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14 May 2009 : Column 948W—continued
Ex-servicemen
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military veterans there are resident in each local authority area in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [275180]
Mr. Kevan Jones: This information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Ex-servicemen: Vocational Guidance
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the Careers Transition Partnership scheme in each year since 1998. [274976]
Mr. Kevan Jones: I will write to the hon. Gentleman.
Future Large Aircraft
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast cost of the A400M from his Department's (a) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL), (b) indirect resource DEL and (c) capital DEL was on 31 March 2009. [275122]
Mr. Quentin Davies: I am withholding the forecast cost of the A400M programme for 31 March 2009 as this information will be published in the Major Projects Report 2009 later this year.
Guided Weapons
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the number of (a) air-launched and (b) submarine-launched cruise missiles required to constitute a deterrent threat comparable to that of a Vanguard-class submarine; and what recent assessment he has made of the vulnerability of cruise missiles to destruction prior to reaching their targets. [275084]
Mr. Hutton: Assessments of submarine and air launched cruise missile systems were made as part of the supporting evidence for the December 2006 White Paper “The Future of the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent” (Cm6994). No cruise missile launched system was considered to be as capable as a ballistic missile based deterrent. Cruise missiles are more vulnerable to interception, largely because of their slower speed and lower trajectory.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the maximum range is of (a) the Trident D5 ballistic missile and (b) a submarine-launched cruise missile; and if he will make a statement; [275085]
(2) what the maximum number of nuclear warheads is which can be carried by a single (a) Trident and (b) cruise missile. [275086]
Mr. Hutton: The maximum range of a Trident D5 missile is approximately 6,000 nautical miles, and that of the UK's submarine launched Tomahawk cruise missile is approximately 1,000 nautical miles.
The maximum number of warheads that can be carried on a single Trident D5 missile is 12. The UK does not possess nuclear armed cruise missiles. The options described in the 2006 White Paper “The Future of the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent” (Cm6994) assumed that if the UK procured a nuclear armed cruise missile, then one warhead would be carried on each missile.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the capability of a state under attack from cruise missiles to determine prior to impact such missiles are armed with (a) conventional and (b) nuclear warheads. [275087]
Mr. Hutton: The UK keeps the capabilities of cruise missiles from countries of concern, including the types of warhead, under continual review. We judge that to determine the type of warhead whilst the missile is in flight is not currently possible. However, if the state under attack has prior knowledge of the aggressors’ cruise missile capabilities, the type of warhead may already be known.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British personnel based in Kuwait will receive (a) the Operation Telic Medal and (b) a council tax rebate; and if he will make a statement. [274820]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Under the current arrangements armed forces personnel may only receive the Iraq Medal for service on the land and in the airspace of Iraq, as well as the waters of the Northern Gulf, Iraqi territorial seas and Iraqi internal waters. However, in common with all campaign medals the situation is kept under constant review, and continues to take into account the ongoing risks and rigours of the operations in which British troops are involved.
As announced on 7 September 2007, council tax relief is paid to Service personnel serving in Camp Buehring who are involved in Operation Telic (roulement) 11. Payment has been made since 1 April 2008 and, in
line with the introduction of Operational Allowance payment for these personnel, it was backdated to 1 November 2007.
Kenley Common
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the proposed temporary barriers at Kenley Common to be (a) erected and (b) removed. [275216]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Erection of the temporary safety barriers at Kenley airfield will take place during May 2009 at a date to be arranged with the supplier of the fencing. Removal of the safety barriers will depend on the results of the trial of this safety measure.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding he has allocated for the erection and removal of the temporary steel barriers proposed at Kenley Common; and whether provision has been made for such allocation in his Department’s existing budget. [275217]
Mr. Kevan Jones: An allocation of £12,000 was made in the 2008-09 Air Cadets Organisations budget to cover the cost of purchase, delivery and siting of the temporary pedestrian safety barriers on the MOD airfield at Kenley. Removal of the barriers would incur no cost to the Department.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) Croydon Council, (b) Tandridge District Council, (c) the City of London and (d) users of Kenley Common on his Department’s plans to erect temporary fencing at the Common. [275218]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Department’s proposal for the erection of temporary safety barriers around Kenley airfield was raised with Croydon council and the Corporation of London at a safety working group meeting on 9 December 2008.
In view of ongoing safety concerns and with the full endorsement of the Health and Safety Executive, the Department’s intent to proceed with the erection of the safety barriers at the points from which gliders are launched was notified to Croydon council on 1 April 2009.
No discussions have been held with Tandridge district council since the planned location for the barriers does not fall within their boundaries.
No separate discussions have been held with users of Kenley Common.
