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21 Jun 2006 : Column 1865W—continued
Train Usage
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) passenger train carriages and (b) multiple units are stored on the rail network but are not in service. [77777]
Derek Twigg: Around 330 passenger carriages are currently in store. These are mainly locomotive hauled coaches previously used on long distance routes and which have been replaced with new or younger cascaded rolling stock.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) locomotives, (b) multiple units, (c) freight wagons and (d) carriages are in use on the rail network, broken down by (i) train operating company and (ii) class. [77778]
Derek Twigg: Tables have been placed in the Library of the House, which give details of the number of locomotives, multiple units and carriages, used by UK franchised passenger train operators, broken down by train operating company and class. Vehicles operated by non-franchised operators such as Network Rail, open access and charter operators are not included. Details of the numbers of freight vehicles used on the network are not held centrally.
This information is based on latest available data but minor variations in the figures can be expected due to ongoing activities such as short term vehicle hiring, the introduction of new fleets and the withdrawal of older vehicles.
Deputy Prime Minister
Ministerial Duties
11. Mr. Boswell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes to his ministerial duties have occurred since May. [79140]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Wednesday 17 May 2006, Official Report, column 985W, and to my letter of appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
Sino-British Trade
12. Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese Government on encouraging Sino-British trade and investment. [79141]
The Deputy Prime Minister: My hon. Friend may be aware that I visited China in February this year.
This visit enabled me to meet several very senior members of the Chinese administration, including:
Premier Wen Jibao
Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the Peoples Political Consultative Conference
State Councillor Tang
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong Donald Tsang
The Mayor of Beijing.
Trade and investment formed an important part of the discussions we had. I was also able to close the successful UK-China Partners in Science year in Shanghai.
Trade and investment is one of the core issues considered by the China taskforce, which I chair at the request of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Its work offers strategic direction in five key sectors—finance, energy, information and communications technology (ICT), healthcare and water—areas where the UK has world-class expertise and where Chinese demand is growing rapidly. We are encouraging Chinese companies to invest in the UK—particularly those from high value added sectors such as ICT and high performance engineering.
While in China, I was also honoured to be invited to open Nottingham university's new campus in Ningbo. Deepening educational links—particularly in the higher education sector—is vital to allowing the UK to tap into the large pool of well-qualified Chinese graduates, and to encouraging Chinese students to come to the UK. Greater understanding and interchange will help both our economies profit in the long term.
Admiralty House
13. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of his official residence in Admiralty House was to the public purse in 2005-06. [79142]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Final figures are not yet available. The cost will be accounted for in the Department's annual report and accounts in the usual way.
Eastern Europe (Government Policy)
15. Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent work he has undertaken in respect of his responsibility for Government policy relating to Eastern Europe. [79144]
The Deputy Prime Minister: As part of my role during the UK presidency of the EU last year I visited a number of countries in Central and Eastern Europe for high level discussions on our presidency priorities. These included Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia.
I have also received a number of senior visitors from Eastern Europe in London over the past year. Our discussions covered a wide range of subjects, including the economy, trade and investment, education and skills, security and the environment.
Departmental Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will keep a separate record of the amount spent annually by his office on alcohol for hospitality purposes. [77319]
The Deputy Prime Minister: All expenditure is conducted in accordance with the principles of “Government Accounting”.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of his staff are part of the Cabinet Office; and how many are assigned to the Department for Communities and Local Government. [78229]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 May 2006, Official Report, column 1840W to the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Derek Conway).
Official Duties
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he uses an e-mail account in the course of his duties. [78228]
The Deputy Prime Minister: No.
Private Office
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget is of his new private office. [78226]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Expenditure will be accounted for in the Department’s annual report and accounts in the usual way.
Defence
Child Protection
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to encourage appropriate representation of military establishments on local safeguarding children boards; and if he will make a statement. [77598]
Mr. Watson: The Ministry of Defence recognises the importance of proper representation on local safeguarding children boards (LSCB) and there has been service membership of preceding bodies, particularly Child Protection Committees, where appropriate. The plans for a MOD Children's Board will provide an additional focus for improved interaction between military establishments and LSCB’s in England and the equivalent bodies in UK more generally.
Departmental Expenditure
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on advertising by his Department in each of the last three years. [70617]
Mr. Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor on 20 July 2005, Official Report, columns 1751W-52W.
In addition, the final outturn figure for publicity and recruiting, which includes advertising, for 2004-05 was £76.8 million.
