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Departmental Events
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last four years, giving the title, purpose, date and cost of each. [34180]
Dr. Moonie: This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I regret I am therefore unable to provide a substantive answer under the terms of Exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Civilian Locums
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of civilian locums in each of the last five years. [34643]
Dr. Moonie: The cost of civilian locums incurred by British Forces Germany and the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA) in respect of its directly managed units in the last five financial years is shown in the table. The cost of providing civilian locums in place of military personnel at the Ministry of Defence Hospital Units is met by the host trusts. It is not possible to provide information for the cost of civilian locums employed in primary care as the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Financial year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 2.34 |
| 1998–99 | 2.72 |
| 1999–2000 | 4.03 |
| 2000–01 | 5.85 |
| 2001–02 | 3.67 |
Note:
The figure for 2001–02 is to end of December 2001.
Defence Medical Services
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many conversions from short to (a) intermediate and (b) full career commissions there were within the Defence Medical Services in each of the last five years. [34642]
Dr. Moonie: The number of conversions from short to intermediate commissions and from short to full career commissions within the Defence Medical Services in each of the last five years are shown in the table.
| Short to intermediate commission | Short to full career commission | |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 17 | 45 |
| 1997–98 | 16 | 37 |
| 1998–99 | 82 | 36 |
| 1999–2000 | 55 | 25 |
| 2000–01 | 48 | 33 |
Hawk Aircraft (India)
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision has been made for British aircrew to train
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Indian pilots in the use of Hawk aircraft if British Hawk aircraft are sold to India. [34077]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 11 February 2002]: Details of BAE Systems bid to sell Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft to India, including any provisions for training support, are a matter for the company and the Government of India. In line with its role of supporting legitimate defence exports, and a policy of offering spare training capacity to overseas customers, the Ministry of Defence may make UK aircrew and facilities available if requested.
Exports (Subcontinent)
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts for UK defence exports are expected to be signed with (a) Pakistan and (b) India in 2002. [34079]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 11 February 2002]: The signing of contracts for UK defence exports is a matter for the commercial companies involved and their proposed customers.
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence exports the Government are engaged in promoting to Pakistan. [34078]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 11 February 2002]: Details of commercial companies' marketing strategies and promotions are a matter for the companies involved. It does, however, remain Government policy to support the promotion of legitimate defence exports to Pakistan that are compatible with our export control criteria.
Working Conditions and Practices
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in his Department on a job share contract; and what percentage of vacant positions was advertised on this basis in the last 12 months. [35357]
Dr. Moonie: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence. the MOD is committed to the work/life balance of its civilian staff. A range of flexible working patterns including part time working, flexible working hours, home working and job sharing is available to staff by agreement with their management. United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2001, Chapter 2, Section 2.20 shows 4,533 staff (excluding those in Trading Funds) employed on a part time basis at 1 April 2001. Of these, 596 are recorded centrally as being employed formally under job share arrangements. Figures are not available on the number of vacant positions advertised on this basis although our general policy is that, unless specific job requirements prevent it, positions should be open to flexible working arrangements including job sharing.
RAF Eurofighters
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Eurofighters are planned to be delivered to the RAF in each of the next five years. [35649]
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Dr. Moonie: The Tranche 1 Eurofighter production contract with industry calls for six aircraft to be delivered to the RAF in financial year 2002–03, 14 in 2003–04, 19 in 2004–05 and 13 in 2005–06. Three additional aircraft will be procured for development purposes but will not enter service with the RAF. The Tranche 2 production contract is expected to be placed next year with deliveries commencing in 2006.
QinetiQ
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if development on QinetiQ land is covered by Crown immunity; and if he will make a statement. [35643]
Dr. Moonie: Property transferred to QinetiQ, and developed by them, is not subject to Crown immunity.
I assume that this question arises from the recent announcement by the Home Office that land owned by QinetiQ near Pershore is being considered as a potential site for an asylum-seeker accommodation centre. Assuming Pershore is one of the sites chosen, as soon as the Home Office purchase the land it becomes Crown land, and therefore any subsequent development would be covered by Crown immunity.
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is the owner of QinetiQ; what powers he has to influence the disposal of property owned by QinetiQ; if these powers extend to the power to instruct disposal; and if he will make a statement. [35642]
Dr. Moonie: At present the Ministry of Defence wholly owns QinetiQ plc and its subsidiaries. Under the terms of the Business Transfer Agreement (BTA), signed on 1 July 2001, MOD, as a special shareholder, enjoys a number of rights that could be used to prevent the company from disposing of strategic assets and facilities. However, these assets, deemed important to the national defence interest, are small in number. No special shareholder rights exist which could be used to instruct disposal of property owned by QinetiQ.
In the short-term, MOD, as the majority shareholder, does have additional rights which could be used to instruct the company to undertake a certain course of action. However, it has always been our intention that the company should fully develop commercial opportunities and income, and maximise the use of its assets. Commercial development of the company's real estate is in keeping with this, is good for the company and its shareholders, and will be welcomed by future potential investors. Therefore, unless an over-riding defence interest arose, MOD would not contemplate using its majority shareholder rights to influence the company's normal day-to-day operation.
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on the details of the privatisation of QinetiQ. [36847]
Mr. Hoon: The decision on the precise timing and nature of a sale transaction for QinetiQ will be based on achieving best value for money for the taxpayer. In conjunction with specialist advisers and QinetiQ's management we are reviewing the way forward and I expect to make an announcement shortly.
25 Feb 2002 : Column 692W
City of London Corporation (Events)
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those functions, engagements and events which Ministers, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997. [35708]
Dr. Moonie: This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Underwater Capability
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the maritime underwater capability; what this will involve; and when the project will begin. [35718]
Dr. Moonie: The Maritime Underwater Future Capability, previously known as the Future Attack Submarine, is the project looking into the range of future capabilities required by the United Kingdom for the control and denial of the underwater battlespace into the third and fourth decades of the century. We will be considering a range of concepts, including innovation solutions combining unmanned underwater vehicles, ships, airborne and land assets, as well as submarines. The project has already begun.
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