HC Deb 17 February 1994 vol 237 cc994-6W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of marine engineering artificers currently serving in the Royal Navy are qualified to operate(a) gas turbine and (b) steam propulsion; how many steam ships are in service in the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

Records readily available do not show the proportion of marine engineering artificers qualified to operate gas turbine or steam propulsion systems. Records of general service marine engineering artificers serving on the trained strength in the surface fleet, however, show that 44 per cent. are qualified to operate gas turbine machinery and 26 per cent. are qualified to operate steam main propulsion machinery. Those qualified to operate steam main propulsion machinery would require further training to qualify them to operate gas turbine machinery. The Royal Navy currently operates four steam-propelled surface ships.

Date Destination Purpose Approximate cost £
February 5–7 Bosnia To visit British Forces 6,820
April 5–9 Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria Bilaterals 10,128
May
13–15 Germany To visit British Forces 4,647
19 Rome WEU Ministerial Meeting 869
July
26 Luxembourg WEU Ministerial Meeting 1,727
28–30 Germany To visit British Forces 3,910
September
13–16 Italy, Bosnia and Croatia To visit British Forces 7,283
20–29 Belize Visit British Forces and meet Prime Minister and members of Belizean government 5,417
Visit West Indies Guard ship on deployment and discussions with US
US/Florida officials
US/Washington Meetings with members of US administration
October
12–14 Hungary Bilaterals 5,625
November
15–18 Gibraltar To visit British Forces and meet Chief Minister
Cyprus Visit British Forces
Sardinia RAF Briefing 15,098

Note:

Figures are based on the cost of the Royal Air Force and civil flights involved. Accommodation is normally provided free by Her Majesty's ambassador or high commissioner, or other Government representative, or by the host Government.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits abroad the Minister of State for the Defence Procurement made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

Overseas visits made by Minister (DP) in 1993
Date Destination Purpose Approximate cost £
5–12 January 1993 Kuwait Saudi Arabia 17,850
12–15 February 1993 Abu Dhabi 2,400
17–19 February 1993 Germany Anglo/German Seminar 5,150
5 Apr 1993 Germany 1,500
28 Jun 1993 Netherlands 1,450
16 September 1993 Poland Representing HMG at reinterment of General Sikorski See note 3
8 October 1993 Kuwait 3,150
6–7 November 1993 Dubai 2,600
18 November 1993 Germany 2,450