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6 Dec 2007 : Column 1405W—continued
Departmental Climate Change
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 to adapt to the effects of climate change as they affect his Departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [165258]
Derek Twigg: MOD is working with other Government Departments on the security implications of climate change. Underpinning this work is climate modelling by the Hadley Centre in the Met Office, a MOD Trading Fund, to predict future climates and assess their defence implications in strategically important regions.
The implications of climate change will be factored into the Department’s acquisition planning and future operating procedures to ensure that the armed forces can continue to perform effectively.
Climate change will also have consequences for the management of defence in the UK with some low lying sites vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding. Adaptation to climate change has therefore been embedded in the appraisal methodology and tools used on all estate-related plans, programmes, projects and activities.
The Department is not just preparing to adapt; we also recognise that we have an important role in mitigating climate change. Improvements in energy management and energy efficiency have delivered reductions in estate carbon dioxide emissions. We are on track to meet cross-Government targets for reducing these emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11 and by 30 per cent. by 2020 in line with our commitments under the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate.
Departmental Data Protection
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that personal information relating to members of the public is (a) stored and (b) transported securely. [168478]
Derek Twigg: I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments’ procedures will be made on completion of the review.
EU Defence Policy
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK services personnel wear EU insignia; and where those personnel are based. [170594]
Des Browne: Any UK military personnel seconded to the EU Military Staff or deployed on EU military missions may be required to wear EU insignia during the course of their duties.
18 UK military personnel are currently seconded to the EU Military Staff in Brussels. A further 19 military personnel are currently deployed on EU military missions: 13 in Bosnia Herzegovina; two in Sudan; and four in Paris as part of the proposed ESDP mission to Chad/Central African Republic, two of whom would deploy to Chad/Central African Republic as part of the Force Headquarters.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of the Head of the EU Command Element, Naples is; and to whom he reports. [170602]
Des Browne: The role of the Head of the EU Command Element in Naples is to work closely with NATO staffs based at the Naples NATO Joint Force Command on co-ordinating and deconflicting EU/NATO military issues in the Balkans, including the availability to the EU of NATO common assets and capabilities in support of the EU-led Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia-Herzegovina under the “Berlin Plus” arrangements. He reports to NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Command Europe in the latter’s capacity as Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA.
European Fighter Aircraft
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates the lifetime cost of Typhoon will be if the Government (a) complete the order for Tranche 3 and (b) cancels Tranche 3. [170641]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK has undertaken, through international MOU arrangements, to procure 232 Typhoon aircraft in three tranches. So far, the UK has contracted for the delivery of two tranches, comprising 144 aircraft. Decisions on Tranche 3 will be taken in due course, in conjunction with our partner nations, once we have analysed and considered the relevant information. The estimated cost of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme is commercially sensitive information which is protected in order to maintain our negotiating position for future acquisitions on the Typhoon programme. It is therefore inappropriate to speculate on the lifetime cost for either of the options outlined.
Future Large Aircraft
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the 25 airlift A400M aircraft is; and whether the order is on a fixed value contract. [170021]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
The current forecast cost of the UK A400M programme is £2,629 million. The contract is Fixed Price with the reference price expressed in 1998
Economic Conditions and subject to a Price Revision Formula based on the Eurostat Gross Domestic Product index.
Helicopters
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which occasions his Department leased helicopters from commercial contractors in each year since 2003; and what the cost was in each year. [169345]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Details of helicopters leased from commercial contractors since 2003 are given in the following table. All costs are exclusive of VAT.
Total costs in each financial year only have been included. I am withholding information about individual contract value as its release would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the age is of the oldest (a) Puma and (b) Chinook helicopters in operational military service. [171066]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 4 December 2007]: The oldest Puma helicopters in operational military service are XW198 and XW199, both having entered service in January 1971; they are 36 years old.
The oldest Chinook helicopter in operational military service is ZA670, having entered service in September 1980; it is 27 years old.
Hydrographic Office
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the UK Hydrographic Office’s budget was spent on (a) travel expenses and (b) marketing events and publications in 2006-07. [170842]
Derek Twigg: During financial year 2006-07, the percentage of the total gross operating costs, excluding interest, of the UK Hydrographic Office trading fund (i.e. excluding its non-public sector subsidiaries), was:
2.49 per cent. for travel and subsistence expenses;
1.26 per cent. on marketing events and publications.
For the purpose of this reply it has been assumed that publications relate to promotional materials, as opposed to the cost of navigational publications produced by the UK Hydrographic Office for sale.
Iraq
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 8 October 2007, Official Report, columns 21-25, on Iraq, whether service personnel relocated from Iraq to Kuwait will receive the (a) Operation Telic medal and (b) operational allowance. [169577]
Des Browne: The MOD is at an advanced stage in its arrangements concerning a regional support facility to support UK armed forces in south east Iraq but has yet formally to conclude the negotiation process. On eligibility for the operational allowance, I have nothing further to add to the response I gave to the hon. Gentleman during the defence policy debate on 16 October 2007, Official Report, column 720. The military chain of command is currently considering appropriate arrangements to recognise operational deployments to the region following the planned transfer of security responsibility for Basra to Provincial Iraqi control.
Kosovo: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) C-17 Globemaster, (b) C-130K Hercules, (c) C-130J Hercules, (d) Tristar and (e) VC-10 aircraft sorties were flown in support of the 2004 Spearhead Land Element’s deployment to Kosovo in March 2004. [170805]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 4 December 2007]: The number of sorties flown in support of the 2004 Spearhead Land Element’s deployment to Kosovo in March 2004 is as follows:
| Aircraft | Number of sorties |
Radioactive Materials
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide examples of the nuclear materials for which his Department makes special handling arrangements. [171104]
Des Browne: Examples include plutonium 239, uranium enriched in the isotope 235, and any material containing either of these materials.
RFAS IPT Category Management
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department has signed with RFAS IPT Category Management since 2003; and what the value was of each. [169883]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 3 December 2007]: The Category Management procurement process was introduced into the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Support Integrated Project Team in 2004 and the first contract to incorporate this process was placed in 2005. To date, 13 such contracts have been placed, as detailed in the following table:
| Contract | Value (£ million) |
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