§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which countries had armed forces involved in the NATO joint exercise in Norway carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72828]
(2) what assessment he has made of the NATO joint exercise in Portugal carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998;[72831]
(3) which countries had armed forces involved in the NATO joint exercise in Portugal carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72835]
(4) what is his assessment of the value of the NATO joint exercise in Norway carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72968]
(5) what is his assessment of the principal benefits of the NATO joint exercise in Portugal carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72969]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 1 March 1999]: Exercise STRONG RESOLVE, which took place in March 1998 jointly in Norway and in Portugal, consisted of two halves; exercise CRISIS NORTH, in Norway, and exercise CRISIS SOUTH, in Portugal. The aim of exercise STRONG RESOLVE was to exercise NATO's ability to cope with multiple, simultaneous crises in separate geographic regions, drawing on the resources of both Major NATO Commanders, and involving the full spectrum of NATO missions, and the exercise is assessed to have succeeded in its aim. Members of the armed forces of the following nations participated in CRISIS NORTH: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States. Members of the armed forces of the following nations participated in CRISIS SOUTH: Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany,
348WPensions Registry and the Pensions Ombudsman. Rates of general levy for the 1999–2000 year are shown in the table.
The increase in the levy rates in respect of occupational pension schemes reflects, in particular, the steady increase in the number of cases OPRA is having referred to it and the complexity of the issues it is dealing with. It is important, therefore, that the Authority and the other bodies concerned continue to have the resources necessary to ensure that scheme members' interests are properly protected. The rates in respect of personal pension schemes remain the same as last year.
Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.