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25 Jan 2006 : Column 2131W—continued
Transport Aircraft
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's expenditure on RAF (a) tanker and (b) transport aircraft was in each financial year since 1996–97. [44170]
Mr. Ingram: A number of areas within the Department incur expenditure on the RAF's Air Refuelling (AR) and transport fleets. The financial information requested is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. The figures provided in the table are the logistic support costs of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) that can be directly attributed to the fixed wing aircraft fleets in the financial years for which costs are readily available.
The AR fleet is comprised of Tristar and the VC10aircraft. The transport aircraft are C-17, Hercules C-130J/K, Tristar, VC10, BAe 125 and BAe 146.
The table does not include contract lease costs for three commercially owned military registered Twin Squirrel helicopters, which are used in the VIP transport role, as these costs are commercially sensitive.
| Financial year | RAF's air refuelling (AR) | Transport aircraft(4) |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 58 | — |
| 1997–98 | 53 | — |
| 1998–99 | 53 | — |
| 1999–2000 | 45 | — |
| 2000–01 | 44 | — |
| 2001–02 | 41 | — |
| 2002–03 | 50 | 218 |
| 2003–04 | 47 | 229 |
| 2004–05 | 45 | 207 |
(4) These figures include the lease cost of the C-17 fleet which is managed by the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA). The value of the lease is commercial-in-confidence and is not identified separately.
Note:
DLO and DPA staff costs are not included.
25 Jan 2006 : Column 2132W
Troop Safety
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward legislation to make it a criminal offence for individuals (a) to place the safety of UK troops on active service in danger by their actions and (b) who question the reputation of British troops without basis. [45302]
Mr. Ingram: There is always a distinction to be drawn between the freedoms appropriate to a democracy and the abuse of those freedoms by an individual seeking to cause harm.
An individual who sought, deliberately and actively, to endanger the lives of UK troops may well be committing an offence under existing law, for example the Official Secrets Acts or the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The Government would not envisage bringing forward legislation to make it a criminal offence to question the reputation of British troops. However, the relevant laws in respect of defamation may apply.
Veteran's Badge
Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Midlothian residents (a) are eligible for and (b) have received a veteran's badge. [44885]
Mr. Touhig: It is not possible to say how many residents of Midlothian are eligible for the Veterans' Badge, as we do not know how many would fulfil the criteria. The badge was introduced in May 2004 and we cannot readily identify by postal area the location of badges issued in the initial year. However, since April 2005, 78 residents from Midlothian have received Veterans' Badges.
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to extend the Veterans' Badge to those who left the services recently. [44493]
Mr. Touhig: My predecessor announced on 20 January 2005, Official Report, columns 1039–1041, that from 1 February 2005, a Veteran's badge would be included as part of the Service leavers' packs, subject to certain conditions. One of these conditions was that this was to be a one-year trial. This trial will end shortly and work is under way to consider the way ahead.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Instant Justice Scheme
Keith Vaz: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps will be taken to protect (a) innocent people from conviction and (b) civil liberties under the proposed instant justice scheme; whether defendants will be able to seek independent legal advice before accepting a penalty; and whether they will have the option of going to court if they dispute the allegation made against them. [44843]
25 Jan 2006 : Column 2133W
The Solicitor-General: The Government's aim is to deliver a speedier, more proportionate and cost effective response to low level offending that better meets the needs of victims and the wider community. The proposals at this stage relate to extending the conditional caution scheme and dealing with some minor documentary motoring offences and TV licence cases administratively. The Government are at an early stage in considering whether there might be a role for a prosecutorial fine, as is currently the case in Scotland.
Under all our proposals the accused will still be able to consult a lawyer before deciding whether to accept the disposal proposed and go to court to dispute either the allegation or the suggested penalty.
CABINET OFFICE
Departmental Staff (Castle Point)
Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff employed by his Department live in Castle Point. [42810]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Cabinet Office figures are fewer than five and have been suppressed as disclosure could lead to identification of the people involved.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Correspondence
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will reply to the letter dated 23 August 2005 from the hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon, with regard to Mr. J. Moody. [44146]
James Purnell [holding answer 20 January 2006]: The hon. Member's letter was sent to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and the Regions and it was received in DCMS on 8 December 2005. I wrote to the hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon on 17 January 2006.
Departmental Estate
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what she has identified as the most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of her Department's estate. [44706]
Mr. Lammy: The Department has identified its most significant sustainable development issues in relation to the operation of its estate as the following:
Departmental Staff (Castle Point)
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff employed by her Department live in Castle Point. [42811]
25 Jan 2006 : Column 2134W
Mr. Lammy: There are no staff employed by DCMS who live in Castle Point.
Historic Sites
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2005, Official Report, column 955W, on historic sites, what the name and address is of each historic site in Hammersmith and Fulham that has (a) featured on this list, (b) been added to the list and (c) been removed from the list in the last five years. [45287]
Mr. Lammy: The following historic sites have featured every year on English Heritage's Building at Risk register for the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the last five years:
Those historic sites that have been added to the Register in the last five years are:
The Black Bull sculpture outside Ravenscroft Arms Public House, 257 King Street, Hammersmith, W6—in 2003
Other historic sites that have been removed from the Register in the last five years are:
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