---

21 Dec 2004 : Column 1576W—continued

Hawk Jet

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hawk 128 jets have been ordered in the first tranche of the procurement process. [205943]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 December 2004]: Subject to the satisfactory conclusion of the design and development phase, we plan to seek approval to place a production contract for an initial order of at least 20 aircraft. Final numbers will be known by the main investment decision point, planned for spring 2006.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the export potential of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer. [204835]

Mr. Ingram: The Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer is a world-class aircraft with strong export potential. Export orders for Hawk variants have been won in a number of countries, and the overseas market for advanced jet trainers remains strong. The MoD's Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) is fully involved in supporting UK industry's efforts to achieve further sales.

Indonesia (Defence Sales)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date his Department was informed of the decision by Alvis to use (a) PT Truba and (b) PTSK as agents in connection with the sale of Scorpion and Stormer vehicles to Indonesia; [205694]

(2) on what date his Department was informed of the decision by BAE Systems to use PTSK as its agent in connection with the sale of Hawk jets to Indonesia; [205695]
 
21 Dec 2004 : Column 1577W
 

(3) on what date his Department was informed of the decision by Alvis Plc to conclude a consultancy agreement with Global Select; [205696]

(4) what discussions the Defence Export Services Organisation had with Alvis on commission payments in connection with the sale of Scorpion and Stormer vehicles to Indonesia; [205697]

(5) what services the UK Government provided on the 1995 contract for the supply of (a) Scorpion and (b) Stormer vehicles to Indonesia. [205700]

Mr. Ingram: No record has been found relating to the use of agents, or the payment of commissions, in connection with the sale to Indonesia by Alvis plc of Scorpion and Stormer vehicles, or by BAE Systems of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer. No information has been traced regarding Alvis concluding a consultancy agreement. Advice given at that time by the Defence Export Services Organisation to support the companies' bids to supply equipment to Indonesia, comprised the normal business support, including advice on marketing, given to any company seeking to undertake legitimate defence exports.

Iraq

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list NATO countries which have (a) agreed to train security forces in Iraq and (b) committed troops and personnel to conduct training; and if he will make a statement. [204384]

Mr. Hoon: At the ministerial meeting in Brussels on 9 December, Foreign Ministers of the 26 NATO countries agreed to move ahead with expanding NATO's role in Iraq. 23 NATO countries have agreed to provide support to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq by providing personnel and equipment to train the Iraqi Security Forces in and outside Iraq. Of these23, fifteen countries have agreed to deploy forces within Iraq. These are Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy, in respect of the departmental minute dated 15 December concerning the gifting of military equipment to the Iraqi Interim Government, to withdraw the gift of (a) the 438 underslung grenade launchers for AK47s, (b) 18,400 UGL rounds, (c) 850,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition and (d) 5,666 9mm pistols. [206861]

Mr. Hoon: I do not intend to withdraw the gifting of underslung grenade launchers, ammunition or pistols to the Iraqi Interim Government. The UK Government are committed to helping the Iraqi police, National Guard and Department of Border Enforcement to provide the protection and security that the Iraqi people deserve. The gifting of this equipment is a key element in achieving this, which in turn will reduce the burden on our own troops and eventually facilitate our withdrawal from Iraq.
 
21 Dec 2004 : Column 1578W
 

Nuclear Tests Veterans

Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to offer a substantive response to Letters before Action received from legal representatives acting on behalf of members of the British Nuclear Tests Veterans' Association. [205945]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 20 December 2004]: A Letter of Claim, as opposed to a Letter Before Action, was sent to the Ministry of Defence on 15 November 2004, but never received. However, solicitors acting for the British Nuclear Test Veterans have now provided a copy, which will be replied to within the three months allowed under the Civil Procedure Rules or at a date agreed between the parties.

Operative Activities (Expenditure)

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) Personnel Director, (b) Pay and Personnel Agency, (c) Defence Vetting Agency, (d) Defence Export Services Organisation, (e) Finance Director, (f) Defence Analytical Services Agency, (g) Defence Bills Agency, (h) Chief Constable Ministry of Defence Police and (i) Chief Scientific Adviser; [205425]

(2) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) Defence Academy, (b) Defence Estates, (c) Deputy Chief Defence Staff (Commitments), (d) Director Special Forces, (e) Defence Geographic and Imaging Intelligence Agency, (f) Veterans Agency, (g) Deputy Chief Defence Staff (Personnel), (h) Defence Dental Agency and (i) Defence Housing Executive management groups; [205426]

(3) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (b) Policy Director, (c) Deputy Chief Defence Staff (Equipment Capability), (d) Chief of Defence Intelligence, (e) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, (f) Defence Medical Services Department and (g) Defence Medical Education and Training Agency management groups; [205427]

(4) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003–04 was by the (a) Internal Costs, (b) Programme Account and (c) Nuclear management groups; [205428]

(5) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003–04 was by the (a) Deputy Chief of Defence Logistics, (b) Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency, (c) Defence Supply Chain HQ, (d) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency and (e) British Forces Post Office management groups; [205429]

(6) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) Flag Officer Training and Recruiting, (b) HQ and (c) Naval Secretary management groups; [205430]
 
21 Dec 2004 : Column 1579W
 

(7) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003–04 was by the (a) Army Personnel Centre, (b) Army Training and Recruiting Agency, (c) Service Children's Education and (d) Primary Health Care management groups; [205431]

(8) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) Adjutant General, (b) Army Programme, (c) General Staff, (d) Queen Victoria School and (e) Duke of York Royal Military School management groups; [205432]

(9) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) Personnel Management Agency, (b) Core HQ and (c) Training Group Defence Agency management groups; [205433]

(10) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) Fleet, (b) General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland), (c) Command Field Army, (d) Joint Helicopter Command, (e) Land Support and (f) Command Regional Forces management groups; [205435]

(11) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) 1 Group, (b) 2 Group, (c) 3 Group and (d) Deputy Commander-in-Chief management groups; [205436]

(12) what the net cash outflow from operating activities in financial year 2003/04 was by the (a) Defence Fuels Group, (b) Defence Communication Services Agency, (c) DG Equipment Support (Land), (d) DG Equipment Support (Air) and (e) Defence Transport and Movements Agency management groups. [205438]

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

---