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14 Nov 2005 : Column 901W—continued

Service Family Associations

21. Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings he has had with associations representing service families; [27286]

23. Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he has had recently with associations representing service families. [27288]

Mr. Touhig: I have had regular contact with Service Families Federations, most recently in the Families Forum in September, when I heard from and discussed with the chairs of the Families Federations many of the most compelling families issues. I am pleased to say that the representations of the federations on behalf of all service families form an integral part of our work for them.

Iraq

22. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what troop movements are anticipated in Iraq during the next three months. [27287]

 
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John Reid: The routine roulement of UK forces in Multi-National Division (South-East) (MND(SE)), began in October, and is due to complete by the end of November. The next routine roulement of UK forces is expected to take place in May 2006, and will be announced in due course.

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) Sea King, (b) Merlin and (c) Lynx helicopters are deployed to Iraq; and if he will make a statement; [23054]

(2) what the helicopter flying hours are for Multi-National Division South East for each month since May; and if he will make a statement; [23052]

(3) what proportion of British troop movements within Multi-National Division (South-East) in Iraq is conducted by (a) air and (b) road; and if he will make a statement. [23312]

John Reid: We currently have 20 helicopters in the Multi-National Division (South-East). For reasons of operational security we do not comment upon the exact breakdown of these aircraft by type, the flying hours for the Multi National Division (South-East) or on the proportion of British movements overall in MND (SE) that are conducted by air. Information on the proportion of British movements conducted by air and road is not held centrally. Priority for the allocation of helicopter use is an operational decision.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received evidence of involvement by the Mujaheddin for Islamic Revolution in Iraq in the death of British service personnel. [23950]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 1 November 2005]: The deaths of British forces in Iraq are investigated by the Special Investigations Branch. We do not disclose the detail of this work in order not to compromise any potential prosecutions. Where an evidential case can be built against individuals, appropriate measures will be taken, irrespective of their affiliation to any particular organisation.

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart regarding the future of the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr; and if he will make a statement. [27172]

Mr. Ingram: We hold regular discussions with our coalition partners, including the United States, about progress in Iraq. The Iraqi port authorities assumed responsibility for the ports at Umm Qasr North and Umm Qasr South in summer 2004 and, as such, decisions on the future of the ports will be a matter for the Iraqi authorities. The United Kingdom will continue, as part of our wider security sector reform work, to provide training to the Iraqi port security guards until they achieve the level of capability required to provide security themselves.

1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers

Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers from the 1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers have gone absent without leave in the past 12 months. [21527]

 
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Mr. Ingram: Unit records provide details of individuals who have been absent for a period of more than seven days. In the last 12 months, this information shows 18 soldiers from the 1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers recorded as absent without leave.

Advisory Bodies

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which the Government is required to (a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish their response to advice from. [27258]

Mr. Touhig: The MOD has no Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies (ANDPBs) which the Government are required to consult prior to legislative proposals being made.

The Government are required to publish their responses to recommendations made by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Government and ANDPBs are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; which of his Department's non-departmental public bodies (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will indicate in each case whether this is a statutory requirement. [27259]

Mr. Touhig: The MOD has no Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies (ANDPBs) with a statutory basis.

The situation in relation to the publication of advice and reports for each of MOD's 11 ANDPBs is set out as follows.

The Central Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors (ACCO).

Advice to the MOD is not published. Annual reports are available on request. They are not laid before Parliament. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

The Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures (AGMC).

Advice to the MOD is not published. Annual reports are published. They are not laid before Parliament. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

The Animal Welfare Advisory Group (AWAC).

Some AWAC advice to MOD is published in minutes of their meetings. Annual reports are published and laid before Parliament. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

The Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB).

The AFPRB publishes its advice to Government through an annual report which is laid before Parliament. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.
 
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Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions and War Pensions Committees.

Advice and reports to MOD are not published or laid before Parliament although general information on the activities of the War Pensions committees is published in the Veteran's Agency annual War Pensioner's Report. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

Dartmoor Steering Group (DSG).

There is no formal publication of the DSG's advice to MOD although it informs the strategic management of the Dartmoor Training area. An Annual Report is submitted to the Secretaries of State for Defence and the Environment and a copy laid in the House of Commons Library. This is a statutory requirement.

Defence Nuclear Safety Committee (DNSC).

Advice to MOD is not published. Annual reports are not published or laid before Parliament. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

Nuclear Research Advisory Committee (NRAC).

Advice to MOD is not published. Annual reports are not published or laid before Parliament. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

National Employers Advisory Board (NEAB).

Advice to MOD is not published. Annual reports are published and copies are placed in the Libraries of the House. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC).

Advice to MOD is not published. Annual reports are published. They are not laid before Parliament. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

Review Board for Government Contracts (RBGC).

The recommendations of the RGBC to MOD concerning the pricing of non competitive Government contracts are normally published. Such reports together with annual reports on running costs are placed in both Libraries of the House. There is no statutory requirement to publish advice or annual reports.

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation excercises, (c) conduct consultation excercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of member's interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether in each case this is a statutory requirement. [27260]

Mr. Touhig: Information on (a), (d) and (f) is published in the Cabinet Office's Public Bodies Directory at http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/ndpb

The remaining information requested for each of MOD's 11 Advisory Non Departmental Public Bodies (ANDPBs) is as follows.
 
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Central Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors (ACCO)

ACCO does not conduct public consultation exercises or consultation exercises with outside commercial interests. It does not publish agendas for meetings (it holds hearings that are listed in the building to hold the hearing). There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures (AGMC)

AGMC does not conduct public consultation exercises, consultation exercises with outside commercial interests or publish agendas. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC)

The AWAC does not conduct public consultation exercises, consultation exercises with outside commercial interests or publish agendas. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

The Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB)

The AFPRB does not conduct public consultation exercises. It may commission independent research from external consultants. It does not publish agendas for meetings. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions and War Pensions Committees

They do not conduct public consultation exercises, consultation exercises with outside commercial interests or publish agendas. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

Dartmoor Steering Group (DSG)

The DSG does not conduct public consultation exercises, consultation exercises with outside commercial interests or publish agendas for its annual meeting. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

Defence Nuclear Safety Committee (DNSC)

The DNSC does not conduct public consultation exercises, consultation exercises with outside commercial interests or agendas. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

Defence Scientific Advisory Committee (DSAC)

The DSAC does not conduct public consultation exercises, consultation exercises with outside commercial interests or publish agendas. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.
 
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National Employers Advisory Board (NEAB)

NEAB does not conduct public consultation exercises. Individual NEAB members may consult with outside agencies when forming their input to NEAB advice. It does not publish agendas for meetings. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

Nuclear Research Advisory Committee (NRAC)

The NRAC does not conduct public consultation exercises. Individual NEAB members may consult with outside agencies when forming their input to NEAB advice. It does not publish agendas for meetings. There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

Review Board for Government Contracts (RBGC)

The RBGC does not conduct public consultation exercises. During their periodic reviews of the profit, formula for non-competitive Government contracts the RBGC invites submissions from the Joint Review Board Advisory Committee (JRBAC). The JRBAC, a committee whose membership is drawn from UK defence contractors, acts under delegation from the Confederation of British Industry, to represent industry on review board matters. The Review Board may, in conducting its reviews, take account not only of submissions made by the Government or industry, but also any representations made to it by any person or body it wishes to consult. It does not publish agendas.

There is no statutory requirement to hold meetings, conduct consultation with the public or outside commercial interests, publish a register of members' interests or agendas and minutes.

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