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Written Ministerial Statements
Tuesday 5 April 2005
TREASURY
UK Debt Management Office
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Timms): The UK Debt Management Office (DMO) has published its business plan for the year 2005–06, together with an updated executive agency framework document. Copies of both documents are available in the Libraries of both Houses and are accessible from the DMO's website: www.dmo.gov.uk.
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Ratification of Protocol Number 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. David Lammy): Her Majesty's Government ratified protocol 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms on 28 January 2005.
Protocol 14 is designed to maintain and improve the efficiency of the European Court of Human Rights for the long term, mainly in the light of the continuing increase in the workload of the Court, to ensure that the Court can continue to play its pre-eminent role in protecting human rights in Europe.
Judicial Appointments Commissioners
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Christopher Leslie): My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, has made the following written ministerial statement in the other place.
"I am pleased to announce that, with the agreement of the Lord Chief Justice, I have invited Sir Nigel Wicks to chair the panel to be appointed under the Constitutional Reform Act to select the members of the Judicial Appointments Commission. Sir Nigel, who has a distinguished record of public service including as a former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has kindly agreed to do so".
DEFENCE
Defence Transport and Movements Agency
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram):
Key targets have been set for the chief executive of DTMA for the financial year 2005–06.
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To achieve at least a "Satisfactory" rating in the provision of planning and delivery of transport and movements support to emerging operations, an increase in the tempo of existing operations or other requirements.
To achieve at least a "Satisfactory" rating in the planning and delivery of transport and movements support to enduring operations.
To meet customers' requirements as negotiated and agreed in customer supplier agreements (CSAs) to deliver:
(1) 98 per cent. (previously 97 per cent.) or more of agency transactions and services, however provided, to be within agreed time, quantity, quality and cost (TQQC) criteria.
(2) At least 94 per cent. (previously 92 per cent.) of transactions against each service to be within agreed TQQC criteria.
To reduce the average unit cost of output by 1 per cent. (previously 2 per cent.), on the actual unit cost achieved in 2004–05, in real terms.
New Call-out of Reservists for Operations in the Balkans
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon): A new call-out order has been made under section 56 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 so that reservists may continue to be called-out into permanent service to support military operations in the Balkans. The order will take effect from 4 April 2005.
At present, over 80 reservists are serving in the Balkans. They are providing a wide range of individual skills. We are most grateful for their continuing support to an important stabilisation operation.
Special Reconnaissance Regiment
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon):
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) New Chapter published in July 2002 stated that we planned to enhance and build upon the capabilities of UK special forces. As part of this programme, the "Special Reconnaissance Regiment" (SRR) will stand up on 6 April 2005. This regiment has been formed to meet a growing worldwide demand for special reconnaissance capability. Consistent with the SDR New Chapter, this regiment will provide improved support to expeditionary operations overseas and form part of the defence contribution to the Government's comprehensive strategy to counter international terrorism. The SRR will bring together personnel from existing capabilities and become the means of the further development of the capability. Due to the specialist nature of the unit, it will come under the command of the director special forces and be a part of the UK special forces group.
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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Ordnance Survey
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Yvette Cooper): Following ministerial approval of the business plan, the following performance targets have been set for Ordnance Survey in 2005–06:
Ordnance Survey will report externally against a set of agency performance monitors (APMs) as required of all executives agencies in Government:
To achieve an operating profit before interest and dividends of £5.8 million for the financial year 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006.
Some 99.6 per cent. of significant real world features are represented in the database within six months of completion.
To continuously improve the timeliness of the supply of our data to customers with a success rate not lower than 95 per cent.
To achieve an efficiency gain in our data collection activity averaging at least 5.5 per cent. per annum over the period April 2003 to March 2006.
To reduce carbon emissions from Ordnance Survey Headquarters by 26 per cent. against the base year of 2000–01.
To achieve an increase of at least 5 per cent. in business with customers transacted through our OS Options and OS Leisure Map shop e-channels.
These targets reflect Ordnance Survey's continuing commitment to customers, improved value for money for all of its stakeholders and commitment to Government policies.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Microbicide Development Programme
The Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn): I am pleased to announce the approval of additional DFID funding of up to £23.8 million to the Microbicide Development Programme (MDP). The MDP is co-ordinated by the UK Medical Research Council's clinical trials unit and Imperial College, London. This funding will enable the completion of a phase III clinical trial of one of the leading candidates for a microbicide protecting against HIV infection.
The potential benefits of an effective microbicide are very significant. Research has shown that an effective microbicide could prevent up to 2.5 million infections worldwide over three years. Microbicides, prepared in the form of a gel, provide a potential means for women to protective themselves against infection.
This investment is part of the Government's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world, as set out in "Taking Action" published in July 2004.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland Security Vetting Review
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Ian Pearson):
In December 2002, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced a review of security vetting arrangements in Northern Ireland, with the aim of ensuring that these were
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effective; proportionate; compliant with human rights and other statutory requirements; and in line with UK-wide best practice.
The review, which has involved representatives from Government Departments, the police and security agencies, and Government legal services, has now completed its detailed work. I have accepted its recommendations, which have improved security vetting procedures through the following significant changes:
an increased focus on risks and improved safeguards in vulnerable areas, enabling a major reduction in the number of posts requiring vetting on grounds of national security across government while improving, through better use of resources, the protective security of key areas; and
the introduction, now underway, of internal appeal processes for existing employees against the refusal or withdrawal of national security vetting clearances, to provide better transparency and fairness.
I believe that these are positive steps which will both promote confidence in the equality of opportunity afforded by Government employment, and improve the protections for and integrity of important Government activities and public services.
The Government attach particular importance to addressing all aspects of protective security. Work to drive the changes forward will continue. It is essential that in Northern Ireland, as in the UK as a whole, sound protective security regimes are in place to protect vulnerable and critically important public functions and activities from the whole range of threats, including domestic and international terrorism.
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