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26 Jan 2006 : Column 2309W—continued
Sea Cadets
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding was provided to sea cadets in each year since 1997. [45685]
Mr. Touhig: Prior to financial year 1999–2000 records of funding to the Sea Cadet Association, and more recently to the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, the parent charitable organisation of the Sea Cadet Corps, are no longer held. Details of funding provided since then are as follows:
| Financial year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 6,448 |
| 2000–01 | 6,942 |
| 2001–02 | 7,879 |
| 2002–03 | 7,852 |
| 2003–04 | 7,996 |
| 2004–05 | 8,397 |
Figures for financial year 2005–06 are not yet available.
Smuggling (Mediterranean)
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with (a) EU and (b) NATO colleagues about the use of British naval ships to combat people and narcotic smuggling in the Mediterranean. [44227]
Mr. Ingram: Ministers have had no discussions within either the EU or NATO about the use of British naval ships to combat people and narcotic smuggling in the Mediterranean.
However, we are alive to this issue and RN ships transiting the Mediterranean are in contact with littoral states and will, as appropriate, pass intelligence relating to people suspected of engaging in unlawful activity to
26 Jan 2006 : Column 2310W
the anticipated country of destination. For example, in October 2005 the UK contributed a Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft on a short term basis to Operation NEPTUNE IV, a Greek-Italian operation to organise and perform counter illegal immigration operations in pre-defined sea areas and ports in the Mediterranean.
United States Military Assets
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the principal United States military assets in the United Kingdom; and where those assets are located. [45314]
Mr. Ingram: The locations of the principal United States military assets in the United Kingdom are:
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the contribution made by United States military assets based in the United Kingdom to (a) the overall military capability of NATO and (b) local economies. [45317]
Mr. Ingram: United States visiting force military assets stationed in the United Kingdom are potentially available, as necessary, in support of NATO missions. Any actual deployment will be undertaken on a case-by-case basis.
The US visiting force makes a significant contribution to the local economies, where they have a large presence, largely through the direct hire of labour and the award of contracts on, for example, construction projects as well as more routine servicing and maintenance works. It is difficult to gauge a precise figure in monetary terms although one study by the US Air Force Europe suggests that the overall benefit to the UK economy in 2004 was in the region of $1 billion.
War Pensions Committee
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time taken by a war pensions committee panel to report its findings once it has been convened is in the last period for which figures are available; and what the average time taken to act on the recommendation of such panels was in that period. [45224]
Mr. Touhig:
For the period April 2004 to March 2005 there were 11 panel cases heard by war pensions committees. The average time taken for a War Pension Committee (WPC) to report its findings was 26 working days. It then took the Veterans Agency an average 33 working days to act on those recommendations.
26 Jan 2006 : Column 2311W
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the age of claimants of war disability pensions is taken into account in the prioritising of the processing of such claims. [45225]
Mr. Touhig: The Veterans Agency client group consists primarily of the older world war two generation, with well over 60 per cent. being aged 70 or over. With such a high number of elderly pensioners cases are prioritised on a needs basis with terminally ill, cancer and far east prisoners of war cases being fast tracked. Other cases are dealt with as a matter of priority where individual circumstances of the case require it.
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
Commission for Equality and Human Rights
Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will ensure that the Commission for Equality and Human Rights will provide a regional network of local organisations to carry out anti-discrimination and racial equality work. [44100]
Meg Munn: The Government are committed to the Commission for Equality and Human Rights having an effective regional presence to help it better serve all parts of Britain. These regional arrangements, which we will develop through consultation in due course, will enable the CEHR to understand local and regional priorities, build networks and partnerships with local bodies, and deliver services that are relevant and appropriate. The CEHR will have powers to make grants to local organisations, including continuing support for the network of Racial Equality Councils and its anti-discrimination and local race equality work. The work of the RECs is an important foundation on which the new Commission will build. The Government have made clear that funding through the CEHR for the RECs will be maintained at current levels for the foreseeable future.
Senior Public Appointments
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the promotion of women to senior public appointments. [44052]
Meg Munn: I am pleased that the percentage of women in public appointments has risen from 32 per cent. in 1997 to 38 per cent. in 2004–05 but still below the Government target of 50 per cent.
I look forward to discussing how to continue with this important work once the post of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is filled.
SCOTLAND
Arbuthnott Commission
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Arbuthnott Commission on Boundary Differences and Voting Systems in Scotland will publish its report; and if he will make a statement. [44051]
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David Cairns: The Arbuthnott Commission published its report on Thursday 19 January. My right hon. Friend welcomed the report and said he would consider carefully the recommendations and respond in due course.
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) Executive agency for which his Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by his Department in each year since May 1997. [39071]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. Since that date, the Scotland Office has spent the following on external consultants and advisers:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | 5,465 |
| 2001–02 | 17,864 |
| 2002–03 | 10,720 |
| 2003–04 | 10,044 |
| 2004–05 | 2,817 |
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on advertising by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by his Department in each year since May 1997. [39073]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999; since that date, the Office has spent the following on advertising:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 26,861 |
| 2000–01 | 270,494 |
| 2001–02 | 186,564 |
| 2002–03 | 10,390 |
| 2003–04 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | 0 |
Most of the expenditure in 2000–01 and 2001–02 relates to electoral registration matters; since 2001, this has been the responsibility of the Electoral Commission.
The Boundary Commission for Scotland has spent the following on advertising:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | 107,349 |
| 2003–04 | 66,105 |
| 2004–05 | 0 |
26 Jan 2006 : Column 2313W
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by his Department for use in London headquarters in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each year. [39136]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not maintain a central record of electrical devices purchased. The information requested could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total administrative costs of his core Department were in the last period for which figures are available; and whether these are regarded as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses. [39830]
David Cairns: The total administration costs for the Scotland Office for 2005–06 is £4.789 million which is all regarded as identifiable.
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