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Duke of York's Headquarters
32. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Duke of York's headquarters in Chelsea. [49608]
Dr. Reid: We have announced, following the Strategic Defence Review, that the Duke of York's Headquarters will be sold. Further work is needed on the disposal arrangements. Units currently occupying the site will be re-accommodated as necessary.
Suspected War Criminals (Yugoslavia)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards the detention of suspected war criminals in the former Yugoslavia. [49585]
Mr. George Robertson: Nine people indicted for war crimes have been detained in Bosnia by SFOR. Seven of these detentions took place in the British-commanded sector, and involved British SFOR forces, either directly or in support. A further fifteen indictees have surrendered voluntarily to the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague.
Armed Forces (Personnel)
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the impact of the strategic defence review on the personnel strengths of the armed forces. [49599]
Mr. George Robertson: As a result of the Strategic Defence Review, we will increase the size of the Army establishment by 3,300 personnel. Once full manning has been achieved, the net effect of the Review on the Royal Navy's Regular manpower will be a reduction of some 1,400, and the net effect on Regular RAF manpower will be broadly neutral. We intend to achieve full manning in the Royal Air Force by 2000, in the Royal Navy by 2002 and in the Army around 2004.
The Territorial Army will be reduced from around 56,000 to around 40,000 but we will make it more relevant and usable. The Royal Naval Reserve will increase by 350 personnel. No change is planned to the strength of the Royal Marines Reserve. The Reserve Air Forces will increase by 270 posts.
RAF Scampton
Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Scampton following the Strategic Defence Review. [50453]
Dr. Reid: Detailed options for the future use of RAF Scampton are currently being considered taking account of the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review. An announcement on the future of the site will be made as soon as the work is concluded.
Royal Military Police (Army)
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current security classifications of the newsletters produced for the staff of Royal Military Police (Army); how often each newsletter is produced; and when each newsletter was first produced. [51129]
20 Jul 1998 : Column: 429
Mr. Spellar:
The Royal Military Police (Army) have one newsletter the RMP Journal. The Journal, which has no security classification is published three times a year and is received by serving and associated members of the RMP. It was first published in March 1950.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research and development contracts and agreements are currently being funded by his Department in universities; how many of these research projects are classified; and from which of his Department's research establishments these research projects have originated. [51131]
Mr. Spellar:
A complete list of all research and development contracts and agreements funded by MOD is not kept. However, in 1997 there were over 450 contracts and agreements, involving about 60 UK academic institutions, for extramural research, funded through the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. Fewer than 25 of the 450 projects are classified.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 25 June 1998, Official Report, column 569, if he will list the names of the 11 directorates which currently exist at AWE, Aldermaston. [51134]
Mr. Spellar:
The 11 Directorates currently existing at AWE Aldermaston are:
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what volume of sludge containing (a) plutonium and (b) uranium is presently held at AWE Aldermaston; how this is presently stored; what plans he has to (a) reduce the volume held and (b) improve storage safety of the material; and if he will make a statement. [51156]
Mr. Spellar:
There are at present some 761 cubic metres of sludge stored at AWE Aldermaston. This material contains both plutonium and uranium. It is safely stored in tanks above ground within bunded areas. These tanks are regularly inspected and maintained.
A feasibility study is underway, with the aim of reducing the volume of this material.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds have been earmarked in years (a) eight, (b) nine and (c) 10 of his Department's long-term costings for the replacement carriers. [50960]
20 Jul 1998 : Column: 430
Dr. Reid
[holding answer 17 July 1998]: The Long Term Costings represent projections and assumptions which inform advice to Ministers on the affordability of constituent elements of the Defence Programme. It has been the position of successive Governments that advice to Ministers, and hence LTC information, should not be published. I am therefore withholding this information under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the basis for his Department's assumption that Smart procurement will achieve savings of two per cent. or £2 billion. [50958]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 17 July 1998]: The estimate of Smart procurement cost savings over the next 10 years, amounting to £2 billion, has been compiled in consultation with industry and is based on the progressive application, to a range of existing and planned equipment procurements, of the acquisition reforms announced as part of the Strategic Defence Review. The greatest impact of the reforms will be achieved on procurements which are currently in their early formative stages and therefore most open to change.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he intends to implement the Treasury's proposal for least cost procurement. [50955]
Mr. George Robertson
[holding answer 17 July 1998]: The term "least cost procurement" is not recognised; the Ministry of Defence pursues a policy of value for money procurement. The Strategic Defence Review included a radical reappraisal of the ways in which we carry out defence procurement. The resulting package of measures, grouped under the banner of "Smart Procurement", aims to make defence procurement faster, cheaper, and better.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the means by which industry will meet the stockholding requirements of his Department for weapons, equipment and clothing following the disposal of current stocks. [50964]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 17 July 1998]: As part of the Strategic Defence Review the Department is assessing the stockholding requirements needed to be retained in house and what may more effectively be provided from industry within agreed readiness times. Each equipment area will be examined in detail and a decision taken on stockholding policy requirement. Following this detailed work the Department will invite expressions of interest from industry.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom, on what terms and in what numbers are buildings available at the former RAF Chilmark for use as a fireworks factory. [51053]
20 Jul 1998 : Column: 431
Mr. Spellar:
No buildings at the former RAF Chilmark are let or available for use as a fireworks factory. Four buildings have been let on the Ladydown Site on short term leases for fireworks storage and agreement has been reached in principle to let one further building.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the figures for total defence spending for the years 1996-97 and 1997-98 on an outturn basis and 1998-99 to 2001-02 on an estimated or planned basis (a) in cash and (b) at 1996-97 prices using the actual and estimated GDP deflator to make the adjustments. [50843]
Mr. George Robertson:
The information requested is as follows:
Assurance
Commercial
Communications
Finance
Performance Management
Personal
Physics Research
Programmes
Sites Development
Systems Engineering
Technology.
| £ million | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Cash | 1996-97 prices |
| 1996-97 | 22,345 | 22,345 |
| 1997-98 | 21,554 | 20,987 |
| 1998-99 | 22,240 | 21,045 |
| 1999-2000 | 22,295 | 20,562 |
| 2000-01 | 22,830 | 20,542 |
| 2001-02 | 22,987 | 20,179 |
The figure for 1996-97 outturn is that shown in Table 1 (Cash Plans) of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1998-99 Ministry of Defence" (Cm 3902) which excludes the element of receipts arising from the sale of the married quarters estate that were appropriated onto Defence Votes in that year. The figure for 1997-98 represents the provisional outturn as set out in the Public Expenditure 1997-98 Provisional Outturn White Paper (Cm 3988) adjusted to exclude a further receipt from the sale of the married quarters estate.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish detailed Defence Estimates for (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02. [50842]
Mr. George Robertson:
The details of the Government's planned expenditure on defence for the years 1999-2000 to 2001-2002 will be presented to Parliament in the Supply Estimates, in the usual manner, by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury at the start of each financial year; eg, April 1999 for 1999-2000.
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