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8 Dec 2005 : Column 1494W—continued

DEFENCE

Aircraft Landing Rights

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 2001 US-registered aircraft tail number (a) N44982, formerly N8068V and N379P and (b) N313P has landed in the United Kingdom; and at which military airfields. [33247]

Mr. Ingram: The information requested has not been recorded centrally over the last five years and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Aldermaston

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will amend the 25 year contract for the running of AWE Aldermaston, in relation to the number of shares held by each member of the consortium. [34868]

 
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John Reid: The AWE contract does not stipulate the shareholding of individual consortium members.

Al-Yamamah Programme

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the 1992 National Audit Office report into charges of corruption by BAE Systems in connection with the al-Yamamah programme; and if he will make a statement. [34830]

John Reid [holding answer 5 December 2005]: I assume the question refers to the 1992 National Audit Office report on the Ministry of Defence's involvement in the al-Yamamah programme. The report refers to confidential arrangements between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

The then Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee decided that the NAO report should not be published and that it should be handled on a highly restricted basis. In a review by the parliamentary ombudsman January 2003–04, the ombudsman concluded that

I am satisfied that the NAO report is covered by parliamentary privilege and that the decision as to whether or not to disclose the report is properly a matter for Parliament."

In considering the report, the then PAC chairman stated

I did an investigation and I find no evidence that the MOD made improper payments. I have found no evidence of fraud or corruption. The deal ... complied with Treasury approval and the rules of Government accounting."

Anglo-Polish Navy Exercises

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will attend one of the joint Anglo-Polish navy exercises in 2006. [33889]

Mr. Ingram: At present, I have no plans to attend one of the joint Anglo-Polish navy exercises in 2006.

Armed Services (Recruitment)

Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what terms of reference were used to scope options for (a) collection and (b) management of data concerning the potential recruitment pool for the armed services; and what steps were taken to investigate the availability of independent experts to conduct this research. [26275]

Mr. Touhig: The armed forces conducts a range of research as part of its recruit marketing operation. All market research and collection and management of response-driven data is carried out via the Central Office of Information using their agency roster. This ensures that independent experts carry out this function on behalf of the Services.

DARA (St. Athan)

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will meet representatives of the Amicus trade union to discuss the potential for future defence contracts being awarded to the Defence Aviation Repair Agency, St. Athan. [31388]

 
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Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has already met with Derek Simpson, the General Secretary, from the Amicus Trade Union to discuss the future of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency site at St. Athan.

Defence Headquarters

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to collocate HQ Land Command and HQ Adjutant-General; and how he intends to announce his plans. [35720]

Mr. Ingram: Work to consider the benefits of rationalisation and collocation of the two main Army HQs—HQ Land Command (currently based in Wilton) and HQ Adjutant-General (currently based in Upavon)— is ongoing. The Army is currently determining the possible size and structure of the new HQ organisation and, in parallel, assessing a number of local site options. We expect to know the outcome of this analysis in early 2006 and then to inform the House accordingly. Staff and the trade unions are being kept closely in touch with developments and formal consultation will commence in 2006.

Departmental Finance

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) his Department's output categories for financial years (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06 and (b) the STPO5 Overseas Security and Policy Paper. [32703]

John Reid: Schedule 5 of the Departmental Resource Accounts sets out costs by Departmental aims and objectives. These are in effect high-level output categories. Data for financial year 2004–05 were published on 28 October 2005 and copies of the relevant accounts have been placed in the Library of the House. On current plans, the format of Schedule 5 of the Resource Accounts is unlikely to change for financial year 2005–06.

I am unable to place a copy of the Overseas Security and Policy Paper in the Library of the House as it is a confidential document and its release would prejudice the formulation of Government policy and have a detrimental impact on international relations.

EU Arms Embargoes

Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many countries are members of the NATO Partnership for Peace programme and also the subject of an EU arms embargo. [30868]

Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply.

There is only one country (Uzbekistan) that is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Partnership for Peace Programme and also the subject of an EU arms embargo. The embargo was agreed on 14 November 2005.

Ground-based Air Defence

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans for future ground-based air defence. [34363]

 
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Mr. Ingram: We remain committed to delivering an effective Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capability to meet envisaged threats. From 2008 GBAD capability will be delivered by the Army, deploying Rapier Field Standard C and the High Velocity Missile, with a Joint Headquarters located at RAF High Wycombe.

Helicopters

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Lynx AH 7 and (b) Lynx AH 9 helicopters are fit for operations; what his plans are for the cannibalisation of army and navy helicopters during the next 12 months; and how many (i) Lynx AH 7 and (ii) Lynx AH 9 helicopters have been cannibalised in the last two years. [33405]

Mr. Ingram: In October 2005, 31 Lynx AH Mk 7 and eight Lynx AH Mk 9 helicopters were defined as Fit for Purpose (FFP). As stated in my answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 120W, the numbers of helicopters that have been cannibalised is not held centrally. Records are maintained only of the total number of times that cannibalisation has taken place. The following table shows this information for Lynx AH Mk 7 and Mk 9, for the periods November 2003 to October 2004 and for November 2004 to October 2005.

	Aircraft type
Total cannibalizations	Lynx AH Mk 7	Lynx AH Mk 9
November 2003-October 2004	463	37
November 2004-October 2005	573	108
Last two years	1,036	145

All instances of cannibalisation of Royal Navy, Army and RAF helicopters are authorised and undertaken in accordance with clearly defined regulations. This process will continue to be employed where appropriate.

Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) Project

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many design changes have been made to the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) Project by (a) BAE Systems and (b) Swan Hunter; and what has been the cost to his Department of these changes. [34030]

Mr. Ingram: As the Design Authority for the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) Programme, Swan Hunter have considered numerous proposals for design changes as part of the ship building process. The costs are part of the price of the Swan Hunter contract. Some of the design changes have led to claims from BAES for delay and dislocation to their shipbuilding programme, not all of these claims have been resolved and therefore a revised contract price for BAES is not yet available.

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