---

28 Oct 2003 : Column 156W—continued

Vehicle Registration

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles are outside the vehicle registration system; and how many of these will be brought back into the system through the measures set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2003. [134749]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 27 October 2003]: These are currently 2.1 million vehicles on the vehicle record with no current keeper details, although not all of these will be in use on our roads.

As I announced on 22 May, I have set the DVLA tough new targets in relation to Continuous Registration, which have to be achieved by 2007. One objective is to halve the number of vehicles outside the system, either by relicensing them or by removing them from the road.

The purpose of the regulations is to stop further seepage out of the system by making keepers of vehicles responsible for taxing them until the DVLA are informed that the vehicle has been sold or taken off the road. This will be assisted by enhanced checking procedures for the identity of new keepers when DVLA is informed of a change of keeper.

In addition, as a result of the publicity that will accompany the new arrangements, it is anticipated that many unlicensed vehicles will be brought back onto the register by their keepers relicensing them.

Vehicles outside the system will be dealt with through enhanced enforcement measures—mainly wheel clamping and removal—undertaken by the DVLA. Since April 2002 local authorities can now take on the powers of DVLA in clamping unlicensed vehicles. 14 authorities have these powers already, three are being inducted into their use currently and a further 27 are in talks with DVLA about taking on these powers. This will complement DVLA's own wheel clamping capacity and will ensure that vehicles currently outside the system are properly dealt with.

28 Oct 2003 : Column 157W

WALES

Asbestos

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2003, Official Report, column 258W, on asbestos, if he will list the buildings which have been identified as containing asbestos. [130944]

Mr. Touhig: Following the Asbestos Survey of 2002, Gwydyr House was found to contain asbestos.

Miners' Compensation

Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been paid under the (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) vibration white finger schemes in Wales, broken down by constituency. [133248]

Mr. Touhig: I will write to my right hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of the letter in the House of Commons Library.

DEFENCE

Draft EU Constitution

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what commitments of capability the UK plans to make to the EU under Articles III—210 to 214 of the Draft EU Constitution. [134312]

Mr. Hoon: The EU's Headline Goal, towards which the UK has offered a substantial military contribution, is due to be reviewed. The review will need to take account of the strategic environment, including the outcome of negotiations on the draft Treaty. The Government will then consider whether any changes to the UK contribution are appropriate. Under the draft Treaty, the commitment of national resources by Member States to ESDP operations will as now be based on their sovereign decisions.

European Armaments Agency

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what budget is planned for the first year of the European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency. [134313]

(2) what level of (a) financial and (b) personnel commitment the UK plans to make to the European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency. [134314]

Mr. Hoon: The organisational and financial arrangements, including the contributions to be made by individual Member States, for the proposed European agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments are under discussion with European partners.

Ex-service Personnel

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what help is given to ex-service personnel who have

28 Oct 2003 : Column 158W

difficulty in returning to civilian life; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the emotional changes that can result. [121522]

Mr. Caplin: In my statement of 17 September 2003, Official Report, column 51WS, I drew Member's attention to the King's College London research paper published on the same day. It confirmed the MOD's assessment that although joining the armed forces is generally a positive experience, with the overwhelming majority of Service Personnel who have difficulty making the transition back to civilian life. Personnel most vulnerable to problems of transition include those discharged for medical reasons, including mental health conditions, as well as those dismissed for disciplinary reasons, premature leavers and those discharged as temperamentally unsuitable.

The MOD has a comprehensive range of measures to prevent or help deal with these potential difficulties. All Service Personnel who are medically discharged are entitled to the full resettlement package available to personnel serving prescribed lengths of service, including a career transition workshop, financial and housing briefings and individual interviews with a career consultant who is available for up to two years after discharge. When Service Personnel are medically discharged, the Veterans Agency automatically considers entitlement to pensions and allowances under the War Pension Scheme. Disablement pensions are tax-free and not income-related. The scheme includes a range of supplementary allowances to address the disabling effects of accepted disorders, for example, mobility and care. The War Pensioners' Welfare Service, located throughout the United Kingdom, provides war pensions advice, information and help to access appropriate services. When personnel leave the armed forces, their medical management becomes the responsibility of the national health service (NHS). Since the 1950s war pensioners have been entitled to NHS Priority Treatment for their accepted disorders.

The MOD has recently developed an Early Service Leavers Initiative which involves a programme to improve the transition process for those who leave early for whatever reason and are not eligible therefore, for the full resettlement package. The overarching aim is to create a resettlement umbrella that will cover all Service leavers. The Initiative provides for a range of measures that will include a mandatory resettlement interview to assess vulnerability, provide guidance on access to Job Centre Plus and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits, housing associations, financial matters and give contact details for the ex-Service charities and other welfare organisations.

As part of the Veterans Initiative, projects are in place or being developed on housing and homelessness and employment issues. Many of these involve the voluntary sector. Close contact is also being maintained with the DWP Pathways to Work Project and MOD is represented on the Social Exclusion Unit's Mental Health Project. This is inter-Departmental and is looking at how to improve employment rates for adults with mental health problems, both in terms of take-up and retention of jobs and how to promote greater social participation and access to services for this group. The Department of Health (DoH) has designated mental health in the community at large as one of its key

28 Oct 2003 : Column 159W

priorities. MOD is working closely with DoH colleagues to explore better services including delivery of mental health services for veterans and improved access to services. This will include work to increase Service leavers' and veterans' awareness of NHS facilities and services and to brief health professionals on military matters and culture.

Service Accommodation

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units within his Department's married quarters estate will be upgraded in each of the next five years. [133372]

Mr. Caplin: For financial year 2003–04,1 refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement on 2 July Official Report, columns 18–19WS. Planned targets for financial years 2004–05, 2006–06 and 2006–07 were published in this year's Ministry of Defence Departmental Plan. Copies are available in the Library of the House. No target has yet been identified for financial year 2007–08, but will emerge from the decisions made in the MOD's Short Term Planning process.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was in each of the last five years of upgrading properties in his Department's married quarters estate; and what the planned expenditure is for this financial year. [133376]

Mr. Caplin: The cost of upgrading Service Family Accommodation to Standard 1 for condition in mainland United Kingdom in each of the past five financial years was:

Year	£ million
1998–99	2.14
1999–2000	48
2000–01	56.7
2002–02	78.0
2002–03	52.7
Total	256.8

For the current Financial Year the estimated outturn on upgrade projects is £40.4 million.

These figures include capital projects where new properties replace demolished properties. The cost of new build stock provided through PFI projects is not included.

In addition to the above, a number of properties benefited from improvements and partial upgrades through property management contracts.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he estimates his Department's upgrade programme for the married quarters estate will be completed by November 2005; how many units are part of this upgrade programme; how many units have been upgraded so far; and if he will make a statement. [133379]

Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 153W, by my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie).

28 Oct 2003 : Column 160W

Over 8,800 properties have been upgraded to Standard 1, the highest standard, since 1999 and over 90 per cent. of Service families now live in properties at either Standard 1 or 2.

---