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SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Green Ministers
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Solicitor-General on what dates her Department's Green Minister attended meetings of the Green Ministers Committee during the current Session of Parliament; on what dates subsequent meetings are planned to take place; and if she will make a statement. [4824]
The Solicitor-General: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 17 July 2001, Official Report, column 165.
DEFENCE
Service Children's Education
Dr. Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the key targets are for the Chief Executive of Service Children's Education for 2001–02. [5486]
Dr. Moonie: The Chief Executive has been set the following key targets for 2001–02.
- 1. To meet the following percentage of pupils achieving Level 2 at the end of Key Stage 1 in:
- Reading—89 per cent.
- Writing—91 per cent.
- Spelling—80 per cent.
- Mathematics—93 per cent.
- 2. To meet the following percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above at the end of Key Stage 2 in:
- English—77 per cent.
- Mathematics—74 per cent.
- Science—88 per cent.
- 3. To meet the following percentage of pupils achieving Level 5 or above at the end of Key Stage 3 in:
- English—76 per cent.
- Mathematics—75 per cent.
- Science—71 per cent.
18 Jul 2001 : Column: 208W
- 4. To meet a three year rolling average percentage of Year 11 pupils achieving five or more higher (A*-C) grades in GCSE of 50 per cent.
- 5. To meet a three year rolling average subject entries achieving passes at grades A-C at A Level of 56 per cent.
- 6. To meet the following percentages against the four attributes of Standards, Quality, School Climate and Management and Efficiency measured during Ofsted inspections.
- 100 per cent. of SCE schools are to achieve grade 3 or above.
- 85 per cent. of SCE schools are to achieve grade 2 or above except that in the "Schools Climate" attribute 100 per cent. of SCE schools are to achieve grade 2 or above.
- 7. To respond in full to customers seeking education advice from SCE (UK) within the following timescales:
- 93 per cent. within 10 working days of receipt
- remainder within 20 working days of receipt.
Gulf Veterans
Dr. Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest figures are for deaths of Gulf veterans, and among the control group. [5608]
Dr. Moonie: Peer reviewed scientific data comparing the mortality of UK Gulf veterans with an era group of service personnel who did not deploy to the Gulf were published for the first time in The Lancet on 1 July 2000. Updates to these figures were provided by the Ministry of Defence to the House on 20 July 2000, Official Report, columns 247–49W, and 22 January 2001, Official Report, columns 414–16W. The MOD has undertaken to continue to monitor the mortality of both Gulf veterans and the era group and will publish updated figures on a regular basis. The figures as at 30 June 2001 are shown in the table.
Overall, in the period 1 April 1991 to 30 June 2001 the mortality of UK Gulf veterans was no different from that of the control group. The number of Gulf veterans dying from disease related causes is rather less than the control group, whereas the number of Gulf veterans dying of external causes is rather higher than for the control group. The MOD will conduct a more detailed analysis of accidental deaths, to establish where there are any underlying trends that might help explain this.
(6) Service and ex-service personnel only
(7) World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 9th revision 1977
18 Jul 2001 : Column: 209W
Defence Research (Animals)
Dr. Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of animals in defence research. [5609]
Dr. Moonie: The independent Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC), chaired by Dr. Robert C. Hubrecht, has recently published its fifth annual report. The committee was set up in 1996 in response to public and parliamentary concern over the use of animals in defence research. Its purpose is to consult, inspect and make all necessary inquiries into all aspects of animal care and their use in establishments of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), part of the former Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
The committee's report gives assurances that animals used in defence research programmes in the UK are regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and that no special exemptions apply to MOD. The committee's report emphasises the work that DERA have done to ensure the welfare of all animals used for defence research purposes. The committee was satisfied that all possible efforts were being made to ensure animal welfare and care.
Animal research is essential in order to protect our troops from hazards encountered during their duties. However, the Ministry of Defence continues to place emphasis on seeking alternatives to animal use. Although the numbers of animals used have reduced from past years, the technologies which will allow further reduction are still immature. The MOD welcomes the scrutiny by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee in this area and will continue to support AWAC's review into the care and welfare arrangements for animals used in defence research.
Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Green Ministers
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date a Green Minister was first appointed in his Department; when subsequent appointments were made; and if he will make a statement; [3895]
- (2) what the terms of reference are for the Green Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [3976]
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Dr. Moonie [holding answer 13 July 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment gave on 13 July 2001, Official Report, column 690W.
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates his Department's Green Minister attended meetings of the Green Ministers' Committee during the current Session of Parliament; on what dates subsequent meetings are planned to take place; and if he will make a statement. [4813]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 17 July 2001, Official Report, column 165W.
Military and Defence Exports
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish his forthcoming study into the Government's subsidisation of the military export and defence sector; when this study is expected to be completed; and when Parliament will be able to review the findings of the study. [4739]
Dr. Moonie: We expect the study into the costs and economic benefits of defence exports being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence's Senior Economic Adviser, with contributions from leading, independent, academic defence economists, to be completed shortly. It will be published and made available as soon as possible for review by the House of Commons Defence Committee, which originally proposed the study.
I do not expect the analysis to show that there is Government subsidisation of defence exports, but rather to reflect the fact that there is a significant net benefit to the Defence budget—and thus the taxpayer—from defence exports. These benefits include a reduction in costs for UK procurement as a result of export orders, receipts from Commercial Exploitation Levy and disposal of surplus MOD equipment. In addition to economic benefits, responsible and legitimate defence exports, together with our own defence efforts, contribute to international stability by strengthening collective defence relationships.
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