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18 Nov 2003 : Column 747W—continued
Vanco v. BT
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the implications of the case of Vanco v BT; and if she will make a statement. [139548]
Mr. Timms: This is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications, whose decision was published on 10 February 2003. I welcome the rapid and decisive action taken following the Director General's investigation.
DEFENCE
Afghanistan/Iraq
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the number and (b) the value of Urgent Operational Requirements for Operation Fingal and for Operation Telic 1, showing (i) in which financial year the costs of UORs fall, (ii) how much has been funded from reserves, and (iii) how much has been or will eventually be funded from within the Ministry of Defence's existing budgets instead of from a permanent transfer from the contingency reserve. [137723]
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Mr. Ingram: Information on Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) for Operation Fingal is not held separately from those for overall operations in Afghanistan under Operation Veritas. A total of 113 UORs were agreed for these operations at an approved cost of £155 million, split between financial years 2001–02 and 2002–03. UORs for these operations were funded from the Reserve, under a special arrangement agreed with the Treasury.
Over 190 UOR measures were agreed for Operation Telic 1, at an approved cost of some £510 million falling in financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04. All these UORs are again funded from the Reserve, as agreed with the Treasury, as part of the overall additional costs of Operation Telic. A number of Operation Telic UORs have brought forward planned expenditure already contained within the forward equipment programme. Where that provision is no longer needed, we expect to reimburse the Treasury for an appropriate amount. A precise figure has yet to be established, but the key point is that the defence budget is neither penalised nor gains windfall benefits as a result of pulling forward expenditure in this way.
Where equipment bought through the UOR process is retained after an operation has completed, appropriate provision needs to be made for downstream support costs. Such decisions on whether or not to keep UORs in service are considered in the normal Departmental planning round alongside other potential equipment enhancements.
Army (Non-UK Citizens)
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by country of origin, the numbers of non-UK citizens who have joined the Army in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [137486]
Mr. Caplin: For the last five financial years the intake of Regular Army personnel with a nationality recorded as being other than United Kingdom was as follows:
Notes:
1. Totals are trained and untrained officer and other ranks joining the UK Regular Army in financial years 1998–2003 with a nationality (now) on intake of non-UK nationals.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five to prevent disclosure of sensitive personal data.
3. '—'denotes fewer than five.
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Colombia
Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will suspend military aid to Colombia until the Colombian Government takes action to comply with UN recommendations on human rights. [138945]
Mr. Ingram: British military assistance to Colombia includes bomb disposal training and provision of British military education. It complements Colombian efforts to reduce the number of deaths, both civilian and military, from explosive devices, and introduces Colombian military personnel to British defence concepts in key areas such as Rules of Engagement and democratic and accountable control of the armed forces. In view of the clear humanitarian benefits this British military assistance offers to the Colombian people, we do not intend to suspend it.
D-Day
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans the Government have to celebrate the 60th anniversary of D-Day; and if he will make a statement; [135516]
- (2) what funding has been allocated by the Government for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of D-Day; [135519]
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(3) what representations he has received from the (a) Normandy Veterans Association, (b) British Legion and (c) other bodies concerning the commemoration on the 60th anniversary of D-Day; [135520]
(4) how the Government will be represented at celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of D-Day in France. [135521]
Mr. Caplin: Details of the Government's position on the 60th anniversary of D-Day were outlined in my letter to all Members of the House of 7 July 2003 and updated in my reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 11 November, Official Report, columns 27–31WH. Further resources to those referred to as part of routine deployments may also be in attendance but it is too early to provide details at this stage. I announced on 17 September that arrangements had been made with P&O Ferries to offer subsidised tickets to veterans travelling to France in 2004. My hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Home Office (Beverley Hughes) announced on 4 June that one year free passports would be made available to eligible veterans travelling to France in 2004.
Since the beginning of 2002 MOD officials have had two meetings with representatives of the Normandy Veterans Association (NVA). The Department has received ten letters from hon. Members and five direct from members of the public relating to the NVA. The Department also received 36 letters from hon. Members as a result of a letter sent by The Royal British Legion (TRBL) in June of this year to all hon. Members. There have also been one written and two oral parliamentary questions in the House of Lords, eight written parliamentary questions in the House of Commons, 39 letters from hon. Members and 39 letters direct from members of the public which did not specifically represent the NVA or TRBL.
The Government intend to be properly represented at both ministerial and senior armed forces level at all major events next June and officials in the royal household will respond when the invitations have been received from the French Government.
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