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Income Support

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if an employed lone mother in receipt of working families tax credit whose pay is stopped when taking parental leave under the provisions of the Employment Relations Bill, will be eligible to claim income support. [84983]

Angela Eagle: A lone mother who is on parental leave will be able to claim Income Support if she meets the entitlement conditions. This applies whether or not she is in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit.

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if an employed individual in a two-parent couple in receipt of working families tax credit, whose pay is stopped when taking parental leave under the provisions of the Employment Relations Bill, will be able to claim income support. [84984]

Angela Eagle: Either member of the couple will be able to claim Income Support for the family when on unpaid parental leave if they meet the entitlement conditions. This applies whether or not the family is in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit.

Lone Parents (Benefits)

Mr. Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he has taken to correct the benefit position whereby a number of lone parents receiving incapacity benefit or severe disability allowance have not received the full increase in their benefits from April. [85652]

Mr. Darling: A small number of lone parents in receipt of these benefits have, through an error in the regulations, failed to receive the full increase in benefit rates this year. We took swift action and introduced amendments to the regulations which became effective on 17 May. Those affected will have their payments corrected automatically, including any arrears from April.

DEFENCE

UK Ambassador (NATO)

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the responsibilities of the United Kingdom Ambassador's to NATO in respect of miliary operations conducted by NATO. [84762]

Mr. Tony Lloyd: I have been asked to reply.

The United Kingdom Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council, established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty, represents the United Kingdom in the Council on all matters including military operations.

Aircraft Carriers

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has carried out into the use of nuclear steam-generating plant on future aircraft carriers; which organisations were consulted; and what conclusions were reached. [78778]

25 May 1999 : Column: 106

Mr. Spellar: Concept studies involving the MOD and UK industry have investigated a number of propulsion options for the future aircraft carriers, including nuclear power. Nuclear propulsion for the two ships has been discounted on cost-effectiveness grounds.

Mine Countermeasures Vessels

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the ships which were originally in the Mine Countermeasures vessels upgrade programme will remain in Royal Naval service for their projected service life. [84520]

Mr. Spellar: As we announced in the Strategic Defence Review, we have concluded that the number of Mine Countermeasures vessels should be limited to 22, rather than 25 as previously planned. No decisions have yet been taken as to which vessels will be disposed of. A decision is expected later this year. On current plans the remaining vessels, including those upgraded with Sonar 2193, will remain in service for their projected service lives.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the planned cost over what period of time of the upgrade programme for all Mine Countermeasure Vessels; [84519]

Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 May 1999:



    The decision to delay the upgrade of the Royal Navy Countermeasure Vessels was made in the context of the Department's annual budget setting process which was completed in March 1999. The process takes account of cost, operational and industrial factors, and priorities are assessed on the basis of the Defence Missions and Tasks defined in the Strategic Defence Review (Cm 3999) published in July 1998. I can confirm that competing companies (Lockheed Martin and Thomson Marconi Sonar) were formally notified of the delay to the programme by letter on 24 March 1999.


    I am afraid that I am unable to disclose the information you request on the cost of the programme as its disclosure could prejudice the competitive position of the Department in negotiations with contractors. I am therefore withholding this information under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Sonar 2193 Programme

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision about the Sonar 2193 programme; and what plans he has for its role in Royal Naval service. [84518]

25 May 1999 : Column: 107

Mr. Spellar: On current plans, we expect to place a contract for the Sonar 2193 upgrade programme by mid-2001. The sonar upgrade will be introduced into service in 2003, and will improve the minehunting performance of the HUNT Class mine countermeasures vessels. In particular it will enhance their effectiveness against modern, stealthy mines.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the (a) target in service date for the replacements for (i) RFA Sir Geraint and (ii) RFA Sir Percivale and (b) the planned capacity of the replacements; [84510]

Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 25 May 1999:



    The ALSLs will be required to transport and deliver troops, vehicles and stores as integral elements of an amphibious task force off-loaded at sea to landing craft. Options for the capacity of these new vessels will be dependent on the designs offered by industry in their bids, but we expect each vessel to embark between 350 and 500 military personnel and to have between 500 and 1000 lane metres of capacity.


    We plan to place the contract for the ALSLs in mid 2000 with a target date for completion of the two vessels (defined as the Contract Acceptance Date) of Summer 2003 and early 2004 respectively. The planned in service dates are early 2004 and Autumn 2004. Full passenger certification for RFAs SIR GERAINT and SIR PERCIVALE will expire in 2003 and 2004, but they will continue to operate as logistic support ships until they are replaced by the new ALSLs.

Open Government

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 10 May 1999, Official Report, column 21, if he will make a statement on the nature of those applications made to his Department for disclosure of information under the open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which were not granted for 1998. [84859]

Mr. Spellar: For central monitoring purposes, the total number of applications made under the Code and the number of requests which were refused are collected, but not details of the reasons for non-disclosure of information. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Each request for information under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information is considered on a case-by-case basis.

25 May 1999 : Column: 108

Departmental instructions made it clear that decisions to withhold information must be approved by a member of the Senior Civil Service or equivalent military rank, and that reasons for non-disclosure must be made in terms of the Code's exemptions.

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