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Northern Ireland
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops have been stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [13774]
Mr. Ingram: The number of Armed Forces personnel stationed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years is set out in the table.
| As at 31 October | Number of troops |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 17,962 |
| 1992 | 18,982 |
| 1993 | 19,022 |
| 1994 | 18,345 |
| 1995 | 17,070 |
| 1996 | 16,490 |
| 1997 | 16,716 |
| 1998 | 15,566 |
| 1999 | 14,459 |
| 2000 | 13,640 |
| 2001 | 13,820 |
Swift Sword II
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many battle groups exercised within 1 Armoured Division during exercise Swift Sword II. [14030]
Mr. Ingram: The UK Land contribution to Exercise Saif Sareea II comprised Headquarters 1 UK Armoured Division, 3 Commando Brigade, 4 Armoured Brigade and 102 Logistic Brigade. Of this force, 4 Armoured Brigade, commanding two fully equipped armoured battlegroups, came under the command of 1 UK Division.
Short Service Commissions
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the conversion rate of short service to regular commissions in each of the last 10 years. [13704]
Mr. Ingram: Lists of the conversion rate of short service to regular commissions in each of the last 10 years are shown by individual service in the tables.
(9) Incomplete data
Note:
Some of the information requested is not held as complete data, and the tables are marked accordingly.
16 Nov 2001 : Column: 957W
| SSC start strength | Conversions to Reg. C | Rate (percentage) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1991 | 4,721 | 596 | 12.6 |
| 1 April 1992 | 4,506 | 507 | 11.3 |
| 1 April 1993 | 4,264 | 387 | 9.1 |
| 1 April 1994 | 3,770 | 320 | 8.5 |
| 1 April 1995 | 3,417 | 272 | 8.0 |
| 1 April 1996 | 3,174 | 247 | 7.8 |
| 1 April 1997 | 3,162 | 259 | 8.2 |
| 1 April 1998 | 3,314 | 254 | 7.7 |
| 1 April 1999 | 3,237 | 173 | 5.3 |
| 1 April 2000 | 3,164 | 119 | 3.8 |
Note:
Until the 'Stepping Stone' approach to commissions was introduced on 1 March 1999, short service commission (SSC) officers could convert to regular commission (Reg. C) or special regular commission (SRC). Subsequently, the standard progression has been from SSC to intermediate regular commission (IRC) and then to Reg. C. As a result, fewer officers now go direct from SSC to Reg. C.
Statistics for transfers to IRC are not yet to hand. I will write to the hon. Member with these statistics when they are available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
| Conversions SSC to permanent commission | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC strength | Conversions | Rate (percentage) | |
| 1991–92 | 1,614 | 133 | 8 |
| 1992–93 | 1,621 | 182 | 11 |
| 1993–94 | 1,460 | 159 | 11 |
| 1994–95 | 1,260 | 115 | 9 |
| 1995–96 | 1,018 | 93 | 9 |
| 1996–97 | 799 | 103 | 13 |
| 1997–98 | 626 | 162 | 26 |
| 1998–99 | 513 | 102 | 20 |
| 1999–2000 | 570 | 126 | 22 |
| 2000–01 | 574 | 125 | 22 |
16 Nov 2001 : Column: 958W
Cluster Bombs
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluation has been made by (a) the UK and (b) its allies of the use of cluster bombs in Kosovo, with particular respect to the impact of these weapons on civilians (i) during and (ii) after hostilities. [15669]
Mr. Ingram: 531 RBL 755 cluster bombs were dropped by the RAF during Operation Allied Force. We assessed them to have performed reliably and within their specification. I have no information on allies' evaluation of similar weapons.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many named day parliamentary written questions were tabled to his Department between 15 October and 5 November; and what proportion of these have received holding answers. [13311]
Mr. Ingram: According to our records, 153 named day parliamentary written questions were tabled to the Ministry of Defence between 15 October and 5 November. The proportion which received a holding reply is 35 per cent.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of those named day parliamentary written questions to his Department that received a holding answer between 15 October and 5 November received the substantive answer (a) within three parliamentary days, (b) within seven parliamentary days, (c) within 10 parliamentary days, (d) within 15 parliamentary days and (e) over 15 parliamentary days after the holding answer was issued. [13330]
Mr. Ingram: According to our records 153 named day parliamentary questions were tabled to the Ministry of Defence between 15 October and 5 November. I am unable to provide details in the format requested, however, the table gives details of those questions which received an answer within the time scale specified:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Within three parliamentary days | 15 |
| Within seven parliamentary days | 1 |
| Within 10 parliamentary days | 0 |
| Within 15 parliamentary days | 0 |
| Over 15 parliamentary days | 1 |
These figures include answers which gave an undertaking to write to hon. Members.
16 Nov 2001 : Column: 959W
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Review Bodies
Mr. Bryant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews established since 2 May 1997 were in existence between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001. [15832]
Mr. Leslie: I have today placed this information in the Libraries of the House, in the form of an annual report; a copy is also being placed in the Vote Office. Future reports will be published annually.
Task forces, advisory groups and reviews provide independent, expert advice to Government on a wide range of issues. These are an effective means of securing high quality advice on matters of real public concern and they seek to operate in as open and transparent a way as possible. While they are not a new phenomenon, it is only since 1997 that detailed information on them has been public.
Pension Mis-selling
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the total lump sum cash payment received by the civil service pension schemes from transfers back into such schemes as a result of the outcome of private pension mis-selling; and if he will estimate the sums still to come. [12655]
Mr. Leslie: This information is not held centrally and the information below has been collected from scheme administrators.
The total amount received for the last three complete financial years (1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01) is £7,147,792. This does not include any amounts received in respect of staff employed by either the Ministry of Defence or the Crown Prosecution Service for 1998–99 as these figures are not available.
I cannot estimate any sums still to be received. It is for those who have mis-sold pension policies to identify cases and, under the relevant Financial Services Authority guidelines, make restoration payments to the PCSPS.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many named day parliamentary written questions were tabled to his Department between 15 October and 5 November; and what proportion of these have received holding answers; [13298]
- (2) what proportion of those named day parliamentary written questions to his Department that received a holding answer between 15 October and 5 November received the substantive answer (a) within three parliamentary days, (b) within seven parliamentary days, (c) within 10 parliamentary days, (d) within 15 parliamentary days and (e) over 15 parliamentary days after the holding answer was issued. [13317]
Mr. Leslie: During the period queried the Cabinet Office received 20 named day questions of which seven (equating to 35 per cent.) had holding replies.
16 Nov 2001 : Column: 960W
Of these seven holding replies, one parliamentary question was answered within three parliamentary days; two were answered within seven parliamentary days; one was answered within 10 parliamentary days; and three were answered within 15 parliamentary days.
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