PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 02 Jun 2008
Aircraft Carriers
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the time which will elapse between (a) completion of the construction of each Future Aircraft Carrier and formal handover to the Royal Navy and (b) formal handover of each Future Aircraft Carrier to the Royal Navy and entry into service with the Fleet. [206328]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 20 May 2008]: The carriers will be accepted progressively throughout construction, with a period of some six months elapsing between completion of construction of each Future Aircraft Carrier and formal handover to the Royal Navy. The ships will be available to be deployed by the Fleet after they have successfully completed operational sea training and operational readiness inspection, which is assessed as requiring some four months.
Aircraft Carriers: Procurement
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the order for the future aircraft carriers has not been placed; and what conditions will have to be fulfilled before it will be placed. [206626]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 22 May 2008]: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement laid by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Des Browne) on 20 May 2008, Official Report, column 15WS, indicating we have given our written assurance to industry of our intention to place the contract once the proposed shipbuilding joint venture company has formed.
Armed Forces: Vehicles
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department’s vehicle capitation rates. [207050]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: No. Placing the vehicle capitation rates in the Library of the House would prejudice the Department’s commercial interests.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he received from the French government in support of Nexter’s bid to supply the Future Rapid Effect System utility vehicle requirement; and if he will make a statement. [207123]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Ministers and officials often exchange correspondence and discuss defence issues with their French counterparts. The French Government have supported Nexter’s bid for the Utility Vehicle design of the Future Rapid Effect System, both in writing and during discussions.
Army: Deployment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2008, Official Report, column 1307W, on Army deployment, what the (a) mean, (b) mode and (c) median interval is between tours of duty for Army units.
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Tour intervals are calculated for units within the Infantry, Royal Armoured Corps and Royal Artillery. In relation to the last tour intervals for these units the mean interval is 25 months. The mode and median figure for these units is 23 months.
Bombs
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on possible outcomes of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on cluster munitions. [207457]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I discussed the outcome of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on cluster munitions with Bob Gates on 1 June 2008.
House of Lords Hansard Written Answers for 02 Jun 2008
Armed Forces: Hercules Accident
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty’s Government: Whether they will take action to prevent the recurrence of the loss of communication by “the other Hercules” as described in the military aircraft accident summary in respect of the RAF Hercules ZH876. [HL3675]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Following the outcome of the ZH876 board of inquiry, tactical air traffic control procedures have been revised to allow better handling of incidents on tactical landing zones in operatio