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Armed Forces (Advanced Driving)

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many active servicemen successfully completed advanced driving safety courses in the last 12 months. [11450]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 30 October 2001]: The Ministry of Defence does not run specific courses teaching advanced driving safety, although service personnel do attend courses provided by organisations such as the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA). This training is arranged locally. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

MOD does, however, provide training for all categories of driving licences. This includes basic training plus familiarisation training on the relevant type of vehicle, refresher training, and any specialist courses required. All these courses stress the importance of driving safely. More specifically, MOD has recently introduced a defensive driving training programme—some 4,000 personnel were given this training over the year April 2000 to March 2001.

Nuclear Installations

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if security at nuclear installations has been upgraded in respect of terrorist threat; and what plans he has to take further measures. [11777]

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Mr. Ingram: The standing level of security at Ministry of Defence nuclear installations is maintained at a high level and is specifically designed to counter an attack by armed terrorists. This high baseline level of security is maintained at MOD nuclear installations irrespective of fluctuations in the terrorist alert states that may apply to other Government establishments or MOD installations. Security measures at defence nuclear establishments include armed guarding and strict control of access. As my hon. Friend would expect, these security arrangements are kept under constant review.

My hon. Friend would not expect me to go into detail regarding any additional security measures that may be adopted in the future.

MOD F680 Export Control Applications

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MOD 680 export control applications (a) are awaiting decision and (b) have been waiting for (i) one month or more, (ii) two months or more, (iii) three months or more, (iv) six months or more and (v) one year or more. [9470]

Dr. Moonie: The F680 is an informal process under which companies can obtain advice on the prospects for approval of exports at the marketing stage. The F680 also gives formal clearance for release of classified information, where required, for marketing purposes. The information sought is not currently held in the form requested. However, the Ministry of Defence is carrying out an audit of extant F680 applications as part of a programme to improve this service to industry. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is completed and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Biological Warfare

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with pharmaceutical companies about facilities used for the creation of biological organisms and toxins with potential for warfare. [8620]

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has had no such discussions.

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what vaccines the Government have in place to treat biological agents, organisms and toxins affecting the population. [8619]

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.

We have existing stocks across the whole range of potential bioterrorist threats. Our contingency planning is responsible and proportionate. For security reasons, we cannot reveal levels or locations of either vaccine or antibiotic stocks.

PRIME MINISTER

Interception of Communications Commissioner

Brian White: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to publish the next annual report of the Interception of

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Communications Commissioner; and if it will be available electronically. [10773]

The Prime Minister: I have today laid before the House the annual reports for 2000 of the Interception of Communications Commissioner, the right hon. Sir Swinton Thomas, and the Intelligence Services Commissioner, the right hon. Lord Justice Simon Brown. The confidential annexes have been excluded in accordance with section 58(7) and 60(5) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. The annual reports will be available on the Cabinet Office website. I am grateful to the Commissioners for their work.

Occupational Health and

Vocational Rehabilitation

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will clarify departmental and agency responsibilities for occupational health and vocational rehabilitation. [11312]

The Prime Minister: The Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears), is responsible for occupational health services provided by the NHS. The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North (Malcolm Wicks), is responsible for vocational rehabilitation.

Afghanistan

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister what British planes taking off from the base in Diego Garcia have dropped cluster bombs during the military action in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the use of cluster bombs in Afghanistan, with particular reference to British involvement. [11574]

The Prime Minister: No UK aircraft have directly taken part in the bombing campaign.

The cluster bombs used in Afghanistan are legitimate weapons, which have not been prohibited by any treaty or convention. They are used only with discretion and proportionality, as international law requires, and against legitimate and appropriate terrorist and military targets.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with President Bush on the armaments used during the military action in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [11579]

The Prime Minister: We are in close contact with the US on all aspects of the response to the attacks of 11 September, including at the military planning level.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Child Care Facilities

Caroline Flint: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, in what ways the Commission plans to assist

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access for children of staff, hon. Members and hon. Members' staff to daycare facilities. [10287]

Mr. Kirkwood: The Commission already provides child care vouchers for staff of the House with small children. The vouchers are very flexible, and can be exchanged for various forms of daycare, including nursery places and care by nannies, childminders or certain relatives.

For school aged children the House also ran a subsidised holiday playscheme for children of hon. Members and hon. Members' staff and staff of the House for six weeks in the summer. The Board of Management will be considering whether to extend the scheme for the future. Staff of the House are also eligible to use Westminster Playscheme run by the civil service.

There is no specific responsibility on the Commission to provide facilities for children of Members and their staff, but Members can use their allowances to purchase vouchers or daycare facilities for their staff. The Department of Finance and Administration publishes information about finding child care facilities in the Westminster area on the intranet.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Zimbabwe

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of number of farm occupations taking place in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [10576]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Committee of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers visited Zimbabwe on 25–26 October. They found a divergence in the views and facts relating to farm occupations. The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) have reported that occupations continue unabated, and that since the Abuja meeting on 6 September, 688 farms had new people join the occupations. The CFU estimate 200–300 new occupations since 6 September. The Government of Zimbabwe dispute these figures. The Farm Community Trust of Zimbabwe have cited several new occupations since Abuja in Mashonaland West. At Abuja, the Government of Zimbabwe gave an assurance that there would be no further occupation of farm lands. We continue to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to abide by this commitment.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy initiatives he plans to promote democracy and the rule of law in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [10578]

Mr. Bradshaw: We remain concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe. At Abuja, the Government of Zimbabwe agreed to abide by the democratic and human rights principles contained in the Harare Declaration. My noble Friend Baroness Amos accompanied Commonwealth partners on a visit to Zimbabwe on 25–26 October, to assess implementation of the Abuja Agreement and to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to abide by their commitments. The EU opened Article 96 consultations on 29 October, to press for closer engagement with the Government of Zimbabwe on human rights, democratic principles and the

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rule of law. We continue to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to admit international election observers and to create a climate conducive to free and fair elections.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of political violence in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [10579]

Mr. Bradshaw: We remain concerned about political violence in Zimbabwe. In the Abuja Agreement, the Government of Zimbabwe agreed to take firm action against violence and intimidation. But the Chikomba by-election on 22–23 September was marred by violence. We continue to press the Government of Zimbabwe to permit the entry of international election observers, and to create a climate conducive to free and fair elections. My noble Friend Baroness Amos accompanied Commonwealth partners to Zimbabwe on 25–26 October, to assess implementation of the Abuja Agreement and to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to abide by their commitments.

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