---

13 Jul 2004 : Column 1045W—continued

Ministerial Air Travel

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each year since 1997 the number of miles flown by each minister on official departmental business. [181859]

Mr. Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

However, since 1999 the government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2003–04 is currently being assembled and will be published shortly. All Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Operation Harangue

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantity of arms, ammunition and other materials have been recovered in the course of Operation Harangue; from which barracks the stolen items originated, broken down by type; and what
 
13 Jul 2004 : Column 1046W
 
subsequent action has been taken against the individuals concerned. [181620]

Mr. Caplin: A total of 81 suspected firearms have been seized, the authenticity of which, have yet to be established. This includes an amount of component parts, firing pins, gun barrels and a silencer. Approximately 12,000 rounds of varying types of ammunition were recovered but the majority are believed to be blank. However, with other items seized, live rounds could be manufactured. A quantity of explosive substances was recovered much of which was attributable to fireworks. However, substances of a Hazard Classification code 1.1 and 1.2 were recovered and have been forwarded for forensic examination to establish classification. An amount of suspected Ministry of Defence property has also been seized, including operational ration packs, a 94 mm Rocket System indoor training aid, clothing, camouflage netting, hexamine cookers, rucksacks and pump assemblies. Because inquiries are at an early stage, it is not possible to give exact numbers or to specify where the items may have come from.

Pay Systems

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the most recent review of (a) his Department's pay systems, (b) the pay systems of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) the departmental equal pay action plan. [181344]

 
13 Jul 2004 : Column 1047W
 

Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence currently has a four year pay deal operating from 2002–05. There has therefore been no substantial change to MOD's pay system since 2002. There are no plans to place the MOD pay deal in the Library.

There are seven executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by MOD. They are given grants-in-aid from which they pay staff in line with affordability, recruitment, retention and motivation of staff and the public sector pay climate. There are no plans to place their pay details in the Library.

The Ministry of Defence, in common with all other Government Departments, conducted an equal pay audit following the publication of the report by the Equal Opportunities Commission Equal Pay Task Force, "Just Pay", in March 2001. The outcome of the audit, including an initial action plan, was notified to the Cabinet Office in April 2003. MOD was satisfied that its policy had not directly discriminated on gender grounds. We did however propose further work on a number of issues and these were detailed in the initial action plan at the end of the report. Discussions are to take place with the Cabinet Office, and, once concluded, a copy of the final MOD action plan will be placed in the Library.

Sustainable Development

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been identified as the most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of the estate of his Department's Estate pursuant to the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. [181295]

Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence has identified its most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of its Estate which also reflect the Department's focus on delivering operational capability and sustainability.

16 headline indicators, representing MOD's most significant sustainable development impacts, have been identified and agreed by MOD's Sustainable Development Steering Group.

These impacts are grouped in five main categories, namely: Sustainable Development and Environmental Management in Defence; Environmental Protection in Defence; Defence as an Employer; Defence in the Wider Community and the Impact of Defence on the UK economy.

The headline indicators are:

Economic Impacts: acquisition; Environmental Impacts: appraisal; environmental management systems; heritage; biodiversity; water; energy and travel; waste; contaminated land; nuclear materials; Social Impacts: Investors in People; health, safety and well being; diversity work/life balance; community involvement and volunteering.

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps have been taken by his Department following the issue of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate to review arrangements for public reporting of sustainable development impacts; [181416]
 
13 Jul 2004 : Column 1048W
 

(2) what arrangements his Department has following the issue of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate to report publicly on its key sustainable development impacts. [181417]

Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence already publishes its Annual Report and Accounts, as well as a Stewardship Report on the Defence Estate. In the past, the Department has also published an annual health and safety, environment, and fire (SHEF) report. All of these reports include some information on sustainable development issues.

