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Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the report produced by the Strategy Unit about the impact of interventions on the drug supply chain from international production to distribution within the UK cost; and whether it was funded using public money. [187545]

Mr. Milburn: The Strategy Unit took forward a study on high-harm-causing drugs, working closely with the Home Office and other key Departments. The study
 
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reviewed the impact of interventions on the drug supply chain from international production to distribution within the UK.

The Strategy Unit undertakes a range of public and private work. The total budget for the Unit for the last financial year (2003–04) was £4.7 million.

The Government's National Drug Strategy and a press notice are available on the Home Office website at www.drugs.gov.uk/ReportsandPublications/NationalStrategy/1038840683

Public Shareholdings

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on her Department's authority over the Government's public shareholder interests. [189074]

Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.

While my Department has no direct authority over all of the Government's public shareholder interests, the Shareholder Executive, now located in the DTI, was set up last year as a small cross-cutting team with the remit to improve fundamentally the professionalism of Departments in exercising their shareholder roles. Its Chief Executive reports directly to the Cabinet Secretary in relation to this role. The Shareholder Executive discharges its responsibility by providing advice to a range of Departments on their shareholdings and by being directly responsible for a number of other shareholdings. Specifically, it reports to me on the DTI's shareholder role in relation to Royal Mail, BNFL, UKAEA and ECGD, to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in respect of Partnerships-UK and Royal Mint (once the current review of the Mint is completed) and to the Secretary of State for International Development on Actis.

Strategy Unit

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many projects undertaken by the Strategy Unit since its creation have had a direct impact on (a) the Bridgwater parliamentary constituency and (b) the South West; and what assessment he has made of their effect on those areas. [186539]

Mr. Milburn: The Strategy Unit carries out a range of functions including:

long-term strategic reviews of major areas of policy;

studies of cross-cutting policy issues;

working with Departments to promote strategic thinking and improve policy-making across Whitehall; and

work to improve the quality and standards of Government social research.

A full list of the unit's projects is available on its website at www.strategy.gov.uk.

No assessment of the regional impact of the unit's work has been carried out.
 
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DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers (Escorts)

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of escorts the two proposed aircraft carriers will require. [188799]

Mr. Ingram: The level of escort required by aircraft carriers is dependent upon the environment in which it is operating, although routinely such ships operate as part of a Task Group. Current surface escort ships include Type 42 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers and Type 22 and 23 Frigates. The capability currently provided by Type 42 will be enhanced by the introduction of the Type 45 destroyer, equipped with the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS).

Armed Forces Staffing Levels

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the UK armed forces full-time strength (a) numbers and (b) requirements are for each of the three forces. [189803]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 3:UK Armed Forces Strengths and Requirements.

This is available in the House of Commons Library and is updated on a monthly basis.

TSP 3 for 1 August 2004 was published on 14 September 2004. The 1 September 2004 issue is due for publication between 29 September and 13 October.

AWE Aldermaston

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what environmental impact assessment has been conducted on the planned hydrodynamics explosives testing facility at AWE Aldermaston; and what his estimate is of the cost of the facility. [189341]

Mr. Ingram: A number of options for such a facility are still under consideration and mature costings are therefore not available. Environmental impact is one of a range of issues that will be addressed in the normal way as our plans develop.

Chinook ZD576

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who defined the terms of reference of the RAF Board of Inquiry into the aircraft accident of Chinook ZD576 on 2 June 1994; and who advised the President of the Board of Inquiry of the terms of reference. [189324]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 September 2004]: The Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, as the convening Officer, with advice from No. 1 Group Flight Safety Staff, drafted the Terms of Reference. The Board, including the President, were then given a brief by the Air Officer Commanding 1Gp on their Terms of Reference before starting the Board of Inquiry.

Civil Emergencies

Mr. Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely impact of proposed changes in defence spending on resources available to respond to UK civil emergencies. [189499]

 
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Mr. Ingram: Our White Paper "Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities" made clear our continued commitment to supporting the civil authorities charged with the safety and security in the United Kingdom, both through routine tasks and our preparedness to support them in a time of crisis. The changes we have announced, underpinned by the increases in defence spending provided in the 2004 Spending Review, will make our armed forces even more flexible and adaptable.

Civil Service (Job Losses)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which services within his Department will be (a) affected by and (b) subject to job losses consequent on the cuts in the civil service announced in the Spending Review. [189640]

Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1659W, by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Coastal Protection (Northern Ireland)

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on security of his decision to decommission three coastal protection vessels in Northern Ireland. [187419]

Mr. Ingram: The decision to withdraw from service by April 2007 the three hunt-class patrol vessels from Northern Ireland coastal waters reflected the Chief Constable's and General Officer Commanding's assessment of the improved security situation in Northern Ireland.

Colchester Garrison

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the sale of family accommodation and land at Colchester Garrison to Annington Homes included provision for Annington to share with the Government the proceeds of future sales to others; and if he will make a statement; [187992]

(2) how many units of family accommodation at Colchester Garrison were sold to Annington Homes; [187993]

(3) what the average price per dwelling received was from the sale of family accommodation at Colchester Garrison to Annington Homes. [187994]

Mr. Caplin: Under the terms of the 1996 Sale Agreement the Exchequer benefits from a Profit Share arrangement following subsequent disposal by Annington Homes Ltd. of surplus houses handed back by the Ministry of Defence. This arrangement applies for the first 15 years following the 1996 sale and is based on a sliding percentage of the profit made by the Company after allowable overheads have been deducted. To date the Exchequer has received approximately £100 million under this arrangement.

1,400 properties in the Colchester area were included in the 1996 sale and leaseback agreement with Annington Homes Ltd. The average price received for all properties included in the 1996 arrangement with Annington Homes Ltd was in the region of £29,000.
 
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