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Recruitment (Fiji)

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Fijian citizens have been recruited by the British armed forces since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [30931]

Mr. Ingram: The number of Fijian nationals recruited by the United Kingdom regular Army from civilian life between 1 January 1997 and 30 September 2005 is 2,125.

Historic nationality data for the naval service and the RAF cannot be provided as data are not centrally held in individual records.

Security/Defence Review

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake a comprehensive security and defence review; and if he will discuss with the Foreign Secretary linking such a review with a review of foreign policy. [32348]

John Reid: The Ministry of Defence routinely reviews long term security and defence policy and does so in consultation with the Foreign Commonwealth Office and other Government Departments.

Skyguard Survey

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the results of the Skyguard survey in the Cwmifor area. [32266]

Mr. Touhig: The Defence Flying Complaints Investigation Team (DFCIT) are tasked to carry out covert monitoring operations using a Skyguard radar system to monitor low flying military activity. The DFCIT has not released the outcome of the Skyguard survey for the Cwmifor area at present, as the results are still being analysed. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the results are available and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
 
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Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Territorial Army Infantry private soldiers available for Operation Telic 7 on 1 June remained available following the deployment, broken down by regiment. [29535]

Mr. Touhig: This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Trident

Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the Trident missile system in 2004–05. [30330]

John Reid: In 2004–05, the capital and operating costs of the Trident nuclear deterrent, including the costs for the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, were just under 4 per cent. of the Defence budget.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has undertaken on a possible replacement for the UK's Trident nuclear missile capability; whether information from the studies will be placed in the public domain; and if he will make a statement. [31629]

John Reid: Initial preparatory work is being undertaken by officials on possible options for any replacement of the UK's nuclear deterrent capability. However, while decisions are likely to be necessary in the current Parliament, they are still some way off and Ministers have not yet begun to consider the position on this issue in any detail. It is therefore premature to speculate on the range of options that might be available and when and how we might place additional information in the public domain.

Vanguard Submarines

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) changed operational practices of the Vanguard type submarines and (b) changed strategic circumstances in which they are deployed. [32354]

John Reid: The operational posture of Vanguard-class submarines, including a reduced day-to-day alert state with a reduced load of warheads, detargeted missiles and a normal 'notice to fire' of several days, was set out in the 1998 strategic defence review. This posture remains appropriate to the strategic environment.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

1911 Census

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2005, Official Report, column 6W, what the (a) statutory and (b) other basis is for the 100-year census closure policy. [30155]

Ms Harman: Requests to view information contained in the 1911 census returns are considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. So far it has not been
 
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possible to grant any requests received because they have all been covered by the S.41 exemption relating to breach of confidence.

The Government believe that a closure period of 100 years strikes the correct balance between the right of citizens to have information about themselves kept confidential and the rights of family historians and other researchers to have access to that information.

Since 1981 explicit assurances have been given on census forms that the returns will be kept confidential for 100 years. Opening the 1911 census before 100 years have elapsed could undermine public confidence in those assurances.

Asylum Law Provision

Mr. McGovern: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many legal providers have gained accreditation to operate in the field of asylum law since April 2004 in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Dundee. [32717]

Bridget Prentice: The Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme was introduced in April 2004 in England and Wales. As at 24 November 2005 there were 1,555 accredited caseworkers including 22 caseworkers registered with suppliers in Wales. Legal aid is a devolved matter but I understand that while the Law Society of Scotland operates an accreditation scheme in various types of law this does not cover immigration and asylum law. I understand the Law Society of Scotland's records show that there are 112 firms that provide a service in immigration and nationality law, four of which are based in Dundee.

Mr. McGovern: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many asylum cases have been undertaken by lawyers who had (a) gained accreditation and (b) not gained accreditation since April 2004. [32730]

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission records claims by contracted supplier and not individual caseworker and therefore it is not possible to specify the number of cases undertaken by accredited caseworkers since 1 April 2004.

The Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme was introduced in April 2004 and was fully implemented in August 2005. Any contracted supplier who from 1 August uses non-accredited caseworkers to perform work on new cases in the immigration category is not eligible to claim for this work and contract sanctions may be enforced. The Legal Services Commission has terminated or is in the process of terminating the immigration contracts of suppliers who do not have the requisite accredited staff.

Compensation Claims

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance her Department has given local authorities on handling compensation claims. [29713]

Ms Harman: The Department has not issued any guidance to local authorities on handling compensation claims. We are coordinating a programme of work across Government to stop a compensation culture
 
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developing and to improve the compensation system for people with a valid claim. Part of that work involves encouraging defendants such as local authorities to resist bad claims. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is one of the Departments involved in this work.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 23 May from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (acknowledgement reference 184337–1) regarding Birmingham magistrates court. [32275]

Ms Harman: I am sorry that the hon. Member has not received a response to her letter. I have now sent a reply.

Courts Service Estate Review

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the (a) national, (b) regional and (c) area level reports published as part of the HM Courts Service National Estate Review. [31008]

Ms Harman: I am continuously reviewing the provision of court estate across England and Wales to see that it is satisfactory. There are no such published reports.

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has for the consultation process on the review of courts within South Wales, with particular reference to the Cabinet Office code of practice on consultation. [31009]

Ms Harman: I am continuously reviewing the provision of court estate across England and Wales. Should I propose a change to that provision that requires consultation, I shall carry out a consultation in full accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on consultation.

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