Previous Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page


Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

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.

4 Nov 1998 : Column WA47

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

4 Nov 1998 : Column WA48

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]

Lord Gilbert:

1995-961996-971997-98
Number of recruits to regular army(1)13,24415,73816,526
(a) number with former TA service(2)9461,148847
(b) number with former ACF/CCF service2,7513,0752,766
(c) number leaving within two years of recruitment(3)3,7075,1134,638

(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.


Prisoners of War: Compensation

The Earl of Kimberley asked Her Majesty's Government:

    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]

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.

MoD Railheads

Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:

    How many Ministry of Defence railheads are currently in use.[HL3617]

Lord Gilbert: The Ministry of Defence has a total of 17 railheads of which 15 are currently in use.

4 Nov 1998 : Column WA49

MoD: Transportation of Freight

Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:

    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]

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.

MoD: Environmental Policy

Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:

    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]

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.

Marine Foresight Panel

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

    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]

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.

4 Nov 1998 : Column WA50

Royal British Legion: VAT

Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:

    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]

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.

United Nations: Funding

Viscount Exmouth asked Her Majesty's Government:

    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]

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.

Regular Budget, International Tribunals and Peacekeeping Operations Combined

Outstanding contributions as at 30 September 1998
Member statePre-19981998Total
Afghanistan280,15147,643327,794
Albania23,18731,62354,810
Algeria163,3081,377,7281,541,036
Andorra8,82032,73041,550
Angola150,945118,865269,810
Antigua and Barbuda75,48423,96699,450
Argentina3,580,5019,852,40513,432,906
Armenia1,580,755308,6901,889,445
Australia01,486,3241,486,324
Austria01,718,2041,718,204
Azerbaijan4,140,209130,9864,271,195
Bahamas30,004141,614171,618
Bahrain79,66532,938112,603
Bangladesh19,05513,73332,788
Barbados24,79217,12341,915
Belarus54,155,0982,096,60256,251,700
Belgium05,201,5005,201,500
Belize104,3711,629106,000
Benin41,27215,96657,238
Bhutan61,4981,62963,127
Bolivia281,53194,061375,592
Bosnia and Herzegovina1,436,72764,2261,500,953
Botswana02,4872,487
Brazil27,521,76519,299,04646,820,811
Brunei Darussalam5,98239,68045,662
Bulgaria1,893,565569,3792,462,944
Burkina Faso151,3692,975154,344
Burundi286,46012,145298,605
Cambodia354,59013,274367,864
Cameroon76,569178,420254,989
Canada02,842,3372,842,337
Cape Verde235,83212,254248,086
Central African Republic266,72423,898290,622
Chad149,7861,629151,415
Chile778,032193,492971,524
China05,401,7675,401,767
Colombia04,9894,989
Comoros770,03512,145782,180
Congo474,82338,750513,573
Costa Rica 219,095148,921368,016
Cote d'Ivoire42,51826,24568,763
Croatia1,886,956104,3071,991,263
Cuba582,105187,728769,833
Cyprus06,8626,862
Czech Republic38,288367,014405,302
Democratic P. R. of Korea1,537,578394,9681,932,546
Democratic Republic of the Congo206,966102,232309,198
Denmark0694,015694,015
Djibouti286,14612,145298,291
Dominica286,16312,145298,308
Dominican Republic310,072202,874512,946
Ecuador654,498194,679849,177
Egypt0106,501106,501
El Salvador324,54727,199351,746
Equatorial Guinea336,14112,145348,286
Eritrea5,8572,1938,050
Estonia1,272,022293,3931,565,415
