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Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How, with the present military commitments, overstretch can be reduced if there are cuts in the combatant Territorial Army regiments; and which of these regiments are to be disbanded or reduced to squadron, company or battery size.[HL3576]
Lord Gilbert: We recognised in the Strategic Defence Review that, to address the causes of overstretch, there needed to be a better balance between resources and commitments. In the Army, we will maintain our current level of commitments but will increase establishments by 3,300 personnel and create a sixth deployable brigade. The Territorial Army will continue to provide volunteers to serve with the Regular Army.
No decisions have yet been taken on which Territorial Army units will be disbanded or reduced in size. An announcement will be made shortly.
Royal Navy Deployments: Far East
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Royal Navy deployments to the Far East, and its exercises there with United States naval forces, indicate it might be involved in putting into effect the provisions of the United States-Japan "defence co-operation guidelines"[HL3549]
Lord Gilbert: There is no connection between either Royal Navy deployments to the Far East, or bilateral exercises between the Royal Navy and US Navy, and the US-Japan Security Guidelines.
MoD and PJHQ Staffs
The Earl of Carlisle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will take action to eliminate the duplication of effort between the Ministry of Defence and the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) (United Kingdom) at Northwood, in order to prevent overmanning at senior levels and release funds to enhance the efficiency of PJHQ (UK).[HL3468]
Lord Gilbert: When the PJHQ was established in 1996, it took over a number of functions previously discharged by MoD, and some corresponding reductions in MoD headquarters staff were made. The transfer of responsibility has worked well. We see no immediate scope for further rationalisation between MoD and PJHQ staffs, but we shall continue to watch the situation. Any rationalisation opportunities which arise in future will be taken.
Porton Down: Claims for Compensation
Lord Higgins asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many claims have been made for compensation by employees at Porton Down for illness resulting from their employment, and with what results.[HL3433]
Lord Gilbert: The Ministry of Defence and its predecessors have been responsible for the Defence establishments at Porton Down since 1916. Since then, many thousands of staff have been employed at Porton Down. From 1 January 1948, civilian employees have been entitled to pursue common law claims for compensation against their employer. Service personnel have had the same right since 15 May 1987. It is not possible to report the total number of claims received from Porton Down civilian employees since 1 January 1948 because full records no longer exist. Similarly, computer records on Service personnel compensation claims date only from 1988. However, computer records show that, between 1 May 1994 and 30 September 1998, three claims for compensation for illness from Porton Down civilian staff have been received. Two have been settled and the other one is being progressed. Computer records from 1988 onwards show that no claims in
respect of illness have been received from Service personnel employed at Porton Down.Army: Recruit Numbers
Lord Burnham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What were the number of recruits to the Regular Army for each of the three years 1995, 1996 and 1997; and what were the numbers of recruits (a) who are serving, or who have served, in the Territorial Army (b) who are, or who have been, members of the cadet forces; and (c) who during those years have left the Regular Army within two years of recruitment.[HL3567]
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | |
| Number of recruits to regular army(1) | 13,244 | 15,738 | 16,526 |
| (a) number with former TA service(2) | 946 | 1,148 | 847 |
| (b) number with former ACF/CCF service | 2,751 | 3,075 | 2,766 |
| (c) number leaving within two years of recruitment | (3)3,707 | 5,113 | 4,638 |
(1) Include Officer Cadets commencing training at Sandhurst.
(2) These figures do not include Reservists mobilised for service in Bosnia, or ex-TA personnel on special S Type engagements.
(3) This figure includes an estimate of numbers for soldiers, as certain records are incomplete.
