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Unitary Development Plans (Affordable Housing)

Martin Linton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many London boroughs have (a) unitary development plans and (b) revised unitary development plans specifying in an objective or other paragraph that is not a policy what proportion of affordable housing should be provided on suitable sites. [92129]

(2) how many London boroughs have (a) unitary development plans and (b) revised unitary development plans specifying in a policy what proportion of affordable housing should be provided on suitable sites. [92130]

Mr. McNulty: Of the thirty three London Boroughs nineteen have adopted or revised but not yet adopted unitary development plans specifying in policy what proportion of affordable housing should be provided. Three have the proportion specified in supporting text. The proportions are typically expressed as ranges, minima or borough averages rather than a requirement for each site.

Women's Refuges

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the targets are for numbers of refuge places for women in (a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands, and how much refuge provision for women there is in each. [92345]

Mrs. Roche: Targets are not set centrally for refuge places for women. It is for local authorities to assess need for refuge places in their areas and to take steps to address that need. Supporting People Commissioning Bodies have recently completed shadow strategies setting out their assessment of service provision for local people, including for women experiencing domestic

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violence, and how they will address gaps in supply. The Government's steer to Commissioning Bodies on preparing these strategies encouraged them to give particular consideration to provision for high risk or vulnerable groups, such as women fleeing domestic violence.

Data on refuge provision was gathered in September as part of the preparations for the Supporting People programme. In Coventry, 35 household spaces in women's refuge provision for women at risk of domestic violence were recorded. In the West Midlands, 474 such spaces were recorded.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carrier Modernisation

15. Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the procedures to be followed in the competitive bidding for the contract for aircraft carrier modernisation. [93182]

Mr. Ingram: The Future Aircraft Carrier project has utilised a Continuous Assessment process for the selection of prime contractor. This takes account of all relevant factors in order to ensure that we acquire the capability required at best value for money. Wider industrial issues are also being considered, consistent with the defence industrial policy published in the autumn. Our decision will be announced shortly.

Iraq

16. Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the assistance the US has requested for possible action in Iraq. [93183]

Mr. Hoon: As I told the House on 25 November 2002, the United States has approached a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, seeking support in the event that military action against Iraq proves necessary.

Armed Forces (Middle East)

17. Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the length of time forces deployed in the middle east can remain effective. [93184]

Mr. Ingram: While we want Saddam Hussein to disarm voluntarily, it is evident that we shall not achieve this unless we continue to present him with a clear and credible threat of force. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence told the House on Monday 20 January 2003, the United Kingdom forces being deployed to the Mediterranean and the middle east have the balance and flexibility for the tasks that might be asked of them. Exercise Saif Sareea II in Oman, towards the end of 2001, clearly demonstrated our ability to deploy United Kingdom ground forces to the middle east and sustain them there. I am confident therefore that we can sustain forces in the region for as long as necessary.

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A-bomb Tests

18. Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to assess the health problems of ex-military staff subjected to radiation from A-bomb tests. [93185]

Dr. Moonie: Two epidemiological studies of some 22,000 participants of the British nuclear test programme have been carried out on the Ministry of Defence's behalf by the National Radiological Protection Board. The results of these studies were published in 1988 and 1993. They showed that, as a group, participation in the tests has had no detectable effect on the expectation of life, or on the risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases by those who took part.

The results of a third study are to be published in a few months' time. There are no plans for any further studies.

The Ministry of Defence is aware of clinical study programmes being undertaken at various universities worldwide. We have reservations about the applicability to test participants today since any radiation exposures involved in the tests were generally very small and over 40 years ago.

Royal Navy (Gulf)

19. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the activities of the Royal Navy in the Gulf. [93186]

Mr. Ingram: There are currently six Royal Navy and two Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships on long-planned deployments to the Gulf. The Type 42 Destroyer, HMS Cardiff, is on Armilla Patrol contributing, with other nations, to the enforcement of UN embargoes against Iraq. It is usual for a United Kingdom tanker to be deployed in the region to support the Armilla patrol. At present, RFA Bayleaf is the Armilla tanker.

The Type 22 Frigate, HMS Cumberland, is in the Gulf in support of operations against international terrorism. Four Mine Counter Measures vessels, HMS Bangor, HMS Brockelsby, HMS Blyth and HMS Sandown, together with RFA Sir Bedevere, are in the region at the invitation of the Saudi Government, made early last year, to carry out a series of joint exercises. This invitation followed on from the success of similar co-operation during Exercise Saif Sareea II. In addition, the survey vessel, HMS Roebuck, is also on a long-planned deployment to the Gulf.

Iraq (Post-conflict)

20. Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role British troops will have in a post-conflict Iraq. [93187]

Mr. Ingram: There is no inevitability about military action against Iraq; this question is therefore hypothetical at this stage. What I can say is that we take very seriously our current and potential responsibilities towards the Iraqi people. In the aftermath of any conflict, Britain would remain at the forefront of efforts to help the Iraqi people.

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US Missile Defence System

21. Mr. Beard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of whether the US missile defence system could protect the UK and her allies from ballistic missile attack. [93188]

Mr. Hoon: The United States missile defence programme remains evolutionary and its future architecture has still finally to be decided. The US has offered to extend missile defence coverage and make missile defence capabilities available to the United Kingdom as the evolution of the system permits, subject to appropriate political and financial arrangements. An assessment of how coverage of the UK and allies might be achieved is included in the discussion paper published by the Ministry of Defence on 9 December 2002. The UK will continue this process of assessment, not least through agreeing a technical Memorandum of Understanding with the United States to gain further insight into the missile defence programme.

First World War (Military Executions)

22. Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on the subject of British soldiers executed after courts martial in the first world war; and what replies he has given. [93189]

Dr. Moonie: In the last six months, I have received five representations from hon. and right hon. Members and 32 from members of the public on this issue.

The position has not changed since the detailed and careful review by my right hon. Friend Dr. John Reid, the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, who announced his conclusions to this House on 24 July 1998, Official Report, columns 1372–86.

This review resulted in very important steps being taken to recognise these men as victims of the war and to draw them and their families into the nation's consciousness and remembrance. The public commemoration of these men in the National Memorial Arboretum is very fitting.

Fylingdales

23. Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of Fylingdales for national missile defence. [93190]

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Mr. Hoon: As I informed the House on 15 January 2003, the Government's preliminary conclusion is that we should agree to the US request to upgrade RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes. Ballistic missile early warning would continue to be the station's primary role. The upgrade would enable the radar to track incoming missiles more accurately and guide interceptions by defensive missiles if necessary. We will take full account of the views which have been expressed in public and parliamentary discussion before communicating a final decision to the US Administration.

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