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17 Sept 2003 : Column 743W—continued
Operation Gangmaster
Mr. Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role his Department has played in Operation Gangmaster in relation to (a) planning, (b) housing, (c) housing benefit, (d) council tax benefit and (e) community cohesion responsibilities of local authorities. [130202]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not one of the Government Departments directly involved in Operation Gangmaster.
South Sefton Partnership
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the South Sefton Partnership have taken to improve access to (a) job and training opportunities and (b) affordable childcare. [128878]
Yvette Cooper: This is one of South Sefton Partnership's four key objectives. The Partnership has recently prepared a small booklet "South Sefton Partnership—The Story So Far" which aims to illustrate steps taken to date on these four key objectives.
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The steps taken in respect of this objective are as follows:
- Establishing an Intermediate Labour Market scheme to act as a 'bridge' back to work for long-term unemployed residents.
- Developing the Sefton@Work project which will help unemployed South Sefton residents gain access to jobs and training through advice, guidance and placement services and encouraging local firms to recruit local people.
- Improving educational opportunities for South Sefton residents through an adult community learning programme in local schools.
- Helping 12 local people to find work as teacher's assistants within South Sefton Education Action Zone schools.
- Supporting the Bootle-based Independence Initiative which helps ex-substance abusers to access training and work.
- Funding the Seaforth Older Children's Service (SOCS) which provides childcare in school holidays allowing local people to retain jobs that might otherwise be at risk.
- Providing laptop computers for looked-after children in the area to help to improve their hitherto below-average levels of success in GCSE exams.
- Supporting Sefton council's IMPACT project which provides vocational experiences for pupils who find traditional school subjects are not for them.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps have been taken by the South Sefton Partnership to create safe, healthy, and managed neighbourhoods. [128879]
Yvette Cooper: This is one of South Sefton Partnership's four key objectives. The Partnership has recently prepared a small booklet "South Sefton Partnership—The Story So Far" which aims to illustrate steps taken to date on these four key objectives.
The steps taken in respect of this objective are as follows:
- Establishing the Green It Clean It Mean It environment fund which provided each Neighbourhood Action Group with 10,000 to undertake local 'green' improvements.
- Supporting the new-build premises of the successful Feelgood Factory health initiative which will provide advice on healthy living, training courses, alternative therapies and a crèche.
- Employing an Active Communities Co-ordinator to give South Sefton residents improved access to sports opportunities.
- Funding a new mobile police station for the area to improve relationships with local communities, provide a more visible police presence. A new community safety officer post has been created.
- Funding an Environmental Hit Squad in the Linacre/Derby area to improve the physical appearance and cleanliness of the neighbourhood and look at ways to reduce the rat population.
- Working with Sefton Council Housing Market Renewal on a £500,000 alleygating initiative to improve the local environment and reduce crime in terraced street across South Sefton.
- Creating the post of a Co-ordinator to work with the Neighbourhood Action Groups on developing and implementing community safety projects.
- Funding important feasibility studies into the restoration of Bootle Derby Park and upgrading the local stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.
Written Ministerial Statements
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Written Ministerial Statements have been made by the Department since 29 October 2002. [126613]
Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made 130 Written Ministerial Statements since 29 October 2002.
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PRIME MINISTER
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to reply to the letter dated 12 August 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to a new post office for Rusholme. [130456]
The Prime Minister: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 12 September 2003.
Director of Public Prosecutions
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what contact took place between 10 Downing street and (a) the members of the panel which selected Mr. Ken Macdonald QC as Director of Public Prosecutions and (b) Mr. Ken Macdonald QC during the process of the decision-making on the appointment; [129241]
- (2) if he will list the (a) dates and (b) attendees of meetings which took place between 10 Downing street (i) officials and (ii) civil servants with members of the selection panel which appointed Mr. Ken Macdonald QC as Director of Public Prosecutions. [129240]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General gave to him today.
Iraq
Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his pre-war assessment of the challenges of post-Saddam Iraq. [130715]
The Prime Minister: The scale of the reconstruction task in Iraq caused by decades of neglect and misrule was greater than expected. But good progress in Iraq is being made despite security setbacks, and Saddam's appalling legacy. The Iraqi Governing Council has appointed Ministers, work is under way on preparing a new constitution, institutions are being rebuilt, the international financial community is engaging, children are receiving better health care and education, and work is in hand to improve the infrastructure deficiencies. We are also giving urgent priority to building up the Police Force, Civil Defence Corps and New Iraqi Army, so that Iraqis assume greater responsibility for their own security.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit Southend, West. [130959]
The Prime Minister: I have no plans to visit in the near future.
Security Clearance
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 18W, on Security Clearance, what further clearance is required for Downing street staff in order to see (a) secret and (b) top secret Joint Intelligence Committee material, once they have been positively vetted. [130397]
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The Prime Minister: The levels of security clearance that staff need in order to be granted access to classified material are those which apply across Government. They are set out in HM Government's statement of vetting policy, as announced to the House on 15 December 1994, Official Report, columns 764–66.
DEFENCE
Aircraft Carriers
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what increase in cost for the proposed two new aircraft carriers has been communicated to him; what reasons were given; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement. [127152]
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 1 September, Official Report, column 894W, to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis).
Apache Helicopter
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to upgrade and replace the night-vision system on the Apache helicopter. [129490]
Mr. Ingram: An upgrade of Apache's night vision system has been identified as one of a range of possible enhancements to the helicopter during its service life. However, no decision has yet been made on this specific element.
Asbestos
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2003, Official Report, column 944W, on asbestos, if he will list the buildings identified as containing asbestos. [130943]
Mr. Caplin: There is no central register of buildings in which asbestos is known to be present. Such a register or list could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
Battle Group Thermal Imaging System
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the procurement of the Battle Group Thermal Imaging System; on which platforms it will be deployed; when it is likely to come into service; and what capability it will bring. [129191]
Mr. Ingram: A contract to supply and support the Battle Group Thermal Imaging System was placed with Thales Optronics Ltd. in 2001. The system is on track to meet its approved in-service date in 2004. It will be deployed on Warrior armoured fighting vehicles and Scimitar combat reconnaissance vehicles and will further improve the effectiveness of armoured combat formations at night and in bad weather.
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