26 Oct 2001 : Column: 401W
Written Answers to Questions
Friday 26 October 2001
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Portcullis House
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee for how many days in the last six months the water feature in Portcullis House has had no water in it; and if he will make a statement. [10465]
Derek Conway: No record has been kept of the number of days but I recognise that they have been too many.
The contractor has had to carry out a number of tasks during the defects period. After the original contractor for the courtyard stone (which included the water feature) went into liquidation, there was some delay to the work but during the summer the inadequate chemical dosing pumps were replaced and the spread of algae has been stopped. A leak in the tank under the stone table is now awaiting repair. Discussions are taking place with the company that has taken over the business to arrange for all the outstanding snags to be put right under the terms of the contract.
Working Families Tax Credit
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the President of the Council what percentage of (a) House of Commons staff and officers and (b) hon. Members' staff are in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit. [10627]
Mr. Robin Cook: The costs of House of Commons staff is borne on the Administration Vote, which is the responsibility of the House of Commons Commission and the cost of Members' staff is borne on the Members Vote. I am informed the figures for September 2001 are:
- (a) Staff of the House (including casuals) 1.2 per cent.;
- (b) Members' staff (including casuals) 1.3 per cent.
WALES
Rail Services
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions regarding the establishment of a single all-Wales rail franchise; and if he will make a statement. [8641]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend meets regularly with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales.
The Assembly Minister for the Environment, Sue Essex, and I have also met the Minister for Transport to discuss the future structure of rail services in Wales.
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Student Finance
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what discussions he has had with the Education Minister of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the recommendations of the Rees report on student finance; [8639]
- (2) what representations he has made to the Department for Education and Skill's review of student finance in the context of the Rees report on student finance; and if he will make a statement. [8640]
Mr. Touhig: Discussions on the report have taken place at ministerial level between the Assembly and UK Government Departments.
Following the Rees report the Assembly took immediate action to tackle student hardship in Wales by putting £20 million into student access and hardship funds for this year. The Assembly is giving further consideration to the other recommendations in the report.
The Government are committed to reforming the student funding system. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has announced a review of student support arrangements which will look at student support and tuition fees.
Hospitals (Staff-patient Communication)
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what measures are in place to improve the capacity of (a) doctors and (b) nurses to communicate with and understand patients in hospitals in the Principality; [9492]
- (2) what recent assessment he has made of the capacity of (a) doctors and (b) nurses to communicate with and understand patients, and vice versa, in hospitals in the Principality; [9490]
(3) if he will ask the Welsh Executive to undertake a customer satisfaction survey on the capacity of (a) doctors and (b) nurses to communicate with and understand patients, and vice versa, in hospitals in the Principality. [9491]
Mr. Touhig: The health service in Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.
On 2 February 2001 the Assembly published "Improving Health in Wales", which sets a programme of action for the next 10 years. It includes a commitment that training will be made available to staff in effective communication with patients and handling their concerns positively.
The Assembly is also committed to ensuring that there is continuous feedback from the public about the services they receive from the national health service in Wales.
Departmental Properties
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the total running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK. [6813]
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Mr. Paul Murphy: The Wales Office rents accommodation in Cardiff Bay which, over the last 12 months, has cost some £99,000 or about £355 per sq m. The Department also owns Gwydyr House in London which, in 2000–01, cost some £420,000 or about £670 per sq m. The figure for Gwydyr House includes a major refurbishment project carried out during the year.
DEFENCE
Territorial Army
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what (a) the overall wastage level from the Territorial Army and (b) the target level was in each of the last 5 years; and if he will make a statement; [8910]
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- (2) what (a) the required trained strength, (b) the actual trained strength and (c) the percentage shortfall of the Territorial Army was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [8911]
(3) how many members of the Territorial Army achieved their bounty in training years (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [8912]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 19 October 2001]: The Ministry of Defence defines Territorial Army (TA) Personnel who have passed all their annual individual and collective training requirements as "Fit for Role". Figures showing the strength of the TA are reported quarterly to the House of Commons Defence Committee and are available in the Library of the House.
Wastage figures and the numbers of TA Personnel who are assessed as "Fit for Role" are presented in the table.
| Wastage | Numbers Fit for Role (FFR) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall wastage | Target wastage | Percentage | Numbers assessed as FFR | Target FFR level | Percentage shortfall | |
| 2001 | 10,834 | 10,077 | 25 | 23,857 | 24,185 | 1.4 |
| 2000 | 13,084 | 10,861 | 25 | 19,589 | 26,068 | 25 |
| 1999 | 15,530 | 12,610 | 25 | 24,914 | 30,245 | 18 |
| 1998 | 12,444 | 13,893 | 25 | n/a | 33,344 | n/a |
| 1997 | 15,010 | 16,860 | 30 | n/a | 33,722 | n/a |
Notes:
1. Outflow and FFR numbers are calculated annually on 1 April.
2. FFR data for 1997 and 1998 are not available.
3. The outflow target was revised in 1998, at the start of the SDR TA re-structuring exercise.
4. The shortfall in FFR numbers is due to SDR reductions in the TA.
The numbers of TA personnel who were assessed as "Fit for Role" in 1997 and 1998 are not available at this time. Officials are investigating this and I will write to the hon. Member once I know the outcome and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House. In terms of bounty, the numbers of TA personnel who achieved their bounty in training years 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are as follows:
| Numbers | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 31,721 |
| 1999–2000 | 26,005 |
| 2000–01 | 24,019 |
Armed Forces
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) trained strength and (b) trained requirement is of the (i) Army, (ii) Naval Service and (iii) Royal Air Force. [10599]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the Tri Service Personnel monthly publication "UK Armed Forces Strengths and Requirements—TSP3" which is held in the Library of the House.
Sovereign Bases
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make a statement on the implications of the case of Lt. Colonel Surinder Nath Saggar of Brompton on Swale, North Yorkshire. [10501]
Mr. Ingram: The Tribunal's written decision was received on 12 October 2001 and legal advice has been sought on the implications. Once that advice has been considered the position is clearer, I will write to the right hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases have been brought against the Ministry of Defence under the Race Relations Act 1976 by service men serving on sovereign bases overseas; and what the outcome of each case was. [10504]
Mr. Ingram: There has been only one such claim. This claim was brought by Lt. Colonel Surinder Nath Saggar and was dismissed by the Thornaby on Tees Employment Tribunal for lack of jurisdiction on 18 September 2001.
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