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7 Sept 2004 : Column 1180W—continued
Regional Planning
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what rules govern whether a unitary council's area can be treated as a sub-region for the purpose of regional planning arrangements. [187716]
Keith Hill: There is no rule. It is up to each RPB (Regional Planning Body) to decide how best to take sub-regional matters forward and to define the sub-regions in the draft RSS (Regional Spatial Strategies) revision. What might be an effective sub-regional approach in one region may not necessarily suit the circumstances and geography of another.
The definition of need for a sub-regional approach should be based on an assessment of the functional relationship between settlements, such as journey-to-work patterns, or land uses within the area affected by the same strategic planning issue or issues which may well differ from administrative boundaries. This could include consideration, for example, of how the strategic planning system can assist not only in creating and sustaining the economic competitiveness of a city or a cluster of towns but in spreading the benefits of a prosperous city to the wider region (the concept of a 'city-region').
The sub-regional definition should be based on a clearly recognisable 'strategic policy deficit' which cannot be adequately addressed by general RSS policies or by LDDs (Local Development Documents) on their own. In some parts of a region, LDDs may be capable of being prepared within the context of the generic policies of a RSS. In some cases this may need to be on a joint LDD basis and the RPB may need to encourage the relevant LPAs (Local Planning Authorities) to produce a joint LDD in order that the RSS can be effectively implemented. However, in many cases there will be sub-regional strategies issues which cannot be tackled through a joint plan or where the LDDs require a more detailed strategic policy context which cannot be provided by generic policies in a RSS. Therefore, it will be common to have sub-regional policies as part of the RSS revision.
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1181W
Where the RPB decides that it is appropriate to have RSS policies which are specific to a particular part or parts of the region, section 5(5) of the Act requires a section 4 (4) authority or authorities to be first to make detailed proposals, unless it is agreed that the RPB itself or a district council should do so instead. Providing these section 4(4) authorities agree, there is no reason why an RPB should not continue to take the lead, as it has in the past, in preparing detailed proposals on a partnership basis with these authorities and others.
Planning Policy Statement 11: Regional Spatial Strategies (PPS11) will be published on 7 September 2004. Until now it was only available as a draft.
Suffolk Fire Authority
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firefighters were employed by the Suffolk Fire Authority (a) in 2004–05 and (b) in each of the last 10 years. [187208]
Mr. Raynsford: The information requested is set out as follows:
| Year(80) | Whole-time | Retained | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 244 | 399 | 643 |
| 2003 | 250 | 415 | 665 |
| 2002 | 253 | 401 | 654 |
| 2001 | 248 | 404 | 652 |
| 2000 | 249 | 396 | 645 |
| 1999 | 256 | 400 | 656 |
| 1998 | 252 | 418 | 670 |
| 1997 | 256 | 423 | 679 |
| 1996 | 258 | 422 | 680 |
| 1995 | 267 | 415 | 682 |
| 1994 | 264 | 421 | 685 |
(80) Data refer to workforce as at 31 March for each year except 1995, where data refer to 1 January.
Supporting People Programme
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to commission research into the effects on vulnerable people of changes in funding for the Supporting People programme. [187523]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister undertakes extensive monitoring and research to assess the success of the Supporting People programme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will continue to monitor progress to ensure the programme protects vulnerable people in a cost effective and efficient manner.
DEFENCE
Army Recruitment
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks have been recruited into each infantry battalion in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many are planned to be recruited in each of the next five years. [187342]
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1182W
Mr. Ingram: The following tables show the number of officers and other ranks that were recruited into infantry battalions since financial year 2000–01. Statistics prior to this period are not available.
| Financial year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regiment | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 |
| Grenadier Guards | 9 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
| Coldstream Guards | 6 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| Scots Guards | 4 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
| Irish Guards | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Welsh Guards | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Royal Scots, | 7 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Royal Highland Fusiliers | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| King's Own Scottish Borderers | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Black Watch | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| Highlanders | 7 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment | 6 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
| Royal Regiment of Fusiliers | 12 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Royal Anglian Regiment | 11 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| King's Own Border Regiment | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| King's Regiment | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Prince of Wales's Own Regiment | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Green Howards | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 |
| Queen's Lancashire Regiment | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Duke of Wellington's Regiment | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Devonshire and Dorset Regiment | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Cheshire Regiment | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Royal Regiment of Wales | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Royal Gloucestershire. Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment | 1 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Staffordshire Regiment | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Light Infantry | 8 | 10 | 30 | 10 |
| Royal Green Jackets | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
| Royal Irish Regiment | 8 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Parachute Regiment | 12 | 16 | 19 | 14 |
| Royal Gurkha Rifles | 8 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Total | 188 | 170 | 196 | 148 |
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1183W
The following tables show the latest figures for the number of trained officers and soldiers expected to join infantry over the next five years. At this stage it is not possible to quantify the numbers by individual battalion.
The figures for financial years 2005–06 to 2008–09 take into account my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's (Mr. Hoon) announcement to the House on 21 July 2004, Official Report, columns 343–70.
| Financial year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Method of entry | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 |
| Direct entry | 165 | 165 | 165 | 165 | 165 |
| Late entry | 31 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Total | 196 | 193 | 193 | 193 | 193 |
Note:
Direct entry relates to those who enter the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst direct from education or civilian life. Late entry refers to those who apply for a commission through the ranks.
| Financial year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 |
| Foot Guards | 368 | 405 | 418 | 430 | 430 |
| Line | 2,004 | 2,200 | 2,134 | 2,036 | 2,036 |
| Parachute Regiment | 230 | 225 | 221 | 234 | 234 |
| Total | 2,582 | 2,830 | 2,780 | 2,700 | 2,700 |
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