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23 Oct 2008 : Column 474W—continued
China: Armed Forces
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 September 2008, Official Report, columns 2250-1W, on armed forces: training, when his Department’s bilateral programme with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army started; what the terms of the programme are; what other activities (a) have taken place and (b) are planned to take place under the programme; how much funding has been allocated for the programme in the next 12 months; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the bilateral programme agreement. [228567]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 20 October 2008]: The MOD’s limited bilateral programme with China has been developing on a gradual basis since the then Prime Minister visited China in October 1998. The terms of the programme are: to maintain consistency with HMG policy and international restrictions; to limit the scope of activity; to ensure in-country control through oversight by the UK Defence Attaché, and; to conduct regular policy review. Activities include senior leadership engagement, high-level command and staff training, junior leadership training, low-level military training, exercises (observing), disaster management training, peace support operations training, benefits to the wider military and civil communities and sport. The total amount of funding allocated in support of the programme for financial year 2008-09 is £464.5,000, of which £177,000 comes from the Conflict Prevention Pool. Our complete UK/China bi-lateral programme for FY 2008-09 is subject to continuing discussion, but is expected to comprise a series of high level visits, an annual programming meeting, short term training teams and courses (including English language training) related to Peace Support Operations, a small number of places for Chinese students in defence education establishments, and limited short term exchanges of service personnel.
I am withholding a copy of the bilateral programme agreement as its release would, or would be likely to prejudice international relations.
Cluster Munitions
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to ratify the Convention on cluster munitions within the next 12 months. [228737]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK plans to sign the Convention when it opens for signature on 3 December 2008 in Oslo and will ratify as soon as feasible after that date.
Departmental Public Relations
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of (a) entertainment, (b) advertising and promotion and (c) public relations consultancy to his Department in 2007-08. [228143]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Expenditure in 2007-08 by the MOD, including the armed forces on the items listed was:
(a) Hospitality and entertainment—£4.2 million. We report this expenditure in our Annual Report and Accounts each year.
(b) Advertising and public relations—£46.3 million. This represents the cost of public relations services (including sales marketing and advertising), Service and civilian recruitment expenses and expenditure on schools and community relations initiatives.
(c) The level of expenditure on public relations consultancy is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A summary of MOD’s 2007-08 expenditure on external assistance (which includes public relations consultancy) has been placed in the Library of the House.
The figures quoted do not include expenditure for the MOD Trading Funds which lie outside the Department’s accounting boundary.
All expenditure is subject to audit and the principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Gulf of Aden: Piracy
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the UK is making to efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden; and if he will make a statement. [225603]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Government's stance on piracy has recently been reviewed. This has resulted in a move to a more proactive posture whereby Royal Navy (RN) units in the region will actively seek out pirates, and we have issued them with more robust guidance to deal with any pirates encountered. The RN will contribute to counter-piracy operations through three international efforts:
The UK is already engaged in efforts to combat acts of piracy off Somalia, through the Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which has established a Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) in the Gulf of Aden. CTF 150 units in this area, including RN vessels, are actively conducting operations to counter destabilising activities primarily aimed at deterring and disrupting acts of piracy;
Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, including attached RN units, will also be deploying to the region with a mandate which allows them to conduct counter-piracy operations from mid-October. NATO is considering the ways in which this mandate can be implemented including the escorting of World Food Programme shipping into port in Mogadishu; and
We have also supported EU planning for a counter-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia, and on 14 October the EU Political and Security Committee decided to accept the offer made by the UK to provide the Operation Commander (Rear Admiral Phil Jones) and the Operation HQ (the Multinational Headquarters at Northwood). A formal decision from the EU member states to allow planning for the operation to proceed to the next stage is expected in the coming days. The UK offer is subject to sufficient forces being generated for an operation likely to begin in December.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to discontinue the Royal Navy role in the Combined Task Force 150 in anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden; and if he will make a statement. [226281]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are currently no plans to discontinue the Royal Navy’s support to Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 countering destabilising activity including piracy in the region. Rather, the Royal Navy’s response to piracy in the region is being strengthened.
The Government’s stance on piracy has recently been reviewed. This has resulted in a move to a more proactive posture where Royal Navy (RN) units in the region will actively seek out pirates, and we have issued them with more robust guidance to deal with any pirates encountered. The RN will contribute to counter-piracy operations through three international efforts:
continued support to CTF 150, which has established a Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) in the Gulf of Aden; standing NATOMaritime Group 2, including attached RN units, will also be deploying to the region with a mandate which allows them to conduct counter-piracy operations from mid-October. NATO is considering the ways in which this mandate can be implemented including the escorting of World Food Programme shipping into port in Mogadishu; and
we have also supported EU planning for a counter-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia, and on 14 October the EU Political and Security Committee decided to accept the offer made by the UK to provide the Operation Commander (Rear Admiral Phil Jones) and the Operation HQ (the Multinational Headquarters at Northwood). A formal decision from the EU member states to allow planning for the operation to proceed to the next stage is expected in the coming days. The UK offer is subject to sufficient forces being generated for an operation likely to begin in December.
Nuclear Disarmament
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government is taking to promote multilateral nuclear disarmament. [228112]
Mr. Hutton: The UK plays an active role in all international forums and treaties related to multilateral nuclear disarmament. In particular, we are working to reinforce and strengthen the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. We are pressing for the start of negotiation without pre-conditions in the Conference on Disarmament on a Fissile Material Cut-Off treaty and we continue to call all on all States that have not yet ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to do so, especially those nine for which entry into force is required.
