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27 Apr 2004 : Column 873W—continued
Military Goods Transfers
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances a transfer of military goods is classed as eligible for Crown Immunity rather than constituting a disposal sale; and if he will make a statement. [164907]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 31 March 2004]: Letters of Crown Immunity are sought for the export of strategically controlled goods for exhibition overseas, for demonstration to foreign Governments and in connection with the repair or modification of Crown owned equipment. It is no longer the practice of the MOD's Disposal Services Agency (DSA) to undertake the export of surplus goods it has sold in this manner. The purchasing customer will take ownership of the goods in the UK and arrange their export under licence.
Ministerial Meetings/Conversations
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department has taken to implement the recommendation of Sir Anthony Hammond about writing notes of ministerial meetings and telephone conversations. [156376]
Mr. Caplin [holding answer 26 February 2004]: The Ministry of Defence follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.
Nuclear Installations (Aircraft Incidents)
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each near miss incident involving RAF aircraft and United Kingdom nuclear installations reported to his Department in each year since 2000; and if he will place copies of the report on each incident in the Library. [165158]
Mr. Ingram:
Restricted areas for aircraft have existed around nuclear facilities for many years. In the aftermath of 9/11 the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) revisited this policy, issuing an amendment to Article 85
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of the Air Navigation Order, and now major nuclear installations have a restricted area of two nautical mile radius
The number of alleged breaches of restricted areas involving RAF aircraft and United Kingdom nuclear installations reported to the Ministry of Defence in each year since 2000 is detailed in the following table. The Ministry of Defence, Defence Flying Complaints Investigation Team carried out investigations on each occasion and concluded that five of these were found to have infringed restricted areas. I will shortly place copies of all reports of the investigations in the Library, with all personal data redacted in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
| Total number of complaints | Total confirmed breach | Under investigation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 | — | — |
| 2001 | 19 | — | — |
| 2002 | 18 | 3 | — |
| 2003 | 11 | 1 | — |
| 2004 (up to 31 March 04) | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Prisoners (Self-harm)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 941W, on self-harm, what target he has set for the completion of the feasibility stage of the project to collate data centrally on incidents of self-harm in the services; what the targets are for completion of the project; and if he will make a statement. [165755]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence continues to look at the identification and recording of self-harm incidents, of reporting systems and of analysis within the services. A feasibility report is due by the end of the summer. Its conclusions will determine future work.
Redundancy Payments
Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent in each year since 1997 on redundancy payments for (a) administrative staff and (b) industrial staff. [164217]
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Mr. Caplin: Information on redundancy payments for administrative and industrial staff are not held separately The Department does not hold records centrally for redundancy payments and the information will need to be collated. I will therefore write to the hon. Member when the information is available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Register of Interests
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the requirements are on officials in his Department to declare current interests; and what register of interests is kept for his departmental officials. [164703]
Mr. Caplin: The Civil Service Management Code sets out the requirement for civil servants declaring any conflict of interest.
The Code is amplified by further MOD policy guidance to staff on personal conduct, outside interests and appointments, and the receipt of gifts, rewards and hospitality.
Saville Inquiry (Confidentiality)
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what study he has made of the implications for former soldiers called before the Saville Inquiry of the recent judgment in the case involving the Bank of England and BCCI. [165112]
Mr. Ingram: The judgment has implications across Government and these are being given full and careful consideration.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will resist any attempt to secure the release of confidential exchanges between former soldiers called before the Saville Inquiry and their legal advisers. [165113]
Mr. Ingram: That is a matter for the independent lawyers who advise the soldiers.
SCOTLAND
White Fish Industry
6. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has held with the First Minister about the future of the Scottish white fish industry. [167033]
Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend and the First Minister discuss a wide range of issues.
Post Office Network (Scotland)
7. Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has held with Royal Mail regarding postal services in Scotland. [167034]
Mrs. McGuire:
The Scotland Office is in regular contact, at both official and ministerial levels, with Royal Mail and other key stakeholders involved in the delivery of postal services in Scotland.
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9. Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the future of the Post Office network in Scotland. [167036]
Mrs. McGuire: The Government recognise the important role that Post Offices play in the lives of people throughout Scotland, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure a viable Post Office network for the future.
Pensioner Payment
8. Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many pensioners in Scotland he estimates will benefit from the £100 payment announced in the Budget. [167035]
Mrs. McGuire: Around 395,000 pensioner households in Scotland will benefit from the £100 payment, for those aged over 70, announced in the Budget.
Barnett Formula
10. Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the future of the Barnett Formula. [167037]
Mr. Darling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor).
Economy
11. Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on prospects for the Scottish economy. [167038]
Mr. Darling: Prospects for the Scottish economy are good. The labour market continues to perform robustly with employment close to a historic high and unemployment around its lowest level since the 1970s. Growth figures have recently been revised upwards to better reflect real changes in the economy. Interest rates and inflation are historically low. Business surveys are pointing to a continued strengthening of business activity in Scotland in both services and manufacturing and independent forecasters predict that growth will be above-trend in 2004 and 2005.
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