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Written Answers
Wednesday, 17th March 1999.
World Trade Organisation
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will make representations to the World Trade Organisation about financial contributions allegedly made to United States politicians by banana exporters.[HL1438]
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Simon of Highbury): That is not a matter which falls within the scope of the WTO Agreements.
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they are taking within the European Union to encourage support for Palestinian "observership" at the World Trade Organisation with a view to eventual membership.[HL1383]
Lord Simon of Highbury: Palestine has not made an application for "observership" at the World Trade Organisation. We have therefore not discussed it with our European partners.
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they are taking to ensure that in its economic dialogue with Israel the European Commission reminds Israel of her obligations as a member of the World Trade Organisation and encourages her to abide by the WTO rules with regard to Palestinian trade with third parties.[HL1382]
Lord Simon of Highbury: The UK supports the Commission's efforts to encourage all members of the World Trade Organisation to fulfil their WTO obligations. We support the right of the Palestinian Authority to trade with third parties.
EC/PLO Trade Agreement: Customs Requirements
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they are taking to ensure that the European Commission seeks to simplify customs requirements under the European Commission-
Palestinian Liberation Organisation interim trade agreement.[HL1384]
Lord Simon of Highbury: The UK works within the EU to support the Commission's efforts to resolve outstanding Middle East Peace Process trade issues. We are actively considering possible simplifications of the customs requirements under the European Community/Palestine Liberation Organisation interim trade agreement which we will discuss with EU partners.
NATO: St. Malo Declaration
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are satisfied that their commitment to NATO and the preservation of its prerogatives
is shared equally by their French partners in the
St. Malo Declaration.[HL1400]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): At St. Malo, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and President Chirac declared that a modernised Atlantic Alliance was the foundation of the collective defence of its members and that Europe should make a stronger contribution to its own security. This would in turn contribute to the vitality of the Alliance.
Variola Virus Stocks
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will discuss with the Israeli Government reports that it is maintaining stocks of smallpox virus; and whether this is in accordance with its international commitments under the World Health Assembly Resolution of 25 May 1996 on the destruction of variola virus stocks.[HL1441]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 39.4 of May 1980 recommended that remaining stocks of the variola virus should be confined to a limited number of sites. The World Health Organisation confirmed in 1996 that the stocks are now held at two specific locations, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta and the Russian Centre for Virology and Biotechnology at Koltsovo. The UK is unaware of any stocks of the virus located in other countries.
The Foreign Policy Centre
Baroness Park of Monmouth asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Who are to be the members of their new think-tank on foreign policy, to be led by Mr. Mark Leonard; how they have been chosen; when they are to report; and what will be the cost.[HL1484]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Foreign Policy Centre is an independent organisation which does not receive any money from public funds. Its members, methods of recruitment, budget and timescale for reporting are a matter for the Foreign Policy Centre itself to decide.
Land Command Order of Battle
Lord Morris of Castle Morris asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Gilbert on 22 February (WA 101-102), following the Strategic Defence Review, what is the revised Order of Battle for HQ Land Command below brigade level; and whether a diagram could be provided.[HL1254]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert): Following the Strategic Defence Review, the revised Order of Battle for Land Command below brigade level will be as follows:
Each armoured brigade will consist of an armoured regiment, equipped with Challenger II tanks, and two armoured infantry battalions, both equipped with Warrior infantry fighting vehicles. Each armoured brigade will be supported by an artillery regiment, equipped with AS90 tracked self propelled guns, a close support engineer regiment, equipped with engineer tanks and tracked armoured personnel carriers, and a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintenance battalion.
Each mechanised brigade will consist of an armoured regiment, equipped with Challenger II tanks, an armoured reconnaissance regiment, equipped with combat vehicle reconnaissance (tracked), an armoured infantry battalion, equipped with Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, and two mechanised infantry battalions, both equipped with Saxon wheeled armoured personnel carriers. Each mechanised brigade will be supported by an artillery regiment, equipped with AS90 tracked self propelled guns, a close support engineer regiment, equipped with engineer tanks and tracked armoured personnel carriers, and a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintenance battalion.
16 Air Assault Brigade will consist of three attack helicopter regiments, to be equipped with the Apache attack helicopter and Lynx light utility helicopter, two parachute battalions, a light role infantry battalion, a parachute trained artillery regiment, equipped with light gun, a close support engineer regiment with a parachute trained squadron, a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintenance battalion with a parachute capability, and a logistic regiment, which will also have a parachute trained squadron.
1 Artillery Brigade will consist of two artillery regiments, equipped with the multiple launch rocket system, and a surveillance and target acquisition regiment, equipped with the Phoenix remotely piloted vehicle, radar and sound ranging equipment. For operations, the brigade may have assigned to it a Territorial Army artillery regiment, equipped with the multiple launch rocket system, and a Territorial Army observation post regiment.
7 Air Defence Brigade will consist of two air defence artillery regiments equipped with Rapier surface to air missile systems. For operations, the brigade may have three Territorial Army air defence artillery regiments assigned to it, each equipped with Javelin close air defence systems.
1 Signal Brigade will consist of two signal regiments and the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps support battalion.
11 Signal Brigade will consist of a strategic communications signal regiment and a trunk communications signal regiment. For operations, the brigade may have five Territorial Army signal regiments assigned to it.
For operations 29 (Corps support) Engineer Brigade may have two Territorial Army engineer regiments assigned to it.
12 (Air Support) Engineer Brigade will consist of an air support engineer regiment and two independent air support squadrons. For operations, the brigade may have two Territorial Army air support engineer regiments assigned to it.
Combat Service Support Group (United Kingdom) will consist of a supply regiment, two transport regiments, a general support medical regiment which has both regular and territorial army squadrons, three field hospitals, and a field medical equipment depot. For operations, the group may have assigned to it two Territorial Army transport regiments, five Territorial Army field hospitals, and a Territorial Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintenance battalion.
Combat Service Support Group (Germany) will consist of a supply regiment; two transport regiments, and a general support medical regiment which has both Regular and Territorial Army squadrons. For operations, the group may have assigned to it a Territorial Army transport regiment, six Territorial Army field hospitals, a Territorial Army field medical equipment depot, and a Territorial Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintenance battalion.
1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division will, in addition, command an armoured reconnaissance regiment, equipped with combat vehicle reconnaissance (tracked), an air defence artillery regiment, equipped with the high velocity missile close air defence system, a signal regiment, a close support logistic regiment, a general support logistic regiment, a close support medical regiment, and a provost regiment. The division may have assigned to it an aviation regiment equipped with the Lynx light utility helicopter.
3rd (United Kingdom) Mechanised Division will, in addition, command an air defence artillery regiment, equipped with the high velocity missile close air defence system, a signal regiment, a close support logistic regiment, a close support medical regiment and a provost regiment.
A number of further units in the Order of Battle include an explosive ordnance disposal engineer regiment, an electronic warfare signal regiment, two movement control regiments, a port and maritime regiment, a pioneer regiment, an explosive ordnance disposal logistic regiment, a general support medical regiment and two military intelligence battalions. For operations, these units may be assigned to 1 Armoured Division or 3 UK Division.
The post-Strategic Defence Review Order of Battle for the non-deployable brigades has yet to be finalised.
A copy of the diagram relating to the above information is being placed in the Library of the House.
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