We are also playing a leading and innovative role in several new initiatives. Along with Norway and the non-governmental organisation VERTIC, we are undertaking research into possible technologies which may be of potential use in any future multilateral
disarmament treaty or regime. We have offered to host a confidence building and technical conference between the five Nuclear Weapon States to discuss the issues surrounding multilateral nuclear disarmament. We have co-sponsored a major report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies on the technical and political requirements for a world free of nuclear weapons published in August 2008.
Ottawa Convention
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further steps the Government intends to take in order to meet the obligations of Article 5 of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. [228572]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Joint Feasibility Study that we carried out with Argentina into de-mining in the Falkland Islands, completed in October 2007, concluded that clearance is technically possible but it will present significant challenges and risks.
We therefore need to carefully consider how to proceed. The Falkland Islands Government was regularly consulted while the Feasibility Study was being carried out and any future decisions will be made in consultation with the Falkland Islands Government. In compliance with the Convention, we have therefore submitted a request for a 10 year Article 5 extension to our March 2009 clearance deadline. Our request will be considered at the ninth meeting of states parties in November 2008.
In the meantime, in compliance with Article 5 of the Convention, the mined areas are clearly marked, fenced and regularly monitored.
RAF Croughton
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role RAF Croughton plays in the US missile defence system. [228388]
Mr. Hutton: RAF Croughton plays no role in the US missile defence system.
Somalia: Pirates
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of the recent capture of a Ukrainian ship by pirates in Somali waters; what response he has made to these reports; and if he will make a statement. [225963]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We are aware that the MV Faina has been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia carrying a cargo of weapons. There is no direct UK interest in this ship; it is Belize flagged, Ukrainian, Latvian and Russian crewed with a Ukrainian cargo. It is being monitored by the US Navy who are keeping us informed. No Royal Navy units are involved in the monitoring of the vessel but we are engaged in counter-piracy more generally in the region.
The Government's stance on piracy has recently been reviewed. This has resulted in a move to a more proactive posture whereby Royal Navy (RN) units in the region will actively seek out pirates, and we have issued them with more robust guidance to deal with any pirates encountered. The RN will contribute to counter-piracy operations through three international efforts:
The UK is already engaged in efforts to combat acts of piracy off Somalia, through the Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which has established a Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) in the Gulf of Aden. CTF 150 units in this area, including RN vessels, are actively conducting operations to counter destabilising activities primarily aimed at deterring and disrupting acts of piracy;
Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, including attached RN units, will also be deploying to the region with a mandate which allows them to conduct counter-piracy operations from mid-October. NATO is considering the ways in which this mandate can be implemented including the escorting of World Food Programme shipping into port in Mogadishu; and
We have also supported EU planning for a counter-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia, and on 14 October the EU Political and Security Committee decided to accept the offer made by the UK to provide the Operation Commander (Rear Admiral Phil Jones) and the Operation HQ (the Multinational Headquarters at Northwood). A formal decision from the EU member states to allow planning for the operation to proceed to the next stage is expected in the coming days. The UK offer is subject to sufficient forces being generated for an operation likely to begin in December.
Territorial Army: Dental Services
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of dental treatment for members of the Territorial Army. [226122]
Mr. Kevan Jones: All members of the Territorial Army make their own personal arrangements for dental treatment when they are not mobilised. They receive dental checks from the Defence Dental Services when they are due to be mobilised for deployment and are advised of any treatment required within the next six months.
While mobilised, members of the Territorial Army receive free dental treatment from the Defence Dental Services.
Trident Missiles
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on progress towards a successor to the D5 missile; and what role UK personnel have played in that work. [228900]
Mr. Hutton: Neither I nor my predecessor have held any negotiations with our US counterparts on a successor to the D5 missile. As explained in the December 2006 White Paper “The Future of the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent” (Cm 6994), decisions on whether we wish to acquire a successor to the life extended D5 missile, and what form any successor might take, are unlikely to be necessary until the 2020s.
USA: Military Bases
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which bases in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales US visiting forces are based. [228387]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
US visiting forces occupy the following bases in England, all designated as RAF bases: Alconbury, Cambridgeshire; Barford St. John, Oxfordshire; Croughton, Northants; Fairford, Gloucestershire; Feltwell,
Norfolk; Lakenheath, Suffolk; Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire; Molesworth, Cambridgeshire; Upwood, Cambridgeshire; Welford, Berkshire. In addition, there is a USVF presence at the Joint Maritime Facility at St Mawgan, Cornwall. There are no USVF bases in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Warships
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many months and what percentage time each Royal Navy attack submarine in service spent (a) on operations and (b) in maintenance in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09 to date; [226980]
(2) how many months and what percentage of time each Royal Navy destroyer in service spent (a) on operations and (b) in maintenance in each year since 2006; [227039]
(3) how many months and what percentage of time each Royal Navy aircraft carrier in service spent (a) on operations and (b) in maintenance in each year since 1997. [227040]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The months and percentage time spent on operations or in maintenance for the periods requested for Royal Navy carriers, destroyers and attack submarines are as follows:
| Ark Royal | ||||
| Months | Percentage | |||
| Op time | Main time | Op time | Main time | |
| (1) HMS Ark Royal at low readiness. | ||||
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