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15 Jun 2005 : Column 446W—continued
Territorial Army
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength of the Territorial Army has been in each of the last 10 years. [3661]
Mr. Touhig [holding answer 13 June 2005]: The strength of the Territorial Army (TA) for the last 10 years is as follows:
| Dates | Strength |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 59,690 |
| 1996 | 57,260 |
| 1997 | 57,620 |
| 1998 | 56,980 |
| 1999 | 52,260 |
| 2000 | 44,840 |
| 2001 | 41,510 |
| 2002 | 40,900 |
| 2003 | 39,610 |
| 2004 | 38,320 |
| 2005 | 37,260 |
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The April 2005 figure is provisional and subject to revision.
Tracked Vehicles
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to phase out the S series of tracked vehicles. [3258]
Mr. Ingram: The S series of tracked vehicles comprises the following variants of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)): Scimitar, Sultan, Samson, Samaritan, Spartan, Striker, Sabre, Scorpion.
The CVR(T) fleet will be supported until its planned out of service date of 2014 when it is scheduled to be replaced by elements of the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) suite of vehicles and the Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle (CLV). The initial variants of FRES are due to be in service early in the next decade and the Panther is due to come into service in November 2007.
UK Energy Supplies
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and (b) others on the security of gas supplies to the UK which are imported from abroad. [3413]
Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not had any specific discussions with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry or others in regards to the security of gas supplies to the UK. Ministry of Defence officials continue to be engaged in DTI and FCO work on a range of energy security matters.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he made of requirements to protect UK access to pipelines and gas supplies in his decision to decommission the three Type-23 frigates; [3791]
15 Jun 2005 : Column 448W
(2) what the role of Type 23 destroyers is in the protection of UK energy supplies; if he will reverse the decision to decommission three of the fleet; and if he will make a statement. [3792]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence White Paper set out our analysis of the future security environment, of which one element was the potential for developments which could impact upon the security and stability of regions which contribute to global energy supplies.
The analysis of the future security environment formed the baseline against which the decision to rebalance and optimise the force structure was taken, including the decision to decommission three Type-23 frigates, as set out in Delivering Security in a Changing World, Future Capabilities" (Cm 6260).
The new force structure has been designed to meet the broad range of operational demands we might expect in the future, through a range of inherently flexible and adaptable capabilities.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Amnesty Papers
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey's constituent, Cesar Augusto Giraldo Gil and his daughter Francesca Zofia Wasik to receive notification of their amnesty papers. [4178]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 14 June 2005]: Mr. Gil has been asked to re-submit his application and I can assure my hon. Friend that when it is received it will receive prompt consideration.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were granted (a) indefinite leave to remain and (b) exceptional leave to remain in each of the last eight years. [2971]
Mr. McNulty: The latest available statistics on the number of people granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK and those granted exceptional leave to remain can be found in the table.
The latest published data on settlement in the United Kingdom are for 2003. Further information on immigration can be found in the Command Paper 'Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2003' (Cm6363), available from the Library and from the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/commandpubs1 .html. The 2004 edition is due to be published later this year.
(25) Information is on initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
(26) Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
(27) Humanitarian Protection (HP) and Discretionary Leave (DL) replaced Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR) from 1 April 2003.
(28) Cases decided under measured aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog criteria.
(29) Includes cases where asylum or exceptional leave has been granted under the backlog criteria,
(30) Provisional data.
15 Jun 2005 : Column 449W
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to meet the French Government to discuss the setting up in France of offices where applicants for asylum in the UK could make an application to British officials; and if he will make a statement. [3624]
Mr. McNulty: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has no plans to meet with the French Government to discuss the setting up in France of offices where applicants for asylum in the UK could make an application to British officials. It is accepted internationally that asylum seekers should seek asylum in the first safe country they reach. Where juxtaposed controls are in operation, it is clearly established in all instances that the host State should remain responsible for those claiming asylum at such controls, so that an asylum application made at the UK controls in France will be handled by the French authorities and vice versa.
Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to (a) Mr. Mohammed Kader Babakh, dated 24 March, (b) Mrs. Eva Fletcher, dated 7 April, (c) Mr. Sami Ullah, dated 7 April and (d) Mr. Angus Charles Mincher, dated 24 March. [189]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The information requested is as follows:
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters to his predecessor from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to (a) Mrs. Guy-Blackburn, dated 9 December 2004, (b) Mr. Jamal Mohammed Bin Omar, dated 7 February, (c) Azis Nicolae Bobric, dated 27 January and (d) Mr. Malik Arshad Mahmoud, dated 5 April. [191]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The information requested is as follows.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to (a) Mr. Mollan Orlando Bell, dated 29 March, (b) Vinleslav Cahalo, dated 30 March, (c) Mr. Anisuzzaman Milon, dated 4 April and (d) Mr. M. Osman Mohammoud, dated 14 February; [192]
(2) when he will answer the letter to him dated 29 March from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Mollan Orlando Bell. [2124]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The information requested is as follows.
(d) My hon. Friend the Minister for Race Equality, Community Policy and Civil Renewal wrote to my right hon. Friend on 24 February.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he will answer the letter to him dated 22 April from the right hon. Member forManchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Nisar Ahmed; [2123]
(2) when he will answer the letter dated 22 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Nisar Ahmo. [2630]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 9 June 2005.
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