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22 Jan 2004 : Column 1388W—continued
Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down the Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group administration costs set out in her Departmental Report 2003, for 2003–04; and what amounts were allocated in each year since 1997. [147801]
Ms Hewitt: Allocations of gross administration costs to the Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group (TDST) since 1998–99 are set out in the following table. 1997–98 figures are not available because administration costs were compiled on a different basis before 1998–99.
| Type of expenditure | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay and pensions | Current expenditure other than pay | Administrator gross total | |
| 1997–98 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1998–99 | 3,665 | 2,738 | 6,762 |
| 1999–2000 | 3,431 | 3,527 | 7,173 |
| 2000–01 | 3,744 | 2,516 | 6,380 |
| 2001–02 | 4,191 | 3,845 | 8,171 |
| 2002–03 | 4,279 | 4,425 | 8,704 |
| 2003–04 | 4,134 | 3,816 | 8,085 |
World Trade Organisation
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the annual economic cost to developing countries of the breakdown of the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cancun. [149075]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have no estimate of the annual economic cost to developing countries of the breakdown of the WTO ministerial conference in Cancun. However, there are a number of studies by academics and international organisations of the benefits to developing countries of a successful round of negotiations. The scale of estimated gains depends on a number of factors including the scale of trade liberalisation implemented, its timing and the product coverage. Most recently, a World Bank study ("Global Economic Prospects and the Developing Countries", 2004) estimated that significant liberalisation could boost developing country incomes by between $159 billion and $349 billion per annum by 2015.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formal meetings she held at the ministerial conference in Cancun with representatives of developing countries. [149076]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: My ministerial colleagues and I between us talked with Ministers from around 40 developing countries, including many from the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group, in meetings in Cancun. A visit to Honduras with Christian Aid to visit poor
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families meant I was in Cancun for the last 48 hours of the conference. In that time, in addition to EU and other meetings, I spoke with six developing country Ministers.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts since the breakdown of the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cancun about (a) improving processes for decision-making and (b) taking account of the views of developing countries. [149110]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government have had various discussion with our EU partners and the European Commission since the WTO Ministerial in Cancun.
My right hon. Friend and I met with my our fellow EU Trade Ministers and the European Commission, on 2 December, to reaffirm our commitment to the current round of negotiations and to send a clear message of the importance of positive and flexible engagement with all WTO members, including taking account of the views of developing countries. We also discussed improvements to the functioning of the WTO, in particular WTO ministerial meetings.
These discussions are reflected in the Commission's strategy paper, "Reviving the DDA Negotiations—the EU perspective", which was endorsed by the European Council of Ministers on 8 December last year.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the progress achieved by World Trade Organisation members in meeting the terms of the Cancun Declaration by 15 December 2003. [149144]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Following the disappointing conclusion to the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun, the Government welcome the fact that all WTO members have committed themselves to re-engaging in the Doha round of trade negotiations. It is vital that all WTO members now turn themselves towards making real and significant progress in implementing the Doha Development Agenda.
DEFENCE
Armed Forces Pension Scheme
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) prospective members of the proposed new Armed Forces Pension Scheme and (b) beneficiaries of the associated compensation arrangements he estimates will find the provision for them capped by a £1.4 million limitation on the total value of pension and related arrangements. [149153]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence expects very few members of the new Armed Forces Pensions Scheme to be affected by the Government's proposed lifetime allowance of £1.4 million. Payments from the new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme are not retirement pensions for taxation purposes and are not therefore affected by the proposed allowance.
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Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of the pension provision through the proposed Armed Forces Pension Scheme, capitalised in accordance with the rules proposed by the Treasury, will be for (a) a senior warrant officer, (b) an officer retiring at normal retirement age at the rank of major or equivalent and (c) a four star officer; and if he will make a statement on the assumptions and calculations underlying the valuations. [149154]
Mr. Caplin: The figures are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 4* officer | 1,518,000 |
| Major (and equivalent) | 493,000 |
| Warrant officer 1 (higher) | 418,000 |
The figures assume broadly mid-point 2003–04 pay rates, 35 years Service (some of which might be after normal pension age of 55) and the new pension scheme provision of a 50 per cent. pension after 35 years' Service. The pensions have been capitalised using the Inland Revenue formula of 20 times pension plus the lump sum, equivalent to three times the pension. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000. The formula used to capitalise pensions is subject to public consultation by the Inland Revenue.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he intends to make in relation to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and compensation arrangements to ensure that, as the pay rates of the armed forces are increased over time to protect their real value, the full value of pension and compensation arrangements are not restricted by a cap on capitalised value fixed in cash terms. [149155]
Mr. Caplin: The Government propose to increase the proposed lifetime allowance annually by the Retail Prices Index. Like any other employer, the Ministry of Defence will keep this under review.
Conflict Resolution
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what change there will be in his Department's funding for conflict resolution projects over the next five years; [149427]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the amount of money spent by other Defence Departments in European countries on conflict resolution projects; [149451]
(3) how much his Department spent on conflict resolution projects in the latest year for which figures are available. [149541]
Mr. Ingram: Ministry of Defence involvement in conflict resolution projects, as opposed to operations, is funded through the programme budgets of the United Kingdom's Global and Africa Conflict Prevention Pools. Pool funding levels for future years will be established during Spending Review 2004.
In Financial Year 2002–03, the Pools funded nearly £41 million of Ministry of Defence support to conflict prevention and conflict resolution projects. Further information on the conflict resolution work of the Ministry of Defence, together with that of the Foreign
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and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, can be found in the Global Conflict Prevention Pool booklet, published on 9 September 2003.
The MOD has made no assessment of the amount of money spent by other Defence Departments in European countries on conflict resolution.
Correspondence
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 657W, on vaccination, when he will write to the hon. Member. [149581]
Mr. Caplin: There has been a delay in this response as I require further information to establish the precise licensing position on all the vaccines and to provide a precise answer. I will do so as soon as I can.
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