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7 Mar 2003 : Column 1245W—continued
X-Bank Radar
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what research his Department will undertake into the radiation effects of an X-bank radar on UK soil; [100665]
- (2) what discussions he has had with the US on the siting of (a) an X-bank radar and (b) interceptor missiles in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [100666]
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Mr. Hoon: The Ministry of Defence keeps in touch with the United States Administration on possible future developments in missile defence. The United States has undertaken to extend missile defence coverage and make missile defence capabilities available to the United Kingdom, subject to technological developments and our willingness to participate in such a system. This would involve the siting of interceptors in Europe. Decisions on whether the UK should seek to acquire missile defences, and the location and provision of interceptors, are for the future, in the light of the prevailing security circumstances at the time. We have no reason to expect a request to site a missile defence X-band radar in the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence does not therefore intend to undertake or commission any research into radiation effects.
Reserves Forces
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Reserve Forces served with a call up notice have applied to the Hardship Fund; what percentage of Reserve Forces served with a call up notice this represents; how many applications to the fund have been approved; how many have been denied; and if he will make a statement. [100823]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 5 March 2003]: Only members of the Reserve Forces who have been accepted into permanent service may apply for Reservist Standard Award (RSA) and Reservist Hardship Award (RHA). As at 4 March, 4, 111 Reservists had been accepted into Service. As at that date the Ministry of Defence had received 638 applications for RHA, representing 16 per cent. of those accepted for service. Of those applications received, 571 had been awarded; 13 had been refused; and 54 were under consideration.
Service Deaths (Property Return)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern the return of personal property, items and effects to the families of military personnel who die or lose their lives while on service at home or overseas; what items must be retained or held in order to send elsewhere; in what circumstances and at what rank discretion may be exercised over the return of property; what rules govern disclosure of information concerning withheld items; what remedy is available to families denied property; and what steps he will take to ensure that bereaved families are made aware of their rights. [101066]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Ministry of Defence Police
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the backlog is of refresher training for constables and sergeants in the Ministry of Defence Police; and what the equivalent figures were in each of the last five years. [101152]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence Police Agency does not keep data for the backlog in training in previous years. Until 11 September 2001 all essential training identified in the staff reporting system was conducted. Since then a backlog for some refresher
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training modules has built up. This is mainly due to officers not being available to undertake the training because of increased duty requirements, and a difficulty in back-filling essential posts for training because of restrictions on overtime working.
Currently 78 per cent. of the Force is qualified in Personal Safety Training which is approximately 7 per cent. short of the requirement. The force target for Firearms qualified personnel is 87 per cent., whilst currently the percentage of officers qualified is 88.9 per cent..
Territorial Army
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army reservists have (a) died and (b) been injured while on service in each of the last 10 years. [101155]
Dr. Moonie: Although work is in progress to establish a comprehensive database of deaths, the following figures come from a manual trawl of information held in the Casualty and Compassionate Cell. The figures include six Service personnel whose documentation indicates that they were serving as TA Non-Regular Permanent Staff at the time of their death. It is not possible to provide figures for injuries since this information is not recorded centrally.
| Year | No. of TA & TA NRPS personnel deaths |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| Total | 33 |
Mr. David Johnson
Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's treatment of Mr. David Johnson, a constituent, relating to his compulsory retirement. [101769]
Dr. Moonie: Mr. David Johnson is being retired at the normal retirement age for his grade in the Ministry of Defence, which is 60. I will write to the hon. Member about this case and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
National Lottery Grants
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the amount per head in National
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Lottery grants was in each (a) constituency and (b) county in the UK, in the last year for which figures are available. [100963]
Mr. Caborn: I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.
Paralympics
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the International Paralympic Committee's decision to ban events for athletes with an ''intellectual disability'' at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens. [101190]
Mr. Caborn: During the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney several athletes who were subsequently found not to have met the eligibility criteria competed in events for intellectually disabled athletes. As a result the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID) had its membership of the International Paralympic Association (IPC) suspended and athletes with an intellectual disability were not able to compete in IPC events. Membership has since been reinstated. However, athletes with an intellectual disability will remain banned from IPC competitions until such time that the IPC are satisfied with the procedures regarding the eligibility of athletes with an intellectual disability.
In October 2002 the IPC decided on the programme of events for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens in order to meet deadlines for the organisation of the Games. The INAS-FID were given additional time to continue with the development of a new eligibility system. The IPC recognised that some progress had been made by INAS-FID on a more stringent verification procedure, but other areas such as the development and implementation of protest procedures were still not in line with IPC policy. The IPC felt that these events could not go ahead in a fair manner at the 2004 Paralympics and that there was a risk of ineligible athletes competing. As a result, a final decision was made on 1 February 2003 that events for intellectually disabled athletes would not be included in the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.
The IPC has stated that they will continue to support the INAS-FID in its efforts to develop a system that does meet the conditions required by the IPC. Once an acceptable system is achieved the IPC will look at allowing athletes with an intellectual disability to participate in IPC events.
National Lottery (Scotland)
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and what plans she has to devolve the distributor arrangement for the operation of the National Lottery in Scotland. [101744]
Mr. Caborn: The Scottish Executive already issue directions in relation to the distribution of Lottery money to their Arts and Sports Councils as provided by the 1998 Scotland Act.
In February, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Elaine Murray, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in the Scottish Executive, to discuss
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the ongoing Lottery Review, and to consider how best to ensure that the distribution of Lottery money in Scotland meets Scottish needs and priorities.
My department intends to announce proposals in early Summer.
European Capital of Culture
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what she estimates to be the cost to public funds of the process for identifying a candidate city to be European Capital of culture in 2008. [101806]
Mr. Caborn: The competition to select the UK nomination for European Capital of Culture 2008 attracted twelve high-quality bids from cities across the UK. As part of the assessment process, the independent advisory panel met on several occasions and panel members visited all twelve cities, before recommending a shortlist. The panel is now considering the shortlisted bids in more detail. Panel members will visit the shortlisted cities and hold further meetings before deciding on their final recommendation to Ministers. Consultants have been engaged to support and advise the panel and the Department throughout the process.
The competition process is estimated to have cost £125,000 up to 28 February 2003. This figure covers the costs of consultancy advice, meetings of the advisory panel, and panel members' visits to the competing cities. It does not include staff costs.
It is not yet possible to be certain about the remaining costs of the process up to the final announcement of the UK nomination in June. However, we currently estimate that the overall total cost will be around £200,000 excluding staff costs.
Mr.Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the recommendations of the independent advisory panel on which city should go forward as the UK nomination for European Capital of culture in 2008 will be published. [101805]
Mr. Caborn: We expect to announce the final choice of city to go forward as the UK nomination for European Capital of Culture 2008 in early June. Each of the shortlisted cities will be given feedback and a report on the competition, including the panel's final recommendation, will be published.
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