Ethiopia37,8669,51947,385
Fiji17,8333,03220,865
Finland0224,059224,059
France035,540,90935,540,909
Gabon362,81751,297414,114
Gambia285,66812,145297,813
Georgia6,423,122736,2697,159,391
Germany3,121,59116,683,32819,804,919
Ghana02,9492,949
Greece528,7831,909,2172,438,000
Grenada148,08712,086160,173
Guatemala614,533231,948846,481
Guinea279,14435,886315,030
Guinea Bissau416,33212,145428,477
Guyana49,4052,71652,121
Haiti286,22124,007310,228
Honduras268,65851,046319,704
Hungary024,04924,049
Iceland1,37843,23544,613
India061,41861,418
Indonesia2,280,1212,210,1814,490,302
Iran (Islamic Republic of)14,170,8323,826,97817,997,810
Iraq11,420,8691,106,63212,527,501
Ireland0225,234225,234
Israel1,648,1673,906,8705,555,037
Italy022,218,55922,218,559
Jamaica1,71412,19313,907
Japan0107,403,065107,403,065
Jordan2,12714,87116,998
Kazakhstan4,847,568947,5395,795,107
Kenya59,85486,392146,246
Kuwait0179,883179,883
Kyrgyzstan1,157,63521,4221,179,057
Lao People's Dem. Rep.23,2121,60724,819
Latvia2,592,40299,2062,691,608
Lebanon177,84641,963219,809
Lesotho105,61423,966129,580
Liberia1,095,87226,0161,121,886
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya5,562,002360,1955,922,197
Liechtenstein05,1785,178
Lithuania1,136,152516,4771,652,629
Luxembourg18,297355,976374,273
Madagascar199,99326,285226,278
Malawi0478478
Malaysia0164,778164,778
Maldives136,1261,629137,755
Mali139,7614,231143,992
Malta2,02614,05016,076
Marshall Islands88,0312,71690,747
Mauritania264,98412,145277,129
Mauritius0100,007100,007
Mexico01,395,2591,395,259
Micronesia0422422
Monaco000
Mongolia292,24917,996310,245
Morocco8,87466,73675,610
Mozambique23,6542,82526,479
Myanmar9,1009,16518,265
Namibia7365,8756,611
Nepal0583583
Netherlands01,635,8541,635,854
New Zealand0223,084223,084
Nicaragua311,96925,800337,769
Niger286,20824,007310,215
Nigeria1,403,038846,0842,249,122
Norway17477,354477,371
Oman56,97780,447137,424
Pakistan48,38495,705144,089
Palau1,7931,0972,890
Panama244,10032,072276,172
Papua New Guinea43,7198,95652,675
Paraguay20,53735,47256,009
Peru1,838,0731,088,1532,926,226
Philippines6,767565,787572,554
Poland8,338,611316,7678,655,378
Portugal147,6092,302,5782,450,187
Qatar874,626168,0011,042,627
Republic of Korea01,479,3761,479,376
Republic of Moldova3,195,68594,4213,290,106
Romania322,447224,487546,934
Russian Federation125,938,4786,269,468132,207,946
Rwanda286,15123.898310,049
Saint Kitts and Nevis0271271
Saint Lucia55,9653,12359,088
Saint Vincent and Grenadines227,17812,145239,323
Samoa20,3641,62921,993
San Marino7,84415,28223,126
Sao Tome and Principe546,70412,145558,849
Saudi Arabia679,8687,458,3078,138,175
Senegal104,19465,333169,527
Seychelles232,12824,007256,135
Sierra Leone279,54512,145291,690
Singapore033,95233,952
Slovakia010,33210,332
Slovenia28,399107,810136,209
Solomon Islands277,30712,123289,430
Somalia948,06712,145960,212
South Africa0719,305719,305
Spain011,065,50111,065,501
Sri Lanka2,12718,55920,686
Sudan262,222106,894369,116
Suriname12,2915,57417,865
Swaziland108,37525,931134,306
Sweden01,107,5231,107,523
Syrian Arab Republic987,288791,7701,779,058
Tajikistan2,470,460102,3342,572,794
Thailand032,13332,133
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia304,52211,426315,948
Togo206,67323,898230,571
Trinidad and Tobago346,02626,705372,731
Tunisia145,71463,117208,831
Turkey1,150,894708,4771,859,371
Turkmenistan1,140,02930,7021,170,731
Uganda13,42628,12241,548
Ukraine210,919,39611,391,081222,310,477
United Arab Emirates1,773,822306,5232,080,345
United Kingdom06,255,5706,255,570
United Republic of Tanzania01,4061,406
United States of America1,089,690,676548,848,7871,638,539,463
Uruguay434,618110,811545,429
Uzbekistan2,371,016103,8432,474,859
Vanuatu287,41812,145299,563
Venezuela726,9962,851,2513,578,247
Viet Nam206,62721,870228,497
Yemen279,380118,983398,363
Yugoslavia14,308,990764,03115,073,021
Zambia0676676
Zimbabwe39,585104,527144,112
Total1,642,460,436865,000,3532,507,460,789

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.


4 Nov 1998 : Column WA53


Next Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page