| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Widford Bridge (Chelmsford)
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his reply of 24 January 2002, Official Report, column 1046W, on Widford Bridge, if he will increase the width to make it easier for larger cars and vehicles of under three tonnes weight to travel over the bridge. [31694]
Mr. Jamieson: The 6ft 6in width restriction imposed on Widford Bridge is required for safety reasons to prevent vehicles of over three tonnes in weight from using the bridge. The Highways Agency would not wish to see any increase in the width of the restriction, as it would increase the likelihood of over weight vehicles attempting to use the bridge.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Iran
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Iranian Government in relation to the UK's proposed new appointment for ambassador to Iran. [32140]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 4W.
Brussels Process
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 37W, on the Brussels Process, if he will place the minutes of meetings under the Brussels Process in the Library. [32729]
Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) on 31 January (UIN 30671).
Talks under the Brussels Process are confidential. We have made clear the aims and timetable of the Brussels Process. We placed the communiqué from the last Brussels Process ministerial in the Library of the House. We have kept the House fully informed at every stage, most recently in the Government Adjournment debate on 31 January, and we will continue to do so.
Ministerial Responsibilities
Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the responsibilities of Ministers in his Department. [33647]
1 Feb 2002 : Column 590W
Mr. Straw: Following the appointment of the Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) as the Government Representative on the Convention on the Future of Europe, I have reallocated responsibilities as follows:
- Peter Hain
- European Union, Central Europe, Southern Europe.
- Baroness Symons (also a Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry)
- British trade promotion and policy, North America, Britain Abroad Task Force, inward investment.
- Ben Bradshaw
- Middle east, North Africa, South Asia, South-East Asia, former Soviet Union, international security, non-proliferation and security policy issues, counter-terrorism, visas.
- Denis MacShane
- Latin America, North-East Asia, China and Hong Kong, South-East Europe, drugs and international crime environmental policy, United Nations, human rights, aviation, maritime and energy, science and technology, public diplomacy, cultural relations, central administration and resources.
- Baroness Amos
- Africa, Commonwealth, Caribbean, overseas territories, consular issues, personnel.
Ben Bradshaw covers for Baroness Amos' portfolio in the Commons (with the exception of Africa). Denis MacShane covers Baroness Symons' portfolio in the Commons (and also Africa).
Gibraltar
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Spanish fishing vessels have infringed upon Gibraltar's fishing waters; how many times action has been taken against Spanish fishermen in each of the last five years for infringing upon Gibraltar's fishing waters; what action has been taken; and what discussions have taken place regarding fishing rights in Gibraltar under the Brussels Process. [31534]
Peter Hain: The Government resumed talks with Spain under the Brussels Process in July 2001: these talks continue. In accordance with the terms of the Brussels Communiqué of November 1984, the talks are aimed at overcoming all the differences between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar and at promoting co-operation on a mutually beneficial basis. The numbers of incursions into Gibraltar's waters by Spanish fishing vessels over the last five years were as follows:
- 1997: 54
1998: 520
1999: 440, of which 195 were breaches of the 1999 Fishing Agreement between the Government of Gibraltar and the Spanish Fisherman's Association, which permits small numbers of Spanish fishing boats to fish in Gibraltar's waters.
2000: 196, of which 92 were breaches.
2001: 196, of which 118 breaches.
1 Feb 2002 : Column 591W
DEFENCE
Service Pay
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the proportion of (a) non-pensionable specialist pay and (b) basic pay is as a proportion of total remuneration for all service men and women. [29236]
Mr. Ingram: The cost of these types of pay shown as a proportion of the total remuneration for all regular and reserve service men and women is as follows:
(a) non-pensionable specialist pay: 1.6 per cent.
The remaining 15.9 per cent. of the total remuneration is attributable to other forms of non-specialist pay and compensatory allowances. These figures are based on estimates for financial year 2001–02.
Empty Properties
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last four years. [30068]
Dr. Moonie: The following figures relate to surplus property on the Defence Estate earmarked for disposal in each of the last three years; (figures for 1997–98 are not available).
| Year | Value | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | (4)— | 21.4 |
| 1999–2000 | 214 | 21.9 |
| 2000–01 | 273 | 21.4 |
(4) Not available
The costs identified include the cost of works undertaken to prepare empty sites for sale and the marketing costs in addition to the routine upkeep of the empty property awaiting disposal.
The cost and values of other empty property, including that in the course of refurbishment or redevelopment, are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces (Marital Status)
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy have changed from Maristat One in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 into marital category (1) decree absolute, (2) separated and (3) annulled; what proportion of each service strength this represents in each year; what proportion of each service married strength this represents in each year; and if he will make a statement. [27675]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 23 January 2002]: Information on marital status is held on a different system for each service. It is not possible to answer the question exactly as phrased, as the categories specified cannot be isolated in every case. The available information is as follows.
1 Feb 2002 : Column 592W
| 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02(5) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength as at 1 April | 109,722 | 110,052 | 109,531 |
| Married strength as at 1 April | 53,473 | 51,983 | 50,786 |
| Decree absolute | 947 | 905 | 634 |
| Annulment | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Widow/er | 22 | 17 | 10 |
| Total | 972 | 924 | 647 |
| Proportion change from strength (%) | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Proportion change from married strength (%) | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 |
(5) Data for 2001–02 are to 1 December 2001
| 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02(6) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength as at 1 April | 55,213 | 54,715 | 53,699 |
| Married strength as at 1 April | 33,318 | 31,915 | 30,670 |
| Divorced absolute | 3 | 11 | 6 |
| Divorced nisi | 1 | 10 | 5 |
| Widow/er | 16 | 26 | 10 |
| Separated | 1,153 | 1,036 | 717 |
| Annulled | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1,173 | 1,084 | 738 |
| Proportion change from strength (%) | 2.1 | 2.0 | 1.4 |
| Proportion change from married strength (%) | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
(6) Data for 2001–02 are to 24 January 2002
| 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02(7) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength as at 1 April | 43,701 | 42,849 | 42,421 | |
| Married strength as at 1 April | 21,441 | 19,094 | 18,438 | |
| Widowed, divorced or separated and providing | ||||
| care for children living with them | 30 | 19 | 12 | |
| voluntary maintenance/child support | 430 | 387 | 239 | |
| maintenance/child support by court order | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
| Other | 272 | 249 | 127 | |
| Total | 734 | 659 | 379 | |
| Proportion change from strength (%) | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.9 | |
| Proportion change from married strength (%) | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2.0 | |
(7) Data for 2001–02 are to 15 January 2002
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |