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Cadets
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much grant was given to fund (a) army cadet forces and (b) Harrow School cadet force in each of the last three years. [22163]
Dr. Moonie: The amount of grant given to fund army cadet forces and Harrow School cadet force in each of the last three years is set out in the table:
| Financial year | Army cadet forces | Harrow school cadet force |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 3.558 | 0.008 |
| 1999–2000 | 3.606 | 0.008 |
| 2000–01 | 3.402 | 0.009 |
Notes:
1. Grants are allocated to cadet forces on a "per person" basis.
2. Harrow School Cadet Force is a Combined Cadet Force with some 450 members.
3. Grants are not the only funds provided to the Cadet Force; they are also allocated funds from the usual Ministry of Defence budgetary chain.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the army cadet force per annum since 1997. [20978]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 11 December 2001]: The amount spent on the army cadet force per annum since 1997 is shown in the table:
| Financial year | Expenditure on the army cadet force |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 27.1 |
| 1998–99 | 27.5 |
| 1999–2000 | 31.7 |
| 2000–01 | 32.0 |
Note:
This expenditure includes funding made available from the usual Ministry of Defence budgetary chain and Cadet Force grants.
RAF Aircraft
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the difference in planned expenditure between the 25th (a) A400M aircraft for the RAF and (b) C130J aircraft over the lifetime of the programme; and what the in-service date would be of the last aircraft. [28366]
Dr. Moonie: Any cost comparisons between these two aircraft are misleading because they provide different capabilities and their in-service dates are 10 years apart. For example, we expect that the A400M will have a 50 per cent. greater payload capacity and provide the RAF with a new capability to carry outsize loads too. We estimate that the acquisition costs of the A400M are approximately £1.6 billion (40 per cent.) greater (on an outturn basis) than those of the C130J. However, the difference at current prices is approximately £0.5 billion (12 per cent.).
23 Jan 2002 : Column 918W
The final C130J was accepted into service in June 2001 and we expect the 25th A400M to be delivered in 2014.
Staff Numbers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were employed in his Department in each of the last four years. [23797]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr. Leslie) gave to the hon. Gentleman on 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 256W.
Lost/Stolen Property
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those items valued at more than £50 which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years. [27992]
Dr. Moonie: Reported cases of stolen equipment are held centrally on a summary basis and relate only to suspected theft by Crown personnel and contractors of stores and equipment, usually recorded as multiples or combinations of small value items such as tools, items of clothing, foodstuffs etc. Full details of items of equipment valued at more than £50 which have been proven to have been stolen or recorded as lost could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, a list of separately identified discrete items suspected of being stolen in each of the last four financial years and with an estimated individual or collective loss value of £1,000.00 or more is given as follows:
23 Jan 2002 : Column 919W
Ministerial Transport
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last used the railway service in connection with his official duties; what station he left from and what was the destination; and whether it is his intention to make greater use of the railways in future. [28087]
Dr. Moonie: The Defence Secretary's travel arrangements are made in accordance with the guidance set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code and the accompanying guidance document Travel by Ministers. The most efficient and cost effective mode of transport is used, bearing in mind security considerations. Travel by rail is used when most appropriate.
The Secretary of State for Defence last used a train on official duties on 5 September 2001, travelling to Luton Parkway station. He also regularly travels by rail between the Ministry of Defence and his constituency, most recently on 21 January.
Afghanistan
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January 2002, Official Report, column 392W, on Afghanistan, if he will place copies of his guidance on the handling of prisoners in Afghanistan in the Library; and under which paragraph of Exemption 1 he withheld details of the dates of issue. [29405]
Mr. Hoon: I am withholding copies in accordance with section (a) of Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. This section of Exemption 1 also applied to my hon. Friend's previous question on dates.
Former WEU Agencies
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the (a) European Union Satellite Centre and (b) European Union Institute for Security Studies are operational as agencies of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [29638]
Mr. Hoon: The former Western European Union bodies, the Satellite Centre and Institute for Security Studies, transferred to the European Union and began operation as agencies in support of the Common Foreign and Security Policy with effect from 1 January 2002.
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Departmental Staff
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate total annual staff costs for his Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if he will make a statement. [6829]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Foot and Mouth
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requests she has received from Northumberland county council for her Department to provide evidence to Professor Dower inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak; what response she has made; and if she will make a statement. [28187]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 17 January 2002]: Northumberland county council notified me of the inquiry they had established and their invitation for written comments. In reply we forwarded comments on a series of topics which were likely to be of interest to the inquiry. Subsequently we have received some specific questions from Professor Dower and the inquiry team and a reply has been sent to meet their deadline.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 164W, on the costs of the foot and mouth outbreak, what the present estimate is of the total cost to public funds of the foot and mouth outbreak. [28243]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 17 January 2002]: The latest estimate of the cost of the foot and mouth disease outbreak stands at £2,059 million.
This includes a provisional forecast of £19 million for costs to MOD and other Government Departments. We are still awaiting costs from five other Government Departments but these amounts are expected to be very small.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts she made to ensure value for money from contractors employed to assist with culling and farm clean-up work during the foot and mouth outbreak. [28184]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 17 January 2002]: We have made extensive use of professional project managers, quantity surveyors and forensic accountants to ensure value for money is attained on contracts placed during the foot and mouth crisis.
These have been supported as necessary by legal and procurement experts.
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