HL Deb 23 March 1998 vol 587 cc954-5

2.45 p.m.

The Earl of Carlisle asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they have spent since 1991 on retraining unemployed former Soviet army officers in Russia; and what financial contribution the Russian Federation has made towards such projects.

Lord Hoyle

My Lords, since 1991, the British Government have spent £3,651,000 on retraining projects for unemployed former Soviet army officers in Russia. The Russian Federation has made no specific financial contribution towards such projects.

The Earl of Carlisle

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his helpful Answer. Will he join me in congratulating Squadron Leader Max Jardine of the Royal Air Force, who has been the project officer for this interesting experiment? Is the Minister aware that 2,000 former Soviet Union officers are unemployed in Estonia and Latvia? Will he extend this valuable project to those two northern states not only in order to be even-handed but also because, as he may realise, the devil finds work for idle hands?

Lord Hoyle

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for congratulating Squadron Leader Max Jardine, who has worked tirelessly and single mindedly in support of these programmes. I am sure that your Lordships will wish those congratulations to be passed on to the squadron leader and I shall ensure that that is done.

As regards extending the programme to other Soviet states, we are happy to provide advice to other nations. However, we do not have the resources to establish similar schemes in other countries. Resettlement is only one area in which we can support countries of central and eastern Europe; for example, bilateral arrangements with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania cover areas such as English language training, the provision of military training teams and the secondment of UK civil servants and military personnel to provide advice to the Ministry of Defence. We are always willing to provide advice.

Baroness Rawlings

My Lords, given the importance of the stability of the Russian Federation, can the Minister comment on this morning's news that the Russian president, Boris Yeltsin, has taken the unprecedented step of dismissing his entire government and has taken over temporarily as prime minister? What implications does that have for the political and economic stability of the country and the region as a whole, particularly since President Yeltsin has stated that the move is an attempt to give new impulse to economic reform rather than a change in economic policy?

Lord Hoyle

My Lords, I am afraid that I must say that that has nothing to do with the Question on the Order Paper. Indeed, it is far too early to comment on that matter.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

My Lords, perhaps I may ask a different question, but one on the same lines. Bearing in mind that President Yeltsin has sacked his government because they are unable to glean from the Mafia and other "businessmen" the tax which is necessary to keep Russia going, is it not odd that British taxpayers should be forking out for the retraining of Russian officers?

Lord Hoyle

My Lords, I must say to my noble friend that I do not believe the two are connected. Indeed, we believe, along with our European allies, that it is in our interests and the interests of security and co-operation in Europe that we should help Russia with the resettlement and reorganisation of her army. For that reason, we undertook that project.

Lord Chalfont

My Lords, may I return to the Question on the Order Paper and ask the Minister from which Vote the money is taken? To be more specific, does it come from the defence budget?

Lord Hoyle

My Lords, I must write to the noble Lord in answer to that question; I note the point he makes.