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28 Apr 2004 : Column 994W—continued
MOD Bases (Wales)
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the change has been in the number of jobs at his Department's bases in Wales in each year since 1997; and what the change has been in the establishment of Welsh regiments in the same period. [168458]
Mr. Caplin: Information on the number of jobs is not available, only personnel numbers.
The number of service personnel located in Wales since 1997 were as follows:
| Date | Service Personnel(6) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 1997 | 3,330 | — |
| 1 July 1998 | 3,240 | -90 |
| 1 July 1999 | 3,270 | +30 |
| 1 July 2000 | 3,220 | -50 |
| 1 July 2001 | 2,570 | -660 |
| 1 July 2002(7) | 2,110 | -460 |
(6) Figures are for UK regular forces (including both trained and untrained personnel), and therefore exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve service personnel, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, mobilised reservists and naval activated reservists.
(7) Location data for service personnel as at 1 July 2002 are the latest available.
Note:
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
The number of Ministry of Defence civilian staff located in Wales since 1997 were as follows:
| Date | Civilian staff(8) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1997 | 4,890 | — |
| 1 April 1998 | 5,050 | +150 |
| 1 April 1999 | 5,100 | +50 |
| 1 April 2000 | 4,970 | -120 |
| 1 April 2001 | 4,780 | -190 |
| 1 April 2002 | 4,430 | -350 |
| 1 April 2003 | 4,170 | -260 |
(8) Civilian staff figures are full-time equivalent figures for industrial and non-industrial permanent staff, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and those on career breaks, long-term sick leave, secondments etc. The above figures include Trading Funds staff.
Note:
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
28 Apr 2004 : Column 995W
The establishments of the Welsh Regiments since 1997 are as follows:
1st Battalion, The Queen's Dragoon Guards
From 1997 to 2000, the unit establishment was 474. In 2000 they adopted their present unit establishment of 454.
1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales
Their unit establishment of 741 has remained unchanged since 1997.
1st Battalion, The Welsh Guards
From 1997 to 2000, the unit establishment was 605. In May 2000 their role changed so the unit establishment changed to 668. From April 2003 they adopted their present unit establishment of 618.
1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers
From 1997 to 2003, they had a unit establishment of 605. Their role changed in August 2003 and they adopted their new unit establishment of 668.
Nuclear Co-operation (France)
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to share (a) nuclear weapons designs and (b) nuclear weapons technology with the French Government. [167976]
Mr. Hoon: The Ministry of Defence continues to maintain contacts with France on a range of technical and scientific issues relating to nuclear weapons. These contacts are consistent with the United Kingdom's international obligations, including those under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. I am withholding more specific information on the particular activities themselves under the terms of Exemption Category I of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations.
Reservists
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons delays are occurring in relation to the payment of mobilised reservists; how many reservists are affected; and what action he is taking to expedite the payment of mobilised reservists. [165139]
Mr. Caplin [holding answer 1 April 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 340W.
We are not aware of any delay in the payment of reservists' basic military salary. However, there have been some late payments of allowances for reservists during Operation Telic which is attributable to delays in the administrative process of taking the reservist on strength at the Theatre unit. In addition, there have also been delays in handling claims for financial assistance.
Both of these issues were identified during the Operation Telic lessons identified process and action is in hand to improve the administrative systems in use. In particular, as announced in the recent Defence White Paper, we are in the process of developing replacement regulations for reservists' financial assistance which should simplify and speed up the claims process.
28 Apr 2004 : Column 996W
US Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether US nuclear weapons will be withdrawn from the UK as part of the current withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe; and if he will make a statement. [169131]
Mr. Hoon: As stated in NATO's Strategic Concept (paragraph 63):
"nuclear forces based in Europe and committed to NATO provide an essential political and military link between the European and North American members of the Alliance. The Alliance will therefore maintain adequate nuclear forces in Europe."
Numbers of United States nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom can and do vary, and the capability for deployments of such weapons to and from the UK remains extant regardless of the particular number of weapons in the UK at any given time.
It is NATO and national policy not to comment on the detail of such nuclear deployments.
Wind Farms
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the placement of wind farms around the UK coast. [168233]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has engaged with the Department of Trade and Industry and Crown Estates throughout the initial planning stages for wind farms around the UK coast. In that context MOD has drawn attention to those cases where it has concerns relating to wind farms and their effects on air safety, national defence monitoring, operational needs or where sites are within danger areas.
The Ministry of Defence is fully supportive of the Governments aims and targets for renewable energy.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for wind farms on its facilities on the UK coastline. [168236]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence currently has no wind farms on its facilities on the UK coastline, nor any plans to site any there. However, the Department would consider approaches from developers to site wind farms on its property where they will not interfere with defence operations, compromise safety or the United Kingdom defences.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he has (a) undertaken and (b) planned with maritime groups about the impact of offshore wind farms on marine navigation. [168237]
Mr. Caplin:
The Ministry of Defence has engaged in consultation with The Maritime and Coastguard Agency in its capacity as a key sea user. This is to ensure that the Department's marine navigation and transport needs are adequately covered in the Marine Guidance Note to be published on Proposed UK Offshore Renewable Energy Installations: Guidance on Navigation Safety Issues.
28 Apr 2004 : Column 997W
TRANSPORT
Faulty Exhaust Pipes
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how often checks are made to ensure that motorists with faulty exhaust pipes are prevented from releasing toxins into the atmosphere; [168873]
(2) what checks are in place to ensure motorists with faulty exhaust pipes are prevented from releasing toxins into the atmosphere; [168874]
(3) how many people in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have been found guilty of driving vehicles with noxious exhausts in each year since 1997. [168875]
Mr. Jamieson: Emissions performance is checked in MOT tests, which in the case of cars are carried out three years after registration, and then every year thereafter. The MOT test includes a visual check of the exhaust system and, for most vehicles, a measurement of the concentration of exhaust gases that indicate whether or not the vehicle is being appropriately maintained.
In addition, roadside spot checks are carried out intermittently by the Department's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), and by certain local authorities with particular air quality problems, to help promote compliance.
There are no statistics available which record emissions offences separately from other minor offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The best indication of non-compliance is given by MOT test failure rates, although this is not readily available by geographical area. The MOT emissions test failure rates for the whole of GB are given in the following table.
| Conventional petrol | Catalyst petrol | Diesel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 7.1 | 2.8 | 8.5 |
| 1998–99 | 6.4 | 3.3 | 7.4 |
| 1999–2000 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 5.9 |
| 2000–01 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 6.1 |
| 2001–02 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 5.5 |
| 2002–03 | 6.7 | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| 2003–04 | (9)— | (9)— | (9)— |
(9) Not available.
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