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27 Mar 2006 : Column 671W—continued
Executed Soldiers (Posthumous Pardons)
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the granting of posthumous pardons to soldiers of the First World War who were executed following conviction for cowardice, desertion, sleeping at posts, disobedience, throwing away arms and hitting a superior officer; and if he will make a statement. [60978]
Mr. Touhig: We continue to receive many representations on the subject of posthumous pardons for the soldiers who were executed during the First World War. This subject provokes powerful emotions, and there are strong and principled views on both sides of the question.
Interview Transcript
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the transcript or contemporaneous note taken of the interview given by officials of his Department reported on 20 March in the Afghan newspapers Outlook and Siyasat. [60937]
Mr. Ingram: Officials have been unable to locate copies of the articles referred to by the hon. Member. I will write to the hon. Member once they have done so and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
Iraq
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq. [61044]
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John Reid: While there has been an increase in sectarian violence, particularly in and around Baghdad following the bombing of the Golden Mosque, the majority of attacks remain confined to four out of Iraq's 18 provinces.
The UK's area of operation in MND(SE) remains relatively calm.
QinetiQ
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's special share in QinetiQ. [44153]
John Reid: I can confirm that in recent highly successful QinetiQ initial public offering, in addition to receiving proceeds of £347 million for the taxpayer and maintaining access to cutting-edge technology for our armed forces, the Government have retained a special share in QinetiQ to protect the defence or security interests of the UK.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's (a) long-term partnering agreement, (b) compliance regime agreement and (c) special shareholder agreement with QinetiQ. [47267]
John Reid: The Ministry of Defence's long-term partnering agreement, compliance regime agreement and special shareholder agreement with QinetiQ are commercially confidential agreements and I am therefore unable to place copies in the Library. However, a detailed summary of the key aspects of these agreements appeared on pages 287–292, 54 and 244–247 respectively of the QinetiQ prospectus, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 26 January 2006.
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list strategic assets which QinetiQ must retain and maintain under the principal agreement with his Department. [47270]
John Reid: The list of strategic assets in the principal agreement is updated from time to time to reflect the requirements of MOD customers. The current list is shown in the following table. In addition, assets required for MOD programmes may be subject to further requirements covering maintenance and disposal and these would form part of the various individual contracts with customers.
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LEADER OF THE HOUSE
Correspondence
Mr. Bone: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring forward guidelines for Ministers on responding to written requests from hon. Members for meetings and information. [61610]
Mr. Hoon: Existing guidance emphasises that it is essential that MPs receive carefully considered and prompt responses to correspondence. Ministers will give proper consideration to any requests for a meeting with hon. Members and for information. It must however be a matter for judgment as to whether a meeting would be possible in the particular circumstances of each case and this is not something on which precise guidance can be given.
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