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Fair Employment and Equality Review
Mr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects to respond to the recommendations of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights report on Fair Employment and Equality Review; and if she will make a statement. [22738]
Mr. Worthington: The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights has provided a major report on employment equality which includes over 160 recommendations. Following consultation with those who would be directly affected by SACHR's recommendations, the Government's consideration of the recommendations is well advanced and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already indicated certain recommendations on which the Government propose to take action--clarification of the law on direct recruitment of the long-term unemployed and firmer powers against persistent discriminators. The Government will give a response to the full range of SACHR's proposals in a paper to be published early this year. Those recommendations which are accepted by the Government will be implemented as appropriate.
Political Parties (Funding)
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps her Department is taking to ensure the inclusion of Northern Ireland in the Government's proposed legislation on the funding of political parties. [22808]
Marjorie Mowlam: As my hon. and learned Friend will be aware the Committee on Standards in Public Life--formally the Nolan Committee, now the Neill Committee--has been asked by the Prime Minister to undertake a wide-ranging investigation into the funding of political parties. Northern Ireland will be included in this. My officials will also be keeping in contact with colleagues in the Home Office regarding Government's legislative proposals. We welcome submissions from political parties and other interested groups.
River Pollution
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used to measure pollution in rivers; and which rivers fail to meet the standards. [25020]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service, under its chief executive Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. David Trimble, dated 26 January 1998:
As Chief Executive of Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), I am responsible for all operational aspects of the environmental policies of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. I am responding to the Parliamentary Question which you put down on 27 January 1998 regarding the criteria used to measure pollution in rivers, and the rivers which fail to meet standards.
26 Jan 1998 : Column: 24
EHS assesses the quality of approximately 2,400 kilometres of rivers in Northern Ireland by sampling and analysing water at just under 300 monitoring stations. On the basis of the analysis results, the waters are classified as of Very Good, Good, Fairly Good, Fair,
Poor or Bad quality. The classification system employed is the General Quality Assessment (GQA) drawn up by the Environment Agency for England and Wales.
The policy of EHS with regard to river quality is generally to manage river systems so that water quality is at least Fair under the Chemical GQA system with no downward movement between classes, and to maintain or improve water quality as required by national policy, EC Directives and international agreements. This policy was published in the report River Quality in Northern Ireland 1995 (paragraph 11). A copy of the report is attached. The Chemical GQA scheme is explained in Appendix 1 of the report.
Under the terms of the EC Directive on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life (the 'Freshwater Fish Directive', 78/659/EEC), approximately 1,200 kilometres of rivers have been designated as salmonid (suitable for game fish) or cyprinid (suitable for coarse fish). Designated waters are required to comply with the quality standards set out in Annex 1 of the Directive. A copy of the Directive is attached.
In 1996, the most recent year for which data have been processed, 88 per cent of the length of rivers monitored was of Fair quality or better. Appendix A lists those rivers or reaches which fell below GQA Fair quality.
Also in 1996, 72 per cent of the length of designated rivers complied with the requirements of the Freshwater Fish Directive. Appendix B lists those designated rivers or reaches which failed to comply.
I trust you will find this reply helpful.
Fleet Air Arm (826 Squadron)
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 November 1997, Official Report, columns 576-77, on 826 squadron, in which years since 1968 the squadron was based at (a) RNAS Culdrose, Helston, Cornwall and (b) Malta. [24540]
Dr. Reid: From 1968 until disbandment in 1993, 826 Naval Air Squadron was a front line Anti-submarine Warfare squadron parented by RNAS CULDROSE where it was based when not embarked or deployed. The squadron was deployed in Malta from 31 October to 12 November 1969 and 3 to 22 March 1971. This and similar information, together with that supplied on 12 November 1997, Official Report, columns 576-77, is obtainable from the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Land Command
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are under the command of each one star and each two star commander of Land Command United Kingdom. [24796]
Dr. Reid: The number of service personnel under command of two-star and one-star commanders in land Command in the United Kingdom is as follows:
| Appointment | Regular | TA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Officer Commanding | |||
| 2 Division | 10,704 | 17,737 | 28,441 |
| 3 Division | 8,966 | 3,221 | 12,187 |
| 4 Division | 17,218 | 5,702 | 22,920 |
| 5 Division | 5,335 | 13,492 | 18,827 |
| London District | 4,620 | 714 | 5,334 |
| Scotland | 2,596 | 7,084 | 9,680 |
26 Jan 1998 : Column: 25
| Appointment | Regular | TA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commander | |||
| 1 Mech Bde | 6,280 | 0 | 6,280 |
| 2 (SE) Bde | 2,843 | 1,501 | 4,344 |
| 5 AB Bde | 4,599 | 208 | 4,807 |
| 15 (NE) Bde | 2,401 | 8,865 | 11,266 |
| 19 Mech Bde | 6,029 | 0 | 6,029 |
| 24 Airmob Bde | 5,200 | 0 | 5,200 |
| 42 (NW) Bde | 1,870 | 5,690 | 7,560 |
| 43 (Wx) Bde | 1,597 | 3,221 | 4,818 |
| 49 (E) Bde | 2,170 | 8,852 | 11,022 |
| 51 (H) Bde | 883 | 3,183 | 4,066 |
| 52 (L) Bde | 1,654 | 3,862 | 5,516 |
| 143 (WM) Bde | 1,676 | 3,069 | 4,745 |
| 145 (HC) Bde | 4,525 | 3,980 | 8,505 |
| 160 (W) Bde | 1,630 | 3,584 | 5,214 |
The figures for service personnel include uniformed non-regular permanent staff. The figures for two-star commands include in total some 8,000 service personnel working in headquarters and other units which are distributed throughout the United Kingdom and do not feature in the figures for one-star commands.
