Lords Hansard text for 30 Nov 2009
Armed Forces: Budgets
Asked by Lord Hamilton of Epsom: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for transferring the cost of the Afghan conflict from the Treasury Contingency Reserve to the Ministry of Defence budget. [HL57]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): There are no plans to change the arrangements for funding military operations.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 01 Dec 2009
Departmental Scientists
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) scientific advisers and (b) civil servants in scientific posts there are in his Department.
[301927]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The MOD has 56 scientific adviser posts providing direct advice to military commanders on a number of operations. Seven civil service scientists are currently deployed to Afghanistan. Scientific advisers are part of a community of an estimated 3,000 scientific posts within the civil service in the MOD and its Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) trading fund.
Hercules Aircraft: Training
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the contract for the construction of the building to house the C (130) J simulator at RAF Brize Norton to be signed. [302759]
Mr. Kevan Jones: It is anticipated that the contract for the C130J Training and Mission Rehearsal Facility at RAF Brize Norton, which will eventually house the C130J Flight Simulators and other training facilities currently at RAF Lyneham, will be awarded early next year.
BAE Systems
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Attorney-General has received a report from the Serious Fraud Office for consent for prosecution in relation to charges against BAE Systems; and if she will make a statement. [301913]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has previously announced that it is preparing papers to be submitted to the Attorney-General when the SFO considers it is ready to proceed. That remains the current position.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Serious Fraud Office has closed its investigations into allegations of bribery and corruption involving BAE Systems in (a) Romania and (b) South Africa. [301914]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office is conducting a number of live criminal investigations into BAE Systems and it is not appropriate to comment on the details at this stage.
House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Nov 2009
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his contribution of 15 October 2009, Official Report, column 466, how many Mastiff 2 and Ridgeback armoured vehicles military forces will receive in (a) the UK for re-deployment training and (b) Afghanistan for actual combat missions; and when he expects such vehicles to be issued to forces personnel. [301526]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information requested about how many armoured vehicles military forces will receive in Afghanistan as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces. However, I am able to confirm that there are currently 51 Mastiff 2 and 59 Ridgback vehicles available for pre-deployment training in the UK. Under existing procurement, a further 22 Mastiff 2 for training purposes are due for delivery in third quarter 2010. A further procurement package is being planned which will provide additional Mastiff 2 and Ridgbacks.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are involved in the training of Afghan security forces in Helmand province. [301528]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: While there are currently, approximately 440 UK troops
directly involved in the training of Afghan National Security Forces in Helmand Province, over the coming year, as the UK re-configures its force str