The Earl of Kimberley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Gilbert: No. It has been the policy of all administrations that Service personnel do not receive financial compensation for their detention as prisoners of war. If a serviceman's health suffers as a result of his service, including any period spent as a prisoner of war, his subsequent welfare or health needs are addressed by means of the services available through the Department of Social Security and the Department of Health.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Gilbert: The Ministry of Defence has a total of 17 railheads of which 15 are currently in use.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Gilbert: During the twelve months preceding 29 October 1998, Her Majesty's Government transported 42,150 tonnes of Ministry of Defence freight by rail, with a mean haul distance of approximately 350 miles.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Gilbert: The development of Ministry of Defence policies in respect of the environment is a continuous process, aligned to emerging Government environmental policy and legislation.
It is difficult to identify specific initiatives resulting solely from the Government memorandum to the Environmental Audit Committee. However, since January 1998, the MoD has agreed a strategy for the development of environmental management systems, is preparing green transport plans, and is drawing up an improvement programme based on the DETR model framework for greening of government. Environmental appraisal will also be an integral part of the process to inform our future strategy for the size and utilisation of the rural estate.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The next round of the Foresight programme is due to start in April 1999. Proposals have been subject to widespread consultation over a period of months. Final decisions will be taken shortly.
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It is not, and never was, intended that charities like the Royal British Legion would suffer from any possible restriction of the VAT grouping facility to fully taxable business entities.
Viscount Exmouth asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The most recent complete data published by the UN, as at 30 September 1998, show 145 states with unpaid contributions owed from before the start of this year (our normal definition of arrears). Total outstanding contributions from member states, including 1998 assessments, were 2.5 billion dollars. Details are given below. The original due dates for payments owed from before 1998 are not available.
Note:
The outstanding contributions column for 1998 includes assessments still within the 30 day grace period for payment. The entire UK figure was within the grace period.
If they will reconsider their policy of not compensating prisoners held captive in German or Italian prisoner of war camps in World War II in view of the latest evidence of the conditions in which these men were held.[HL3469]
How many Ministry of Defence railheads are currently in use.[HL3617]
How many tonnes per annum of Ministry of Defence freight are currently transported by rail in the United Kingdom; and what is the average haul distance by rail.[HL3618]
What new Ministry of Defence initiatives have resulted from the Government's Memorandum to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee of January 1998.[HL3619]
Whether the Office of Science and Technology has decided to discontinue the Marine Foresight Panel, while continuing to Foresight work in nine categories none of which appears to cover marine or other sea-related developments; and, if so, why, in view
