---

20 May 2004 : Column 1146W—continued

Geneva Convention

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to make service personnel aware of the provisions of the Geneva Convention. [173007]

Mr. Hoon: All Service personnel are made aware during their initial training of the provisions of the Geneva Conventions in respect of the treatment of Protected Persons (including Prisoners of War). This training is reinforced during specialist and career courses.

Before deployment on operations the Permanent Joint Headquarters directs that any capability offered by the three Services must meet the pre deployment training standards laid down in the relevant mounting instruction. This requires all personnel to undergo training in the Law of Armed Conflict; and applies equally to regular and non-regular Service personnel.

In view of the particular nature of the Army's operational role it is mandatory for its personnel to receive Law of Armed Conflict training annually. Since August 2003, the Army has implemented additional cultural training to enable commanders and units to understand the cultural and social differences of other countries. From October 2003 combat units in the Army were mandated to provide eight to 10 Senior Non Commissioned Officers trained in Prisoner of War handling, thereby providing a trained pool of instructors and specialist supervision. Those specialist elements of the Army (such as the Military Provost Staff) who are responsible for carrying out routine handling of detainees conduct further specialist training covering such aspects of their role.

MOD Land

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the Department acquired rights over land and foreshore not owned by, or leased to the
 
20 May 2004 : Column 1147W
 
Department in Scotland in the period of (a) 1980 to 1990, (b) 1990 to 2000 and (c) 2000 to the present; and if he will make a statement. [173440]

Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has consistently utilised the expertise of professional Estates Advisors who work within Defence Estates to undertake negotiations with land owners to secure rights over land and foreshore where there has been an operational military requirement to do so. These rights are formalised in legal agreements usually known as "Minutes of Agreement" or similar.

Special Investigation Branch

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Special Investigation Branch files recommendations for proceedings have not been acted upon in the past year. [172867]

Mr. Ingram: The Royal Military Police (Special Investigations Branch) do not make recommendations for proceedings. At the conclusion of any Royal Military Police investigation a report, together with supporting evidence, is submitted to the appropriate Commanding Officer and to the Army Legal Services.

Territorial Army

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the latest strength against establishment of the Territorial Army is, broken down by (a) unit and (b) location; [174590]

(2) what the size of the Territorial Army was in each of the last five years; and what his estimate for each of the next three years is. [174591]

Mr. Caplin: Figures for the strength and establishment of the Territorial Army (TA) by unit and location are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The current strength of the TA, as at 1 March 2004, is 36,900 (including 2,760 mobilised reservists) against an establishment of 41,900.

For historical information on the strength of the TA, I refer the hon. Member to Tri-Service Publication 7 (TSP 7), which is available from the House of Commons Library, or through the Ministry of Defence website. Forecasts of projected strength are not available.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether the activities of (a) UK and (b) Coalition forces in Iraq fully comply with the Geneva conventions; and if he will make a statement. [171635]

Mr. Ingram: The provisions of the Geneva conventions underpin the missions and activities carried out by the United Kingdom and their Coalition partners in Iraq. Any credible suggestions that the UK forces have not observed the provisions of the conventions are investigated and appropriate action is taken.
 
20 May 2004 : Column 1148W
 

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women (a) have been detained by the UK military since the occupation of Iraq began and (b) are being detained by the UK military in Iraq. [172699]

Mr. Hoon: Since the occupation of Iraq began, UK Armed Forces have interned one woman in Iraq who posed or was likely to pose a threat to Coalition Forces. As of 16 May 2004, no women were being detained by UK Armed Forces.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for (a) the Red Cross and (b) other aid agencies to visit Iraqi detainees held by United Kingdom military forces. [172904]

Mr. Hoon: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has unrestricted access to the UK detention facility in Shaibah. The ICRC are the recognised international authority for visiting and checking on conditions of detainees, internees, prisoners of war and any other persons held.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when ministers first read the International Committee of the Red Cross draft report on Iraqi prisoners delivered in February. [172995]

Mr. Hoon: Defence Ministers first read the International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) report of the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War and other Protected Persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during Arrest, Internment and Interrogation, dated 10 February 2004, over the weekend of 8/9 May.

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the age of the (a) youngest and (b) oldest Iraqi (i) man and (ii) woman being held in United Kingdom-run prisons in Iraq is. [173999]

Mr. Hoon: Of internees held by United Kingdom forces in Iraq, as at May 15, the oldest was 68 and the youngest 18 years old. There were no female internees.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1480–81W, on Iraq, what the total cost was of all surveys conducted over the last 12 months; what further surveys have been conducted since those disclosed to the hon. Member for North Norfolk subsequent to the answer; and if he will place copies of each in the Library. [174334]

Mr. Caplin: Information on the totality of quantitative and qualitative surveys carried out by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in the Financial Year 2003–04 the total cost of external corporate-level public opinion surveys undertaken by Ministry of Defence was £86,450.62 (including VAT). This includes expenditure on survey work carried out in late 2002–03 but not paid for until Financial Year 2003–04. This figure is provisional and subject to final audit.

No further surveys have been conducted subsequent to my answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1480–81W.
 
20 May 2004 : Column 1149W
 

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

College Funding

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his policy that funding for 16 to 18-year-olds in colleges should match that provided to schools. [173895]

Alan Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Rob Marris) on 14 May 2004, Official Report, column 623W.

Adult Community Learning

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1414W, on the adult community learning budget, when he will write to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West giving the details of the adult and community learning budget for each English local authority area. [175077]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: Further to my reply of 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1414W, I have written to the hon. Member separately, as promised, to provide him with the details of the adult and community budget for each English local authority area expressed (a) in cash terms and (b) per head of population.

---