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HKC062/1
Written Answers
Written Answers to
Questions
Wednesday 1 November 1989
DEFENCE
Low Flying
2/11
1 NOVEMBER 1989
Mr. Amos: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying exercises have been carried out by the Royal Air Force and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation over the Hexham constituency for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Neubert: I regret that the information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost and effort.
Weapons Security
Dr. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received from the United States Government a copy of the latest nuclear weapons surety report to the United States President which deals with security of United States nuclear warheads and weapons deployed in the United Kingdom and Europe; and whether his Department received earlier copies of this report.
Mr. Archie Hamilton: No. We do, however, work closely with the Americans on a range of nuclear safety and security matters.
Bullets (Northern Ireland)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount of compensation paid for (a) deaths and (b) injuries inflicted by (i) rubber bullets and (ii) plastic bullets fired by the Army in Northern Ireland from 1969 to the present.
Mr. Archie Hamilton: The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, our records show that of the claims received since 1 April 1987, we have paid out to date a total of £8,250 in compensation awards for injuries caused by rubber or plastic bullets in Northern Ireland.
HMS Tamar
HKD
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the considerations which influenced him to order the relocation of HMS Tamar from Hong Kong to Stonecutters island.
Mr. Archie Hamilton: The defence estate in Hong Kong is the property of the Hong Kong Government. Under long-standing arrangements, whenever defence land is required for redevelopment, for economic or social purposes, the Hong Kong Government reprovide defence facilities, as required, at other suitable locations. The naval basin and related facilities at HMS Tamar lie in an area requied by the Hong Kong Government for a major new development. No decision has been taken on the future of
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the Prince of Wales building (headquarters British forces Hong Kong), which is unaffected by the reprovision of the Royal Navy's facilities at Stonecutter's island.
Vanguard Submarine
enter
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out into the power-to-weight ratio of the Vanguard class submarine; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neubert: The power-to-weight ratio for the Vanguard class was calculated in the course of deciding on the submarine's design. Adequate power will be generated to satisfy the operation requirement.
Aircraft
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the joint tactical information distribution system will be fitted to aircraft of the Royal Air Force, and to which aircraft.
Mr. Alan Clark: The AEW Sentry E3D will enter RAF service in the early 1990s fitted with JTIDS class 2. On current plans the Tornado ADV will have JTIDS fitted shortly after. Consideration is also being given to fitting JTIDS to tanker aircraft in the mid 1990s. A reduced size version of JTIDS is specified for the European fighter aircraft.
Field Howitzer
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to order the evaluation on behalf of his Department of the 155 mm ultra lightweight field howitzer.
Mr. Alan Clark: I will write to the hon. and learned Gentleman.
Cambodia
L
SEAD
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training and material resources have been provided to Cambodian resistance groups; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 30 October 1989.
Tanks
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's plans to coordinate the develop- ment of the next generation of tanks.
Mr. Alan Clark: NATO nations generally consider opportunities for collaboration in the development of equipment, and are doing so in relation to elements of armoured fighting vehicle technology. There is at present no project aimed at the development of a complete tank.