| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
4 Feb 2005 : Column 1175W—continued
Eurofighter Typhoon
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Typhoon aircraft are in service with the Royal Air Force. [212140]
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of achieving closure of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project agreements by 31 December. [211463]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is currently considering the progress made to date with AirTanker in single bidder discussions. We expect to make a decision shortly on whether AirTanker Ltd. 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.
General Pinochet
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contacts the Government has had with General Augustus Pinochet since 1990 concerning military relations with Chile. [207697]
Mr. Hoon: From available records, senior UK military officers visiting Chile briefly met General Pinochet in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army, a position he held between 1990 and 1998, on a limited number of occasions. Two such meetings occurred with the visits in March 1995 of the then Chief of the Naval Staff, and in 1996 of the former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. In addition, General Pinochet was present at a lunch attended by the then Secretary of State for Defence during his visit to Chile in December 1996. The UK Defence Attaché in Santiago met General Pinochet in the course of routine duties, and other British embassy staff did so at official state and military functions.
Iran
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether classified new equipment was seized from the armed forces by the Iranians on 21 June 2004. [211581]
Joint Service Publications
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of Joint Service Publication 462, Financial Management Policy Manual. [213583]
4 Feb 2005 : Column 1176W
Mr. Ingram: Yes. An electronic version of Joint Service Publication (JSP) 462 on CD-ROM will be placed in the Library. Hard copies are no longer produced and are, therefore, not available.
Military Manoeuvres
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what manoeuvres or operations United Kingdom armed forces have conducted in (a) the Gulf of Guinea and (b) the Bight of Bonny since January 2003. [199867]
Mr. Ingram: No operations have occurred in the Gulf of Guinea (Ghana to Angola) and the Bight of Bonny since 2003. The Atlantic Patrol Vessel (South) regularly transited the region over the period making routine port visits on route:
In addition to this routine maritime activity, the Royal Marines conducted a high profile and extremely successful bilateral Jungle Exercise Western Rhumba in Ghana in September/October 2004.
Military Operating Costs
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual operating costs in near cash terms of an (a) armoured infantry battalion, (b) mechanised battalion, (c) air assault battalion and (d) light role battalion regular were in financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04. [209338]
Mr. Ingram: This information is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Ministerial Engagements
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since 1 January 2004. [209214]
Mr. Caplin: This information is not held since all cancelled engagements are removed from Ministers' diaries.
Nigeria
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the dates were of each visit conducted by UK military personnel to Nigeria since January 2003. [199868]
Mr. Ingram:
The United Kingdom has four military personnel resident in Nigeria. They comprise: the Defence Adviser and his assistant; the Commander of the British Defence Advisory Team in Nigeria; and a Liaison Officer to the military staff in the Secretariat of the Economic Community of West African States.
4 Feb 2005 : Column 1177W
To assist those in country, additional UK military officers and civilians visit from time to time. Complete information on the dates of such visits is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Private William Reyes
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the circumstances were of the death of Private William Reyes, service number 5320, at Holdfast camp; what the findings were of the court martial of the solider charged in connection with the fatal shooting; whether a Board of Inquiry was established to look into the circumstances of the death; what the findings were of the civil inquest into the death; and what financial payments have been made to the family of the deceased. [209717]
Mr. Caplin: There is no record of an individual of this name having served with the British armed forces.
Scottish Regiments
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a Black Watch soldier posted away from his battalion following the creation of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will be permitted to wear the Red Hackle. [212106]
Mr. Ingram: It is too early to say what any soldier serving in the new Royal Regiment of Scotland will wear. The Colonel Commandant of the Scottish Division has recently formed a working group to consider future dress matters at which all Battalions, including the Black Watch, will be represented. The recommendations of the working group will be put to the Council of Scottish Colonels for approval in due course.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether departmental special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997; [203917]
(2) whether departmental special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997. [203972]
Mr. Caplin: I refer to the answer given on 16 December 2004, Official Report, column 1259, by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband). One special adviser currently has such powers.
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether departmental special advisers have written to external (a) bodies and (b) individuals in their official capacity since May 1997. [204286]
Mr. Caplin:
I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly) on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1004W.
4 Feb 2005 : Column 1178W
Swan Hunter
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Swan Hunter regarding a financial support package; and if he will make a statement. [212107]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 381W. The Ministry of Defence does not provide financial support to the defence industry.
The contract with Swan Hunter for the delivery of two Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) ships to the armed forces was recently amended following difficulties Swan Hunter had in meeting the original programme due to its underestimation of the engineering requirements in the design and construction of the ships. The £84 million revised contract does not offer the company a financial support package but one that offers the best value for money to the taxpayer in the delivery of these ships.
The lead department for policy relating to Government financial support to industry is the Department of Trade and Industry with the responsibility for funding decisions devolved to Regional Development Agencies.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |