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24 Jan 2008 : Column 2137W—continued
Bulldog is an upgrade of the FV430 rather than a brand new vehicle. The conversion programme is due to be completed by 31 March 2011.
The initial tranche of Mastiff deliveries are complete, less four ambulance variants due to be completed and delivered by the end of January 2008. We are ordering an additional tranche of Mastiff vehicles, as announced by the Prime Minister on 7 October 2007.
AWE Burghfield: Floods
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the flood risk to the (a) High Security Area, (b) Nuclear Licensed Site Area and (c) remainder of the site at AWE Burghfield; what flooding has occurred at the site since July 2007; what representations he has received from the Environment Agency since that time; and if he will make a statement. [181048]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The risk of flooding is addressed in the nuclear licence safety case for the AWE Burghfield site, which does not differentiate between areas. The safety case assessment concludes that such an event would not compromise safety at the site although there would likely be an impact on business continuity. A programme of review is therefore under way to determine what, if any, improvements might be introduced.
No flooding has occurred at AWE Burghfield since July 2007. The Environment Agency has made no representations to the MOD on these matters. The nuclear site licensee, AWE plc, continues to advise the regulators of its plans through regular routine engagement.
AWE Management
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) name, (b) function, (c) estimated cost and (d) projected in-service date is of each of the 23 new build projects in the Atomic Weapons Establishment Site Development Context Plan 2005 to 2015. [181444]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 January 2008, Official Report, column 29W.
AWE Management: Trident Missiles
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the Atomic Weapons Establishment manufactured (a) any new Trident warheads and (b) any new plutonium pits in 2007; [181065]
(2) when the Atomic Weapons Establishment plans to end the production of (a) new Trident warheads of the current design and (b) new plutonium pits of the current design. [181066]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information requested as its release would or would be, likely to prejudice national security and defence of the UK.
Chad: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether transportation and lodging of military forces in support of the European Security and Defence
Policy mission to Chad will be financed by the EU or its member states under the costs lie where they fall principle. [179673]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The EU-led mission to Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) will be funded in accordance with the ATHENA funding mechanism approved by the Council of the European Union in 2004 and as subsequently amended. The mechanism defines which aspects of EU-led military operations are eligible for common funding by member states.
The incremental costs of deploying elements of the Force HQ to and from the theatre of operations, and associated lodging of Force HQ staff, are eligible for common funding. The costs of deployment and lodging of force elements commanded by the Force HQ are met by the member states that provide the forces on a “costs lie where they fall” basis. A budget request will be submitted by the Operation Commander for the Chad/CAR operation for scrutiny by the ATHENA Special Committee during January 2008 before a resulting budget is approved.
Defence Equipment and Support Organisation: Finance
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2007, Official Report, column 774W, on Defence Equipment and Support Organisation: finance, what the reasons are for the difference between the expenditure figure provided against financial year 2006-07 and that declared on the home page of the Defence Equipment and Support Organisation’s website. [180318]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 21 January 2008]: The rounded £16,000 million annual budget figure for financial year 2006-07, as shown on the Defence Equipment and Support Organisation’s website, encompasses both equipment and non-equipment resource expenditure. This includes manpower, overhead costs and indirect non-cash resource costs such as cost of capital charges on assets and depreciation.
The figure of £12,130 million for financial year 2006-07, as detailed in my answer of 13 December 2007, Official Report, column 774W, was for spend on equipment programmes only, including expenditure on all equipment additions, equipment support (including Stock Consumption and Post Design Services), PFI Service Charges and IT and Communications.
Departmental ICT
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) male and (b) female members of staff in his Department were issued with personal digital assistants in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [181354]
Derek Twigg: Records of personal digital assistants are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Firearms Act 1968
Mr. Hoban:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions the Defence Council has granted an authority to (a) possess, (b) acquire, (c)
manufacture, (d) transfer and (e) sell items under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 in each of the last 10 years; [180242]
(2) on how many occasions the Defence Council has revoked an authority to (a) possess, (b) acquire, (c) manufacture, (d) transfer and (e) sell items under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 in each of the last 10 years. [180243]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: None. The Defence Council has no role in granting or revoking authorities under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.
Fuels: Finance
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely savings to the defence budget achievable through the adoption of fuel hedging. [176289]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Fuel hedging would not in the medium or long term necessarily provide any direct savings to the defence budget. However, it would reduce the impact of price changes.
“Government Accounting” precludes the use of fuel hedging to seek savings to the defence budget as this would involve speculation with taxpayers’ money.
Land Mines
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what pre-deployment training is provided for (a) mine detection and (b) personnel extraction from minefields. [181042]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: All personnel deploying either as an individual replacement (IR), or as part of a formed unit undertake extensive training in mine awareness and minefield immediate action drills. These are as follows:
(a) a 45 minute lecture on the threat of mines, specific to the theatre they are deploying to;
(b) a 60 minute practical lesson (demonstration and practice) at identifying mines or potentially mined areas and how to extract themselves and their team from a minefield or mined area;
(c) further opportunities to practise mine awareness and extraction drills including during the Confirmatory Training Exercise at Stanford Training Area (STANTA) where individuals are assessed on their assimilation of these drills;
(d) “sweep up” training focused on areas where weakness or misunderstanding is identified.
On arrival in theatre, mine awareness and any new theatre specific procedures are revised and practised. This is part of the Reception, Staging and Onward Integration (RSOI) training package.
Military Bases: Strait of Hotmuz
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for UK defence policy of France’s decision to create a military base in the Strait of Hotmuz. [180602]
Des Browne: On 15 January, President Nicolas Sarkozy signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates which includes plans to create a French military base in Abu Dhabi. There are no implications for UK Defence Policy. France has a long history of defence co-operation in the Gulf region.
NATO: Finance
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Government contributed to NATO’s (a) civil budget, (b) military budget and (c) Security Investment Programme in each year since 1997. [181205]
Des Browne: The amount contributed by the UK to NATO’s civil budget, military budget and the NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) since 1997 is as follows:
| £ million | |||
| Financial year | Civil budget( 1) | Military budget( 2) | NSIP( 2) |
| (1) The UK contribution to the NATO civil budget is funded by the FCO (2) Funded by the MOD (3) Current in-year forecast | |||
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the UK’s contribution to NATO common funding was allocated to NATO’s (a) civil budget, (b) military budget and (c) security investment programme in each year since 1997. [181210]
Des Browne: The proportion of the UK’s total contribution to NATO common funding allocated to the civil budget, military budget and NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) since 1997 is as follows:
| Percentage | |||
| Financial year | Civil budget( 1) | Military budget( 2) | NSIP( 3) |
| (1) The UK contribution to the NATO civil budget is funded by the FCO (2) Funded by the MOD (3) Funded by the MOD (4) Current in-year forecast | |||
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