| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
DEFENCE
REME
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the availability of married officers quarters in Queensferry; [69330]
- (2) what accommodation is available for (a) NCOs and (b) other ranks in Queensferry. [69331]
Mr. Doug Henderson: There is no Service Family accommodation in Queensferry. The nearest accommodation is some five miles away at Hawarden and RAF Sealand, where there are 23 houses for officers, of which two are currently empty, and 160 houses for NCOs and other ranks, of which 62 are currently empty.
Aircraft
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of RAF aircraft will be mission capable by 31 May. [68260]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 3 February 1999]: Under current plans, 100 per cent. of RAF aircraft will be mission capable by 31 May. An average of 82 per cent. of established aircraft are forecast to be
11 Feb 1999 : Column: 328
available for service on this date, with the other 18 per cent. of aircraft forecast to be undergoing routine major maintenance off-base.
Mr. Viggers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Gosport to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 12 January, requesting an urgent meeting with him and the Minister for Health to discuss the future of the Royal Hospital, Haslar. [70628]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I wrote to the hon. Member earlier this week.
Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the plans to convert the Staff College, Camberley into luxury flats, (b) the status of the Staff College, Camberley as a war memorial and (c) its security position. [70542]
Mr. Spellar:
The position remains as set out by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill (Dr. Reid), the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, on 16 July 1998, Official Report, columns 237-38. Options for the future of the former Staff College Buildings at Camberley are being studied. No proposals have yet been put to Ministers. Any decisions will clearly have to take into account both security requirements and the location of a war memorial in the Main Building.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the implications are for other elements of the defence programme of the public sector pay award; and if he will make a statement. [70406]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The additional cost of the Service pay award will be contained within the Departmental Expenditure Limit announced in July 1998 and we will continue to meet the objectives and targets set out in the MOD's Public Service Agreements. The award reflects the Government's commitment--made during the SDR--to the people who deliver our defence.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Ministers in his Department next plan to visit (a) Chorley and (b) Queensferry. [69345]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
My Ministerial colleagues and I have no plans at present to visit either but as I make regular visits to MOD establishments they could be included in a future visit.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the items sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies from those listed in the National Assets Register of November 1997; if he will give in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total cash raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [70415]
11 Feb 1999 : Column: 329
Mr. Spellar:
I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Valerie Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who authorised the use of HMS York and the Special Boat Squadron to monitor the motor vessel Simon de Danser in May 1997; and what their use for this purpose cost. [70630]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I understand that in response to a request for assistance from HM Customs and Excise military assistance in support of this UK counter-drugs operation was authorised at Ministerial level by the previous Administration. The additional costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence, some £127K, were recovered from HM Customs and Excise.
13. Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about class sizes in primary schools in West Sussex. [68884]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
Since August last year the Department has received 12 representations from West Sussex about class size policy.
17. Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on class sizes in primary schools. [68889]
Ms Estelle Morris:
We have passed legislation to limit the size of infant classes for 5, 6 and 7-year-olds to 30 or under by September 2001 at the latest. We are providing £620 million which should enable the limit to be met in virtually all schools by September 2000. The limits apply to pupils in infant classes only. We have concentrated on these classes as it is in the early years that the benefit of smaller classes can have greatest effect.
24. Mr. Derek Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he plans to introduce in respect of the additional funding for the reduction of class sizes to assist local education authorities and diocesan authorities. [68896]
Ms Estelle Morris:
We will be providing a total of £560 million over the next three years to enable schools and local education authorities to employ additional teachers and build extra classrooms to reduce infant class sizes. That comes on top of the £67 million already allocated to reduce class sizes for over 100,000 infants from last September.
25. Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when and for what reason he took the decision to cap the amount allowed per teacher in local education authority bids to reduce infant class sizes at £23,500. [68897]
Ms Estelle Morris:
We have made clear that funding allocations will ensure that all local education authorities have sufficient resources to implement their class size plans as approved. We are working closely with
11 Feb 1999 : Column: 330
authorities to reach agreed solutions which meet all our policy objectives and provide good value for money. Decisions about funding will reflect these priorities and the need to ensure equity across the country.
16. Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the involvement of business in schools. [68887]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
There are many opportunities for businesses and schools to work together to the benefit of both partners.
The hon. Gentleman will probably be aware of the many types of partnerships which exist generally, for example in work-related learning, governor programmes and systematic mentoring. He will also be aware of the partnerships which operate in an Education Action Zone and specialist schools programmes. We value the support of business in our drive to raise educational standards.
19. Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about funding in 1999-2000 for grant-maintained schools which become foundation schools. [68891]
Ms Estelle Morris:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a number of representations since we issued draft regulations on 20 October 1998, from both GM schools and from local education authorities.
20. Mr. Savidge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals for the establishment of a disability rights commission. [68892]
Ms Hodge:
The establishment of the Disability Rights Commission is an important step towards meeting our manifesto commitment to support comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people. It will help disabled people secure their rights and it will provide a central source of information and advice to employers, and service providers. Subject to Parliament enacting the Disability Rights Commission Bill, we would expect the Commission to be established in Spring 2000.
21. Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for the future status of grammar schools. [68893]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Our Manifesto said that parents would decide the future admission arrangements of grammar schools. The Education (Grammar School Ballot) Regulations, which came into force on 3 December 1998, set out the arrangements to deliver that commitment.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |