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16 Mar 2006 : Column 2432W—continued
Gas Imports
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what increases in capacity to import gas are planned for winter 2006–07. [59147]
Malcolm Wicks: There are currently three import projects due to commission for winter 2006–07. The projects are: the new Langeled pipeline from Norway, a new interconnector between Great Britain and the Netherlands and a further upgrade to the existing Interconnector between Great Britain and Belgium. The three projects when fully operational are expected to increase Great Britain's maximum daily import capacity by 133 million cubic metres.
Military Equipment Exports
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has made an assessment of whether UK-owned companies are using foreign subsidiaries to export military equipment to countries which would not be approved for export under UK and EU regulations. [57423]
Malcolm Wicks: No. The Government controls exports from the UK and trafficking and brokering activities as specified in its export control legislation. Beyond this the Government does not control the activities of UK companies or their subsidiaries. Exports from other destinations are a matter for the governments of those destinations.
Post Offices
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many post offices in West Lancashire constituency receive rural support funding; [58432]
(2) what the value is of the subsidy his Department proposes to pay during the 2006–07 financial year to Post Offices Ltd. for the maintenance of (a) rural and (b) other post offices in West Lancashire. [58438]
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Barry Gardiner: The Government's annual funding of up to £150 million helps Post Office Ltd. to maintain non-commercial rural post offices. The funding supports the costs associated with maintaining the rural network, for example, fixed pay to sub-postmasters and cash distribution costs. It is not a fund that supports individual post offices and cannot be disaggregated by constituency.
Wave Power
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his Answer of 30 January 2006, Official Report, columns 113–4W, on wave power, what funding his Department has allocated for wave energy research and development projects in each year since 2000. [58335]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 14 March 2006]: The following table shows the amount spent on wave energy research and development projects in each year since 2000. The total is less than the amount endorsed (provided in the answer referred to in this question) as some projects are still ongoing and some have spent less than the amount allocated to them.
| Year in which invoices were paid | Spend (£) |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 184,452 |
| 2001 | 633,247 |
| 2002 | 688,983 |
| 2003 | 1,994,102 |
| 2004 | 666,891 |
| 2005 | 142,748 |
| 2006 | 150,595 |
| Total | 4,461,018 |
Wind Farms
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the applications for wind farm developments in Lancashire which have been submitted to his Department for decision. [57634]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 10 March 2006]: Only one at Scout Moor, near Rochdale and Rossendale, which was granted consent on 25 May 2005.
DEFENCE
Afghanistan
Mr. MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service men and women are serving in Afghanistan. [58094]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 14 March 2006]: As of 13 March 2006, there were just over 2,300 British service personnel serving in Afghanistan.
C130J Progamme
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the classified programme on C130J referred to in Chapter 18 of the Ministry of Defence's annual report and accounts was cancelled; what assessment has been made of the operational implications; and if he will make a statement. [52270]
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Mr. Ingram: This programme was cancelled in light of emerging costs and competing priorities. The impact on operations was assessed and steps were taken to provide the capability where appropriate.
Sudan
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether plans are in place to deploy British troops to Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [57713]
Mr. Ingram: Four British troops are currently deployed in support of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
One United Kingdom logistics specialist has been deployed, as an advisor, to the Joint Logistics Operation Centre, El Fashir in Darfur; one UK NATO officer has deployed and is fulfilling the liaison role between NATO and the African Union (AU); one UK NATO officer and one UK NATO non-commissioned officer have been deployed and are assisting with the coordination of strategic lift to AMIS.
At present, there are no plans to deploy any further military personnel to Darfur, however, any requests from the AU for additional support would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Decommissioning
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on capability of the recent decommissioning of (a) RFA Grey Rover and (b) HMS Spartan; and if he will make a statement. [57666]
Mr. Ingram: The rationale behind the reduction in the number of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and attack submarines was explained in the Defence White Paper on the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence White Paper: Future Capabilities (Command 04/72).
Dismounted Countermine Capability
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the UK's dismounted countermine capability requirement. [54343]
Mr. Ingram: The Dismounted Countermine Capability programme (DCMC) will provide dismounted personnel with an improved capability to locate and deal with anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. Progress is proceeding according to plan: an Invitation to tender was issued to four companies on 19 December 2005 with bids expected back for assessment on 10 March 2006. The programme is currently on course to meet its next major milestone, submission of a Main Gate Business Case in July 2006 seeking approval for demonstration and manufacture.
Drugs
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in each of the Services were subject to tests for illegal drug use in each quarter of each of the last five years. [58314]
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Mr. Touhig [holding answer 10 March 2006]: The number of personnel in the Army and the RAF who were subject to Compulsory Drug Tests (CDT) for illegal drug use in each quarter of each of the last five years are shown in the tables below (the figures in the case of the Army are correct within plus or minus 100). The breakdown by quarter is not available for the Royal Navy and totals are shown for each year only.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | U/K | U/K | U/K | U/K | 12892 |
| 2002 | U/K | U/K | U/K | U/K | 12901 |
| 2003 | U/K | U/K | U/K | U/K | 13803 |
| 2004 | U/K | U/K | U/K | U/K | 12192 |
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