of the backlog in marine policy co-ordination accumulated since the abolition of the oversight role of the Lord Privy Seal for Maritime Policy in 1979.[HL3546]
If their proposals in the Green Paper Restriction
of VAT Groups to Fully Taxable Corporate Bodies
(June 1998) are implemented, what they estimate the cost would be to the Royal British Legion in respect of its factory at Richmond, Surrey, for the production of poppies and wreaths for Remembrance Day.[HL3662]
Further to the Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 12 October (H.L. Deb., col. 701), which 149 countries are in arrears with their payments to the United Nations Organisation; and, for each such country, what is the amount outstanding and the date when the original payment fell due.[HL3417]
Outstanding contributions as at 30 September 1998
Member state Pre-1998 1998 Total
Afghanistan 280,151 47,643 327,794
Albania 23,187 31,623 54,810
Algeria 163,308 1,377,728 1,541,036
Andorra 8,820 32,730 41,550
Angola 150,945 118,865 269,810
Antigua and Barbuda 75,484 23,966 99,450
Argentina 3,580,501 9,852,405 13,432,906
Armenia 1,580,755 308,690 1,889,445
Australia 0 1,486,324 1,486,324
Austria 0 1,718,204 1,718,204
Azerbaijan 4,140,209 130,986 4,271,195
Bahamas 30,004 141,614 171,618
Bahrain 79,665 32,938 112,603
Bangladesh 19,055 13,733 32,788
Barbados 24,792 17,123 41,915
Belarus 54,155,098 2,096,602 56,251,700
Belgium 0 5,201,500 5,201,500
Belize 104,371 1,629 106,000
Benin 41,272 15,966 57,238
Bhutan 61,498 1,629 63,127
Bolivia 281,531 94,061 375,592
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1,436,727 64,226 1,500,953
Botswana 0 2,487 2,487
Brazil 27,521,765 19,299,046 46,820,811
Brunei Darussalam 5,982 39,680 45,662
Bulgaria 1,893,565 569,379 2,462,944
Burkina Faso 151,369 2,975 154,344
Burundi 286,460 12,145 298,605
Cambodia 354,590 13,274 367,864
Cameroon 76,569 178,420 254,989
Canada 0 2,842,337 2,842,337
Cape Verde 235,832 12,254 248,086
Central African Republic 266,724 23,898 290,622
Chad 149,786 1,629 151,415
Chile 778,032 193,492 971,524
China 0 5,401,767 5,401,767
Colombia 0 4,989 4,989
Comoros 770,035 12,145 782,180
Congo 474,823 38,750 513,573
Costa Rica 219,095 148,921 368,016
Cote d'Ivoire 42,518 26,245 68,763
Croatia 1,886,956 104,307 1,991,263
Cuba 582,105 187,728 769,833
Cyprus 0 6,862 6,862
Czech Republic 38,288 367,014 405,302
Democratic P. R. of Korea 1,537,578 394,968 1,932,546
Democratic Republic of the Congo 206,966 102,232 309,198
Denmark 0 694,015 694,015
Djibouti 286,146 12,145 298,291
Dominica 286,163 12,145 298,308
Dominican Republic 310,072 202,874 512,946
Ecuador 654,498 194,679 849,177
Egypt 0 106,501 106,501
El Salvador 324,547 27,199 351,746
Equatorial Guinea 336,141 12,145 348,286
Eritrea 5,857 2,193 8,050
Estonia 1,272,022 293,393 1,565,415
Ethiopia 37,866 9,519 47,385
Fiji 17,833 3,032 20,865
Finland 0 224,059 224,059
France 0 35,540,909 35,540,909
Gabon 362,817 51,297 414,114
Gambia 285,668 12,145 297,813
Georgia 6,423,122 736,269 7,159,391
Germany 3,121,591 16,683,328 19,804,919
Ghana 0 2,949 2,949
Greece 528,783 1,909,217 2,438,000
Grenada 148,087 12,086 160,173
Guatemala 614,533 231,948 846,481
Guinea 279,144 35,886 315,030
Guinea Bissau 416,332 12,145 428,477
Guyana 49,405 2,716 52,121
Haiti 286,221 24,007 310,228
Honduras 268,658 51,046 319,704
Hungary 0 24,049 24,049
Iceland 1,378 43,235 44,613
India 0 61,418 61,418
Indonesia 2,280,121 2,210,181 4,490,302
Iran (Islamic Republic of) 14,170,832 3,826,978 17,997,810
Iraq 11,420,869 1,106,632 12,527,501
Ireland 0 225,234 225,234