The MOD has reviewed its arrangements for the public reporting of its sustainable development impacts in line with the requirements set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

As a result of that review, the Ministry of Defence will publish its own Sustainable Development Report on an annual basis beginning in autumn 2004. A copy of that report will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes there have been in (a) road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and (b) single occupancy car commuting by his Department's staff against the baseline year identified in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. [181418]

Mr. Caplin: Information on changes in Ministry of Defence road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and single occupancy car commuting is being collated as part of the Department's contribution to the Government's Sustainable Development in Government report for the financial year 2003–04. The information will also be included in the first annual Ministry of Defence Sustainable Development report. Both of these reports will be published in the autumn, and copies of each will be placed in the Library of the House.

Watermark Project

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has joined the Watermark project. [181419]

Mr. Caplin: I can confirm that the Royal Navy, Army, RAF, Defence Logistic Organisation and Defence Estates have either submitted data to Watermark or continue to maintain contact with the project.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol Abuse

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representatives of the alcohol industry he met on 28 June; what topics were discussed; what plans he has for further meetings; what other organisations with an interest in alcohol harm reduction he has met over the last three months; and if he will make a statement. [182790]

Ms Blears: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport met with a range of trade associations and companies in the alcohol industry on
 
13 Jul 2004 : Column 1049W
 
28 June. The round table discussion was about the contribution that the industry can make to changing the culture of binge drinking and reducing the crime and disorder that is associated with it.

The meeting included representatives from pub and club chains, trade associations, manufacturers and the off-trade.

As part of the implementation of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England, and in the wider course of my ministerial duties, I have met with a variety of organisations with an interest in alcohol harm reduction. These include the alcohol industry, the police, and others, at both the national and the local level.

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has investigated the role played by off-licences in levels of antisocial behaviour in urban communities; what plans he has to target irresponsible off-licence retailers; and if he will make a statement. [182791]

Ms Blears: One of the four main strands of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England is work with the alcohol industry to reduce the violence and antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol misuse. The Strategy clearly indicates that this includes the off-trade. All retailers will be strongly encouraged to sign up to the national social responsibility scheme which is currently being drawn up in consultation with the on and off-trade.

The summer enforcement campaign, led by the Home Office Police Standards Unit and the Association of Chief Police Officers, will target those selling alcohol irresponsibly and those selling illegally to under-18s. This will include off-licences and supermarkets.

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to introduce additional measures to tackle underage street drinking in residential areas; and if he will make a statement. [182792]

Ms Blears: The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England, published on 15 March recognises the importance of tackling underage drinking.

The Government have strengthened the legal framework preventing the sale of alcohol to under-18s, and introduced a clear set of options for tackling under-age drinkers including fixed penalty notices for drunk and disorderly behaviour by 16 to 17-year-olds and antisocial behaviour orders. We need to make sure that these existing powers are used effectively.

The alcohol misuse enforcement campaign was launched on 8 July and will run throughout the summer. The police and trading standards officers will use a variety of tactics to clamp down on those selling alcohol irresponsibly, including 'sting' operations sending under-18s into off-licences to buy alcohol. Underage sales will also be addressed through the forthcoming social responsibility scheme for alcohol retailers.

The Government have strengthened the powers available to tackle the particular problem of underage street drinking. Section 155 of the Licensing Act 2003 came into force in September 2003 and extended police
 
13 Jul 2004 : Column 1050W
 
powers to confiscate alcohol from young people drinking and causing a nuisance in public places, allowing for the confiscation of sealed containers as well as open containers.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are to be introduced to tackle the problem of alcohol-related antisocial behaviour. [182296]

Ms Blears: The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy was published on 15 March. It makes a wide variety of recommendations and those specifically focused on antisocial behaviour include the need for greater use of exclusion orders to ban those causing trouble from pubs and clubs or entire town centres; encouraging the full use of acceptable behaviour contracts and antisocial behaviour orders to tackle unacceptable behaviour and greater use of the new fixed penalty notices to clamp down on drunk and disorderly behaviour. Additionally, the Home Office Police Standards Unit, working in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers, have invited forces and other partners from across the country to take part in a co-ordinated programme of enforcement and initiatives to tackle alcohol fuelled violence. The campaign will target the irresponsible few who encourage underage and binge drinking and will also focus on tackling drunken behaviour.

---