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20 Apr 2006 : Column 769W—continued
Pensions
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to question 61540, on pension rights, what employment status members of the reserve forces are classed as having. [64084]
Mr. Touhig: Members of the reserve forces are part of the armed forces of the Crown and the power to maintain them is found in section 1 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. That Act provides a number of different forms of service which reservists may undertake. The conditions of service which reservists serve under reflect the form of service undertaken.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to advise relatives of deceased armed services personnel to seek independent legal advice before signing pensions contracts; and if he will make a statement. [64040]
Mr. Touhig: Dependants of deceased service personnel do not have to sign a pension contract to receive death benefits from the armed forces pension schemes. The benefits are paid in accordance with the terms of the appropriate pension scheme. The only requirement is for the dependant to confirm they are an eligible beneficiary and to sign a claim form to that effect. The Ministry of Defence already advises in its explanatory armed forces pension booklets that, if individuals require financial or legal advice regarding pension matters, they should seek independent advice.
Submarines (Astute Class)
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects Astute class submarines (a) HMS Ambush and (b) HMS Artful to come into service. [64245]
Mr. Ingram:
HMS Ambush is expected to enter service in 2010, and HMS Artful in 2012.
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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Renewable Energy
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what renewable energy projects his Department is supporting in developing countries. [62475]
Mr. Thomas: DFID is committed to increasing access to reliable and affordable energy as an essential catalyst for reducing poverty and increasing economic growth in developing countries. We agree that renewable energy has an increasingly important role to play in helping developing countries make progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
DFID is working with international networks such as the Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP) and the EU energy initiative (EUEI) to promote access to affordable energy services, drawing on the full menu of technology options, including renewable energy.
DFID has supported the creation of a new €220 million EU energy facility, which will invite calls for proposals later this year. This grant fund aims to improve access to reliable and affordable energy, especially in Africa, and is encouraging viable renewable energy proposals.
We are also encouraging the World Bank and other development partners to give renewable energy greater attention as part of their efforts to improve access to energy.
The World Bank is scaling up its financial support for renewable energy and energy efficiency and announced in December 2005, a rise to $299 million for the year to June 2005, compared to an average of $209 million per annum over the previous three years. These figures exclude large hydropower projects and exceed the commitment they made in 2004 to increase their renewable energy and energy efficiency investments by 20 per cent. per annum over the next five years. We very much welcome this increased investment by the World Bank on clean energy.
DFID has provided around £3.4 million for renewable energy research projects in the last eight years. This was spent on the development and promotion of renewable energy, especially for rural communities. It has included a wide range of technologies such as wind, small hydropower, solar and biomass.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution the UK is making towards the efforts to destroy landmines in Sri Lanka. [63116]
Mr. Thomas:
The United Kingdom is a major contributor to mine action in Sri Lanka. We have provided £1 million through the United Nations to support demining and mine awareness in conflict affected areas. A further £669,766 has been committed to two non governmental organisations (NGOs), the Mine Action Group and the HALO Trust, for mine action between 2004 and 2007.
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The programmes, together with those from the wider international community, have been successful. Deaths from mines have been largely eliminated, although there are still a small number of casualties each year, especially in the far north of Sri Lanka. Nevertheless the Government estimate that some 700,000 to 1,000,000 mines remain to be cleared.
Given the dependence upon mines in militarily significant areas, it will be many more years before Sri Lanka will be landmine free, and before the Government will feel able to sign the Ottawa Treaty. The Government of Sri Lanka is planning to create within the Sri Lankan army, a national capability to pursue mine action work after 2008. DFID will review progress during 2007 and, in the light of this, consider further support.
World Cup (Complimentary Tickets)
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many complimentary tickets his Department has received for games taking place at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. [63911]
LEADER OF THE HOUSE
Media Briefing
Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House under what circumstances Ministers are permitted to release material to media outlets in advance of a statement being made to Parliament, when the House is sitting. [63155]
Mr. Hoon: Paragraph 7.1 of the Ministerial Code makes it clear that
"When Parliament is in session, the most important announcements of Government policy should be made, in the first instance, in Parliament."
WORK AND PENSIONS
Financial Assistance Scheme
Jenny Willott:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average, (b) highest and (c) lowest payment made to individuals under the
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Financial Assistance Scheme has been; what the equivalent figures are for recipients living in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [64133]
Mr. Timms: The Financial Assistance Scheme will provide a qualifying member with assistance that will top up their scheme pension to a level broadly equivalent to 80 per cent. of their expected pension. Payments are subject to a de minimis level and a cap. Initial payments, when made, provide a top up to 60 per cent. of expected pension.
The following monthly payments have been made, before deduction of income tax.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| (a) average | 190.34 |
| (b) highest | 629.84 |
| (c) lowest | 50.08 |
The equivalent figures for recipients living in Wales are
| £ | |
|---|---|
| (a) average | 196.21 |
| (b) highest | 629.84 |
| (c) lowest | 50.08 |
Jobcentre Plus
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the (a) public, (b) private and (c) voluntary sector organisations which have contracts with Jobcentre Plus. [61415]
Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking if he will list the (a) public (b) private and (c) voluntary sector organisations which have contracts with Jobcentre Plus. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Information on contracts awarded prior to September 2005 is not broken down in the way in which you have requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, I am able to provide a list of organisations to which Jobcentre Plus has awarded contracts since September 2005, broken down by legal status, and this is set out in the attached table.
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