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13 Jul 2005 : Column 1072W—continued
Crime
13. Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to reduce crime and the fear of crime in Northern Ireland. [10665]
14. Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to reduce crime and the fear of crime in Northern Ireland. [10666]
Mr. Hanson: Reducing crime and the fear of crime in Northern Ireland is a key Government priority. Through partnership working involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland, other agencies and local communities, recorded crime decreased last year by 7.7 per cent.
The Government have a co-ordinated approach to reducing crime, the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour. In June I was pleased to announce an additional £9 million to support the Community Safety Partnership.
Paramilitaries
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland regarding ceasefires, weaponry and structures. [10663]
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Mr. Hanson: The Government are determined that paramilitary crime will come to an end. Together with the law enforcement agencies, we will ensure that measures are taken aimed at bringing that about.
But we must also continue to provide a way out of paramilitarism into normal politics for those who wish to take it.
Taxis
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Department has spent on taxis in each of the last five years. [6499]
Angela E. Smith: The 11 Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have been unable to provide the information requested, as it is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Teachers
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce fair employment monitoring of teachers in Northern Ireland. [11370]
Angela E. Smith: There is no requirement in the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to monitor teachers.
Under Article 71 of the legislation the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has a duty to keep under review the exemption of teachers and, in December 2004, it published the results of an Investigation Report. In it the commission recommended that teachers should be included in the monitoring and review requirements of the Order.
The commission's recommendations will be considered in the context of developing policy in the single Equality Bill for Northern Ireland.
PRIME MINISTER
Antisocial Behaviour Committee
Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to disclose to hon. Members a summary of proceedings of the Ministerial Committee on Antisocial Behaviour of the Cabinet. [9218]
The Prime Minister: The proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committee meetings are not generally disclosed, in order to ensure the protection of information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
Business Appointments
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister whether any (a) Minister and (b) civil servant has failed to follow the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. [11862]
The Prime Minister:
Information relating to Ministers and civil servants whose applications are required to be submitted to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is set out in the Advisory Committee's
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annual report. Copies of these reports are in the Libraries of the House. The annual report for 2004–05 will be published shortly.
Ministerial Residences
Chris Huhne: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers of the Crown have (a) one, (b) two and (c) three or more residences consequent on his or her office. [11037]
The Prime Minister: The flats above numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street have traditionally been the residences of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The flats in Admiralty House and the Government House in Pimlico, which in the past have been assigned to a variety of Ministers, are currently occupied by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Leader of the House of Commons and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
In addition, I have the use of Chequers, the Foreign Secretary has the use of Chevening and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Deputy Prime Minister have the use of Dorneywood. Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office have the use of accommodation in Hillsborough Castle and Stormont.
Swill Feed
Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the items of correspondence between the Prime Minister's Unit and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during March 2001 relating to the ban in 2001 on the feeding of swill. [10706]
The Prime Minister: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
DEFENCE
Aircraft Carriers
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the French Government in connection with the Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers. [8628]
Mr. Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and the other Defence Ministers routinely meet with their French opposite numbers and the United Kingdom's Future Aircraft Carrier programme has frequently been discussed in that context.
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) where the Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers will be built; [8629]
(2) if he will ensure that the Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers are built in the UK. [8626]
Mr. Ingram:
It is Government policy to construct Royal Navy warships in the UK. Given that both we and France are embarking on major, complex carrier procurement projects, we are examining areas of mutual benefit and opportunities to deliver economies. Co-operation through industry-to-industry links may offer
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potential benefits to both sides and we are running a joint study to assess what these could be. It is for industry to put forward proposals which will be judged on their merits and in light of national policies.
BAE Systems
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timescale is of each current contract with BAE Systems. [7617]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has some 1,100 contracts with BAE Systems. This figure excludes BAE subsidiary companies. It would incur disproportionate cost to provide details of the timescale of each contract.
Consultants
Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants. [7029]
Mr. Touhig: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey) on 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286.
Defence Export Services
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) Defence Industry Days and (b) overseas exhibitions at which the Defence Export Services Organisation (i) has organised and (ii) is organising a presence during 2005; and what the cost is in each case. [9334]
Mr. Ingram: Defence Industry Days do not give rise to significant costs to the Ministry of Defence because the costs, other than those incurred by Defence Export Services Organisation staff in attending, are borne by defence companies. Three such events have been held in 2005; in Spain on-board HMS Albion; in South Africa on-board HMS Portland; and in Trinidad and Tobago on-board HMS Liverpool.
The information requested in respect of overseas exhibitions is shown in the following table. The costs given are indicative, and based on readily identifiable information only.
(10) Below £50,000.
(11) Estimated costs (exhibitions are yet to be attended).
(12) £50,000 to £100,000.
(13) £100,000 to £150,000.
Consideration is still being given to possible further events which may be held later in the year.
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Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what commercial services the Defence Export Services Organisation provides to companies in relation to identifying potential agents in export markets. [10677]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 259W. Any information provided to UK companies by the Defence Export Services Organisation is concerned only with the selection of suitable agents. It is not our policy not to advise on agents' commission.
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