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QinetiQ
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if (a) UK, (b) EU and (c) foreign defence contractors will be considered as strategic partners of QinetiQ. [47645]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon Member to the announcement I made in the House on 6 March 2002, (Official Report, columns 313–14W). We have always made it clear that we will not consider any defence manufacturers as strategic partners of QinetiQ, nor any parties which would pose a risk to the defence and security interests of the United Kingdom. However, a large number of organisations which provide a wide range of services to Ministry of Defence could be regarded as defence contractors. As long as they do not fall into either of the two categories above, they will not be excluded from the QinetiQ transaction.
Dimbleby Interview
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a transcript of his interview on the Jonathan Dimbleby programme on 24 March. [47664]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not routinely hold full transcripts of interviews given by Ministers on radio or television programmes. I suggest that the hon. Member approaches LWT if he requires a full transcript of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's interview on the Jonathan Dimbleby programme broadcast on ITV on 24 March.
Apprentice Training (Aberporth)
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly regarding apprentice training at Aberporth, Ceredigion. [47754]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 10 April 2002]: I have had no discussions with the First Minister for Wales about apprentice training at Aberporth. I wrote to him however on 25 March explaining the situation once the decision had been taken. There was no previous correspondence on the issue.
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he met representatives of the Learning and Skills Council for Wales to discuss apprentice training at Aberporth, Ceredigion. [47755]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 10 April 2002]: I have had no discussions on apprentice training at Aberporth with representatives of the Learning and Skills Council for Wales.
12 Apr 2002 : Column 640W
MOD and Military Police (Retirement)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel have retired from (a) the Military Police and (b) the MoD police in each of the last five years. [15166]
Dr. Moonie: Pursuant to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend Adam Ingram of 8 January 2002, (Official Report, column 556W). The number of MOD Police retirements during Financial Year 1999–2000, should read 25, not 24.
NORTHERN IRELAND
New Deal
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed by his Department in each of the last three years under (a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for the Over 50s and (c) the New Deal for Lone Parents; and at what cost, listed by category, to public funds. [44916]
Dr. John Reid: In the last three years the NIO (and its agencies) have employed seven people under the New Deal for Young People, one under the New Deal for Over 50s and no-one under the New Deal for Lone Parents.
Of the seven employed under the New Deal for Young People six were recruited in 1999 and one in 2000.
The one person employed under the New deal for Over 50s was recruited in 1999.
New dealers are recruited to the NIO on a subsidised basis and take up existing vacancies. Therefore extra costs are limited to the subsidy and any additional training and development which may be needed. The cost of the latter cannot be readily identified.
Government Procurement Card
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the procurement transactions were made with the Government procurement card by 31 March 2001. [45990]
Dr. John Reid: No procurement transactions using the Government Procurement Card were made by the Northern Ireland Office by the 31 March 2001. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has however commenced a pilot scheme since that date.
Terrorism
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (i) how many political parties in Northern Ireland have informed him that they (a) support and (b) oppose an amnesty for all terrorist-related offences committed in Northern Ireland before 10 April 1998; and if he will list them; [44323]
- (2) what representations he has received from individuals and organisations in Northern Ireland in support of a general amnesty for all terrorist-related offences before 10 April 1998; and if he will list them. [44324]
12 Apr 2002 : Column 641W
Dr. John Reid: It is not Government practice to make private discussions or submissions a matter of public record. It would of course be open to the hon. Member to seek the views of the political parties in Northern Ireland directly.
Scheduled Offences
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those people subject to extradition proceedings in connection with scheduled offences committed in Northern Ireland before 10 April 1998; and for what offences extradition is being sought. [44335]
Dr. John Reid: There are currently no people subject to extradition proceedings in connection with scheduled offences committed in Northern Ireland before 10 April 1998. In addition, the Attorney General informs me that there are currently no people subject to the Backing of Warrants arrangements with the Republic of Ireland in connection with scheduled offences committed in Northern Ireland before 10 April 1998.
Lost/Stolen Property
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years. [34221]
Dr. John Reid: As there are no records kept centrally of items valued at less than £50 each, either stolen or lost from the Northern Ireland Office, I could only answer this question at disproportionate cost.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
New Deal
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people have been employed by his Department in each of the last three years under (a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for the Over 50s and (c) the New Deal for Lone Parents; and at what cost, listed by category, to public funds. [44914]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The attached table gives the numbers employed by my Department and its agencies under the New Deal Programme for (a) Young People; (b) the Over 50s; and (c) Lone parents.
New Deal recruits take up existing vacancies so extra costs to public funds are limited to the subsidy, where appropriate, and any additional training and development which may be needed. The cost of the latter cannot be readily identified.
| Year | No Employed | Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | Young People |
| 2000 | 5 | Young People |
| 2001 | 19 | Young People |
| 2001 | 1 | Over 50 |
12 Apr 2002 : Column 642W
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people employed by his Department under the New Deal for Young People in each of the last four years have subsequently (a) found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks and (b) returned to jobseekers' allowance or other benefits. [45085]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Information is not held centrally on the number of New Dealers who have found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks or who have returned to jobseekers' allowance or other benefits. However, New Dealers who have left my Department will have acquired skills making them more marketable for employment.
Illegal Agreements
Andy King: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what assessment he has made of the policy of the Legal Services Commission in supporting actions to enforce illegal agreements; and if he will make a statement; [48065]
- (2) whether it is his Department's policy that the Legal Services Commission should grant funding to individuals seeking to enforce illegal agreements; and if he will make a statement. [48066]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) would not grant public funding to an applicant seeking to enforce an agreement that was clearly illegal from the contents of the application for funding. Where the legality of an agreement is the issue, funding could only be granted if the type of case fell within the scope of the Commission's Funding Code and the prospects of the applicant succeeding in the case were sufficient to satisfy the rigorous requirements of the Code.
Applications for civil legal aid funding are considered under the Commission's Funding Code. The Code sets out the criteria for deciding whether to fund or continue to fund services. The Code has been approved by the Lord Chancellor and by each House of Parliament.
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