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the proposed capital expenditure for United Kingdom Land Command 2nd Division over the next five years. [24795]
Dr. Reid:
It has been the policy of successive Governments not to publish detailed information on the outcome of the Department's long-term costings, of which planned capital expenditure forms a part. I am, therefore, withholding the information requested under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintaining the (i) Land Command United Kingdom Divisional Headquarters in Edinburgh, (ii) the Brigade Headquarters at Perth and (iii) the Brigade Headquarters at Edinburgh. [24792]
Dr. Reid:
The estimated cost of maintaining these headquarters next financial year will be:
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) regular and (b) territorial army soldiers are based currently in (i) Scotland and (ii) the 2nd Division; and how many would be based in the English part of the proposed Northern District with its headquarters at Edinburgh being considered by Land Command United Kingdom. [24797]
Dr. Reid:
Land Command has 2,596 regular and 7,084 territorial army personnel currently based in Scotland; and 10,704 regular and 17,737 territorial army personnel in the 2 Division area. A region covering the North of England would at present include some 10,258 regular and 15,730 territorial army personnel.
26 Jan 1998 : Column: 26
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service and (b) civilian personnel are employed at the Army Brigade Headquarters in (i) Perth and (ii) Edinburgh; and what is the total number of regular and territorial troops under their respective commands. [24790]
Dr. Reid:
Headquarters 51 Brigade in Perth has an establishment of 12 Service, and nine civilian personnel; Headquarters 52 Brigade in Edinburgh, 12 Service and 15 civilian staff.
The total established strength of Land Command units under command or administrative control of Headquarters 51 Brigade is 883 regular and 3,183 Territorial Army personnel; and of Headquarters 52 Brigade: 1,654 regular and 3,862 Territorial Army personnel.
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service and (b) civilian personnel are employed at the headquarters of 15 and 49 Army Brigades; and what is the total number of regular and territorial troops under their respective commands. [24798]
Dr. Reid:
There are currently 33 service and 37 civilian personnel employed in the Headquarters 15 Brigade at York; and 38 service and 37 civilian personnel in the Headquarters of 49 Brigade at Chilwell. The authorised strength of units under command or administrative control of Headquarters 15 Brigade is 2,401 regular and 8,865 territorial army personnel; and of Headquarters of 49 Brigade, 2,170 regular and 8,852 territorial army personnel.
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service and (b) civilian personnel are employed at the United Kingdom Land Command Divisional Headquarters in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) York; and what is the total number of regular and territorial troops under their respective commands. [24791]
Dr. Reid:
Headquarters Scottish District in Edinburgh has an establishment of 91 Service and 60 civilian staff. The equivalent figures for Headquarters 2 Division at York are 104 and 171 respectively. I regret that the figures for Headquarters 2 Division given in the answer from my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary on 16 January 1998, Official Report, column 349, excluded a number of staff who should have been included.
(i) HQ Scottish District, Edinburgh: £5,598,000
These figures include pay and running costs of the headquarters, and maintenance of the buildings. In the case of HQ Scottish District, the figures include the costs of not only the Headquarters but its supporting camp.
(ii) HQ 51 Brigade, Perth: £648,000
(iii) HQ 52 Brigade, Edinburgh: £930,000.
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