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16 Dec 2003 : Column 838W—continued
Teachers (Work Permits)
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the work permits granted since January 2003 by country for (a) primary teachers and (b) secondary teachers in each Government office region. [143191]
Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
The numbers of work permits granted to teachers, by country, from 1 January 2003 to 30 September 2003 (the latest date for which information is available) are as follows:
| Work permits granted | |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 1,284 |
| Australia | 986 |
| New Zealand | 539 |
| United States of America | 502 |
| Canada | 432 |
| Jamaica | 430 |
| Zimbabwe | 228 |
| India | 150 |
| Ghana | 102 |
| Japan | 61 |
| Others | 682 |
| Total | 5,396 |
Work Permits (UK) is unable to provide from its management information a breakdown of this data by type of school to which permits have been issued or by region.
16 Dec 2003 : Column 839W
Top-up Fees
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what level of top-up fees student teachers will be expected to pay on undergraduate teacher training courses at universities in the Russell Group; and if he will make a statement. [142648]
Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Paul Farrelly) on 20 November 2003, Official Report, columns 1497–1498W.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the cost of servicing the debt outstanding on the income-contingent student loan scheme after the introduction of top-up fees; and if he will make a statement. [144383]
Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 671W.
Tuition Fees
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what liability for tuition fees those who choose to drop out of a degree course incur; and how this money is required to be repaid. [143646]
Alan Johnson: Where the student withdraws from their course and is assessed to make a private contribution towards their fees, it is for the student and the institution to determine the amount that should be paid. It is also for the institution to determine any repayment that may be due. Guidance is provided to institutions by Universities UK. There is no liability on the student to repay the tuition fee grant once it has been paid to the institution.
DEFENCE
A400M Project
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the A400M project. [143547]
Mr. Ingram: A contract for the development and production of the A400M aircraft was signed with Airbus Military on 27 May 2003 by the Organisation for Joint Armaments Co-operation on behalf of the participating nations (Germany, France, Turkey, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and United Kingdom). The UK will take 25 aircraft out of a total 180. The contract milestones are being achieved. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 July 2003, Official Report, column 314W to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones).
Aircraft Numbers
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many aircraft, of each type, will be deployed over the time scale covered by the Defence White Paper; [144465]
16 Dec 2003 : Column 840W
- (2) when he will complete his review of the future numbers of aircraft to be deployed by the RAF over the period referred to in his statement of 11 December 2003. [144464]
Mr. Hoon: As I said in my statement of 11 December 2003, Official Report, column 1211, the Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking work to develop the details of the individual systems and structures appropriate for the policy context as set out in the Defence White Paper, "Delivering Security in a Changing World." I shall make further announcements on the results of that work next year.
Defence Export Services Organisation
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are (a) employed in and (b) seconded to the Defence Export Services Organisation; and how many departmental staff are engaged in oversight of the licensing of military equipment and weapons for export. [142521]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) employed 606 personnel as at 31 October 2003; three were on secondment from industry.
The Department of Trade and Industry is the licensing authority for the export of military equipment. Within the Ministry of Defence the equivalent of 65 full-time staff have specific responsibility for considering applications to licence the export of military equipment, or the policy associated with this activity. This number includes 34 employed full-time within DESO.
Defence Fire Service
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what activities, other than those directly related to the provision of fire cover to UK military forces, the Defence Fire Service has been involved in in Iraq since February. [143754]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence Fire Services deployed in Iraq assist in the provision of fire service support to coalition forces and provide advice on the production of fire safety orders and procedures to enhance safety.
They have also provided assistance to the host nation and the civil community. They continue to train the host nation civilian fire service and have attended a variety of emergency host nation incidents including oil pipeline fires, road traffic accidents, and rescue from buildings. They have also undertaken comprehensive fire inspections to enable the re-commissioning of electricity and water supplies and have assisted in the sanitation of warehouses for receipt of humanitarian aid.
Eurofighter
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government remain committed to purchasing 232 Eurofighter Typhoons. [144463]
Mr. Ingram: The United Kingdom remains committed to the Typhoon programme. Under the four partner nation Memorandum of Understanding, the UK has undertaken to acquire 232 aircraft out of a total production of 620.
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Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will order Tranche II of the Eurofighter Typhoon; and how many aircraft he will order. [144466]
Mr. Ingram: Work is under way involving our partner nations and industry to enable contracts for the second tranche of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to be placed as soon as possible over the coming months. The Tranche 2 contract comprises 236 aircraft of which 89 will be for the RAF.
Iraq
Mrs. Liddell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists are in Iraq; and what plans he has to change this number. [143733]
Mr. Ingram: As at 11 December 2003, there were 1,235 reservists serving in Iraq. As the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 27 November 2003, Official Report, columns 32–33WS, we intend shortly to conduct a roulement of forces in Iraq. At the end of the roulement the number of reservists in Iraq will remain broadly similar. We continue to keep our forces levels in theatre under review in the light of the operational situation.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hazardous sites the Coalition estimates there are in Iraq; how many of these relate to cluster bombs; what steps are being taken to make them safe; and if he will make a statement. [141183]
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 17 November 2003, Official Report, column 504W to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the circumstances were surrounding (a) the death of Radi Nu'ma in British custody in May, (b) the death of Baha Musa in British custody in September and (c) the fatal shooting of Ali Salim in May, in Iraq. [141677]
Mr. Ingram: The Special Investigations Branch is currently investigating the deaths of Radu Nu'ma, Baha Musa and Ah Salim (also known as Radhi Nama, Baha Nasheem Mohamed and Ali Salaam). It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment.
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether individuals have been charged in connection with Special Investigation Branch investigations into Iraqi civilian casualties allegedly involving British forces; [141689]
- (2) what action has been taken as a result of the Special Investigation Branch investigations into Iraqi civilian casualties allegedly involving British forces. [141676]
Mr. Ingram: The Special Investigations Branch has completed two investigations into Iraqi civilian fatalities. The first found there was no case to answer. In the second the SIB has sent a report to the unit concerned but it would be inappropriate for me to comment further as it might be prejudicial should further action be taken. The other investigations have not yet been completed and I am, therefore, unable to comment.
Mrs. Liddell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Scottish regiments are in Iraq. [143726]
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Mr. Ingram: The only Scottish regiment currently deployed to Iraq is the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots.
The 1st Battalion, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders will deploy in Iraq in January 2004.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance has been issued to (a) civilian staff, (b) military staff and (c) outside organisations regarding the transport of effects to service personnel in Iraq over Christmas; and if he will make a statement. [142449]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 10 December 2003]: Family members of United Kingdom Forces personnel serving in Iraq are entitled to send an unlimited number of parcels up to 2kg in weight free of charge through the British Forces Post Office (BFPO).
The Ministry of Defence has made arrangements for the transport of traditional festive fare to British Forces personnel serving in Iraq. Organisations wishing to donate gifts have been encouraged to contact the MOD to discuss the nature of the gifts and to make arrangements for transport. Transport for such gifts has been provided where spare capacity MOD transport is available.
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