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9 Jun 2003 : Column 657W—continued
TA Reservists
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many TA reservists mobilised for Operation Telic have not yet received their full pay and allowances. [117838]
Dr. Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Tri-Service Act
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace the Armed Forces Acts with a tri-service Act; and if he will make a statement on progress towards publication of a Bill in 2005. [117327]
Mr. Ingram: The Strategic Defence Review indicated our intention to replace the Army and Air Force Acts 1955 and the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (the Service discipline acts) with a tri-Service Act. Work is proceeding on this project, which has the purpose of
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providing a legislative framework better capable of meeting the needs of armed forces that increasingly operate together.
The next five-yearly Armed Forces Bill, which will be needed to extend the life of the Service discipline acts, is due in the 2005–06 session. However, it will be understood that no commitments can be given at this stage as to when the tri-Service legislation might be introduced, as this will be subject to the availability of Parliamentary time.
University Air Squadrons
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement of the financial benefits realised in each year since the transfer of the RAF's elementary flying training to the university air squadrons. [117490]
Mr. Ingram: Formal Elementary Flying Training (EFT) has been conducted at the University Air Squadrons (UAS) since 1993. Records of financial benefits have not been kept. However, we have recently studied the benefits of conducting EFT at the UASs compared with providing this training on a regional basis or at central location following recruitment to the Royal Air Force (RAF). The regional option offered no benefits. The central location option did offer a marginal cost benefit, but was not adopted because of the high risk that the removal of flying training from the UASs would render them less attractive to undergraduates and would, consequently, lose the support of universities for the UAS system as a whole. Additionally, there would be a reduction in return of service from graduates entering the RAF through non-flying UASs since these individuals would have to spend several months completing EFT before progressing to the more advanced phases of pilot training.
We are transferring the RAF Direct Entrant EFT currently undertaken at the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton to the UASs when the current contract expires early My 2003. This is expected to yield savings of at least £1.5 million a year.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Royal Air Force concerning the impact of transferring the RAF's elementary flying training to the university air squadrons. [117491]
Mr. Ingram: None. The recent decision to transfer the Royal Air Force Direct Entrant Elementary Flying Training, currently undertaken at the RAF Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton, to the University Air Squadrons was a matter for the Chief Executive of the RAF Training Group Defence Agency. I was briefed on the rationale for his decision and was content.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of students who joined the university air squadrons subsequently dropped out of the programme in each of the past five years. [117492]
Mr. Ingram: Details of students who joined the University Air Squadrons (UASs) and subsequently dropped out are not held. The UASs recruit to an annual target of up to 300 with a view to delivering 80 to
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90 graduate pilots for the RAF each year. It is evident from this that the UASs lose some 210 to 220 students each year. These losses include students who drop out for a variety of reasons and those who complete the full term but then choose not to join the RAF or are not selected or are suitable for entry but there are insufficient vacancies. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 520W.
War Pensions
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for entitlements for War Disability Pensions and War Widow(er)s Pensions are held pending by the Veterans Agency of the MoD; and how many applications were processed during the first quarter of 2003. [117808]
Dr. Moonie: As at 31 May 2003 the Veterans Agency had 5,232 first and further condition entitlement claims for war disablement pension pending. There were also 221 applications for War Widow(er)s Pension pending.
During the period 1 January to 31 March 2003 the Veterans Agency processed 5,927 claims in respect of disablement and 686 claims for War Widow(er)s Pension.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Afghan Refugees
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the repatriation of Afghan refugees. [116627]
Beverley Hughes: The Government's preferred option for repatriating Afghan asylum applicants whose asylum claims have been rejected is assisted voluntary return, in line with the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on Voluntary Return between the UK, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Afghan Transitional Administration. As agreed with the Afghan authorities from spring this year onwards those not choosing voluntary return and found to be without protection or humanitarian needs will be subject to enforcement action. We started enforced returns on 28 April 2003 and there will be flights once a month from now on.
We are working closely with the Afghan authorities to ensure that all returns, whether enforced or voluntary, are phased, managed and dignified. We offer all returnees a training and employment package designed to ensure that their return is sustainable and that they can therefore make a positive contribution to the reconstruction of their homeland.
We will continue to monitor the situation in Afghanistan with a view to developing our returns programme accordingly.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Afghan citizens who arrived on the hijacked plane at Stansted in February 2000 (a) have been returned to Afghanistan, (b) have been granted asylum or leave to remain and (c) are still in the UK. [114721]
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Beverley Hughes: Of the 170 people on the hijacked plane, 84 have returned voluntarily to Afghanistan and 18, including 13 dependants, have been granted asylum in the UK.
The remaining 68 are still in the UK, most pending completion of appeals or legal processes of one kind or another. Of this 68, the accused hijackers and their families comprise 34 people. Nine of the hijackers were convicted and imprisoned until recently. In the case of these nine hijackers their convictions have now been overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Action is being taken to remove all such remaining people as soon as possible as it is clear there is no legal or other barrier to their removal.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders are in force in Leeds. [116188]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Available information given in the table shows the number of notifications received by the Home Office of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued within the West Yorkshire Magistrates' Courts Committee (MCCs) area (in which the City of Leeds is situated) and by local government authority up to 30 November 2002 (latest available). Data are not collected centrally on the number of ASBOs in force at any given time.
We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
| MCC/local authority area | Total issued |
|---|---|
| West Yorkshire MCC | 25 |
| of which | |
| From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 by pfa | 4 |
| From 1 June 2000 to 30 November 2002 by local authority area | 21 |
| Bradford, City of | 2 |
| Kirklees MC | 5 |
| Leeds CC | 14 |
Note:
Between 1 April 1999–31 May 2000 data available by police force area only.
Crime/Policing
Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) issued by North Lincolnshire council in each year since their introduction; [116156]
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- (2) how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) issued by Humberside police in each year since their introduction; [116155]
(3) how many anti-social behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) issued by North East Lincolnshire council in each year since their introduction. [116154]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. Information held centrally up to 31 May 2000 is for the number of ASBOs issued within England and Wales by police force area only.
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From 1 June 2000 official statistics on the number of ASBO applications within England and Wales are based on quarterly returns from Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs). From copies of the orders we have been able to identify the type of applicant and local authority areas involved. Information is given in the table on the number of applications made to the magistrates courts (acting in their civil capacity), and the number issued, by type of applicant up to 30 November 2002 (latest available).
We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.
| Applications made byHumberside police force | Applications made by NorthLincolnshire council | Applications made by NorthEast Lincolnshire council | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | Applied for | Issued | Applied for | Issued | Applied for | Issued |
| 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000(18) | n/a | 0 | n/a | 0 | n/a | 0 |
| 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2001 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 January 2002 to 30 November 2002(19) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
n/a = Not available
(17) Information collected centrally is the number of applications either issued or refused. Applications withdrawn are not reported.
(18) From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 information was collected on the number of ASBOs issued only within police force areas (pfas). During this period no ASBOs were recorded as issued within the Humberside pfa.
(19) Latest available. Following implementation of the Police Reform Act (2 December 2002) data for December 2002 will be included in the first quarter 2003.
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