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DEFENCE

A400M

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the A400M. [216552]

Mr. Ingram: A contract for the development and production of the A400M aircraft was signed with Airbus Military on 27 May 2003 by the Organisation for Joint Armaments Co-operation on behalf of the participating nations (Germany, France, Turkey, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom). The contract milestones are being achieved, and as previously announced, on 16 December 2003, Official Report, column 839W the aircraft's planned In-Service Date for UK is 2011.

Aircraft

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on aircraft research by his Department in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West since 1997. [216232]

Mr. Ingram: We recognise the importance of the aerospace industry in the North West, both to the Ministry of Defence and the wider economy. We have not placed any 'research' contracts with companies in
 
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the North West region but as my hon. Friend will be aware, the Ministry of Defence places a considerable volume of work with companies in the region on both new programmes and support for in-service aircraft. Much of the work on new programmes is classified as 'development', however, details on money spent on such programmes is not held centrally, and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Assault Cases

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of out-of-court settlements for assault cases involving members of the armed forces has been in the last 12 months; and how many cases this represents. [217799]

Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has paid compensation of £269,218 during the past 12 months in 15 out of court settlements for assault cases involving members of HM forces on the basis of the Department's primary or vicarious liability.

BAE

Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value was of the enabling contract for the Harrier Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Programme awarded to BAE Systems on 15 November 2004. [217385]

Mr. Ingram: £20.7 million.

Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Harrier GR7s are being upgraded at BAE Warton; and at what cost. [216319]

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely costs of (a) upgrading and (b) servicing fast jets at BAE Warton. [216882]

Mr. Ingram: At present nine Harrier aircraft are being modified at Warton. Three aircraft have already completed their modification. The 12 Harrier aircraft are being upgraded for a total cost of some £33 million (VAT exclusive).

Planned upgrades to bring all Tranche 1 Typhoon aircraft to the same standard are included in the production contract price. The majority of this work is likely to be carried out at BAE Warton. Subsequent upgrades have yet to be defined and costed.

Correspondence

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of letters sent in the current Parliament by defence Ministers to hon. Members following undertakings given in debates on the floor of the House, in Westminster Hall and in Standing Committee. [217995]

 
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Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence endeavours to routinely place copies of such letters in the Library of the House. Confirmation that this had been done in every instance since June 2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Counter-Mobility Capability

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on British counter-mobility capability; what progress has been made on the Mines in the Next Century project; and if he will make a statement. [216702]

Mr. Ingram: The counter-mobility capability for the British Army is currently provided by the Shielder scatterable mine system and the Barmine anti-tank mine. We are currently considering how the capability can be provided in future through the Future Counter Mobility Capability programme which draws together the requirements of the Mines in the Next Century programme, and a number of other counter-mobility programmes. This work is in its concept phase.

Future Surface Combatant

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the reasons were for the cancellation of the Future Surface Combatant project. [216106]

Mr. Ingram: The Future Surface Combatant (FSC) programme has not been cancelled. Some of the assumptions associated with this project, which is still at the concept stage, have changed as a result of the MOD's recent planning rounds. As a result, it was decided to disband the FSC Integrated Project Team and transfer the programme to the DPA Future Business Group.

Landing Ship Logistics

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original agreed contract price in relation to the contract with Swan Hunter (Tyneside) for the construction of Landing Ship Logistics (LSL) Largs Bay and Lyme Bay was; what the latest anticipated cost is; how much BAE Systems will be able to claim from the Department by reason of the failure of Swan Hunter to deliver design information to BAE Systems in relation to the two LSLs that that company is to build; whether his Department will claim from Swan Hunter in respect of its lateness in delivering design information on the LSLs; and which party under the terms of the original Swan Hunter contract undertook to accept the risk of the engineering requirements being greater than anticipated. [216889]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 21 February 2005]: The original contract price for the design and construction cost of the two Swan Hunter Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) ships, Largs Bay and Lyme Bay, was £148 million and the anticipated cost is now £235 million. The Ministry of Defence has made a provision of £40 million in the 2003–04 Accounts for delay and dislocation costs in respect to the two LSD(A)s that BAE Systems are building and has already paid £16 million as an initial payment. Negotiations continue on the final settlement figure with the company. As further disclosure could prejudice
 
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these negotiations I am withholding further information under the commercial interests exemption of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The MOD will not be pursuing a claim from Swan Hunter in respect of providing information to BAE Systems as this would seriously jeopardise company's ability to delivery the Landing Ship Dock Auxiliary capability. The Swan Hunter undertook the engineering risk in delivering against the original contract. However, in September 2003, when the company announced that it could not absorb the risk and complete the contract at the agreed price and timescale, both financial and timescale risks were in effect transferred to the MOD.

This new Landing Ship Dock Auxiliary class will provide a significantly enhanced capability that will enable the faster deployment of troops, vehicles and stores into operational and front line areas, at a safer distance and in worse sea conditions than the Landing Ships they will replace. The construction of Largs Bay and Lyme Bay is virtually complete and the retention of Swan Hunter as the lead yard offers MOD and the taxpayer the best value for money solution for delivering this new capability.

Military Aircraft Crashes

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military aircraft crashes have occurred in the UK in each year since 1993. [217294]

Mr. Caplin: The information requested is given in the following table:

	Number of air accidents
1993	12
1994	10
1995	10
1996	12
1997	9
1998	7
1999	12
2000	8
2001	(11)9
2002	8
2003	2
2004	6
Total	105

⁽¹¹⁾ This figure includes two USAF F15 aircraft.

The figures show air accidents in the UK and surrounding waters, resulting in category four or five damage. These are defined as: (Category 4)—damage to an aircraft that is not repairable on site because special facilities or equipment is unavailable; or (Category 5) damaged beyond economic repair. The figures exclude aircraft damage due to hostile action or ground accidents.

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