15 Jun 1999 : Column: 65
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 15 June 1999
DEFENCE
Kosovo
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost to public funds of the operation in Kosovo since the beginning of military action. [86744]
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Mr. George Robertson:
As at the end of May, some £43 million of additional expenditure has fallen to my Department as a direct consequence of the UK's military response to the Kosovo crisis. This figure does not include the costs of replenishing stocks of expended ordnance.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Ministers in his Department have met members and officials of the United States Government since 1 March; and if he will list the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved on each occasion, and the names of the members and officials of the United States Government at each meeting. [86286]
Mr. George Robertson:
Since 1 March 1999, MOD Ministers have had scheduled bilateral meetings with our US counterparts, who are normally accompanied by officials, on the following occasions:
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| Minister | Team led by | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minister (Armed Forces) | John Hamre | 1 March 1999 | Washington |
| Secretary of State | William Cohen | 7 April 1999 | Brussels |
| Secretary of State | William Cohen | 17 April 1999 | Freeport, Maine |
| Minister (Defence Procurement) | John Hamre | 17 May 1999 | London |
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Full records of the US officials present at these meetings are not kept.
As well as these scheduled bilateral meetings, we have had exchanges and contacts at other meetings and conferences, including at the NATO Washington Summit.
Lorna Fitzsimons:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for Defence Estates for 1999-2000. [87252]
Mr. Spellar:
The following key targets have been set for Defence Estates 1999-2000:
Key Target 1:
To demonstrate an improvement of 10 per cent. in terms of the satisfaction of customer requirements.
Key Target 2:
To achieve net disposal receipts of £235 million.
Key Target 3:
To let three pilot Prime construction procurement Contracts.
Key Target 4:
To publish a strategy for the management of the Defence Estate.
Airborne Stand-off Radar
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in determining the outcome of the competition for the Airborne Stand-off Radar. [87314]
Mr. George Robertson:
A consortium led by Raytheon Systems Ltd. has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the development, production and in-service support of ASTOR, the Airborne Stand-Off Radar system. The consortium includes Short Brothers, Motorola UK Ltd, GEC Marconi Avionics and Marshall SV.
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ASTOR is a joint Army and RAF requirement for a ground-surveillance radar, expected to enter service in 2005. It will provide a substantial enhancement of military capability, using highly effective new radar systems installed on five fixed-wing aircraft to provide a high degree of resolution over a wide area of coverage. It can be used to monitor areas of interest from a stand-off position, in peace and in crisis, and could be deployed at short notice in support of United Kingdom, NATO or United Nations operations. The ASTOR Main Operating Base will be located at RAF Waddington.
ASTOR will provide UK industry with valuable, high-technology work. The project management team will be located in the United Kingdom, and the prime contractor will place work representing 100 per cent. of the contract value with UK firms. The project will be managed by the Defence Procurement Agency under Smart Procurement principles, with an Integrated Project Team involving representatives from industry and the Services. The likely value of the contract is about £800 million.
National Minimum Wage
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in his Department and its associated bodies and agencies have benefited from the introduction of a national minimum wage. [86089]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
No one in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Office, and their associated bodies and agencies, has benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage.
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All staff in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Office and their associated bodies and agencies, who are covered by the terms of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 have been paid more than £3.60 per hour since 1 April 1998.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she has taken to examine the case for enhanced financial assistance for the work of reconciliation as agreed in the Belfast Agreement; what consultations have been undertaken with the Irish Government; and if she will make a statement. [86149]
Mr. McFall:
Financial allocations for all areas of public expenditure were considered in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The acknowledgement of work to develop reconciliation and mutual understanding in the Good Friday Agreement was instrumental in maintaining the community relations budget at the present level of over £9 million per annum. This was not identified in the Good Friday Agreement as a potential area for enhanced North/South co-operation and implementation, and there have been no consultations with the Irish Government consequent on the Agreement. There are existing mechanisms for funding reconciliation work on a cross-border basis under the European Union Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and International Fund for Ireland programmes.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the enrolment at Saintfield High School in each of the three most recent years; how many applicants for admission in each of these years were refused; and what proposals there are for increasing the provision of secondary education in Saintfield. [86313]
Mr. McFall:
The enrolment at Saintfield High School has been 326, 339 and 341 respectively in the 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 schools years. The number of pupils refused admission to Year 8 in each of these years was 2, 6 and 55 respectively. It is a matter for the South-Eastern Education and Library Board in the first instance to ensure that there are sufficient school places in its area.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the enrolment of pupils in each of the three most recent years at (a) Killinchy Primary School, (b) Killyleagh Primary School, (c) Derryboy Primary School and (d) the primary school in Saintfield. [86314]
Mr. McFall:
The information requested is given in the following table. There are three primary schools in the general Saintfield area, and all three are shown.
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killinchy Primary School | 235 | 215 | 213 |
| Killyleagh Primary School | 136 | 127 | 111 |
| Derryboy Primary School | 81 | 77 | 73 |
| Academy Primary School | 329 | 325 | 336 |
| Ballycloughan Primary School | 84 | 79 | 67 |
| St. Mary's Primary School | 60 | 65 | 63 |
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School Applications
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils at Killyleagh Primary School in their transfer procedures 1999 expressed a preference for Down High School; how many of these pupils have been accepted into Down High School; what were the grades of those pupils who were refused places in Down High School; and if she will make a statement. [86311]
Mr. McFall: In this year's transfer cohort, 6 pupils from Killyleagh primary School expressed a preference for Down High School and 5 obtained places. The unsuccessful applicant obtained a Grade C2.
The Department of Education approved an additional 18 places for September 1999 admissions to Down High School. The number of pupils to be admitted to a school is necessarily limited by the school's physical capacity and no grade guarantees a place at any school.
These points are made clear to the parents of pupils transferring from primary schools.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils at Derryboy Primary School in their transfer procedures 1999 expressed a preference for Saintfield High School; how many of these pupils have been accepted into Saintfield High School; what were the grades of those applicants who were refused places in Saintfield High School; and if she will make a statement. [86310]
Mr. McFall:
In this year's transfer cohort, 16 pupils from Derryboy Primary School expressed a preference for Saintfield High School and 7 obtained places. Of the remaining 9, 4 did not reach Saintfield High School because they obtained a place in their first preference schools. Non-grammar secondary schools cannot consider the Transfer Procedure Test Grade of applicants in deciding admissions.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils at Killinchy Primary School in their transfer procedures 1999 expressed a preference for (a) Down High School and (b) Down Academy; how many of these pupils were accepted into each of these schools; what were the grades of those applicants who were refused places at each of these schools; and if she will make a statement. [86309]
Mr. McFall:
In this year's transfer cohort:
The Department of Education approved an additional 18 places for September 1999 admissions to Down High School. The number of pupils to be admitted to a school is necessarily limited by the school's physical capacity and no grade guarantees a place at any schools.
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These points are made clear to parents of pupils transferring from primary schools.
(a) 15 pupils from Killinchy Primary School expressed a preference for Down High School and 7 obtained places. Of the remaining 8, 4 were Grade B1 and 2 were Grade B2 and 2 preferences were not received by Down High School, because the pupils obtained places in their first preference schools.
(b) 13 pupils expressed a preference for Down Academy and 5 obtained places. Of the remaining 8, 5 did not reach Down Academy because they obtained places in their first preference schools. Transfer Procedure tests grades may not be taken into account in admissions decisions for non-grammar secondary schools.
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