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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 4 March 2003
DEFENCE
European Security and Defence Policy
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed progress on the European Security and Defence Policy with the German defence minister. [100061]
Mr. Hoon: I last discussed progress on European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) with my German counterpart on 5 November 2002 in Berlin.
ESDP was also discussed extensively at the last General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 18 and 19 November 2002 at which Defence Ministers from all member states were present.
Export Licence (Sudan)
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Alenia Marconi System used the F680 procedure to receive preliminary Government advice on the likely prospects for approval on their export licence application to export an air traffic control system to Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [99304]
Mr. Ingram: Details of F680 applications from companies are normally commercially confidential and exempt from disclosure under Exemptions 13 and 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Any F680 application received in respect of Sudan would be rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria and the EU arms embargo.
Honours and Decorations
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he received the recommendations of the Sub-Committee of the Honours and Decorations Committee, on the issue of a medal for UK servicemen who were in Egypt between 1951 and 1954; whether he will accept the recommendations of this sub-committee; and if he will make a statement. [100249]
Dr. Moonie: I have not received the recommendations of the sub-committee. They passed their recommendations directly to the HD Committee for its consideration. The Ministry of Defence awaits the publication of the result of their deliberations and will accept their decision.
Procurement
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the MOD expects to award the contract for the Future Infantry Soldier Technology Programme; what capabilities the new equipment will have; when the technology will come into full service; what the length of the contract is; and if he will make a statement. [98349]
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Mr. Ingram: An announcement on the Prime Contractor for the Assessment Phase (AP) of the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme will be made shortly. Contract award will take place soon thereafter. The contract will last for a little under three years, and will be followed by a Demonstration and Manufacture Phase which will be the subject of separate contractual arrangements. The FIST programme will bring the benefits of technology improvements to the infantry soldier by providing an integrated suite of equipment which will enhance mission effectiveness in dismounted close combat. This will be defined more closely during the AP. An In-Service Date will not be set until the main investment decision, but current estimates are around the end of this decade.
Separated Service Allowance
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances unmarried service personnel deployed to the Gulf receive longer separated service allowance. [100624]
Dr. Moonie: Longer separated service allowance (LSSA) compensates for longer separated service regardless of marital status. From 1 March 2003, following changes recommended by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB), it is paid to all eligible personnel who have completed 12 months' initial qualifying service. LSSA is paid on a daily basis for separation of 10 days or more, at three rates (basic, middle and higher) dependent upon periods of accumulated separation. Bonuses are available for those who experience very high levels of accumulated separation.
Regularly reviewed by the AFPRB, their 2003 report reduced the initial qualifying period from 18 months' service to 12 to target the allowance at junior personnel to ensure that they do not commence a second operational tour without compensation for separation.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which categories of service personnel are eligible for longer separated service allowance; and under what circumstances it is awarded. [100625]
Dr. Moonie: Regardless of marital status, all regular service personnel can receive longer separated service allowance (LSSA) provided that they meet the qualifying criteria. Reservists who have been called out on permanent service or who undertake full-time reserve service are eligible for the allowance; members of non-regular permanent staff of the TA and reservists who are undertaking part-time reserve service can also qualify for LSSA.
LSSA compensates personnel for the effects of longer separated service regardless of marital category or rank. Following recommendations by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB), the initial qualifying period was reduced from 18 months' service to 12 months from 1 March 2003. The allowance is paid at three daily rates to eligible personnel who spend 10 days or more on temporary duty away from their permanent duty station. The basic rate is paid once 12 months' service has been completed. After 300 accrued days of
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separation at the basic rate, the middle rate applies and after a further 300 accrued days of separation at the middle rate, the higher rate applies. Bonuses are available for those who experience very high levels of accumulated separation.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Council Tax Benefit
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) number and (b) percentage of (i) single males, (ii) single females and (iii) couples (A) over 60 and (B) over 75 who will be eligible for (1) any amount of council tax benefit and (2) full council tax benefit (x) at present, (y) in April 2003 and (z) in October 2003. [96369]
Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the table.
| All pensioners | Pensioners aged over 75 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any CTB | Full CTB only | Any CTB | Full CTB only | ||
| 2002–03 | |||||
| Single males | 630,000 | 310,000 | 270,000 | 120,000 | |
| Single females | 1,960,000 | 1,170,000 | 1,080,000 | 710,000 | |
| Couples | 1 ,300,000 | 510,000 | 430,000 | 170,000 | |
| Total | 3,890,000 | 1,990,000 | 1,780,000 | 1,000,000 | |
| 2003–04 | |||||
| Single males | 700,000 | 320,000 | 310,000 | 120,000 | |
| Single females | 2,080,000 | 1,210,000 | 1,140,000 | 730,000 | |
| Couples | 1,470,000 | 540,000 | 480,000 | 180,000 | |
| Total | 4,240,000 | 2,060,000 | 1,930,000 | 1,030,000 | |
Notes:
1. The Policy Simulation Model is only available for each financial year and estimates can be interpreted as relating to the mid-year point. It is therefore, not possible to provide estimates for the points in time requested. Estimates for 2003–04 include the effects of the Pension Credit.
2. Pensioners are defined to be households where the benefit recipient or their partner is aged 60 or over. The over 75 group includes cases where either the benefit recipient or their partner is 75 or over.
3. The estimates are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and totals may not sum due to rounding.
4. Although it is possible to infer estimates of take-up by comparing these figures with forecast caseloads, it should be noted that these figures may not be consistent with those published in the take-up statistics, which are estimated on a different basis.
Source:
Estimates have been produced using the DWP Policy Simulation Model, which is based on the 2000–01 Family Resources Survey with prices and benefits uprated to the year in question.
File Stores
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of operating his Department's filestores in each year since 1997. [98845]
Mr. McCartney: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table. Because the availability of data is not uniform across the period, the figures are non-comparable.
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| Year | Operating costs |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 21,078,728 |
| 1998–99 | 21,142,259 |
| 1999–2000 | 21,783,791 |
| 2000–01 | 27,714,146 |
| 2001–02 | 28,470,915 |
Notes:
1. Operating costs shown include staff salaries and estates costs but not running costs such as those for utilities.
2. Where filestores are operated by external contractors then contract costs have been used.
3. Most smaller DWP filestores are managed within DWP core business and separate operating costs for these stores are therefore not available prior to the current review of records storage and retrieval.
4. 1997–98 figures include staff data from 13 stores and estates data from 60 stores.
5. 1998–99 figures include staff data from 14 stores and estates data from 60 stores.
6. 1999–2000 figures include staff data from 20 stores and estates data from 60 stores.
7. 2000–01 figures include staff data from 44 stores and estates data from 60 stores.
8. 2001–02 figures include data from 62 stores.
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