HC Deb 15 March 1991 vol 187 cc714-5W
Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military presence is maintained in the Antarctic; and what military presence is maintained by other Antarctic treaty signatory states.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

HMS Endurance deploys to Antarctica each austral summer. Three United Kingdom service personnel also assist the British Antarctic Survey with the servicing of aircraft.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current peacetime role of HMS Endurance; what other naval vessels have been identified which could fulfil that role; and what information he has on the extent to which her capabilities are replicated by the new British Antarctic Survey vessel James Clark Ross.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 6 March 1991, at column224, on the duties carried out by HMS Endurance. Consideration is currently being given to the requirement for a replacement vessel, but no decision has yet been taken. Full account will be taken of the capabilities of vessels operated by the British Antarctic Survey.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the meteorological output of HMS Endurance in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what other source of Antarctic expertise is available to the Meteorological Office.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Whilst maintaining a presence in the British Antarctic Territory, HMS Endurance makes contributions to climate data records maintained by the Meteorological Office. During the 1989–90 season, HMS Endurance was in or near Antarctic waters for 100 days, during which time 350 sets of observations were logged and later sent to the Meteorological Office.

Weather observations are also made in the Antarctic by a network of stations operated by international agencies, including the British Antarctic Survey. Real time data from these stations are sent to the Meteorological Office through the World Meteorological Organisation's global telecommunications network. Combined with climatological data, this information is used in weather forecasting and climate prediction work.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the costs of HMS Endurance are allowed for in his Department's latest long-term costings.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is not our practice to give details of the contents of long-term costings.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the annual running costs of HMS Endurance, in manpower and other terms; what is the current(a) service and (b) civilian complement; and what costs are borne on his Department's vote.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The approximate annual running costs of HMS Endurance are £2.4 million, excluding maintenance and refit. The current complement is 142, all of whom are service personnel. The entire cost of running HMS Endurance is met by the Ministry of Defence.