Written AnZWEIS
28 FEBRUARY 1977
As a result of the increase in the number of hospital beds, the ratio of beds per 1,000 head of the population increased from 4-22 in 1975 to 434 1976.
USSR and United Kingdom (London and Moscow Embassies)
Sir B. Rhys Williams asked the Secre- tary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs (1) if he will now make a statement about his discussions in regard to the proposed expansion of the Russian Embassy premises and the accommoda- tion for Russian officials and their house- holds in Kensington ;
(2) if he is satisfied with the arrange- meats now proposed to provide premiseS and facilities for British officials and business men in Moscow; and in what way any new facilities now agreed to be provided will improve upon the present situation.
Mr. Luard : I have nothing further to add at present to what my hon. Friend said in the Adjournment debate on 20th/ 21st July 1976. Since that date no further discussions of substance have taken place between Her Majesty's Gov- ernment and the Soviet authorities on the Soviet wish to concentrate accom- modation in the Kensington Palace Gardens area. Proposals for new British Embassy premises in Moscow are being pursued in the context of the mutual pro- vision of accommodation in Longon and Moscow.
Weapons (Riot Control)
DEFENCE
Army (Small Arms Weapon System) 20. Mr. Ouslow asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans there are for the adoption of a smail-calibre small arms weapon system by the Army.
Mr. Hugh Jenkins asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what criteria, with respect to the observance of human rights, demo. cratic forms of government and the rule of law, he judges the eligibility of coun- tries for exports of riot control equipment from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Robert C. Brown: NATO trials are to be held over the next two years to decide op a suitable calibre for future small arms on which it is hoped NATO forces will standardise. The British con- tender is a 4.85mm weapon system, comprising an automatic rife and a light support weapon.
Mr. Judd: Exports of riot control equipment are subject to restrictions similar to those on exports of arms and other military equipment. Each applica- tion is treated on its merits, and an export licence is only issued after consultation among the responsible Government Departments, which take into account all relevant political, military, economic and strategic factors, paying particular attention to the end use of the equipment.
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Balloons
Mr. Trotter asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many balloons suitable for parachute training are stock with the RAF.
Mr.
Wellbeloved : Twenty-two parachute training balloons are held by the RAF to meet the needs of the three Services.
Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital
Mr. Cartwright asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the most recent estimate of the cost of (a) building and (b) equipping the Queen Elizabeth Mili- tary Hospital, Woolwich.
Mr. Robert C. Brown: The latest estimated cost of building and equipping the hospital, including the associated staf accommodation and training school is approximately £16 million. It is not practicable to separate building and equipment costs, but equipment costs will be minimised by transferring both mɑdi- cal and general equipment from military hospitals that are to be closed.
Mr. Cartwright asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate (a) the total annual running costs of the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, Woolwich, including debt charges and (b) the annual cost per bed.
Mr. Robert C. Brown: At current prices it is estimated that the annual running costs of the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, if used for military patients only, will be of the order of £5.5 million when the hospital is fully
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