§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to allow some married Service men and their families to reside on the Falkland Islands for 18-month tours of duty.
§ Mr. WigginWe would not object in principle to a small number of staff who will remain on the islands for longer periods being voluntarily accompanied by their families, but this cannot be considered until adequate provision has been made for housing and other services.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of chartering the "Safe Domina", a floating hotel to be moored off Port Stanley; and how many troops will be housed on her.
§ Mr. WigginApproximately £3 million a year; 930.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions the military police have for dealing with the local Falkland Islanders; and if he will outline their statutory powers when dealing with civilians and the circumstances in which they may use these powers.
§ Mr. WigginTwenty Service policemen, who are currently stationed in the Falklands have been sworn in as temporary special constables in accordance with Ordnance 51 (Police and Prisons) of the Laws of the Falkland Islands. They therefore enjoy the full statutory powers of the local police to deal with Falkland Islands civilians as well as Service men.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline his policy in relation to the sale to Third world and other countries of arms captured from Argentina in the Falklands.
§ Mr. PattieThe needs of our forces and the Falkland Islanders have priority over other options for the disposal of such equipment. The appropriateness of any defence 41W sales will be judged on a case by case basis and would be subject to the normal rules governing the sale of defence equipment overseas.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of sending the "Coastel" to the Falklands.
§ Mr. WigginThe cost of transporting the "Coastel" to the Falklands will be about £0.7 million.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Christmas trees are to be flown out to the Forces in the Falklands; and at what cost.
§ Mr. WigginNone. Air freighting Christmas trees to the Falklands is, in all the circumstances, not a reasonable use of our hard-pressed resources. However, a large number of artificial Christmas trees and other decorations have been shipped out there by the NAAFI.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the portakabin settlements in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. WigginTo date £7.7 million has been spent on the hutted camps being constructed or planned to be erected in the Falkland Islands which include the Portacabins and other makes of hut.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to send Women's Royal Army Corps units to the Falklands Islands.
§ Mr. BlakerThe Army Department is currently assessing which jobs within the garrison establishment may be suitable for individual members of the Women's Royal Army Corps.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects that all mines in the Falkland Islands will be removed; and what will be the time scale of this operation.
§ Mr. BlakerI have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 18 October.—[Vol. 29, c.49–50.]