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Visually Impaired

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what recent discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on the needs of the blind and the visually impaired; [198251]

(2) if she will make it her policy to ensure that Ofcom consults widely with the visually impaired. [198252]

Estelle Morris: The Department is in contact with Ofcom on these issues as necessary.

In particular, we recently asked Ofcom to review the statutory target for audio description on television and consider whether the 10 per cent. target should be raised. It will be doing this as part of the first review of the code setting out the requirements on broadcasters.

In drawing up this code, Ofcom has a specific statutory obligation to consult those representing the interests of persons who are blind or partially sighted.

More generally, Ofcom has statutory duties to establish and maintain effective arrangements for consultation; to have regard to the needs of persons with disabilities; to include among appointees to the Consumer Panel persons who are able to give informed advice about the interests of persons with disabilities; and to establish an advisory committee on elderly and disabled persons.
 
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DEFENCE

Defence Industry Jobs

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs in the UK are (a) directly and (b) indirectly dependent on the UK defence industry, broken down by constituency. [198037]

Mr. Ingram: The latest estimate is that in 2002–03 there were 165,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the United Kingdom in those companies that receive contracts directly from the Ministry of Defence or for defence exports dependent on those contracts, and 140,000 indirectly dependent in the supply chain. More detailed figures separating those involved with employment on MOD equipment, MOD non-equipment, and defence exports are produced by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) in Table 1.9, UK Defence Statistics 2004: this is available in the Library of the House. Figures are not available broken down by constituency and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers, excluding the Royal Irish Regiment, are serving in Northern Ireland. [198513]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 November 2004]: The number of Army personnel, excluding from the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service), stationed in Northern Ireland at the 30 September 2004 was 6,710.

The GOC NI also has under his command troops that are rear based in Great Britain that can be called forward to the Province as and when required. In addition, other troops can be made available to the GOC NI from Land Command if required, for example, during the marching season.

Redress Procedures

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with respect to (a) the Army, (b) the Naval Service and (c) the Royal Air Force how many personnel have initiated redress procedures since 1997; and in how many cases in (i) the Army, (ii) the Naval Service and (iii) the Royal Air Force the complainant has been successful. [198038]

Mr. Caplin: Information is not held in the form requested. The Services only maintain centrally statistics for the number of complaints considered by their Service Board. The Naval Service considered 50 complaints between 2001 and 2003, of which seven were upheld and three were partially upheld. The Army considered 197 complaints between 1999 and 2003, of which 49 were upheld and 14 were partially upheld. The
 
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RAF considered 349 complaints between 1997 and 2003 (230 of which arose in 2002 concerning the introduction of Pay 2000) and upheld 16; eight were partially upheld.

Royal Irish Regiment

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time soldiers are serving with each of the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment. [198512]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 November 2004]: As at 1 October 2004 the number of part-time and full-time trained officers and soldiers serving with the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment was:

	(a) Part-time	(b) Full-time
2nd Royal Irish Battalion	410	570
3rd Royal Irish Battalion	390	590
4th Royal Irish Battalion	440	540

Note:
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

In addition to those personnel serving in the Home Service (HS) Battalions, there are less than 10 part-time and 380 full-time Royal Irish personnel serving with other units in Northern Ireland.

2–4-5-T

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from former servicemen who served in Malaysia concerning the long-term health effects of exposure to chemical 2–4-5-T; and if he will make a statement. [181167]

Mr. Caplin: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

40 Commando

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much notice 40 Commando would need to be deployed to the US controlled zone in Iraq. [193883]

Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Advisers/Consultants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on (a) external consultants and (b) special advisers in each of the last three years. [172514]

Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces (Costs)

Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) personnel and (b) equipment and maintenance costs of (i) an Armoured Infantry (Warrior) Battalion, (ii) an Airportable Infantry Battalion, (iii) a
 
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Parachute Regiment Battalion and (iv) a Gurkha Regiment Battalion were in the last period for which figures are available. [198987]

Mr. Ingram: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected costs between 2008 and 2013 are of a (a) Heavy (Warrior) Battalion, with high-tech upgrade, (b) Medium (FRES) Battalion, with heavy-lift aircraft capability and (c) Light (Airportable) Battalion, with high-tech network-capable upgrade. [198988]

Mr. Ingram: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Mr. Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate the Department has made of the financial effects of the proposed restructuring process between 2008 and 2013. [198989]

Mr. Ingram: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Armed Forces (Procurement)

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on planned procurement for the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy. [191742]

Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Armed Services (Voter Registration)

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are registered to vote. [196096]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 8 November 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 November 2004, Official Report, column 374W, to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie).

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