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6 Dec 2005 : Column 1102W—continued

Former Warsaw Pact Countries

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list those former Warsaw pact countries belonging to NATO which have made information available (a) bilaterally to the United Kingdom, (b) to NATO and (c) by means of general publication revealing former Soviet plans to use (i) nuclear and (ii) conventional weapons in Europe; [34194]

(2) if he take steps, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to obtain the material aboutformer Soviet plans for (a) nuclear and (b) conventional warfare in Europe released by the Polish Government and publish translations in English of this material. [34195]

John Reid: Former Soviet plans for the use of nuclear and conventional weapons in Europe are of historic interest only. The Ministry of Defence have not therefore attempted to draw together information made available by former Warsaw pact countries; to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

We are aware that the Polish Government have recently released information about former Soviet plans for the use of nuclear weapons in Europe. However, as this information is considered to be of historic interest only, the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have no plans to publish translations of this information.

Future Aircraft Carrier

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons Ministers in his Department have ceased to identify the target in-service dates for each Future Aircraft Carrier as 2012 and 2015; [33616]

(2) if he will make a statement on changes in the targetin-service dates for each of the Future Aircraft Carriers. [33615]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 December 2005, Official Report, column 818W.

HMS Sheffield

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1409W, on HMS Sheffield, whether the departmental files that are under review also contain all the reports that were written by the HMS Sheffield veterans on board the tanker British Elsk while on passage from the Falkland Islands to Ascension Island; and if he will make a statement. [34849]

Mr. Ingram: Witness statements are held on file from all but one of the surviving members of HMS Sheffield's crew.
 
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Jet Emissions

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that carbon emissions from military jets are offset by carbon reducing programmes. [33360]

Mr. Touhig: The Government are committed to offsetting carbon dioxide emissions from central Government civilian air travel from April 2006. Defra are developing a strategy for an offsetting scheme across Government. The MOD is currently working with Defra to identify how best to contribute to this.

Joint Combat Aircraft

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent information he has received about whether the United States intends to develop the STOVL variant of the Joint Combat Aircraft; and what assessment he has made of the effect on plans for (a) the Future Aircraft Carriers and (b) the RAF if the STOVL variant were cancelled. [33618]

Mr. Ingram: Development of the STOVL variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which is the solution to the UK Joint Combat Aircraft requirement, continues as planned. Assembly of the first STOVL development aircraft has commenced with its first flight planned for late 2007. It is too early to say what will emerge from the US Quadrennial Defence Review (QDR). So far as the STOVL JSF is concerned, however, while there is no doubt that it will remain under close scrutiny as the development programme transitions into production, we are not aware of any delay as a result of the QDR.

Lynx Helicopter

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to sign the contract for the Future Lynx helicopter; and when he expects it to enter service; [32715]

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence the service entry planning assumption target date is for the Future Lynx project; and what provisions he has made for (a) naval and (b) Amy helicopter capability until the Future Lynx enters service. [33404]

Mr. Ingram: The Future Lynx is our preferred procurement option to meet the Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft and Battlefield Reconnaissance helicopter requirements. This is, however, subject to continuing negotiations with the company, and the main investment decision has not yet been taken. While the Department will consider a number of planning assumptions for in-service dates when conducting assessment studies on projects, actual in-service dates are not set until projects achieve their main gate approval. If we decide to proceed with FLynx its entry into service will be coordinated with the progressive withdrawal from service of the current Lynx aircraft.

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has visited wounded soldiers since May; and in which locations. [33402]

 
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John Reid: I visited wounded soldiers at Shaibah field hospital in Iraq on 17 May and again on 2 December. My ministerial colleagues have also visited wounded soldiers on four occasions since May:

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans visited wounded soldiers at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) in Birmingham on 8 September. This was in a private capacity and was part of a wider official visit.

My right hon. Friend the Minster for the Armed Forces visited wounded soldiers at RCDM on 14 June.

My noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement visited wounded soldiers at RCDM on 18 November, and visited Shaibah field hospital in early July.

With regard to support for wounded servicemen and women, the Government's priority has been to provide the best possible medical care to injured personnel, giving them the peace and quiet needed to allow a speedy recovery. It is the emotional support provided by friends and family that is of most importance to our injured soldiers. The Government supplement this through the wide range of welfare services made available by the Ministry of Defence.

MOD Contracts

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the audit clauses contained in contracts between the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems agreed over the past two years. [33920]

Mr. Ingram: A number of defence contract conditions (DEFCONS) provide for audits or investigations to be conducted in a variety of circumstances during and after the contract period, mainly for pricing, quality assurance and government property holdings purposes. Audits are conducted by the appropriate MOD integrated project team staffer authority, such as the pricing and forecasting group, defence quality assurance authority or directorate of internal audit.

Information about the clauses contained in the 639 contracts between the MOD and BAE Systems and its divisions agreed over the past two financial years is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, a 'Conditions guide' and a copy of each DEFCON, along with other commercial policy information, are available through the Commercial Toolkit at www.ams.mod.uk. I will place a copy of the 'Guide' in the Library of the House.

Naval Rules of Engagement

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the rules of engagement under which the Royal Navy ships operate in the Mediterranean to deal with (a) threats of terrorism, (b) drugs and arms running and (c) the smuggling of illegal immigrants; and if he will make a statement. [33712]

Mr. Ingram: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment in detail on the rules of engagement under which our armed forces operate.
 
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Royal Ordnance

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1092W on Royal Ordnance, from which country each of the munitions listed are to be sourced. [32744]

Mr. Ingram: BAE Systems Land Systems remain responsible for the alternative sourcing of items previously manufactured at their Bridgwater and Chorley sites, and for maintaining overall security of supply. The company is examining a range of alternative sources for the products, both at home and overseas. The details are a matter for the company.

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