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30 Jun 2005 : Column 1692W—continued
Official Residences
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to dispose of official residential properties. [6182]
Mr. Touhig [holding answer 27 June 2005]: There are currently 37 posts worldwide that attract Official Service Residences (OSRs) status as a result of hosting and entertainment duties. Although the number of posts attracting this status is kept under constant review, there are currently no plans to change the present number of posts attracting OSR status.
Two of the properties currently occupied by OSR status post holders have been identified for eventual disposal. The two post holders concerned would be transferred, if necessary, into alternative accommodation befitting the entitlement of the occupant and OSR status.
RAF (Staff Levels)
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the staff levels against targets are for RAF (a) aircrew, (b) weapons systems operators, (c) ground crew, (d) technicians and intelligence staff. [7890]
Mr. Ingram: As at 1 May 2005 the following staff levels (trained strength) against targets (requirement) were reported.
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
RAF Menwith Hill
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) US Army, (b) US Navy, (c) US Marines, (d) US Airforce, (e) US civilians and (f) US contractors are working at RAF Menwith Hill. [7813]
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Mr. Ingram: As of 1 June 2005 there were: 202 US Army personnel, 103 US Navy personnel, 34 US marines, 178 US Air Force personnel, 269 US Department of Defense civilians and 536 US contractors working at RAF Menwith Hill.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) GCHQ, (b) Ministry of Defence Police Agency, (c) Ministry of Defence Guarding Service, (d) Royal Air Force and (e) other UK personnel are working at RAF Menwith Hill. [7814]
Mr. Ingram: As of 1 June 2005 there were 125 Ministry of Defence Police Agency personnel, 33 Ministry of Defence Guarding Service personnel, one Royal Air Force Officer and 231 other UK personnel working at RAF Menwith Hill. I am withholding the number of GCHQ personnel working at RAF Menwith Hill in accordance with Government policy of not commenting on intelligence matters.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned expansion of facilities at RAF Menwith Hill. [7815]
Mr. Ingram: A master plan covering the long-term development of RAF Menwith Hill is in the process of being produced by a joint UK/US team at RAF Menwith Hill. In order to maintain the operational effectiveness of the station it will be necessary to improve some of the ageing infrastructure on the site. This may lead to the demolition of some older buildings and their replacement by expanded modern facilities that, wherever possible, will be more in keeping with the rural landscape. There are no plans to alter the station's current role and mission.
Royal Hospital Haslar
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on (a) maintenance and (b) capital costs at the Royal Hospital Haslar in 2003–04; and what the estimate is for each year to 2008. [7562]
Mr. Touhig: The expenditure details requested in respect of the Royal Hospital Haslar are as follows:
| Maintenance | Capital | |
|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 2.1 | 0.3 |
| 2004–05(43) | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| 2005–06(43) | 2.2 | 0.2 |
| 2006–07(43) | 2.2 | 0.2 |
| 2007–08(43) | 0 | 0 |
(43)Estimated
30 Jun 2005 : Column 1694W
The 2004–05 expenditure figures are shown as estimated because they are still subject to final audit by the National Audit Office. The estimate of nil expenditure for 2007–08 is due to the Ministry of Defence's planned withdrawal from management of the Royal Hospital Haslar site by 31 March 2007.
Work-related Stress
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation was paid to employees in each year; how many work days were lost due to work-related stress in each year; at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [7859]
Mr. Touhig: Ministry of Defence records on sickness absence for civilian employees do not distinguish between work related and non-work related stress. There are no centrally collated data recorded on work-related stress for Service personnel. The information requested on the number of cases, the numbers of days lost, and the cost of those working days due to work-related stress is not therefore available.
The compensation paid to MOD employees (service and civilian), for work- related stress, in each of the last three financial years was:
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 10,568 |
| 2003–04 | 61,594 |
| 2004–05 | 226,730 |
The MOD has over the last three years operated a stress policy laid down in Joint Service Publication 375. This publication can be found on the internet, at http://www.mod.uk/dsef/ohs/jsp375.htm. This policy is supplemented by procedures that were designed to assist with stress reduction when identified in an individual, these procedures are:
The MOD does not hold centrally records on the cost of take-up of the stress related procedures.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
A/AS Level Exams
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department has taken to reduce the assessment burden at A and AS level. [8474]
Jacqui Smith: As our white paper on the 14–19 reform states; we plan to move from 6 to 4-units of assessment for A level. This will reduce the assessment burden at advanced level by as much as a third and substantially reduce the cost on schools and colleges. This is purely about reducing assessment; there will be no reduction in A level content or standard.
We have also asked QCA to consider the burden of coursework in individual subjects and the cumulative effect across A level when they accredit new specifications.
Antisocial Behaviour
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what data on antisocial behaviour is collected by her Department relating to (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) colleges of further and higher education. [8359]
Jacqui Smith: The Department does not collect data from schools and colleges on antisocial behaviour. We do, however, collect data on exclusions from primary and secondary schools, although the numbers of exclusions do not necessarily reflect the levels of antisocial behaviour in schools. The last set of data on exclusions was published on 23 June and a copy of this publication is in the Library.
Ofsted report that in 2003/04 behaviour was satisfactory or better in 90 per cent. of secondary schools and 99 per cent. of primary schools.
The Department does not collect any data about antisocial behaviour from colleges of further and higher education.
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