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27 May 2004 : Column 1841W—continued

Departmental Executive Agencies

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's (a) executive agencies, (b) trading funds and (c) executive non-departmental public bodies for financial years (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [172122]

Mr. Caplin: In financial year 2003–04, the Ministry of Defence had the following defence agencies, trading funds and executive non-departmental public bodies:

(a) Defence agencies:

(b) Trading Fund agencies:


 
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(c) Executive non-departmental public bodies:

In financial year 2004–05, the Ministry of Defence trading fund and executive non-departmental public bodies remain the same. There has however been a reduction of four in the number of defence agencies. The three single service personnel agencies ceased to have agency status from 1 April 2004, as set out in my written statement of 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 24WS. The Defence Housing Executive merged with Defence Estates as set out in my written statement of 30 March 2004, Official Report, columns 88–89WS. In addition, the Ministry of Defence Police has been re-named the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency after taking on the Ministry of Defence Guard Service.

The revised list of defence agencies for 2004–05 is shown as follows.

(a) Defence agencies

International Committee of the Red Cross

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what (a) instruction and (b) guidance his (i) officials and (ii) Ministers were following prior to the decision
 
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not to make the February International Committee of the Red Cross report available to him as soon as it became available to his Department; [173571]

(2) what (a) written and (b) oral briefing was provided by officials in his Department to inform (i) him and (ii) his Ministers of the contents of the International Committee of the Red Cross report and actions taken (A) as a result of officials having read the report and (B)   prior to the full report being made available to him. [173576]

Mr. Hoon: Ministers were made aware of those issues in the ICRC interim report relating to United Kingdom armed forces five months before they were made aware of the report. Ministers subsequently received an explanation of the handling of the full report over the weekend of 8–9 May 2004. The sequence of events is set out in my reply today to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames).

Land Releases (Hampshire)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2004, Official Report, column 662W on land releases (Hampshire), if he will make a statement on the consultation process that will follow announcements about land disposals. [170468]

Mr. Caplin: In Hampshire, as elsewhere, as soon as an opportunity to rationalise the estate emerges, we begin the consultation process with all concerned, including staff and local authorities, to inform identification of options (including alternative defence uses) and to ensure that all relevant factors, including sustainability issues, are taken into account when decisions are made.

In recognition of the high concentration of defence sites in the County, Defence Estates hold twice-yearly liaison meetings involving all the local authorities in Hampshire to discuss all relevant issues. The last meeting was on 18 March 2004.

In the case of disposals, it is our usual policy to work within the planning process led by local authorities. In addition all disposal sites are now put on the Register of Surplus Public Sector Assets, operated by English Partnerships, for 40 working days. Former owner and pre-emption rights are, of course, taken into account where appropriate. Sites are usually sold on the open market with the benefit of planning permission, and this will involve discussion with local planning authorities in regard to local or unitary plans, alternative uses that might be permitted and the views of the community. Listed and environmentally sensitive sites are dealt with under specific guidelines.

Missile Defence

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has (a) made to and (b) received from the United States on the UK's participation in the development of missile defence in the past six months; and if he will make a statement on British participation. [176373]

Mr. Hoon: I have neither made representations to, nor received any from, the United States on the subject of the United Kingdom participation in US plans for
 
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Missile Defence in the last six months. Missile Defence issues have been discussed in contacts with the US Defence Secretary and others. Officials also keep in close touch with the US Administration to monitor developments. On 5 February 2003, the Government announced that it had agreed to a US request for the upgrade of RAF Fylingdales to enable for missile defence purposes.

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