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Modern Apprenticeships
Mr. Rogers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people have started accelerated modern apprenticeships in Wales, by local authority. [8525]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of young people who have started on accelerated modern apprenticeships in each of the training and enterprise council areas of Wales are detailed in the following table:
| Name of training and enterprise council | Starts on accelerated modern apprenticeships |
|---|---|
| Gwent | 192 |
| Mid Glamorgan | 135 |
| North-east Wales | 308 |
| North-west Wales | 94 |
| Powys | 37 |
| South Glamorgan | 161 |
| West Wales | 337 |
| Wales total | 1,264 |
Mr. Rogers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was his Department's initial forecast of the number of places available on accelerated modern apprenticeships in Wales. [8526]
Mr. Evans: The departmental report published in March 1995 estimated that 1,000 young people would enter accelerated modern apprenticeships in 1995-96, the first year of the programme. In the event, 850 places were contracted with the Welsh TECs for that year and 843 young people commenced training. Planning assumptions for 1996-7 and 1997-8 are for around 1,100 new starts in each year, but as indicated in the departmental report,
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published in March 1996, in practice the balance between accelerated modern apprenticeships and modern apprenticeships will vary according to local demands.
Cwmcarn Grant-maintained School
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many objections he received to proposals to establish a sixth form at Cwmcarn grant-maintained school; how many of those objectives were from (a) individuals and (b) organisations; and if he will list those organisations; [8347]
- (2) how many pupils are required at a school for it to be granted sixth form status; and what guidance on this his Department has issued; [8529]
(3) what consultations he undertook before granting Cwmcarn grant-maintained school sixth form status.[8354]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: Eight objections were received to the published proposal of 15 January 1996, all of which were from organisations. They were:
The former Gwent local education authority
Risca comprehensive school
Blackwood comprehensive school
Pontllanfraith comprehensive school
Oakdale comprehensive school
Newbridge comprehensive school
Gwent tertiary college
Further Education Funding Council for Wales.
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the audited accounts of Cwmcarn grant-maintained school. [8348]
Mr. Evans: My right hon. Friend does not publish the audited accounts of grant-maintained schools. It is for the schools' governing bodies to ensure that the accounts are available at the school for inspection by any member of the public.
Meningitis
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of meningitis among Cardiff students have been reported since 28 September; and if he will list the location at which each sufferer was first diagnosed, indicating the date. [8727]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: There have been seven cases of meningococcal infection, including both meningitis and septicaemia forms of the disease, reported amongst
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Cardiff students since 28 September 1996. Details are given in the following table.
| Case number | Hospital | Date admitted | Date diagnosed(15) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Gwent, Newport | 16 October 1996 | 16 October 1996 |
| 2 | University Hospital of Wales | 16 November 1996 | 16 November 1996 |
| 3 | University Hospital of Wales | 26 November 1996 | 28 December 1996 |
| 4 | University Hospital of Wales | 28 November 1996 | 28 December 1996 |
| 5 | University Hospital of Wales | 27 November 1996 | 29 November 1996 |
| 6 | University Hospital of Wales | 29 November 1996 | 29 November 1996 |
| 7 | University Hospital of Wales | 2 December 1996 | (16)5 December 1996 |
(15) Refers to the date of clinical diagnosis as cases may not be microbiologically confirmed until several days later.
(16) Admitted for observation and commenced on treatment as a precautionary measure from 2 December 1996.
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of meningitis that have occurred in Wales since 20 September his Department assessed to have been (a) part of a cluster and (b) isolated instances. [8798]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: There have been 44 notified cases of meningococcal infection, including both meningitis and septicaemia, reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre, Wales since 20 September 1996. There has been one reported cluster. This centred around the university halls, Penylan, Cardiff. A cluster is usually understood as more than one case reported, in a single setting, in a short period of time.
Sea Empress
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent research his Department has evaluated into the effects in the (a) short, (b) medium and (c) long-term on the health and welfare of flora and fauna arising from the accident involving the discharge of oil from the Sea Empress tanker in February. [8800]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: My right hon. Friend has established the Sea Empress environmental evaluation committee to assess the environmental consequences of the oil spill. A research programme is being taken forward and a final report is expected in 1997.
Village Hall Repairs
Mr. Richards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he has made to existing grant schemes to enable local groups to obtain funding for substantial repairs to village halls. [9282]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: In order to fulfil the commitment given in the White Paper, "A Working Countryside for Wales", I have reconsidered the future of
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the £472,000 budget for the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres scheme and have decided to pass the management of it to the Wales Council for Voluntary Action--WCVA. Most of the money will be used towards the match funding of a £5.6 million grant the WCVA has secured from the Millennium Commission for its project, 21st century halls for Wales. The project will fund improvements to or the rebuilding of around 50 community halls which will then stand as beacons of good practice. A small proportion will be reserved to provide an advice service for all village and community hall committees.
DEFENCE
Hawk Aircraft
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the licensing for export by United Kingdom manufacturers of Hawk (a) attack and (b) trainer aircraft; and what different provisions apply to the two types of Hawk. [8613]
Mr. Arbuthnot: My Department advises the Department of Trade and Industry on various aspects of export licensing. These include the legitimate defence requirements of the recipient, the effect on regional stability and the risk of use against United Kingdom forces. These provisions apply to all export licence applications referred to the MOD.
