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21 Feb 2005 : Column 252W—continued

RAF Lossiemouth

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) RAF personnel and (b) civilian personnel were relocated each month from RAF
 
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Lossiemouth from September 2004 to February 2005, including where they were relocated to and what tasks they had previously been assigned to at RAF Lossiemouth; and if he will make a statement. [217275]

Mr. Caplin: None.

Russia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the (a) technical and (b) tactical advances offered to the armed forces of Russia by the Bulava (SS-N-30) missile; and if he will make a statement. [216715]

Mr. Hoon: Bulava is reported to be a new solid propellant submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which has been under development in Russia for several years and has a reported maximum range of approx 8000km. When it enters service, probably in a new class of submarine, it will supplement and eventually replace older SLBMs, thus enabling Russia to maintain its sea-based strategic nuclear capability. Although not expected to provide Russia with a greater capability in terms of range, Bulava is likely to incorporate more modern materials and technology than currently deployed systems.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of (a) the Russian Kh-555 conventional missile and (b) what (i) technical and (ii) tactical advances this missile offers over the Kh-55 Granat missile; and if he will make a statement. [216716]

Mr. Hoon: The Kh-555 is Russia's new conventionally armed air-launched cruise missile and is based on the Kh-55 nuclear-armed cruise missile that was developed during the cold war. Both missiles are expected to be carried by Tu-95 Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack bombers.

The Kh-555 has been in development for a number of years. The nuclear warhead is replaced by a 500 kg class conventional warhead. These changes are likely to reduce the range of the Kh-555 to 2,500–3,000 km compared to the Kh-55 range of 3,000–3,500 km.

When fully integrated into operational units, the Kh-555 will provide Russia with the ability to strike high-priority targets with precision from long ranges.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of Russia's supersonic anti-ship cruise missile capabilities; and if he will make a statement. [216717]

Mr. Hoon: The Ministry of Defence maintains a continuous assessment of Russia's supersonic anti-ship missile capability. Russia has a credible supersonic anti-ship missile capability to engage surface warships at long range (greater than 100 km). A number of these systems are very old, as are the ships that carry them, and they are expected to be phased out over the next decade. New more capable systems are being developed.

Scottish Regiments

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) where the Royal Regiment of Scotland will have its (a) headquarters and (b) museum; [212108]
 
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(2) what plans he has for the current Scottish Regimental Headquarters and museums. [212109]

Mr. Caplin: The future location of the regimental headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Scotland is yet to be determined.

There is likely to be a study on how the Scottish museums can best represent the antecedent regiments and the new regiment. It is too early to provide definitive advice on the future arrangements for these museums.

Sickness Absence

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of sick days taken by staff in the Department. [216530]

Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence is fully committed to taking forward the findings and delivery plan stemming from the joint Cabinet Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Health and Safety Executive initiative 'Managing Absence in the Public Sector'.

We are undertaking a thorough review of our approach to managing absence and the requirement for occupational health advice. In the meantime, a new e-enabled sick absence reporting process is to be implemented from April 2005. As well as improving the accuracy of sick absence reporting, this reinforces the responsibilities for all involved in the absence process. We have robust procedures for the management of short-term absence to tackle poor attendance. A lifestyle screening programme is available to all civilian staff, which monitors major health risk factors and provides advice on how risks can be reduced.

Staff Identity Cards

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997. [215087]

Mr. Caplin: In the Ministry of Defence, all service personnel are issued with a service identity card, which is used to access all but the most sensitive areas. MOD civilians are not routinely issued with identity cards but are instead provided with a site-specific security pass. The present cost of producing either type of pass is approximately £4 per card. Information on how many passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, records are available for 2003 and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 January 2004, Official Report, column 371W, to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten).

Suez Canal Zone Medal

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the application for a Suez Canal Zone Medal of Mr. Samuel Hill of Whitburn, West Lothian, referred to in the letter of 27 April 2004 from the Parliamentary
 
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Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, reference 1670/04/A, will be processed. [216912]

Mr. Caplin: Mr. Hill's Service Records were received by the Canal Zone Section at the Army Medal Office this week and a check of his eligibility for the medal carried out. I can confirm that he qualified for the General Service Medal 1918–62 with the clasp Canal Zone and arrangements have been made to have his Service details engraved on a new medal which will be despatched to him shortly.

Trident

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects the UK to make a decision on a replacement for the Trident nuclear weapons system in the next Parliament. [209882]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 20 January 2005]: I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 3.11 of the 2003 Defence White Paper (Cm 6041-I).

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost per year of maintenance for one Trident nuclear submarine has been since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [216714]

Mr. Hoon: The data required to answer the question is not held centrally or in a standard format and it will take time to prepare a substantive response. I will therefore write to the hon. Member in due course and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Clergy (Employment Rights)

23. Mr. Edwards: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what progress is being made in granting employment rights to clergy. [217010]

Sir Stuart Bell: Last Tuesday the General Synod debated the group's second report and welcomed the recommendation that employment rights under section 23 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 be granted to all clergy. The report was commended to the wider Church for comment and an implementation group will be set up to bring forward legislation.

Hunting Act

Paul Flynn: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what action the Church Commissioners have taken to ensure that their tenants comply with the Hunting Act 2004. [217011]

Sir Stuart Bell: The Commissioners expect their tenants to obey the law and would not condone any breach of the hunting ban. Any such breach would be a matter for the police.


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