Previous Section Index Home Page

13 Mar 2008 : Column 664W—continued


It is not possible to provide Royal Auxiliary Air Force rates or actual figures by outflow reason as the information is not captured in this way. The following table shows total attestations and discharges in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force for the period 1 April 2006 to 30 September 2007.

Inflow and outflow of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force( 1) by financial year
Financial year Inflow( 2) Outflow

2006-07

320

280

1 April 2007 to 30 September

170

150

(1) The data include part-time volunteer reserves (PTVR) only.
(2) Inflow figures include all inflow, e.g. intake from civil life and transfers from other units within the armed forces.
Note:
The data have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias.

Roger Buston

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why an inquiry was conducted into the conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Roger Buston; what the length and cost of conducting the inquiry was; whether the inquiry reached conclusions; and if he will make a statement. [190961]

Derek Twigg: The inquiry followed a formal complaint lodged by the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell), about the involvement of an Officer in the Territorial Army in local political activities. The inquiry took approximately 38 man-hours to complete at an estimated cost of £1,000. The recommendation of the inquiry was that there was no breach of Queen's Regulations and that no action should be taken against any individual.

Treaty of Lisbon: Defence

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Lisbon Treaty gives the new EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs powers to propose military operations. [193160]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We expect that if the Lisbon treaty is ratified by all EU member states, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will be able to make proposals, including proposing military operations. But any proposals made will be made to the Council of the European Union who will make any decisions and will do so only by unanimity.


13 Mar 2008 : Column 665W

Trident Missiles

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of progress in refurbishing the W76 warheads for Trident missiles, with particular reference to manufacturing processes for Fogbank; and if he will make a statement. [193516]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK does not assemble or refurbish W76 nuclear warheads. It is MOD policy not to comment on nuclear warhead design, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security.


13 Mar 2008 : Column 666W

Type 23 Frigate

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outturn cost was of each Type 23 frigate in (a) cash and (b) constant 2007 prices; and who the manufacturer was of each. [192989]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the original hull costs of each Type 23 frigate and those same values estimated at 2007 prices. Other costs, such as those for Government furnished equipment, are not held centrally for each ship and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The table also shows the hull manufacturer for each of the Type 23 frigates and

the date each ship was commissioned.

Ship Original Hull cost (£ m) 2007 Price (estimated) (£ m) Manufacturer Commissioned date

HMS Argyll

118.95

175.70

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1991

HMS Lancaster

119.71

170.82

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1992

HMS Iron Duke

109.77

151.10

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1993

HMS Monmouth

111.66

153.70

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1993

HMS Montrose

117.29

157.55

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1994

HMS Westminster

112.68

151.35

Swan Hunter

1994

HMS Northumberland

114.73

154.10

Swan Hunter

1994

HMS Somerset

114.14

143.71

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1996

HMS Richmond

116.20

150.25

Swan Hunter

1995

HMS Portland

92.06

109.01

Marconi Marine

2001

HMS Sutherland

143.58

175.81

Harrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1997

HMS St Albans

106.82

124.99

BAE Systems

2002

HMS Kent

108.42

128.26

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

2000

HMS Norfolk

112.03

174.41

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1990

HMS Grafton

115.56

141.50

Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd

1997

HMS Marlborough

118.43

174.93

Swan Hunter

1991


Warships

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his policy to retain for the long-term a fleet of 25 destroyers and frigates. [193137]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 11 March 2008]: While the Defence programme is regularly reviewed and updated, we currently plan to retain a fleet of 25 destroyers and frigates. The number of ships in service at any given time will vary as the older Type 42 destroyers are replaced by the more capable Type 45s.

Warships: Sales

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships have been sold to foreign Governments since 2004; and what the sale price was in each case. [193094]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The following list contains all Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships sold on a Government-to-Government basis:

Date of the contract of sale Sold to Price (£ million)

Financial year 2004-05

None

Financial year 2005-06

Chile

134

HMS Norfolk

HMS Grafton

HMS Marlborough

Financial year 2006-07

Estonia

32

HMS Sandown

HMS Inverness

HMS Bridport

Financial year 2007-08

Brazil

5.2

RFA Sir Galahad


The above sale price figures represent the total revenue for the MOD and industry together. For those vessels sold on a Government-to-Government basis there is usually an agreement with industry for regeneration and modernisation work.


    Index Home Page