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11 May 2006 : Column 478W—continued
University Degrees
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of jobs in the UK which will require a university degree in (a) 2015, (b) 2020 and (b) 2025. [65391]
Bill Rammell: The Institute of Employment Research and Cambridge Econometrics have recently published two sets of UK skill scenario projections, investigating skills profiles up to 2014(1) (commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council and the Sector Skills Development Agency), and separately up to 2020 (commissioned as part of the Leitch Review of Skills(2)).
These analyses suggest that between 2004 and 2014, just over 12 million jobs will need to be filled (through a combination of new employment growth and replacing workers leaving employment). We do not know exactly how many of these will need graduates, although around 6 million are expected to be in ‘managerial', ‘professional' or ‘associate professional' occupations (high-level jobs that are most likely to employ graduates).
The ‘baseline' projections(3) up to 2020, broadly using the same approach, suggest that around 18 million jobs will need to be filled, with around 9 million expected to be in these high-level occupations.
The research needs to be viewed as showing possible trends in the skills needs of the future workforce. The work makes assumptions about how past trends in occupational change will continue; about future macro-economic performance; and how business decision-making will react to changing skill profiles.
More detail is available in the individual reports. No projections up to 2025 have been conducted.
(1)Wilson et al (2006) Working Futures 2004-2014, IER/CE. (www.ssda.org.uk/ssda/Default.aspx?page=28).
(2)Wilson et al (2005) Alternative skills scenarios to 2020 for the UK economy, IER/CE, (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_ reviews/leitch_review/review_leitch_index.cfm).
(3)The ‘baseline' projections assume the historical rate of skills acquisition will remain relatively stable.
Defence
Afghanistan
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2006, Official Report, column 1183W, on Afghanistan, under what circumstances the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will provide support to the Government of Afghanistan's counter-narcotics operations; what support will be provided; and whether any particular types of support from ISAF have been ruled out. [69575]
Des Browne: ISAF forces may provide support to Government of Afghanistan-led counter-narcotic efforts in a number of ways set out in an annex to NATO's operational plan for the mission in Afghanistan. These include training of Afghan counter-narcotics personnel and the provision of intelligence. ISAF forces are not permitted to take direct, pre-planned action against the drugs trade, including eradication of opium poppy.
Counselling
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of servicemen and women who have visited an armed forces counsellor in each of the last 12 months. [69292]
Mr. Watson: The Ministry of Defence does not employ armed forces counsellors. Welfare support is provided by a variety of organisations—service, civilian and voluntary—in recognition of the uniqueness of service life. It would not be practicable to identify the number of individual visits to these organisations over the last 12 months but there is no doubt that they provide valued and well-used services.
Defence Cuts
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military (a) bases, (b) facilities and (c) installations where (i) closures and (ii) manning reductions are planned, broken down by parliamentary constituency; and if he will identify the constituency. [68499]
Mr. Watson: This information is not all held centrally or in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the facts have been assembled and collated and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Departmental Staff
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) EU foreign nationals and (b) non-EU foreign nationals have been employed in his Department in each of the last five years; what vetting procedures are in place for each category of staff; and whether these include liaison with foreign law enforcement agencies. [68019]
Mr. Watson: Data regarding how many EU foreign nationals that have been employed in the Department in each of the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In line with the statutory prohibition in the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act 1919, the Ministry of Defence is required to provide an annual return on the number of non-UK/EU/Commonwealth citizens (aliens) employed in the Department. The MOD employed non-UK/EU/Commonwealth citizens (aliens) for the period 2001-02 to 2004-05 as follows:
| Non-UK/EU/Commonwealth citizens employed in the MOD | |
| Number | |
| (1) Awaiting data |
The need for an individual to undergo national security vetting, and the level of vetting that is appropriate will depend on the particular post they are going to fill. All applicants undergo the same clearance process regardless of their nationality.
The range of checks that are required to be carried out are set out in the then Prime Minister's statement of 15 December 1994, Official Report, columns 764-66.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials from his Department are seconded to private companies, broken down by (a) grade and (b) private company; and what costs have been incurred by his Department as a result of the secondments. [69290]
Mr. Watson: There are currently 297 officials seconded from the Ministry of Defence. Records are not kept centrally on whether the secondments are to private companies (charities or other organisations)
and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Nor am I able to provide figures as to the costs involved as this information is also not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Disposal Contractors
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) barristers' chambers and (b) (i) Ministry of Defence and (ii) Treasury legal staff have been employed by the Government during the case of arbitration referred to on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1177W. [67840]
Mr. Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Fire Brigade Strike
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what conditions the Army provides back-up in the event of a fire brigade strike. [69480]
Mr. Watson: These conditions are outlined at paragraphs 3.26 and 3.27 of the Fire and Rescue Service Statutory National Framework 2006-08, laid before Parliament earlier this year and published on6 April 2006. The Government's White Paper, ‘Our Fire and Rescue Service', published in 2003, stated that
"it would be wrong for any party to proceed on the basis that the Armed Forces will be available in the event of industrial action" (Paragraph 7.23).
