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16 Nov 2005 : Column 1242W—continued
Defence Transport and Movements Agency
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Defence Transport and Movements Agency (DTMA) annual report and accounts 2004–05, if he will make a statement on the DTMA's (a) in-year management control, (b) financial data and (c) short-term planning. [24599]
Mr. Ingram: The audit of the accounts by the National Audit Office has provided the assurance that the necessary controls are in place to ensure effective in-year management.
The Defence Transport and Movements Agency, along with other parts of the Ministry of Defence, is due shortly to receive a new forecasting and budgeting computer software package which is expected to improve the flow of financial data.
The short-term planning process challenges all areas of the MOD to produce robust and affordable forward expenditure plans. DTMA, like all parts of the Department has a continued responsibility to respond to requests for savings measures. A clearer picture is, however, now emerging on how the centrally imposed savings wedges referred to in the DTMA annual report and accounts might be absorbed within individual projects.
Incremental Companies (Army)
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incremental companies there are in the British Army; and to which units each Incremental Company is attached. [28981]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 15 November 2005]: There are three Incremental Companies in the British Army: Nijmegen Company, The Grenadier Guards; 7 Company, The Coldstream Guards; and F Company, The Scots Guards.
Iraq
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether British Army commanders serving in Basra recently asked for extra troops; and if he will make a statement; [22607]
(2) whether Lieutenant Colonel Henderson, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards in Basra, requested that Warrior armoured personnel carriers be made available; and if he will make a statement. [22606]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 28 October 2005]: British Army Commanders in Iraq recently requested that an element of the Theatre Reserve Battalion be deployed to Multi National Division (South East) and to this end, as I announced on 10 October to the House, an extra Company from the 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers, based in Cyprus, would deploy for a few weeks to assist in the rotation of 12 Mechanised and seven armoured brigades.
I am not aware of a specific request from Lieutenant Colonel Henderson, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, that Warrior Armoured
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personnel carriers be made available, but requests of this nature would in the first instance be discussed within the chain of command in theatre. However, the General Officer Commanding Multi National Division (South East) recently asked to retain a number of Warriors from 12 Mechanised Brigade. These have been made available to seven armoured brigade.
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Munitions
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces (a) guns and (b) other weapons have been recorded as (i) lost, (ii) stolen and (iii) missing in each year since 1997. [27613]
Mr. Touhig: The information requested is shown in the table:
(8) SMG—Sub-Machine Gun
(9) LMG—Light Machine Gun
(10) GPMG—General Purpose Machine Gun
No data is collated on 'missing' weapons. Instances of missing weapons are investigated promptly and then categorised as either 'lost' or 'stolen'.
Nuclear Waste (Storage)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total volume of nuclear waste produced and requiring storage by (a) his Department and (b) military installations was in each year since 1990, broken down by category of waste; whether the waste is in (i) temporary and (ii) permanent storage; and if he will make a statement. [27661]
Mr. Ingram: No central records are held on volumes of nuclear waste produced and requiring storage for each year since 1990. However, I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory 1 to which the Ministry of Defence contributes, and which provides periodic snapshots on radioactive waste stocks, including categories of waste, location and whether the waste is held in temporary or permanent storage. The inventory has previously been published in 1991,1994 and 1998, and a copy of the most recent inventory, for 2001, is available in the Library of the House. A new inventory, for 2004, is in preparation and is due to be published shortly. A copy will be placed in the Library.
1 The United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory is published at three or four yearly intervals by DEFRA and NIREX. The reports provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on waste as at 1 April of the title year. The Inventory includes information on the quantities, types and characteristics of waste.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Asian Earthquake
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of Government funding pledged for the Asia earthquake will be spent on education initiatives. [22065]
Mr. Thomas: There are no specific allocations earmarked for education within the £33 million committed to the relief effort. At present the priorities are to ensure that immediate relief needs such as shelter, water and sanitation and health are met.
The earthquake has caused extensive destruction to physical infrastructure. According to the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank Needs Assessment, most educational institution buildings have either been destroyed or rendered dangerous in the affected area. According to current estimates, 853 teachers and 18,095 students have died. As well as the terrible human cost, the financial cost of rebuilding the infrastructure is estimated to be US$335 million.
DFID will make a significant contribution towards the $5.2 billion estimated by the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank for reconstruction and the return of livelihoods to affected areas. An announcement will be made before the international donor conference in Islamabad on Saturday 19 November.
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of aid given to (a) the Pakistan Government and (b) aid agencies has been following the earthquake of 8 October; and if he will make a statement. [27011]
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Mr. Thomas: According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a total of US$1.44 billion (£828 million) has been pledged by the international community towards relief and reconstruction efforts following the earthquake on 8 October. Of these pledges, US$376 million (£216 million) has been committed. At this stage, it is not possible to accurately disaggregate the total aid allocations through each funding channel.
The UK has so far pledged £33 million of which £29.6 million has already been committed through UN agencies, international and national non-governmental organisations (NGO)s, the Red Cross movement and through direct actions including support to the NATO airbridge and UK helicopter deployment in Pakistan.
The following table presents a breakdown of UK Government spending as of 14 November. Further detail can be found in the regular situation reports available on the DFID website: www.dfid.gov.uk.
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