Israel 1,648,167 3,906,870 5,555,037
Italy 0 22,218,559 22,218,559
Jamaica 1,714 12,193 13,907
Japan 0 107,403,065 107,403,065
Jordan 2,127 14,871 16,998
Kazakhstan 4,847,568 947,539 5,795,107
Kenya 59,854 86,392 146,246
Kuwait 0 179,883 179,883
Kyrgyzstan 1,157,635 21,422 1,179,057
Lao People's Dem. Rep. 23,212 1,607 24,819
Latvia 2,592,402 99,206 2,691,608
Lebanon 177,846 41,963 219,809
Lesotho 105,614 23,966 129,580
Liberia 1,095,872 26,016 1,121,886
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 5,562,002 360,195 5,922,197
Liechtenstein 0 5,178 5,178
Lithuania 1,136,152 516,477 1,652,629
Luxembourg 18,297 355,976 374,273
Madagascar 199,993 26,285 226,278
Malawi 0 478 478
Malaysia 0 164,778 164,778
Maldives 136,126 1,629 137,755
Mali 139,761 4,231 143,992
Malta 2,026 14,050 16,076
Marshall Islands 88,031 2,716 90,747
Mauritania 264,984 12,145 277,129
Mauritius 0 100,007 100,007
Mexico 0 1,395,259 1,395,259
Micronesia 0 422 422
Monaco 0 0 0
Mongolia 292,249 17,996 310,245
Morocco 8,874 66,736 75,610
Mozambique 23,654 2,825 26,479
Myanmar 9,100 9,165 18,265
Namibia 736 5,875 6,611
Nepal 0 583 583
Netherlands 0 1,635,854 1,635,854
New Zealand 0 223,084 223,084
Nicaragua 311,969 25,800 337,769
Niger 286,208 24,007 310,215
Nigeria 1,403,038 846,084 2,249,122
Norway 17 477,354 477,371
Oman 56,977 80,447 137,424
Pakistan 48,384 95,705 144,089
Palau 1,793 1,097 2,890
Panama 244,100 32,072 276,172
Papua New Guinea 43,719 8,956 52,675
Paraguay 20,537 35,472 56,009
Peru 1,838,073 1,088,153 2,926,226
Philippines 6,767 565,787 572,554
Poland 8,338,611 316,767 8,655,378
Portugal 147,609 2,302,578 2,450,187
Qatar 874,626 168,001 1,042,627
Republic of Korea 0 1,479,376 1,479,376
Republic of Moldova 3,195,685 94,421 3,290,106
Romania 322,447 224,487 546,934
Russian Federation 125,938,478 6,269,468 132,207,946
Rwanda 286,151 23.898 310,049
Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 271 271
Saint Lucia 55,965 3,123 59,088
Saint Vincent and Grenadines 227,178 12,145 239,323
Samoa 20,364 1,629 21,993
San Marino 7,844 15,282 23,126
Sao Tome and Principe 546,704 12,145 558,849
Saudi Arabia 679,868 7,458,307 8,138,175
Senegal 104,194 65,333 169,527
Seychelles 232,128 24,007 256,135
Sierra Leone 279,545 12,145 291,690
Singapore 0 33,952 33,952
Slovakia 0 10,332 10,332
Slovenia 28,399 107,810 136,209
Solomon Islands 277,307 12,123 289,430
Somalia 948,067 12,145 960,212
South Africa 0 719,305 719,305
Spain 0 11,065,501 11,065,501
Sri Lanka 2,127 18,559 20,686
Sudan 262,222 106,894 369,116
Suriname 12,291 5,574 17,865
Swaziland 108,375 25,931 134,306
Sweden 0 1,107,523 1,107,523
Syrian Arab Republic 987,288 791,770 1,779,058
Tajikistan 2,470,460 102,334 2,572,794
Thailand 0 32,133 32,133
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 304,522 11,426 315,948
Togo 206,673 23,898 230,571
Trinidad and Tobago 346,026 26,705 372,731
Tunisia 145,714 63,117 208,831
Turkey 1,150,894 708,477 1,859,371
Turkmenistan 1,140,029 30,702 1,170,731
Uganda 13,426 28,122 41,548
Ukraine 210,919,396 11,391,081 222,310,477
United Arab Emirates 1,773,822 306,523 2,080,345
United Kingdom 0 6,255,570 6,255,570
United Republic of Tanzania 0 1,406 1,406
United States of America 1,089,690,676 548,848,787 1,638,539,463
Uruguay 434,618 110,811 545,429
Uzbekistan 2,371,016 103,843 2,474,859
Vanuatu 287,418 12,145 299,563
Venezuela 726,996 2,851,251 3,578,247
Viet Nam 206,627 21,870 228,497
Yemen 279,380 118,983 398,363
Yugoslavia 14,308,990 764,031 15,073,021
Zambia 0 676 676
Zimbabwe 39,585 104,527 144,112
Total 1,642,460,436 865,000,353 2,507,460,789
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