Military Deployment (Afghanistan)
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria will determine whether forces in Afghanistan will be subject to the provisions of (a) the law of armed conflict and (b) human rights legislation when fighting insurgents in the course of their current deployment. [69301]
Des Browne: UK forces deployed as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will operate at all times within the framework of applicable international and domestic law, including the Law of Armed Conflict.
RAF Hythe
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make representations to his United States counterparts to maintain the US Army Field Support Battalion at RAF Hythe (a) until existing work at the shipyard has been completed and (b) permanently. [68539]
Mr. Ingram: It was a US Government decision to withdraw the US army operations from RAF Hythe by 30 September 2006. Representations were made to the US ambassador in advance of the decision being made.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the United States army's presence in the United Kingdom is stationed at RAF Hythe. [68540]
Mr. Ingram: There are two United States army personnel stationed at RAF Hythe and this represents less than 1 per cent. of the total number of United States army personnel in the United Kingdom. In addition to the two US army personnel at RAF Hythe the US army also employs around 200 civilians at the facility.
Leader of the House
Corporate Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months. [67525]
Mr. Straw: I have accepted corporate hospitality on two occasions in the last 12 months. Details are given in the Register of Members' Interests (Session 2005-06), published on 24 March 2006.
Deputy Prime Minister
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Leader of the House whether the Deputy Prime Minister will answer oral parliamentary questions. [70734]
Mr. Straw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 May 2006, Official Report, column 245W to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff).
Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)
David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House what the total cost was of overnight accommodation for (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his office staying overnight in (i) mainland Great Britain, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) the Republic of Ireland and (iv) other countries in each of the last three years. [69643]
Mr. Straw: The information is set out in the following table. No special advisers or civil servants from the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons made overnight trips to Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.
| £ | ||||
| Great Britain | Other countries | |||
| Special advisers | Civil servants | Special advisers | Civil servants | |
Portland PR
Helen Goodman: To ask the Leader of the House what meetings officials in his Office have had with representatives of the public relations company Portland PR; what contracts Portland PR has with his Office and agencies for which he has responsibility; and what the nature of the contract is in each case. [70137]
Two special advisers working for my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon), when Leader of the House of Commons, attended a summer garden party on 13 July 2005 hosted by Portland PR.
Staff Development
David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House what the total cost was of (a) staff away days and (b) staff team building exercises in his Office in each of the last three years. [69150]
Nigel Griffiths: No staff away days or team building events have been held by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons within the last three years.
Culture, Media and Sport
Activity Levels
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how activity levels amongst
the general population have changed in the last 10 years. [69921]
Mr. Caborn: According to the Health Survey for England (2004) the percentage of the population achieving the recommended levels of physical activity has increased for both men and women, from 32 per cent. in 1997 to 35 per cent. in 2004 for men, and 21 per cent. to 24 per cent. for women. This is based on undertaking a minimum of 30 minutes of at least moderate intensity activity at least five times a week.
The new national Taking Part survey will provide robust measurement of the Department's public service agreement target on increasing participation in sport.
Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions Ministers of State in her Department stayed overnight in (a) five star, (b) four star and (c) three star hotels on foreign visits in each of the last three years. [69120]
Mr. Caborn: The detailed information requested could not be provided without disproportionate cost.
All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the ministerial code and travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses.
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 11 May 2006
Constitutional Affairs
1911 Census
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the Registrar General's Analysis of tentative proposals made by National Archives to release 1911 Census records in advance of 2012, dated 18 February 2004, together with the associated correspondence with her Department about the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [69254]
Bridget Prentice: I have today placed in both Libraries copies of correspondence between my Department and the Office for National Statistics on this matter.
Since 1966 successive Governments have consistently maintained this position, and from 1981 onwards there has been an explicit assurance on census forms that they will remain closed to the public for 100 years. It remains government policy to make census returns publicly available after a period of 100 years.
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