Departmental Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will keep a separate record of the amount spent annually by his Department on alcohol for hospitality purposes. [77274]
Mr. Watson: Records are kept of overall expenditure on official hospitality, but there is no separate record of the amount spent on alcohol, nor are there any plans to do so. Expenditure in the Department is conducted in accordance with the principles of “Government Accounting” and comprehensive guidance is issued to staff about expenditure on official hospitality, including situations in which alcohol may be provided at public expense.
Farnborough Air Show
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Indonesian (a) military and (b) other official personnel will be attending the Farnborough Air Show in 2006. [78373]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) intends to publish a list of those countries from which delegations are invited a day or so in advance of the exhibition opening, the timing being consistent with maintaining the security of guests. It is planned to place this list on the DESO internet site:
www.deso.mod.uk
Mine Clearance
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mine clearance equipment is available to Light Forces; what mine clearance equipment is deployed in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq; how many mine clearance projects have been completed in each of the last three years, broken down by country; and how many projects are pending, broken down by country. [77760]
Mr. Ingram: Light Forces are equipped with appropriate mine clearance equipment for the tasks and environments in which they operate.
I am withholding information regarding the specific mine clearance equipment available to Light Forces and deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, as disclosure of such information would have a bearing on our operational security and place our servicemen and women at risk.
UK forces do not undertake mine clearance projects. They undertake only routine clearance tasks that are essential to the protection of UK forces during an operation. Humanitarian mine clearance projects are undertaken by specialist contractors, paid for and coordinated by the Department for International Development.
Operation Telic
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions helicopters have been grounded due to temperatures exceeding 45 degrees since the start of Operation Telic. [77607]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 15 June 2006]: The information requested cannot be provided as disclosure of such information would reveal the operational tactics and capability of UK forces, which in turn could have a bearing on our operational security, thereby placing our servicemen and women in additional unnecessary danger.
Royal Ordnance
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries will supply in future the items currently produced at Royal Ordnance (a) Bridgwater and (b) Chorley. [77619]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 15 June 2006]: BAE Systems Land Systems (BAES LS) remains responsible for the security of the supply of products previously manufactured at Bridgwater and Chorley. MOD and BAES LS have set up a joint project team to monitor the transfer of products to other sites (in the UK or abroad) and to ensure security of supply.
Decisions on alternate sources are a commercial matter for the company. BAE LS has indicated, however, that some activities will be transferred to other BAES LS facilities in the UK; some to other UK suppliers; and others to foreign suppliers including USA and France.
Duchy of Lancaster
Volunteers’ Week
10. Mr. McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government are taking to support Volunteers’ Week. [79139]
Edward Miliband: The Government supports Volunteers’ Week, primarily through an annual core grant of £1.5 million to Volunteering England, the organisation that runs the week. This year during Volunteers’ Week, which took place from 1-7 June, I and other Government Ministers visited a range of volunteering organisations to show support for Britain’s 20 million volunteers.
Third Sector Organisations
14. Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps she is taking to encourage all Government Departments to take account of relevant third sector organisations and issues in determining policies and measures. [79143]
Edward Miliband: The Government have set up the new Office of the third sector in the Cabinet Office to co-ordinate the work of Government with the third sector. This includes work to ensure the implementation of the principles of the Compact on funding and policy.
Civil Service (Staff Learning and Development)
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what (a) adult learning courses and (b) occupational and professional development courses the civil service makes available to its staff. [78272]
Mr. McFadden: Civil service Departments seek to ensure that all staff have the skills they need to carry out their duties effectively. The range of courses civil servants might attend in either adult learning or occupational and professional development is dictated by the particular needs of the individual, their link to the requirements for current and future development, availability of appropriate training and cost.
The Professional Skills for Government programme has identified a framework for standards of performance across core skills and professional expertise. Occupational and professional development needs to be focused on ensuring staff are able to demonstrate these standards of performance. The National School of Government offers a comprehensive range of training courses which support the professional development of staff in the civil service.
Cyber Security
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent guidance she has issued on cyber security in Government Departments. [79138]
Mr. McFadden: The Government take the issue of cyber security very seriously. The Cabinet Office regularly issues guidance on cyber security based on advice received from the National Infrastructure Co-ordination Centre (NISCC—pronounced “nicey”) and the Communications Electronic Security Group (CESG).
Six such notices have been issued this year on a range of specific and technical electronic security requirements (which it would not be appropriate to comment on).
We have also launched the first phase of Get Safe Online, a joint public-private initiative to raise awareness of internet safety among the general public.
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