| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
21 Jun 2010 : Column 9W—continued
Additionally, the following vehicles and aircraft have been sold and prices have been included where records exist:
'C' Vehicles to Jordan armed forces totalling approximately £1.8 million in value.
Six Wessex helicopters to Uruguay.
Two Hercules aircraft to Sri Lanka.
Three Hercules aircraft to Austrian Air Force.
One Hercules aircraft to Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The value of the aircraft sales is not available because only incomplete records exist for the period prior to the establishment of the DSA and its transfer into Defence Logistics Organisation in April 2005.
Vessels and aircraft are not sold through e-disposals. Vehicles are, but information on the monetary value of receipts from the e-disposals service is not recorded by the DSA. The items sold under e-disposals are disposed of by contractors who are not required to declare the breakdown of their income to the DSA.
Defence: Procurement
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) new helicopters, (b) transport aircraft, (c) multi-role Typhoon aircraft and (d) new warships have been delivered since 1997. [2936]
Peter Luff [holding answer 17 June 2010]: Details of new air and maritime platforms, not including enhancements to existing equipment, are provided in the following table:
| Type | Number | Years delivered | |
Departmental Manpower
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) support staff in each role in theatre and (b) other civilian staff were employed by his Department on the latest date for which figures are available. [2778]
Mr Robathan: The latest figure for MOD civilian staff currently deployed in theatre is 956; of these 850 are locally employed civilians (LECs) and 106 are in support of Op Herrick in Afghanistan. These are broken down as follows:
| Role | Staff numbers |
The total number of civilian staff employed by MOD, including LECs, and those mentioned above is 85,590.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which posts in his Department which had been filled by uniformed personnel were changed into civilian posts in the last five years. [2816]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 17 June 2010]: The information requested is not held in a format that allows cross comparison. To produce the comparison requested would incur disproportionate cost.
Departmental Reviews
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010, Official Report, column 137W, on Government departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the (a) purpose and (b) timescale of each is. [2590]
Dr Fox: The Coalition Agreement sets out in detail the Government's future plans, including the key reviews it will be undertaking. My Department will bring forward detailed information about these reviews in due course.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopter frames he has ordered since May 2010. [3059]
Peter Luff: Since May 2010 the Ministry of Defence has not committed to any new contracts for helicopter frames. Our helicopter requirements are subject to review under the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Military Bases: Safety
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the level of safety of fuels and gases at (a) military bases in the UK and (b) permanent joint operating bases; and if he will make a statement. [2620]
Peter Luff: All fuel and gas installations at UK military bases and permanent joint operating bases are maintained and operated in accordance with statutory and departmental requirements. The safety of storage and transportation of fuels and gases is of paramount importance and MOD constantly reviews and updates its procedures through the Defence Fuels and Gases Environmental and Safety Board. Fuel Safety Management Plans, covering all aspects of fuel and gas safety, for both compliance and environmental contingencies, are currently being revised. Any recommended improvements identified will be considered during the next annual planning round.
All MOD facilities comply with the requirements of the relevant regulatory authority (Health and Safety Executive and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland). The Government Pipeline and Storage System facilities also comply with the Dangerous Substances and explosives Atmosphere Regulations 2002. All Oil and Pipeline Agency storage depots and pipelines have been assessed for risk, and adequate and effective measures are in place to deal with any incident that might arise.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Safety, Environment and Sustainable Development Report 2009 by the Defence Environment and Safety Board; and if he will make a statement. [2655]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 June 2010]: On behalf of the Secretary of State, the 2nd Under-Secretary of State chairs a Defence Environment and Safety Board (DESB) which monitors and reviews performance, and provides assurance to the Defence Board on the effective operation of risk management and internal control systems. The DESB's Safety, Environment and Sustainable Development Report 2009 was assessed by both the Defence Audit Committee and the Defence Board. The Defence Board noted the priorities in the DESB report and stressed its determination to do all that it could to continue improving the Department's Health and Safety performance.
Unmanned Air Vehicles
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of the contract for the delivery of Mantis Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); what criteria were used by his Department in deciding to award the contract; what alternatives to the Mantis UAVs were considered; and if he will make a statement . [2694]
Peter Luff: There is no contract for the delivery of Mantis Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Mantis was a one-off concept demonstrator programme that has now successfully concluded.
Prime Minister
Iraq Committee of Inquiry
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Chilcot Inquiry on the war with Iraq will be able to withhold publication of evidence on grounds other than national security; and if he will make a statement. [2826]
The Prime Minister: The Protocol agreed between the previous Government and the Inquiry sets out both the arrangements under which the Inquiry may request that the Government declassify documents for the Inquiry's public use, and the grounds on which such requests may be refused.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Watson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, column 32WS, on special advisers, what the roles and responsibilities are of each special adviser listed in the statement. [2760]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the written ministerial statement I made on 10 June 2010, Official Report, column 32WS.
USA: Oil
Mr Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what recent (a) representations he has made to and (b) discussions he has had with the President of the United States on BP; and if he will make a statement. [2789]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the comments given by my official spokesman on 12 June 2010. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website:
Leader of the House
Ministerial Announcements
9. Mr Bone: To ask the Leader of the House what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the provision of information on new policies to the House before the media. [3030]
Mr Heath: The Ministerial Code, issued by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, makes clear that when Parliament is in session, the most important announcements of Government policy should be made in the first instance, in Parliament.
My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House has reiterated the importance of this issue to Cabinet colleagues.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |