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21 Nov 2005 : Column 1569W—continued
Royal Ordnance Factory (Chorley)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings the Minister of State has had with (a) Royal Ordnance and (b) the Transport and General Workers Union to discuss the proposed closure of the Royal Ordnance factory at Chorley. [28010]
Mr. Ingram:
None. Closure of BAEs Chorley is a matter forBAEs.
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St. Helena
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential military use of an airport on St. Helena by (a) the UK and (b) the US; what representations he has received on this matter from the US authorities; and if he will make a statement. [29430]
Mr. Ingram: There has been no assessment made of the potential military use of an airport on St. Helena by the UK or the US. No representations have been received by the UK Government from the US authorities on this matter.
Staff Discipline
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees have been dismissed by his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [29124]
Mr. Touhig: The following table gives details of the number of Ministry of Defence civilian employees dismissed in each of the financial years 2000–01 to 2004–05.
| Financial year | Headcount |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 160 |
| 2001–02 | 160 |
| 2002–03 | 150 |
| 2003–04 | 150 |
| 2004–05 | 190 |
Note:
This table uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (www.dasa.mod.uk). But auxiliary and locally engaged civilian staff for whom no information on civilian dismissals is available.
Temporary Fire-fighting Duties
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of using British troops for temporary fire-fighting duties in each of the last 10 years. [27616]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has provided military assistance in the form of temporary fire-fighting duties on 16 occasions during the last 10 years. In certain cases no strikes took place and MOD incurred costs for contingency planning and preparation only; these are marked with an asterisk. Additional costs are normally recovered from the requesting Department.
(14) Costs not yet available.
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Territorial Army
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the review of the Territorial Army to report. [29513]
Mr. Touhig: I expect to receive a report on the review of the Territorial Army before the end of the year.
Trident
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the process will be leading to a decision on the replacement of Trident; and in what ways he expects Parliament to be involved. [29591]
John Reid: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 14 October 2005, Official Report, column 619W, to the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Mr. Moore).
Warrior Armoured Vehicle
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the UK's Warrior armoured vehicle fleet are unavailable for active service. [29225]
Mr. Ingram: There are currently 794 Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles in the Departmental fleet. As at 16 November 2005 164 of these are classed as not immediately available. However, 115 of these vehicles are undergoing only minor repair and they would be made available should the operational situation require it. The remaining 49 vehicles are those programmed for routine maintenance or requiring in depth repair and in this respect are classed as not being available for active service.
Warships
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1264W, on warships, what services are being provided by Swan Hunter to BAE Systems for £62 million in support of the two Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) vessels being built; and if he will list the major items of lead yard equipment and services. [28333]
Mr. Ingram:
Swan Hunter, as the Lead Yard Supplier of services and equipment provide BAE Systems with information for: Pricing and Planning; Design and Build; Trials, Test and Setting to work; Jigs and Tools; Acceptance and Approvals; Support Documentation. The company also provides Design, Technical and
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Management Services, and Material Ordering and Supply. The greater part of the cost is for many items of equipment.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1264W, on warships, how much of the £11 million for initial spares provisioning for the four Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) vessels is to be paid to Swan Hunter; and what the schedule for such payments is. [28334]
Mr. Ingram: Swan Hunter is contractually responsible for the provision of all initial spares for the four Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) vessels. Consequently all payments are made to the company upon delivery of each batch received, for which the aggregated contract value is £11 million. The majority of which have now been paid.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1264W, on warships, when he expects discussions with Swan Hunter and BAE Systems over further cost increases to the Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) contract to be completed; and when he expects to be able to publish details of those further cost increases. [28336]
Mr. Ingram: Discussions with both companies are continuing with an aim of concluding them as soon as possible. I will be in a position to make a statement when they are completed.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1264W, on warships, when the decision was taken to make payments to Swan Hunter of £62 million in relation to BAE Systems' ships; and when these payments were made. [28337]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence agreed contract amendments with Swan Hunter in May 2001 and June 2001, for the provision of Lead Yard Services to support the build of a further two Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) vessels. A further contract amendment was agreed with the company in March 2002, for the provision of Lead Yard Equipment. Payments have been made on a regular basis using the milestone payment scheme.
Widescreen Televisions
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by his Department for use in Whitehall Headquarters in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each year. [21097]
Mr. Ingram:
The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, as part of the Ministry of Defence Head Office building refurbishment, five widescreen televisions were purchased in financial year 2001–02 at a total cost of £12,500, and 134 at a total cost of £348,000 in financial year 2003–04.
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