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19 Dec 2005 : Column 2331W—continued
Toucan Telecom
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Ofcom on complaints about telephone sales by representatives of Toucan Telecom. [37735]
Alun Michael:
It is the responsibility of the regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to deal with such complaints. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member and to send me a copy of his letter. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the Houses.
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Trade Liberalisation
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is on trade liberalisation affecting developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [37500]
Ian Pearson: The Government believe that it is for developing countries to make their own decisions on the timing, pace, sequencing and product coverage of any trade liberalisation in line with their own national development plans and poverty reduction strategies.
UK Oil Supplies
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which countries import oil from the UK's surplus; and what proportion was imported by each country in 2004–05. [36850]
Malcolm Wicks: The table shows exports of UK crude oil split by country of destination (from which it may be transhipped elsewhere) for 2004.
Total crude oil exports from the UK in 2004 were 59½ million tonnes, with four countries (the USA, the Netherlands, Germany and France) accounting for 81 per cent. of UK crude oil exports.
Source:
Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2005 Annex F table F.4 (internet only).
Working Time Directive
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government expressed the view that the opt-out from the Working Time directive (a) should be regarded as an exception and (b) should eventually be made redundant at the last meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement. [38020]
Mr. Sutcliffe
[holding answer 15 December 2005]: At the Employment Council on 8 December, the Government expressed the view that the opt-out was an essential part of the Directive and that a choice to work longer hours must continue to be made available to workers. The Government did not agree that the opt-out should be phased out. Although some member states continue to believe that it should be severely limited or removed, this view did not gain majority support in the Employment Council.
19 Dec 2005 : Column 2333W
DEFENCE
Armed Forces
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have been (a) injured and (b) killed whilst performing temporary firefighting duties in each of the last 10 years. [37962]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces are serving abroad, broken down by location. [30407]
Mr. Ingram: Data collected manually from operational records show that as at 7 December 2005 the number of armed forces personnel deployed and in country on that day were:
(7)Due to the rounding method used, figures may not always equal the sum of the parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five are rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.
(8)Denotes less than 10.
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British armed forces personnel are deployed on (a) expeditionary operations abroad, broken down by country, and (b) in Northern Ireland. [35329]
Mr. Ingram: Data collected manually from operational records show that as at 7 December 2005 the number of armed forces personnel deployed and in country on that day were as follows.
(9)Due to the rounding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of the parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.
(10)Indicates less than 10.
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As at 30 November 2005 there were 9,790 service personnel in Northern Ireland. This figure includes 3,150 members of the Royal Irish Regiment.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits to the UK armed forces since 1997 were from Coventry South; and if he will make a statement. [37888]
Mr. Touhig: This information is not held centrally and cannot be collated without incurring disproportionate cost.
Army Prosecuting Authority
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, columns 2201–2W, on the Army Prosecuting Authority, (1) what the reasons were for the delay in carrying out further investigations in the case concerned; [36128]
(2) if he will make a statement on the case in which investigations have now been completed. [36064]
Mr. Ingram: As the case referred to is subject to legal proceedings it would be not be appropriate for me to comment further.
Army Uniforms
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the quality of army uniforms in each of the last three years. [38264]
Mr. Ingram: I and my ministerial colleagues have received a number of representations, either direct or through Parliament, regarding the provision of garments and clothing during the last three years. These letters have been related, in particular, to the contract award for Cut and Sew Garments and have included representations on the quality of army uniforms. Delivery of garments under the Cut and Sew contract continues to meet quality standards.
Atomic Weapons Establishment
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the balance sheet value of the Atomic Weapons Establishment was on 31 March; what the (a) carrying charge and (b) applicable depreciation for that establishment is in the 2005–06 financial year; and if he will make a statement. [37636]
19 Dec 2005 : Column 2335W
John Reid: As at 31 March 2005, the Gross Book Value of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Balance Sheet was £599.8 million and the associated carrying depreciation was £86.7 million, resulting in a Net Book Value of £513.1 million. The projected in year depreciation to 31 March 2006, is £26.2 million.
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