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EU Defence Procurement

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on European Union defence procurement policy. [193758]

Mr. Hoon: The Government are committed to playing a leading role in the development of European security and defence policy. We have been actively engaged in the formation of the European Defence Agency, which was formally established on 12 July 2004. The Agency will, inter alia, promote capability development and enhance European armaments co-operation, building on the work already undertaken within existing European fora. We expect the Agency also to work closely with the European Commission on any further work emanating from the Commission's Green Paper on Defence Procurement, published on 23 September 2004. This paper sets out to open the debate on creating a more transparent European defence equipment market, and on promoting further the global competitiveness of European defence industry. Policy for defence procurement rests nationally with the individual member states, with contribution from the Commission being in support of initiatives developed by the national Governments.

Flight ZD576

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2004, Official Report, column 440W, on Flight ZD576, whether the third parties consulted by the reviewing air marshals before coming to their conclusions on the crash of Flight ZD576 were limited to those providing legal advice; and if he will list the third parties consulted. [193961]

Mr. Ingram: Third party consultation by the reviewing officers was limited to legal advice, provided by the Directorate of Legal Services (RAF).
 
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Iraq

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average tour of duty is for a British soldier in Iraq. [193305]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 25 October 2004]: The majority of United Kingdom troops deployed to Iraq deploy for six-month tours.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost has been to public funds of military deployment and action in connection with the intervention in Iraq since 1 March 2003; and if he will make a statement. [193361]

Mr. Ingram: Audited figures for the costs of operations in Iraq is net additional published each year in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts. Net additional costs for 2002–03 were £848 million, and for 2003–04 £1,311 million, a total of £2,159 million.

It is too early to provide a firm estimate of costs in 2004–05, but we will seek parliamentary approval for this expenditure through Supplementary Estimates in due course.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) US, (b) UK and (c) Iraqi troops are serving in Iraq. [193648]

Mr. Ingram: The number of United States troops in Iraq is a matter for the US Government. There are some 8,100 United Kingdom troops deployed in Iraq, and a new Iraqi army is in training, which currently has some 9,000 troops.

Joint Strike Fighter

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the UK to be granted access to sensitive technology to permit maintenance and logistic support for the Joint Strike Fighter in the UK. [193108]

Mr. Ingram: The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme is still at a relatively early stage in its development programme, and our current planning is that the aircraft will not enter service in the UK before 2012. Nevertheless, we are working closely with the US Joint Programme Office (JPO) to develop the support solutions required to maintain and support JSF through life on a global basis. Access to technology is a key element in this work and we expect to have sufficient access by December 2006 to give confidence in our ability to maintain and support the JSF in service prior to signing the Production, Sustainment and Follow on Development MOU.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer the question from the hon. Member dated 16 July, ref. 185178. [192168]

Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 714W.
 
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Provigil

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2004, Official Report, column 65W, on Provigil, what the conclusions of the research were, with particular reference to using these pharmaceutical agents during times of hostilities; and if he will make a statement. [191147]

Mr. Caplin: The aim of the QinetiQ study was to investigate the effects of modafinil, the generic name for Provigil, on nocturnal sleep, and on subsequent performance in 12 healthy male volunteers. The effects studied included sustained attention, reaction time, digit symbol substitution, tracking, memory, sleepiness and fatigue.

QinetiQ concluded that the effects on nocturnal sleep depended on the dose. In the study, 100 mg of modafinil had no affect on nocturnal sleep. At higher dose levels of 200 mg and 300 mg, total sleep was reduced. The alerting activity of modafinil was observed the following day, although at the highest dose, increased sleepiness was reported within 24 hours of ingestion.

The Ministry of Defence does not use performance enhancing drugs, and the policy has not changed in light of this research.

RAF Fylingdales

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are available at RAF Fylingdales; and what future use is envisaged for the base. [194008]

Mr. Hoon: RAF Fylingdales uses a Solid State Phased Array Radar to provide early warning of the launch of ballistic missiles and to carry out space surveillance. There is no planned change in the usage of the RAF Fylingdales site.

Satanism

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is with regard to the practice of Satanism in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [194205]

Mr. Caplin: A person's beliefs are essentially a private matter.

Tsar Appointments

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many tsars have been appointed with responsibilities which cover part of the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement. [191925]

Mr. Caplin: None.

Trident

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on (a) considering future options for a nuclear deterrent capability and (b) reaching a decision on whether or not to withdraw the Trident fleet. [194013]

Mr. Hoon: I have nothing to add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 19 July 2004, Official Report, column 32W, when I said that work on a range of options for
 
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maintaining a nuclear deterrent capability is in hand in accordance with the policy set out in last December's Defence White Paper. As that White Paper made clear, decisions on whether to replace Trident are not needed this Parliament but are likely to be required in the next one.

US Interceptor Missiles

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the policy is of Her Majesty's Government on the stationing of US interceptor missiles in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [193848]

Mr. Hoon: We have received no request from the United States regarding siting of interceptors in the United Kingdom. Should such a request be made, the Government's response will depend on the nature of the request and the circumstances in which it is made.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he or officials from his Department last met US Administration secretaries or officials to discuss the stationing of interceptor missiles in the UK; what the outcome was of those discussions; and if he will make a statement. [193849]

Mr. Hoon: There have been no discussions between Ministers or officials of either government about the stationing of interceptor missiles in the UK. The Government have not yet decided whether the UK requires its own missile defence, and our discussions with the US on missile defence matters do not therefore involve specific architectures or basing assumptions.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) he and (b) officials from his Department have had with their counterparts in (i) France, (ii) Germany, (iii) Italy and (iv) Spain regarding (A) the upgrade of RAF Fylingdales and (B) the stationing of US interceptor missiles in the UK; and what the outcome was of the discussions. [193850]

Mr. Hoon: Officials speak regularly with their counterparts in these countries and keep them informed on the United Kingdom defence matters, including those relating to missile defence, as appropriate. NATO allies have been kept informed in broad terms of the Government's decision last year to agree to the United States request to upgrade the early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales. There has been no contact with these countries regarding the stationing of interceptor missiles in the UK.

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