§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list UK assets identified in the Force catalogue under the Helsinki Headline Goal; and if he will list those assets therein which are(a) double and (b) multiple-hatted to (i) the UN, (ii) NATO, (iii) other bodies and (iv) standing tasks. [158314]
§ Mr. HoonAs announced on 20 November 2000, in the maximum scale operation envisaged at Helsinki—a corps level deployment of up to 60,000 troops—the UK component could be around 12,500 strong. Maritime and air deployments of up to 18 warships and 72 combat aircraft could be made in addition.
The pool of forces identified by the UK provides for an element of choice in order to cater for differing operational, political or geographical circumstances, and the major elements are as follows:
92WLand
Either an Armoured or Mechanised brigade, each of which could be sustained for at least a year or an Air Assault brigade which would be deployed for up to six months. Combat Support enabling capabilities such as Artillery, and Short Range Air Defence, and Attack Helicopters could be deployed in addition, supported by the appropriate complement of logistic enablers and national support troops.
Maritime
Maritime forces comprising one aircraft carrier, two nuclear powered submarines, deployment of up to four destroyers/frigates, support vessels; and an amphibious task group, including one helicopter landing platform and an amphibious brigade. The aircraft carrier, helicopter landing platform and submarines could not necessarily be sustained continuously for a whole year.
Air
Up to 72 combat aircraft (including Sea Harriers), with associated support aircraft including strategic transport. This number would be available for six months to cover initial theatre entry. For a longer term commitment the total would reduce.
All the pool of forces and capabilities which the UK has identified in response to the EU' s Headline Goal, are also potentially available to NATO (for which a range of other forces are also available).
The UK does not earmark troops for use by the UN or other bodies. However under the UN's Standby Arrangements System, designed to facilitate the rapid deployment of forces once political decisions have been made, we have declared a range of capabilities from the UK Joint Rapid Reaction Force as potentially available for peacekeeping operations. This was undertaken in a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and the UN.
The forces declared as potentially available for an EU-led operation ate not committed to current standing tasks.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those occasions since May 1997 on which defence assets were(a) hired out and (b) loaned to a private (i) company and (ii) individual; and if he will make a statement on his policy thereon. [156972]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence (MOD) places some 50,000 contracts a year, many of which involve the loan of defence assets in aid of the contract. Under the terms of exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information details regarding the hire or loan of defence equipment could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
It is MOD's general policy to raise charges for any equipment that is loaned out to private companies or individuals. These charges are normally raised at a level that ensures MOD's costs are recovered.