Land Mines
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training facilities for landmine detection and clearance are available to members of the armed forces (a) in the UK and (b) overseas. [275230]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
Members of the UK armed forces can carry out explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training in any exercise or operational area in the UK or overseas. In addition, there are purpose-built specialist
facilities for mine detection and clearance training at: the Combat Engineer School at Minley; the Commando Training Centre Royal Marine in Lympstone; the Defence EOD Munitions and Search School at Lodge Hill in Kent; the Engineer Training and Advisory Team facility in Sennelager, Germany and Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.
A further purpose-built mine search and clearance facility is under construction at Carver Barracks in Wimbish.
Navy
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many hours sea time on average is made available to members of (a) university Royal Naval units and (b) the Royal Naval Reserve annually; [274334]
(2) if he will make it his policy to make sea time on patrol craft attached to university Royal Naval units available to members of the Royal Navy Reserve. [274335]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Approximately 33,600 hours of sea time is made available to University Royal Navy Units annually.
The figures regarding the number of hours sea time for Royal Navy Reserves are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Royal Navy Reserves are provided with the necessary opportunities at sea to achieve and maintain their operational effectiveness and this remains an essential part of their training.
The Royal Navy Reserves can request to use University Royal Navy Unit patrol craft for training purposes, which are made available where it is possible to do so without detriment to mandated University Royal Navy Unit roles.
Navy: Deployment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy personnel were serving aboard ship away from home on average in each year since 1997; and what proportion of total naval personnel this represented in each year. [275053]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Navy: Military Bases
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has for the continued functioning of the (a) frigate fleet and (b) submarine flotilla in the event of a naval base being put out of action following the implementation of the decision to allocate each type of warship to a single naval base. [274336]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Analysis conducted during the Naval Base Review confirmed a degree of excess capacity at the three Naval Bases; Devonport, Faslane and Portsmouth. This excess capacity deliberately provides a level of resilience for the Royal Navy Fleet which still exists today.
Decisions taken under the Maritime Change Programme, including the ongoing optimisation work, which I announced to the House on 6 May 2009, Official Report, column 16WS do not impact upon that resilience. The Ministry of Defence is, therefore, confident that sufficient contingency exists across the three Naval Bases.
Navy: Telecommunications
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast cost of the Naval Extremely High/Super High Frequency Communications Terminals programme from his Department’s (a) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL), (b) indirect resource DEL and (c) capital DEL was on 31 March (i) 2001, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2003, (iv) 2004, (v) 2005, (vi) 2006, (vii) 2007, (viii) 2008 and (ix) 2009. [275023]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Prior to 31 March 2004 the information is not held in the format requested, and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
For the period 31 March 2004 to 31 March 2008 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 February 2009, Official Report, column 1144W.
For 31 March 2009, the information requested is shown in the following table. The figures include the cost of the assessment, demonstration and manufacture phases.
| 31 March 2009 (£ million) | |
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the Trident replacement programme. [275708]
Mr. Hutton: Our current estimate, published in the December 2006 White Paper “The Future of the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent” (Cm 6994), is that the total procurement costs of the successor deterrent capability will be in the region of £15-£20 billion, at 2006-07 prices, for a four-boat fleet. This comprises £11-14 billion for the submarines, £2-3 billion for the possible refurbishment or replacement of the warhead and £2-3 billion for infrastructure. These costs are being refined as experts continue to engage in detailed discussion with industry.
Piracy
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance his Department has issued to the Royal Navy regarding the onward transfer of individuals captured in the course of committing acts of piracy on the high seas. [274333]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
Royal Navy Commanding Officers will be aware of guidance on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Law of Armed Conflict, and the requirements for Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS), all of which are pertinent to counter piracy operations. Such internationally agreed conventions provide a framework for the way counter piracy operations are conducted.
Guidance has been issued to UK forces off the coast of Somalia regarding the legal and evidential consideration for the transfer and subsequent prosecution of suspected pirates, under our arrangement with Kenya. This includes specific advice on the handling and detention of suspects.
UK forces operate under Rules of Engagement and there is a specific profile for forces conducting counter piracy operations.
RAF Brize Norton
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Chapel of Rest which is planned to accommodate repatriated bodies of fallen servicemen at RAF Brize Norton will have been completed; whether he plans to return repatriations to RAF Brize Norton from RAF Lyneham; and if he will make a statement. [274633]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: On current plans, repatriations will return to RAF Brize Norton in 2011. No decision has yet been made on when construction of a Chapel of Rest at the station might start. Appropriate facilities to support bereaved families and the dignity of the repatriation ceremony are to be provided as part of the overall development of the station.
RAF St. Athan
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the contract for the St. Athan military training academy was signed. [275227]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The contract to deliver the proposed Defence Training College at St. Athan has not yet been signed. Contract signature is anticipated to take place in summer 2010.
Reserve Forces: Manpower
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many volunteer reservists in each service have been committed to operations in each year since 2004. [274981]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 March 2009, Official Report, column 443W.
Information on volunteer reservists committed to operations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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