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Nuclear Submarines (Secondment)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the two nuclear submarines that may be allocated to the European Peacekeeping and Peacemaking Corps, include types capable of firing (a) tomahawks and (b) nuclear missiles. [14826]
Mr. Hoon: There is no European Peacekeeping and Peacemaking Corps. The UK has offered to provide two nuclear-powered attack submarines to the pool of forces and capabilities required to meet the EU's Helsinki Headline Goal. These submarines are capable of firing Tomahawk missiles. No nuclear forces have been offered.
MOD Police
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many redundancies have taken place within the MOD police in each of the last three years; and how many MOD police have been transferred to the police service. [15167]
Dr. Moonie: Eleven Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) officers, through a limited mobility waiver scheme, accepted voluntary redundancy on compulsory early retirement/compulsory early severance terms during financial year 1998–99. There were no such redundancies during financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01. The number of officers who have resigned from the MDP and joined Home or Scottish Office forces are shown in the table:
| Year | Number resigned |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 1 |
| 1999–2000 | 8 |
| 2000–01 | 34 |
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on the merger of MOD police and the atomic energy police. [15168]
Dr. Moonie: The respective Quinquennial Reviews of the Ministry of Defence Police and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary are considering a range of options in regard to these organisations. The outcome of these reviews will be made known in due course.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of running the MOD police was in the last 12 months. [15170]
Dr. Moonie: The total net operating cost of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency for financial year 2000–01 was £151.869 million.
15 Nov 2001 : Column: 827W
Defence Aviation Repair Agency
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Chief Executive of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency met the First Minister to discuss the relocation of the fixed wing aircraft repair business from RAF St. Athan to Cardiff International Airport. [15157]
Mr. Ingram: Defence Aviation Repair Agency records show that the meeting with the First Minister took place on 28 March 2001.
Projects
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on projects (a) Connaught and (b) Allenby. [15070]
Dr. Moonie: The management of Project Allenby and Connaught has been combined. The project's feasibility studies into the Army's accommodation and support service requirements for garrisons around the Salisbury Plain and in Aldershot were completed in the summer and their recommendations are being considered by Ministers.
Churches
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make funding available to carry out essential repairs to the Royal Garrison Church, Aldershot. [15068]
Dr. Moonie: A total of £18,000 will be spent on planned maintenance and unforeseen repairs to the Royal Garrison Church, Aldershot in this financial year. Of this, some £4,000 has already been spent.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many churches in the United Kingdom are maintained by his Department; and if he will list their locations by denomination. [15071]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Proposed Payment System
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed Ministry of Defence payment system and the role of prime contractor EDS. [14629]
Mr. Ingram: The delivery of armed forces pay under the new arrangements introduced by Pay 2000 involved rebuilding the core of the three single service pay systems. Since 1 April 2001, 95 per cent. of our regular armed forces have been paid under these systems. The remainder will be transferred by April 2003. The Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) has a PFI partnering arrangement with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) for the delivery of information systems and information technology in support of the personnel administration and pay of service personnel.
Reservists
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists, called up in the last month, have reported for duty; and if he will make a statement. [15185]
15 Nov 2001 : Column: 828W
Mr. Ingram: During the past month 118 reservists were called out and all have reported for duty. This reflects the success of our policy of seeking volunteers to be called out. They are serving in a variety of locations including the former Yugoslavia and Sierra Leone and in support of operations resulting from the terrorist attacks in the United States of America on 11 September.
Ballistic Missiles
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 November 2001, Official Report, column 434W, on ballistic missiles, when he will place a copy of the code of conduct in the Library. [15182]
Mr. Hoon: A copy of the draft International Code of Conduct on Ballistic Missiles was placed in the Library of the House today.
September 11 (Financial Consequences)
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2001, Official Report, column 435W, on the cost of Operation Veritas, for what reason he has referred the hon. Member for North Essex to an answer to a previous question, referring to a letter to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker), 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 114W, which has not been sent; and when he will (a) give and (b) publish in the Official Report a substantive answer to the question from the hon. Member for North Essex. [15275]
Mr. Hoon: The financial data required to provide a substantive answer on the costs to date of Operation Veritas are still being gathered. I hope to be able to provide the information requested in due course.
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Railtrack
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date he instructed officials to draw up draft legislation to prevent the Rail Regulator performing an interim financial review on Railtrack. [10404]
Mr. Spellar: Details of internal communications are exempt from disclosure under paragraph 2, part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he contacted (a) the Chairman and (b) directors of Railtrack plc on Saturday 6 October to ask whether the Board accepted that Railtrack plc was insolvent; [14461]
- (2) if he will list the contacts made by (a) him and (b) his officials with the Board of Railtrack Group plc on Saturday 6 October. [14462]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 13 November 2001]: There were numerous contacts at various levels between my Department and Railtrack plc and our respective legal and financial advisers on Saturday 6 October.
15 Nov 2001 : Column: 829W
Scottish Devolution
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is regarding consultations prior to the publication of proposals involving the transfer of powers to the Scottish Executive by (a) primary legislation and (b) Order in Council. [13826]
Dr. Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, on 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 748W.
Home Condition Inspections
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of (a) the number of home inspectors who will be needed to enforce the proposals in the seller's pack and (b) the cost to the taxpayer of policing compliance with the seller's pack. [13808]
Ms Keeble: Home condition inspection should not be confused with enforcement. The home condition report will be a standard mid-level survey that we propose should be a mandatory part of the seller's pack. This survey will be carried out by accredited professionals who may be surveyors, buildings inspectors or any other professional who satisfies the accreditation body that they have the necessary skills and knowledge.
We anticipate that some 7,000 to 9,000 people will need to have been accredited through the certification regime in order to provide home condition reports. The vast majority of these will be currently practising professionals.
The cost of enforcement would depend on the regime agreed by Parliament. But the assessment provided by L.A.C.O.T.S. of the costs arising from the proposals in the 2000 Homes Bill suggested an average of around £5,000 per annum for each local authority to meet the costs of enforcement work by trading standards officers.
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