PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS FROM PS2 THE LEADING U.K. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMPANY Contact:
DEFENCE
Airfield Support Services Project
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original expected date was for announcing a decision on the Airfield Support Services Project; what the current expected date is; and what the reasons are for the delay. [160771]
Mr. Ingram: The Main Gate approval decision for the Airfield Support Services Project was originally envisaged for the first quarter of 2003. Although we are now moving towards this major decision stage, no decision has been made and I am not yet in a position to say exactly when this will be. The evaluation of this complex project has taken longer than anticipated. The time taken reflects the need to ensure that a fully informed decision is made.
Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what guidance his Department has issued to companies on Part 12 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; [158309]
(2) what meetings his Department has held with companies to discuss (a) Part 12 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and (b) corruption laws in the UK; and on what dates. [158310]
Mr. Ingram: Guidance in this area is a matter for the Department of Trade and Industry. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 4 March 2004, Official Report, column 120WA, in another place. The Ministry of Defence has not issued guidance or held meetings with United Kingdom companies in respect of the Act.
Arms Dealers
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether arms dealers whose commodities do not (a) originate in and (b) enter the UK are subject to end user certificate legislation; and if he will make a statement. [160192]
Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply. From 1 May 2004, controls will apply in certain cases in respect of military goods traded between countries outside the UK (controls on such trade to embargoed destinations came into force on 3 March 2004). End-user documentation requirements under the new trafficking and brokering controls will be similar to those currently in place under existing export controls.
Defence-related Industries
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department calculates the number of people employed in and by defence related industries in the regions of the UK; what multiplier is used; and what the (a) regional and (b) national totals are. [159306]
Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 12 December 2002, Official Report, column 418W in which the methodology was described. As indicated in this answer, a detailed report was being prepared. This is now available as Defence Statistics Bulletin 5. It has been published on the Defence Analytical Services Agency’s website: www.dasa.mod. uk/statbulletin/bulletin5.pdf.
The latest estimate of the number of full time jobs supported in the UK by MOD expenditure and defence exports is around 295,000 in 2001-02. No estimate is currently available on the breakdown of employment numbers by region.
Eurofighter Typhoon
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has conducted on the impact on BAE (a) workflows and (b) employment prospects of the delay in agreeing the Tranche II order for Eurofighter Typhoons. [159498]
Mr. Ingram: As part of our approach defined in the Defence Industrial Policy Paper, we continually monitor with industry the effects of defence expenditure on the industrial base. However the direct impact on BAE systems of workflows and employment prospects are a matter for the company. Negotiations with our partner nations and industry on the Tranche II order for Typhoons are ongoing.
Iraq
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral a