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Welsh Television

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will ensure that ITV Wales continues to produce at least 10 hours of original Welsh programming and programmes for S4C until 2012. [209740]

Estelle Morris: ITV Wales has no obligation to produce Welsh-language programming but is currently required to produce a minimum of 10 hours a week (averaged over a calendar year) of programmes of particular interest to people in Wales for showing on ITV. These programmes are broadcast in English. Ofcom are currently considering the sustainability of this obligation as part of their Public Service Broadcasting review.

DEFENCE

BAE Systems

Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what work BAE Systems carried out at (a) RAF Cottismore and (b) RAF Marham in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004; [209496]

(2) what contracts were entered into with BAE Systems at RAF Cottesmore in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. [209517]

 
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Mr. Ingram: The Tornado Integrated Project Team provides logistic support to the entire Tornado GR4/F3 departmental fleet. The information requested is not held in a format that would allow identification of work specifically carried out by BAE Systems, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

In January 2003, BAE Systems was awarded a contract to form the Joint Repair Management Team (JRMT) at RAF Cottesmore. The contract ended in June 2004. The JRMT was replaced by the Joint Repair Organisation (JRO) and a contract was awarded to BAE Systems in June 2004 to form the new JRO.

In September 2004 a contracted task was raised against the Harrier Post Design Services contract to provide eight BAE Systems personnel to work on the Harrier Pulse Line.

An enabling contract for the Harrier Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Programme (JUMP) was awarded to BAE Systems on 15 November 2004.

Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many BAE Systems personnel worked at (a) RAF Cottesmore and (b) RAF Marham in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004. [209497]

Mr. Ingram: In 2003 seven BAE Systems personnel were working permanently at RAF Cottesmore in support of contracted tasks. In 2004 a total of 34 BAE Systems staff were similarly employed although not all of those individuals were present for the full calendar year.

Information on the number of BAE Systems personnel working at RAF Marham in 2003 and 2004 respectively is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Brunei

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reason the three offshore patrol vessels built by BAE Systems and endorsed by the Royal Navy for the Royal Brunei Navy are subject to arbitration; [208484]

(2) what the total value is of the (a) contract now and (b) through life support for the three offshore patrol vessels built for the Royal Brunei Navy. [208482]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 17 January 2005]: The current value of the contract and the costs of through-life support for these vessels are a matter for the parties to the contract, BAE Systems and the Government of Brunei. I can confirm that the Royal Navy, with the agreement of both parties, undertook last year an independent study of the progress of the programme, but it would be inappropriate to comment on the continuing discussions between the parties about the acceptance of the vessels.

Camouflage Garment Contract

Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of camouflage garments and how many of each type had been delivered up to 31 December 2004 under the terms of his Department's camouflage garment contract. [209394]

 
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Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 January 2005]: It is assumed that my hon. Friend refers to the award of a contract for Cut and Sewn Garments. As stated in reply to his earlier question of 9 December 2004, Official Report, column 694W, deliveries of combat clothing under this contract are not due to commence until early 2005.

Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the officials who conducted the most recent review of his Department's contract awarded for the manufacture of camouflage garments were the same as those responsible for making the award. [209395]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 January 2005]: An independent review was carried out by a senior civil servant outside of the business area associated with the award of the contract.

Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the scale of subsidies given to the China people's liberation factory 3533 by the Chinese Government in connection with his Department's contract for camouflage garment manufacture. [209396]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 January 2005]: The Ministry of Defence does not hold this information as the Prime Contractor is not required to provide this detail under the terms of the contract.

Damaged Harriers

Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost was of the damage to Harrier air frames at RAF Cottesmore in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. [209519]

Mr. Ingram: In 2003 and 2004, no Harrier aircraft was damaged while undergoing repair and maintenance at RAF Cottesmore.

Falcon

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the early introduction into service of Falcon is required to secure the operational benefits of network enabled capability. [209748]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 January 2005]: The capability provided by Falcon will contribute significantly to delivering the operational benefits of network enabled capability (NEC), along with a number of other capabilities. But the exact timing of the introduction into service of any particular capability will not determine the overall success of the long term NEC initiative.

Fire Service

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost incurred by his Department as a result of the strikes by firefighters in 2003 was; and if he will make a statement. [209806]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence provided emergency fire cover during the national firefighters' strikes of 2002 and 2003 in response to a request from ODPM. ODPM agreed in advance to reimburse MOD's marginal costs. This has now been done and the bill amounted to slightly over £75 million excluding VAT.
 
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Additionally, ODPM requested MOD assistance when strike action was projected in the summer of 2004. Although that dispute was resolved without strikes taking place, MOD incurred preparatory costs of £602,000 excluding VAT. These too have been claimed from ODPM.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Programme

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to finalise the endorsement of preferred bidder status for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Programme; and if he will make a statement. [209155]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 17 January 2005]: The Ministry of Defence is currently considering the progress made to date with Air Tanker in single bidder discussions. We expect to make a decision in the coming months on whether Air Tanker should be accorded preferred bidder status for this complex and important PFI competition. We shall of course ensure that the House is kept fully informed of significant developments.

Gibraltar Police

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Department received the views of the solicitor representing the Gibraltar Service Police Association on the intention to deduct moneys from police officers arising from the dispute about the payment of rent allowances and the application of the analogue principle; for what reasons a substantive reply has not been sent; and if he will make a statement. [209694]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 19 January 2005]: Ministry of Defence officials in Gibraltar first received correspondence from Marrache and Company, the solicitors acting for the Gibraltar Services Police Association (GSPSA), in February 2004. MOD officials have been involved in a long exchange of correspondence with the solicitors in which they have consistently set out the Department's intention to recover the over-payment. Marrache and Company have had a copy of the letter from MOD officials to the GSPSA, which sets out the Department's position in detail since February 2004.

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