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Nepal
Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being given to Nepal to help improve its educational infrastructure. [89775]
Clare Short:
Our Country Strategy Paper, a copy of which will be sent to the hon. Gentleman, highlights low levels of education as one of the main causes of poverty in Nepal. A large number of donors are active in the sector. Many are involved in primary education. We are working with the Asian Development bank to raise the quality of secondary education. We are also promoting community literacy by helping local NGOs to improve their delivery of literacy training. We plan to work with
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Government, donors and civil society to promote a more co-ordinated approach to addressing needs across the entire education sector.
Tour Intervals
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average interval between operational tours for (i) Infantry battalions, (ii) Royal Armoured regiments, (iii) Royal Logistical Corps units, (iv) Adjutant-General Corps units and (v) Royal Army Medical Corps units. [85914]
Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 8 June 1999]: In the past three years, tour intervals (in months) for Infantry battalions, Royal Armoured regiments, Royal Logistical Corps units and Royal Army Medical Corps units have been as follows:
| Arm/service | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry | 21 | 22 | 27 |
| Royal Armoured Corps | 25 | 19 | 30 |
| Royal Logistical Corps | 18 | 18 | 12 |
| Royal Army Medical Corps | -- | -- | -- |
| Field Ambulance | 24 | 37 | 30 |
| Field Hospital | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Arm/service | 1999-2000 |
|---|---|
| Infantry | 15 |
| Royal Armoured Corps | 12 |
| Royal Logistical Corps | 11 |
| Royal Army Medical Corps | |
| Field Ambulance | 20 |
| Field Hospital | 12 |
These statistics reflect an unprecedented level of commitment. We are actively seeking to reduce the Army's level of commitment, specifically in Bosnia, and particularly for those arms and services that are most heavily committed, with a view to reducing overstretch.
MOD Hospital Units
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if (a) terms and conditions of service of his Department's employees and (b) arrangements for priority treatment of service personnel are laid out in (1) legally binding contracts or (2) Service Level Agreements at his Department's hospital units at (i) Peterborough, (ii) Frimley Park and (iii) Derriford; and if he will make a statement. [88422]
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Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: Revised Customer Supplier Agreements (CSA) are being introduced to replace the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) existing with the host NHS Trusts for our Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) at Derriford, Peterborough and Frimley Park. The new financial model underpinning the CSAs is explained in Health Services Circular 1999/112 and is also being used for the CSA at our new MDHU at Northallerton. The agreements will not include details of the terms and conditions of service for military personnel. However, provision will exist in the agreements for the release of military personnel for operations, exercises and training. The agreements also include a commitment to the achievement of DSCA Key Targets 2 and 3, as set out on 20 May 1999, Official Report, column 436, and to the operational priority treatment of patients referred under specific criteria.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the contracts or Service Level Agreements governing relations between the relevant NHS trusts and his Department's hospital units at (a) Peterborough, (b) Frimley Park and (c) Derriford. [88424]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: Following detailed discussions with the NHS during 1997 and 1998, the principles of a new Service Level Agreement (SLA) have been developed to form a revised contract from 1999-2000 at the three existing Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) at Peterborough, Frimley Park and Derriford and at the new MDHU Northallerton. This model will also form the basis of all future MOD contracts relationships with the NHS for hosting staff or providing treatment. The new contract model which has been agreed with all partner NHS Trusts in principle, was published in a Health Circular 1999/112 dated 21 May 1999 and will form the basis of the agreements which will replace the existing SLAs. It is expected that the contracts between MOD and individual NHS Trusts will be signed shortly after minor financial negotiations have been completed. These contracts embody commercial arrangements between each Trust and the MOD negotiated on an individual basis and so I am withholding them under exemption of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Effective Management and Operations of the public service). However, a copy of Health Circular 1999/112 dated 21 May 1999 has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the number of married quarters, (b) the number empty and (c) the vacancy rate as a percentage in each year since 1992. [90629]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 12 July 1999]: The information requested is given in the table.
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Since its inception in 1985, the Defence Housing Executive has disposed of 8,000 properties and has targets to dispose of some 2,000 a year thereafter. Despite this disposal programme the total number of voids has remained fairly constant over recent years because of falling Service demand for family accommodation and decisions awaited on future deployments arising out of the Strategic Defence Review.
Out of the current total voids stock of some 13,568, 3,360 are temporarily vacant awaiting incoming Service occupants. A further management margin has to be allowed to cater for family size, work location and family choice in relation to schooling etc. 1,930 properties are temporarily empty while undergoing refurbishment and modernisation. A further 2,000 properties are in the process of return to Annington Homes Ltd., for sale or demolition. The remaining stock is being assessed under a long-term housing plan in relation to military need and condition from which further disposal decisions will be made.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by grade the condition of married quarters in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland, and (c) Northern Ireland giving the totals for (i) each grade and (ii) each of (a) (b) and (c); and what percentage the total of each grade represents of the whole stock. [90628]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 12 July 1999]: The grading of condition of married quarters, which is established for rent purposes, is as follows:
| Grade | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27,942 | 44 |
| 2 | 22,411 | 36 |
| 3 | 8,857 | 14 |
| 4 | 3,985 | 6 |
| Total | 63,195 |
| Grade | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 106 | 4 |
| 2 | 1,299 | 43 |
| 3 | 1,206 | 40 |
| 4 | 376 | 13 |
| Total | 2,987 |
These figures do not refer solely to the condition of a property. They are based on a points system which identifies deficiencies and size and also takes into account the remoteness of the location to essential services.
The figure for Scotland is not separately maintained. The Defence Housing Executive has additionally, for the internal programming and prioritising of upgrade projects,
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put in place a marking system which is based on the Standard 1 for Condition definition, and which allocates points for a total of 106 property attributes dealing with for example Building Fabric, Kitchens, Energy Efficiency, etc. The worst marking of each individual group of the Standard becomes the overall Standard for the house for work scheduling. This is a very exacting standard which enables major deficiencies to be easily assessed and programmed.
A stock condition survey has been undertaken to support and inform the Upgrade programme. This has been analysed by the marking system which prioritises against the deficiencies in the property and not simply its overall condition. For example,
99.1 per cent. of the Building Fabric section complies with Standard 1
98.0 per cent. of Bedrooms comply with Standard 1
85.1 per cent. comply with Security requirements for Standard 1
59.0 per cent. of Kitchens comply with Standard 1
51.8 per cent. comply with Energy Efficiency requirements for Standard 1.
DHE now has in place Regional Upgrade Construction Contractors and Project managers to progress the upgrade programme aimed at achieving Standard 1 for Condition in the major part of the Housing Estate by 2005.
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