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Torture-obtained Information

Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has used information obtained by the use of torture by another country since May 1997. [211634]

Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 413W.

Veterans' Appeals Panel

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to establish an appeals panel, independent of his Department, for veterans whose claims have been rejected by the Discretionary Award Panel and the Discretionary Award Appeals Panel; and if he will make a statement. [214286]

Mr. Caplin: Any claimant whose case has been rejected by the Ministry of Defence's Discretionary Award Appeals Panel has the right to appeal to the independent Pensions Ombudsman, and after that to the High Court on points of law. Under the new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, appeals against MOD decisions on attributable awards relating to deaths, injuries or illnesses which were caused on or after 6 April 2005, will be heard by the independent Pension Appeals Tribunal.

Wounded British Soldiers

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has visited wounded British soldiers in the UK in the last 24 months. [210195]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 24 January 2005]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 899W to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Wishart).

PRIME MINISTER

Arctic Convoys

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister what method was used to select the invitees to the reception to be held in Downing Street on 7 March in recognition of those who served on the Arctic Convoys during the Second World War; and if he will make a statement. [214284]

The Prime Minister: Representatives of the three main veterans' organisations associated with the wartime convoys to Northern Russia, namely the Russian Convoy Club, North Russia Club and the Merchant Navy Association, were invited to submit the names and addresses of veterans, including spouses/carers where required, who might be able and willing to attend the reception.
 
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Mr. Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to announce a decision on 7 March on whether to award a medal specific to those who served in the Arctic Convoys; and if he will make a statement. [214285]

The Prime Minister: Those who took part in the wartime convoys to Russia were honoured at the time with the Atlantic Star. This remains the position. However, the Government continue to consider this matter.

Committee on Standards in Public Life

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Prime Minister what the average cost of an inquiry by the Committee on Standards in Public Life has been in the last 12-month period for which figures are available. [213770]

The Prime Minister: The Committee on Standards in Public Life published its 10th report Getting the Balance Right: Implementing Standards of Conduct in Public Life" on 19 January 2005 copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The costs of the 10th inquiry are set out in the report. No other inquiries were undertaken by the committee in the last 12 months.

European Constitution

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2005, Official Report, column583W, on the European Constitution, (1) if he will list the stakeholders and their affiliation; if he will list the meetings held; on what documents the discussions have been based; and if he will place copies in the Library; [215291]

(2) if he will list the officials authorised to participate in such discussions; and whether Civil Service codes of conduct apply to such discussions. [215298]

The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to my answer of 31 January 2004, Official Report, column 583W. All meetings are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Freedom of Information

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will arrange for (a) a link to the publication scheme for his Office and (b) an email address for applications for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to be placed on his Office's website. [215354]

The Prime Minister: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. A link to the Cabinet Office's publication scheme is available on the No. 10 website. The email address for requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 can be found in the Cabinet Office's publication scheme.

Her Majesty the Queen

Mr. Webb: To ask the Prime Minister how often he meets Her Majesty the Queen; and when the last such meeting took place. [214449]

The Prime Minister: I meet Her Majesty the Queen at various functions and events. In addition, with the exception of those occasions when Her Majesty the
 
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Queen has not been in London or I have been abroad or in Northern Ireland, I have been received in audience on the usual weekly basis since May 1997.

Iraq

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made concerning the ill treatment of prisoners by Iraqi forces in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [213566]

The Prime Minister: The Government are engaged in a frequent dialogue with the Iraqi Government about the need to respect human rights. We are offering support to the Human Rights Ministry in Baghdad and through a team of prison officers and police experts in Basra to advise and mentor their Iraqi colleagues in better prison management in the South of Iraq.

My Special Representative on Human Rights in Iraq, my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), raised our concerns with the head of the Southern Iraq Office of the Ministry of Human Rights while she was in Basra on 1 February.

Lord Birt

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what reports and recommendations by Lord Birt in the course of his work in (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) as an adviser to him are available to hon. Members; [213468]

(2) if he will list the reports compiled for him by Lord Birt in each of the last four years; and in what policy areas he has been advised by him. [215365]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my noble Friend the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 February 2005, Official Report, House of Lords, c. WA53–54.

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister what grade of security clearance is accorded to Lord Birt; what secretarial and research backing he is given; and where his desk is located. [215401]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given my noble Friend the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 February 2005, Official Report, House of Lords, c. WA53–54.

Lord Birt has the appropriate level of security clearance to do his job.

Ministerial Visits

Pete Wishart: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has made an official visit to (a) an injured soldier and (b) bereaved families of soldiers. [214575]

The Prime Minister: I have visited members of the armed forces both in the United Kingdom and abroad, and have met injured personnel on these occasions.

I also met several bereaved families at the Remembrance Ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in October 2003. I express my deepest sympathy to all families who have lost loved ones, as well as my sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice made by those injured and killed in the course of duty.
 
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