) information technology and communications and (f) assets in course of construction for the same areas for the most recent financial year. [142028]
Mr. Ingram: A full regional breakdown of asset values is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a breakdown of the value of Ministry of Defence's land and buildings by Government office region may be derived from Section 7 of the National Asset Register, last published by the Treasury as Cm 5221 on 19 July 2001. This shows the position for financial year 1999–2000. The latest information on the total value of assets was published on 30 October 2003 in MOD's Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03 (HC 1125, pages 80 and 111). Both the National Asset Register and the Annual Report and Accounts have been placed in the Library of the House.
1 Mar 2004 : Column 692W
Foreign Ship Chartering
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 44W, on foreign ships, whether his Department has a maximum age for ships it charters; and what the age was of the oldest ship chartered by his Department in relation to the recent conflict in Iraq. [157003]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not stipulate a maximum age for ships it charters. As I indicated in my previous answer, age is one of several important criteria which are used to assess suitability for use.
The oldest foreign flagged freight-carrying ship chartered for the Iraq campaign was 30 years old. The oldest UK-flagged ship was 25 years old. Port State Inspections completed on the two ships prior to charter revealed no deficiencies and both ships completed their tasking to the full satisfaction of the MOD.
Military Equipment
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he discussed the supply of military and security equipment between Israel and the UK with the Israeli Defence Minister, during his recent visit to the UK. [156515]
Mr. Hoon: I met Mr. Shaul Mofaz, Israeli Minister for Defence, on 12 February 2004. We discussed a wide range of issues, including opportunities for the supply of defence and security equipment.
Mr. Jafar Dhia Jafar
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department was consulted on the application by Mr. Jafar Dhia Jafar for a visa to attend a meeting of the Royal Society in London. [154980]
Procurement Contracts
Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which foreign contractors after winning a defence contract have refused to supply the goods in the last five years; and what the reasons given for doing so were in each case. [154941]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost (Exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information).
Sea King Crash (Board of Inquiry)
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Board of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the air collision of two Sea King helicopters embarked on HMS Ark Royal on 22 March 2003; what action he proposes to take as a result of the findings of the Board of Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [157073]
Mr. Ingram: It is not our practice or that of previous Governments to place copies of the reports from Service Board of Inquiry in the Library of the House.
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A Service Board of Inquiry is an internal fact finding investigation undertaken by the Services for their own use, into the circumstances surrounding a particular accident or incident. There is a principle of confidentiality associated with BOI proceedings, which is intended to encourage the provision of forthright evidence. Accordingly, external distribution of BOI reports is usually limited to the next of kin of service personnel killed in in-service accidents, HM Coroners to assist in their preparations for Inquests, and other bodies with statutory duties to investigate incidents.
We will, when the investigation by the RN Flight Safety and Accident Investigation Centre is complete, place copies of the Military Aircraft Accident Summary in the Library of the House.
I shall place information on the implementation of the Board of Inquiry's recommendations in the Library of the House shortly.
Typhoon
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Typhoon aircraft have been ordered from outside the partner countries; [155131]
- (2) how many countries have expressed interest in ordering Typhoon aircraft. [155132]
Mr. Ingram: Eighteen Typhoon aircraft have been ordered from outside the partner countries. In addition, three countries have expressed an interest in ordering Typhoon; this figure does not include countries that have shown only a preliminary interest, for example by requesting information about the aircraft.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether RAF Typhoon aircraft will operate in (a) the Falklands, (b) Gibraltar, (c) Germany and (d) other countries. [155133]
Mr. Ingram: Typhoon will have the capacity to operate from bases outside the United Kingdom when this is appropriate to fulfil training and operational needs.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government is committed to proceeding with the second tranche of Typhoons for the RAF; and if he will make a statement. [155243]
Mr. Ingram: The Government are committed to proceeding with the second tranche of Typhoon for the RAF, and negotiations with Industry involving the four partner nations are in progress.
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