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28 Jun 2005 : Column 1399W—continued
Portsmouth Nuclear Accident Plan
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what enhancements to the Portsmouth nuclear accident plan are necessary to cover vessels powered by nuclear reactors manoeuvring around the City of Portsmouth at the same time during Trafalgar 200 at the Review of the Fleet on 28 June; and if he will make a statement. [6796]
Mr. Ingram: Safety of visits to the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth (DPP) by Nuclear Powered Warships (NPW's) is assured by adherence to the Nuclear Site Safety Justification (NSSJ), which covers safe systems of work for the arrival, transit and anchoring of a single NPW within the waters of the DPP. It also describes the safety management arrangements and contingency plans that are in place to minimise risk, and has been approved by the Ministry of Defence's Naval Nuclear Regulatory Panel (NNRP). In addition to the NSSJ and in accordance with the requirements under the independent national regulations, Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations (REPPIR) 2001, a Report of Assessment (ROA) of Hazard Identification and Risk Evaluation (HIRE) has been conducted that identifies the requirement for an emergency plan. The City of Portsmouth is covered by a detailed plan (PORTSAFE), which has been exercised and tested under REPPIR.
In recognising the additional risk associated with the attendance at the International Fleet Review of more that one NPW, a Special Safety Statement (SSS) has been produced that enhances the measures contained in the NSSJ. It deals with factors such as increased maritime traffic, transient changes in population, event activities and the battle re-enactments. It has been approved by the MOD's NNRP and has been accepted by the Portsmouth Nuclear Site Safety Committee, and the Nuclear Works and Services Authorisation Group (NWSAG), which comprises both MOD and independent expert advisers. Enhancements to PORTSAFE are not required due to the distance that the visiting NPWs will be anchored from residential areas. This has been agreed by the regulatory and local authorities.
Race Relations (Amendment) Act
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to ensure that bodies within the responsibility of his Department comply with the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. [3544]
Mr. Touhig: The Ministry of Defence complies with its obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 by the publication of a Race Equality Scheme (RES) and the production of annual progress reports against the scheme. The RES and the annual progress reports are published and in the public domain. The Department's RES covers its civilian work force (including Trading Funds), the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence police.
RAF Innsworth
Peter Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for the tri-service medal office of the proposed changes at RAF
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Innsworth; and if he will make it his policy to relocate the office to available property belonging to his department in Droitwich Spa. [6993]
Mr. Touhig: The RAF Innsworth site is home to a number of elements of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) including the Ministry of Defence Medal Office. AFPAA will be conducting an investment appraisal into the relocation of all AFPAA activities located at Innsworth. The result of this will not be known until at least the end of this year. The MOD is proceeding with closure works for the Droitwich Spa estate.
Royal Navy Ships (Berth Availability)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast availability is of the Z berth in Malabar, Bermuda, for Royal Navy ships. [6590]
Mr. Ingram: The Z berth in Bermuda is currently available as a facility for visiting RN submarines. There are no changes forecast to that arrangement.
Surface Fleet
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the configuration of the planned surface fleet is for (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014; and if he will make a statement. [6477]
Mr. Ingram: Our plans for the surface fleet are set out on page 18 of Delivering Security in a Changing World (Future Capabilities) (Cm 6269)", presented to the House by the Secretary of State for Defence in July 2004.
Territorial Army
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the long-term future of Territorial Army centres in Lancashire. [6370]
Mr. Touhig: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 18W, to the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Wallace). I will ensure that the hon. Friend is informed of the outcome of current work on rebalancing the Territorial Army in due course.
Trafalgar Celebrations
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what events his Department is organising in Gibraltar to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar; and how many ships will visit as part of Trafalgar 200. [7201]
Mr. Ingram:
A programme of events is planned to take place in Gibraltar during the weekend of 28–30 October 2005 to commemorate the close historic links between Gibraltar and Nelson's victory. In addition to a traditional service of remembrance at the Trafalgar cemetery, these will include a Nelson exhibition, Beating Retreat and reception, and a Royal Navy Ceremonial Guard Mount at His Excellency the
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Governor's residence. The Royal Navy will also be invited to exercise their Freedom of the City privileges. A Royal Navy destroyer has also programmed to visit Gibraltar to partake in the commemorations.
In the UK, the Royal Navy is organising a special programme of events for this year, which is being coordinated with other events as part of the SeaBritain and Trafalgar Festival initiatives to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for (a) launching and (b) controlling the proposed Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle system from Royal Navy ships. [6793]
Mr. Ingram:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on the use of UAVs at sea on 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 334W.
28 Jun 2005 : Column 1402W
Uzbekistan
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have been on training exercises in Uzbekistan in each year since 1997; and what the nature was of those training exercises. [6996]
Mr. Ingram: United Kingdom forces have undertaken one exercise in Uzbekistan since 1997, a company-level peacekeeping exercise which took place from 11–25 September 2004. The 146-person UK element was drawn from the Territorial Army.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have been stationed in Uzbekistan for the purposes of training Uzbek military personnel in each year since 1997; and what the cost was of providing this training. [6997]
Mr. Ingram: There are no United Kingdom personnel permanently stationed in Uzbekistan specifically for the purposes of training Uzbek military personnel. However, the UK has sent British Military Advisory and Training Teams (BMATTs) to Uzbekistan in recent years, to provide training to the Uzbek armed forces, as follows:
Wormwood Scrubs Act
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements there are under the Wormwood Scrubs Act 1879, as amended, for his Department to be consulted should a local authority propose carrying out works that might impede access to open space. [6773]
Mr. Touhig: Use of Wormwood Scrubs is governed by the Wormwood Scrubs Act 1879 and a Memorandum of Agreement dated 1 October 1980.
Under the Act, all development proposals, which affect Wormwood Scrubs must be referred to the Ministry of Defence for agreement. As trustees of the Scrubs, the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham are aware of this agreement and have complied with it in the past, most recently in 2001. The Ministry of Defence uses the Scrubs for training.
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