Low Flying
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft types are permitted to carry out air-to-air refuelling at the lowest notified altitudes in areas 10 and 12. [8602]
Mr. Soames: RAF tankers Tristar, VC10K and VC10 C Mk1K and receiver aircraft VC10, Hercules, Tornado, Harrier, Sea Harrier, Jaguar, Nimrod and Sentry are permitted to carry out air-to-air refuelling exercises at the lowest notified altitudes in areas 10 and 12.
Mr. Rogers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of breaches of low flying regulations in each year since 1992; and in each case what disciplinary action was taken against the aircrew responsible. [8522]
Mr. Soames: Details of breaches in 1992 are not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of breaches and disciplinary action taken for 1993 are given in the seventh report of the Defence Committee, HC 314, "Low Flying; Follow-up to the Fifth Report of Session 1989-90", Session 1993-94, on low flying, pages 35 to 36, and in the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 5 December 1994, Official Report, column 112. I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 22 November 1995, Official Report, column 1042 and to the hon. Member for Meirionydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 18 April 1996, Official Report, column 578, for 1994 and 1995. The following additional breaches of low flying regulations in 1995 have
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been confirmed by RAF police investigations since the latter date and, unless stated otherwise, a lateral breach of the avoidance area listed occurred in each case.
| Date | Location | Numbers and types of A/C | Nationality | Nature of breach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 May | Billinge, Lancs. | 1 X Tornado | TTTE | Unauthorised flight within LFA8 of the UKLFS |
| 21 September | Full Sutton E. York. | 3 X Hercules | Belgian Air Force | Full Sutton Airfield avoidance area |
| 21 September | Full Sutton | 3 X Hercules | Belgian Air Force | Unauthorised flight within LFA11 of the UKLFS |
| 21 November | Bicester, Oxon | 1 X F15 | USAF | Overflew Bicester, a town listed for avoidance |
| 20 December | Caerlaverock, Dumfries and Galloway | 1 X Tornado | RAF | Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust avoidance area |
In the case where the nationality is shown as TTTE, the aircraft came from the tri-national Tornado training establishment at RAF Cottesmore which trains aircrew of the Royal Air Force, German air force and Italian air force using aircraft provided by all three nations.
Formal disciplinary action under the service discipline Acts has been taken in one of the cases listed above. The pilot of the Tornado responsible for the breach at Billinge, Lancashire on 22 May was dealt with under summary procedures and pleaded guilty to one charge, contrary to section 69 of the Air Force Act 1955, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and Air Force discipline for which he was reprimanded and fined.
In cases involving UK aircrew where formal disciplinary action is not appropriate, individuals may be interviewed by their station commander or other appropriate senior officer. Such action could be recorded on individual's career records and affect flying status and promotion prospects, but it is not our policy to release details of such action. It is also the responsibility of senior officers to ascertain what lessons can be learnt from such incidents. Central records are not maintained.
Reports on breaches by foreign aircrew are passed to the relevant national authorities, with whom responsibility for any further action rests.
Details of confirmed breaches for 1996 have yet to be collated.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the maximum manoeuvres permitted by a military aircraft which is subjected to (a) a pre-briefed and (b) an unbriefed interception by a fighter aircraft in the United Kingdom airspace while flying (i) in the military low flying system (ii) between 2,000 and 5,000 ft and (iii) above 5,000 ft. [8603]
Mr. Soames:
The maximum manoeuvres permitted vary according to the type of military aircraft being flown.
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Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made since August 1995 to flow control in the low flying system in the area between Northampton and Sywell airfield; and what were the reasons for those changes. [8588]
Mr. Soames:
Due to the urban expansion of Northampton north-eastwards towards Northampton/Sywell airfield, the area between these locations is no longer available for military low flying and the unidirectional flow has therefore been removed.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made since August 1995 to flow control in the low flying system in the area between Doncaster and Sandtoft airfield; and what were the reasons for those changes. [8601]
Mr. Soames:
Following the closure of the military air traffic zone around RAF Finningley on 1 October 1995, a north-north-westerly unidirectional flow was introduced in the gap between the Sheffield transit area and Sandtoft airfield to improve flight safety at low level.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are contained in the "UK Military Low Flying Handbook" concerning the use by aircrew transiting the gap between Newcastle and Spadeadam of an air traffic radar service from RAF Spadeadam. [8589]
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made since August 1995 to flow control in the low flying system in the Bedford area; and what was the reasons for those changes. [8591]
Mr. Soames:
Due to a reduction in the amount of controlled airspace around Bedford airfield, airspace to the north of Bedford town became available for military low flying. To improve flight safety at low level, a westerly unidirectional flow was introduced between these two locations.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to publish the results of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency study of the probability of mid-air collisions in the low-level airspace; and when. [8599]
Mr. Soames:
We will respond to the air accidents investigation branch--AAIB--once we have received DERA's report and have had the opportunity to consider it fully. Our response to the AAIB will be a matter of public record.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates of those accidents to Jaguar, Harrier and Tornado aircraft since 1990 which the subsequent inquiry concluded would have been prevented if ground proximity warning systems had been fitted to the aircraft. [8586]
Mr. Soames:
It is not possible to report which accidents might have been avoided by installation of a ground proximity warning system as such hypothetical assessments fall outside the terms of reference of RAF boards of inquiry.
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Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made since August 1995 to the structure of the low flying system in the Salisbury plain area; and what were the reasons for those changes. [8592]
Mr. Soames:
The previous boundaries of low flying areas 1A, 1B and 1C used a mixture of geographic features and lines of latitude and longitude to delineate the areas. Changes were made in April and August 1996 so that significant line features such as the M4, A34, A41 (T) and other roads were adopted as boundaries to facilitate the management and conduct of low-level helicopter operations.
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