---

5 Apr 2005 : Column 1366W—continued

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Budget

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the planned (a) capital and (b) resource budget for his Department is for 2011–12. [223434]

Mr. Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary (Mr. Timms) on 4 April 2005, Official Report, column1170W.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Referendums

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what plans the Commission has made to investigate complaints about illegal donations or spending connected with the referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe that are made during (a) the regulated period and (b) the referendum period. [224683]

Mr. Viggers: By virtue of section 145 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA), the Electoral Commission has the general function of monitoring compliance with the restrictions and other
 
5 Apr 2005 : Column 1367W
 
requirements imposed by or by virtue of Part VII of PPERA in relation to referendums to which the Act applies.

The Commission informs me that it has in operation robust processes and procedures to undertake investigations into potential breaches of the regulatory requirements of the Act. It will apply these in relation to any referendum on the Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe as it would to any other referendum to which the provisions of Part VII of PPERA apply.

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether it is the Commission's assessment that it has adequate powers to prevent illegal donations or spending connected with the referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe during (a) the regulated period and (b) the referendum period. [224684]

Mr. Viggers: Although by virtue of section 145 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA), the Electoral Commission has the general function of monitoring compliance with the restrictions and other requirements imposed by or by virtue of PartVII of PPERA in relation to referendums to which the Act applies, this does not give the Commission power to intervene to prevent either donations or spending in connection with such referendums, including any referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

However, the Commission informs me that it has in operation robust processes and procedures to undertake investigations into alleged breaches of the regulatory requirements of PPERA, including those relating to referendums.

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what discussions regarding donations and expenditure the Commission plans to have with organisations that are permitted participants in the referendum on the EU Constitution which are funded by institutions of the European Union. [224685]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it will provide guidance for all organisations expressing interest in registering as permitted participants in any referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and further guidance for those which actually register.

In addition, the Commission intends to hold briefing sessions throughout the country to advise potential permitted participants in such a referendum on the relevant statutory requirements of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000, including those relating to donations and expenditure.

As I informed the hon. Member on 7 March 2005, Official Report, columns 1666–67W, The Electoral Commission has already indicated that it does not regard the European Commission as falling into any of the categories of organisation that are allowed to make donations to permitted participants in a referendum on the EU Constitution.
 
5 Apr 2005 : Column 1368W
 

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Fish Purchases

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many fish have been bought by the Refreshment Department in each year since 1997, broken down by species. [224008]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: I have written to the hon. Member.

DEFENCE

Arms Supplies

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department makes of the use in other countries of arms that have been supplied by UK manufacturers. [209549]

Mr. MacShane: I have been asked to reply.

The Government undertake monitoring in the recipient country of arms supplied by UK manufacturers when we believe that this would genuinely help to minimise the risk of diversion and where such monitoring is practical. In addition, UK overseas posts have standing instructions to report any misuse of UK-origin defence equipment. Evidence of misuse would be taken into account when the Government assesses any subsequent licence applications for the end-user. We may also, if appropriate, revoke related licences, and consider whether to prosecute if the Government believed that a criminal offence had been committed.

Army Discipline

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers, (b) non-commissioned officers and (c) private soldiers have been disciplined following the outcome of (i) an Army board decision, (ii) a divisional level decision and (iii) a unit level decision since 1997. [201830]

Mr. Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints considered under Army redress procedures have been made by (a) officers, (b) non-commissioned officers, (c) private soldiers and (d) untrained private soldiers since 1997. [201837]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not hold complete records dating back to 1997. However, during the period January 1999 to December 2004, our records indicate that 369 officers, 833 non-commissioned officers and 154 private soldiers applied for redress of complaint.

Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter dated 23 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Alan Green. [224360]

 
5 Apr 2005 : Column 1369W
 

Mr. Hoon: I replied to the right hon. Member on 24 March.

Deaths in Service

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps were taken by his Department to ensure that the next of kin of Sergeant Paul Connolly were informed prior to the public announcement of his death in Iraq on 26 December 2004. [224480]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 4 April 2005]: It is Ministry of Defence policy to release the names of deceased personnel after the Next of Kin and nominated Emergency Contacts (if different) have been notified: the Next of Kin and/or the Emergency Contacts may request a further delay to enable them to inform other family members. Wherever possible, such a request will be honoured. Sergeant Connolly's nominated Emergency Contact was informed on 27 December; the formal public announcement of his death followed on 30 December.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from his United States counterpart in respect of the number of Iraqi citizens being detained by the United States military authorities in Iraq in connection with alleged offences connected with weapons of mass destruction. [216005]

Mr. Hoon: I do not routinely receive information from other coalition partners regarding the details of those being detained by them, nor information about the specific offences for which individuals are being detained/interned.

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which soldiers who have served and been injured in the recent Iraqi conflict live in the constituency of Mid Bedfordshire. [210785]

Mr. Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

---