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RAF High Wycombe

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for new building works at RAF High Wycombe. [58691]

Mr. Spellar: A Framework Development Plan was presented to Wycombe District Council earlier this year, outlining key proposals for future development of the RAF High Wycombe site.

There are two main proposals: first, to replace the site reception and RAF Police Flight Portakabin-style facilities with a permanent building; secondly, to replace two other buildings, used by Headquarters Strike Command, which are over 25 years old and nearing the end of their useful and economic life. The new buildings would provide modern facilities that meet current statutory legislation and provide suitable long-term office accommodation for staff. The proposals would address Wycombe District Council's concern over temporary buildings, the visual impact of the proposed developments when viewed from outside the site, and for landscape improvements, such as tree planting, on the RAF High Wycombe site.

Planning permission has been sought from Wycombe District Council for the reception/RAF Police Flight facilities. It is intended to present Outline Planning Permission application for replacing the HQ Strike Command buildings in the near future.

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Legal Actions

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent in legal fees when dealing with legal action against it by current or former service men and women in each of the last 10 years. [58145]

Mr. Spellar: Information on legal fees relating to common law compensation claims submitted by current and former Service personnel has been held centrally only since 1 April 1994. The figures cover legal fees and disbursements.

YearTotal
1994-955,236,252
1995-965,850,585
1996-975,169,018
1997-986,328,685
1 April 1998 to 4 November 19984,269,161
Total26,853,701

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for damages have been brought against his Department by current and former service men and women in each of the last 10 years. [58146]

Mr. Spellar: The number of common law claims for damages brought against my Department from serving and former Service men and women in each of the last ten complete calendar years was:

YearTotal
1988444
1989606
1990677
1991926
1992990
19931,195
19941,147
19951,275
19961,148
19971,117


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RAF (Training Accidents)

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many RAF aircraft have been lost in training accidents in each of the last 10 years; [58140]

Mr. Doug Henderson: I will write to the hon. and learned Member and a copy of my reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

RNAD Trecwn

Ms Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what nuclear weapons or items were stored at the former RNAD Trecwn; and what licensing was required for them to be stored there. [58594]

Mr. Spellar: No nuclear weapons or items were stored at the former RNAD Trecwn. The question of licensing does not therefore arise.

Ms Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies and individuals other than WR Trust, including estate agents, were allowed access to the RNAD Trecwn site during the run-up to bidding in all bidding rounds. [58595]

Mr. Spellar: Access to RNAD Trecwn was granted to all companies and individuals who wished to visit the site during the run-up to bidding. From records kept of all visitors to the site, 114 individuals, including representatives from various companies and estate agents, took up the opportunity to inspect the site prior to bidding.

Chile

Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 November 1998, Official Report, column 441, if he will identify which of the 21 meetings General Pinochet was present at; where and when such meetings took place; and which ministers were present. [58777]

Mr. Doug Henderson: General Pinochet was not present at any of these meetings.

St. Dunstan's

Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to provide grants to assist the work of St. Dunstan's in caring for men and women blinded in the service of their country. [58244]

Mr. Doug Henderson: We are very conscious of the great efforts made by organisations such as St. Dunstan's to assist former Service personnel, and know how greatly their work is valued both by the present service community and by ex-Service men and women.

However, it is the longstanding practice of central Government not to finance charities' core activities. Therefore, as with all registered charities, St. Dunstan's--as a wholly independent charity--raises its own funding.

Under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, there are powers for central Government to fund voluntary organisations whose activities support the Department of Health's policy objectives relating to

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health, and personal and social services. However, the budget is finite and more applications are received than it is possible to meet. I am given to understand that an application from the Diana Gubbay Trust for the Blind which is administered by St. Dunstan's, and provides care for visually impaired people who are ex-members of the Armed Forces or civilian services but whose blindness is not attributable to their service has been received this year and will be given serious consideration.

The Government provide considerable assistance for disabled ex-Service personnel, including St. Dunstaners. Personnel deemed to have sustained a disability due to service in the Armed Forces qualify for a tax-free War Pension from the War Pensions Agency. In addition, most Service personnel are members of The Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS), which ordinarily pays an immediate pension on completion of 16 years' service in the case of officers and 22 years in the case of non-commissioned personnel. The AFPS also provides pensions to most Servicemen or Servicewomen who are medically discharged from their Service. Additional benefits may be paid if a disability is deemed to be attributable to or aggravated by Service. Attributable benefits are payable irrespective of length of service or whether the individual is a member of the AFPS.

Requisitioned Land

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list British Army military installations that are sited on requisitioned land; when his officials last had contact with the landowners of each site; and what plans he has to return the land to its original use. [56395]

Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 3 November 1998]: The Army's installations, that are entirely or partly sited on requisitioned land, are listed.























Apart from the initial serving of the Requisition Order my officials do not have any contact with landowners except where a landowner wishes to raise a particular matter concerning that Order.

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The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is responsible for compensation arising from Requisition Orders and payment of rents is made by the Compensation Agency on behalf of the NIO. The Compensation Agency would therefore have contact with the landowners due to their responsibility for the rent.

The requirement for bases and installations is kept under constant review and the improvement in the security situation allowed for the planned removal of the Aughnacloy Permanent Vehicle Check Point which was announced by the Chief Constable on 30 September 1998. The closure and planned removal of the Fort Whiterock base in West Belfast was announced by the Chief Constable on 26 October 1998. As the security situation improves there may be scope for further measures; however, there are no plans for additional bases to be removed from requisitioned land at the present time.

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