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18 Oct 2005 : Column 894W—continued
Military Airfields (Deportation)
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which military airfields in the United Kingdom are used by aircraft that are transporting individuals who are being deported or otherwise involuntarily transferred from the United States to another country; [16676]
(2) what records are maintained by his Department of individuals who are deported or otherwise involuntarily transferred from the United States to another country, in instances where they are transported on flights which land in the United Kingdom. [16677]
Mr. Ingram:
The Ministry of Defence has not authorised, nor received any requests for, use of UK airspace, airports or air stations for this purpose.
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Nuclear Disarmament
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on nuclear disarmament. [18320]
John Reid: The UK is committed to disarmament as set out under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty and has taken a number of steps towards that goal. Among many measures, we have reduced the total explosive power of our nuclear forces by over 70 per cent. since the end of the cold war. The UK is firmly committed to multilateral negotiations towards mutual, balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons and has taken a number of other proactive steps in the spirit of our obligations. When we are satisfied with progress towards our goal of the global elimination of nuclear weapons we will ensure that the remaining British nuclear weapons are included in negotiations.
Procurement Review
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many official submissions on topics and issues to be taken into account have been received, since his Department first announced a procurement review on 26 August; and how many of these have been submitted by (a) industry and business, (b) trade unions, (c) non-governmental organisations and (d) the general public. [17659]
Mr. Ingram: Since the announcement of the work on the Defence Industrial Strategy on the 26 August, the Ministry of Defence has received:
These do not include informal exchanges (such as those conducted via e-mail) with industry and trade associations around the DIS process, of which there have also been a large number.
Ministers and officials have also had the opportunity to hear at first hand the views of industry—both at the individual company and wider sectoral level—during the numerous meetings that have been conducted over the same period.
Although Ministers and officials have met with trade union representatives on a number of occasions to discuss the DIS, no formal inputs have been received from them as yet.
More information can be found on the Defence Industrial Strategy website which includes a public forum, and can be found at http://www.mod.uk/issues/industry/
QinetiQ
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether surplus research and related funding from the Department to QinetiQ can be used for commercial purposes. [16834]
Mr. Ingram:
There is no surplus research and related funding. However, as with all other external suppliers, if QinetiQ makes a profit on Ministry of Defence-tasked
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work it is able to use this for commercial purposes. Similarly, the ownership of the Intellectual Property generated by QinetiQ, and other research providers, is normally invested in the company carrying out the research. As such (subject to national security implications), research providers may use the knowledge generated by them for wider commercial purposes, furthering national wealth creation.
RAF Innsworth
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent action he has taken to secure (a) a tenant and (b) a purchaser for the RAF Innsworth site; and if he will make a statement. [18491]
Mr. Touhig [holding answer 17 October 2005]: The RAF Innsworth site has not been declared surplus to MOD requirements. Were it to be so, Defence Estates (DE) would first offer the site to other Government Departments and agencies by means of English Partnerships' (EP) register. This is done before considering the former owner position or offering the property for sale on the open market. Against this background it would be premature to seek out potential tenants or purchasers.
Royal Irish Regiment
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Home Service part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment have (a) up to five, (b) more than five, (c) more than 10, (d) more than 15, (e) more than 20, (f) more than 25 and (g) more than 30 years' service. [17674]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 14 October 2005]: The length of service for Royal Irish (Home Service) part-time officers and soldiers (as at 1 August 2005) is as follows (data subjected to rounding):
| Years | Number |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | 130 |
| 5 to 10 | 270 |
| 10 to 15 | 410 |
| 15 to 20 | 160 |
| 20 to 25 | 90 |
| 25 to 30 | 60 |
| 30+ | 50 |
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the details of the redundancy and resettlement packages to be made available to full-time and part-time members of the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment. [17675]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 14 October 2005]: We have now received responses from several of the Northern Ireland political parties in response to our invitation for views on how those Home Service officers and soldiers currently serving might, should they wish, contribute to the UK's future Defence commitments, and on redundancy and resettlement provision that might be made for those who leave the armed forces. These views are currently being considered as part of our on-going work to finalise an appropriate package.
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We recognise that members of the Home Service Battalions are anxious to know the outcome of this work and our planning is continuing as a matter of urgency. A substantive announcement will be made as soon as this work is complete, but I cannot give a date at this stage.
UK Maritime Industrial Strategy
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effects he expects collaboration with the French on the future aircraft carriers to have on the UK's maritime industrial strategy. [15395]
Mr. Ingram: Work is continuing in consultation with industry to develop a Maritime Industrial Strategy (MIS) with the aim of improving industrial performance, quality and efficiency, reducing MOD costs and determining how best to sustain the UK's naval maritime industrial capability and in particular those elements deemed important under the emerging Defence Industrial Strategy.
Given that both we and France are embarking on major, complex carrier procurement projects, we are examining areas of mutual benefit and opportunities to deliver economies. Co-operation through industry-to-industry links may offer potential benefits to both sides and they are still assessing what these might be. It is for industry to put forward proposals which will be judged on their merits and in light of national policies.
Waiting Times
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to monitor treatment waiting times for servicemen and women who are referred from military primary care to NHS consultants. [18473]
Mr. Touhig: Servicemen or women can be referred from military primary care to NHS consultants via two routes. The first is through Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs), where waiting times are monitored using contracts held by Director Healthcare, part of the Defence Medical Services Department.
Alternatively, if a patient has been treated in a non-MDHU hospital, Single Service primary care organisations monitor waiting times either centrally or at the individual practice level.
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