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Mr. Ingram: None.
Combined Cadet Force
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made in implementing the plans announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in February 2006 to create branches of the Combined Cadet Force in state schools. [80692]
Mr. Watson: Since the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement in February 2006, the Ministry of Defence has been working with the Department for Education and Skills and the Treasury to develop plans for a pilot scheme that will further extend Combined Cadet Forces in the state school sector. As was announced on the 27 June 2006 we will be establishing six new pilot schemes in schools across England. Funding arrangements have just been put in place by the Treasury and we are now discussing arrangements with schools who have already expressed an interest in establishing a Combined Cadet Force.
Dead Service Personnel
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what average time has elapsed before inquiries into the deaths of British service personnel in Iraq have commenced. [80141]
Des Browne: The information requested is notheld centrally and can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, the Service Police initiate an investigation immediately they are notified of the death of any member of the armed forces in Iraq. Wherever possible, it is their policy to issue an Initial Case Report within 24 hours of notification unless prevented by operational circumstances.
Deepcut (Document Disclosure)
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he wrote to the chief constable of Surrey police regarding the disclosure of documents to the families of (a) Sean Benton, (b) Cheryl James and (c) Geoff Gray; if he will copy the letter to the legal representatives of those families; and if he will place copies in the Library. [79870]
Mr. Ingram: I wrote to the chief constable of the Surrey police regarding Recommendation 33 of the Deepcut Review on 13 June 2006. A copy of the letter will be provided to the legal representatives of the families concerned. A copy of the letter will also be placed in the Library of the House.
Departmental Bills
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those Government Bills sponsored by his Department that are still to be introduced during the 2005-06 session. [78853]
Mr. Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Leader of the House on 16 June 2006, Official Report, column 1432W.
Iraq
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list contracts in excess of £500,000 his Department has entered into in connection with Iraq since the beginning of 2003; on what date each was entered into; whether the civilian contractor in each contract had military connections; what the nationality of each civilian contractor was in each case; what each contract was for; whether each contract was awarded following competitive bidding; whether work was wholly carried out in Iraq; and what estimate he has made in each case of the comparable cost of similar work carried out in the UK. [61481]
Mr.
Ingram: I will place three lists of contracts in the
Library of the House. The first shows works contracted by the
Multi-National Division (South-East) Civil Secretariat with total value
in excess of £500,000, and wholly carried out in Iraq, from
2003, detailing the company, service provided, and date each contract
was entered into. Second are those contracts let by the Defence
Communications Service Agency for and in support of British operations
in Iraq. And thirdly are those contracts placed for movement of freight
or personnel by air or surface means, awarded following competition.
Two of these contracts (DTMA/CB/0803 and DTMA/CB/0813) were let for air
support entirely within Iraq/surrounding area. Two further contracts
(DTMA/CB/0703 and DTMA/CB/0720) were let specifically for aeromedical
tasks between Cyprus and the UK. The remaining movement contracts were
placed for the transport of freight/personnel mainly between the
UK/Europe and Iraq/Gulf States in support of Op TELIC. Comparable
costing for these is inappropriate. Further details are not held
centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate
cost.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates since February 2006 (a) he and (b) his Ministers have visited British soldiers injured in Iraq; and what locations were visited on each occasion. [80693]
Des Browne: Defence Ministers frequently visit members of the armed forces injured in Iraq. Since February Defence Ministers have visited injured personnel on four occasions as follows:
My predecessor, the then Secretary of State for Defence,(Dr. Reid), visited the Field Hospital at Shaibah Logistics Base on 18 March 2006.
I too visited the Field Hospital at Shaibah Logistics Base, Iraq on 18 May 2006. The Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr. Ingram) visited injured personnel as part of his visit on 8-9 May 2006 to 7th Armoured Brigade in Germany.
The Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Watson) visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 16 June 2006.
Missile Defence
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role is of the Missile Defence Centre within his Department; and if he will make a statement. [79950]
Des Browne: The UK Missile Defence Centre was opened by the then Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Bach) on 18 July 2003. It provides the primary technical interface between the UK and the US Governments in this area of research and development. The centre is jointly resourced by Government and Industry, and will act as a showcase for the specialist expertise and equipment which UK Industry has to offer to the US Missile Defence programme. The MDC also facilitates the exchange of information on the evolving US system, to inform the technical advice provided to policy makers.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions the UK Government has had with the US authorities on acquiring ballistic missile defence (a) technology and (b) equipment from the US. [79951]
Des Browne: We have had no recent discussions with the US about the acquisition, in the form of purchase or ownership, of ballistic missile defence technology or equipment. We continue to work closely with them on co-operative technology programmes through the UK Missile Defence Centre.
Private Members Bills
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Private Members' Bills were drafted by his Department in each session since 1997; and which subsequently received Royal Assent. [78852]
Mr. Watson: None.
Royal Military Police
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the terms of reference were of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary’s thematic review of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch; what the target date is for completion; and what arrangements he plans to make for publication. [79880]
Mr. Ingram: The terms of reference for the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) inspection of the Royal Military Police (RMP) Special Investigations Branch (SIB) are as follows:
(a) To inspect SIB specialist policing functions in the investigation of major and serious crimes, including investigations conducted on operations, and to identify any areas for improvement (in the context of current good practice, where applicable).
(b) To identify any other transferable good practice emerging from inspection.
(c) To alert Deputy Provost Marshal (Investigations) of any issues that may impact upon the conduct of a live investigation.
(d) To deliver a draft report to the Provost Marshal (Army) for his consideration on behalf of the Adjutant-General and Director General Security and Safety.
(e) To deliver a final report for the attention of the same.
The inspection of the RMP SIB started on1 April 2006 and the HMIC is due to provide a report by 31 July 2006.
The final report will be published, both in hard copy and on the HMIC website.
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the meritsof bringing the Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch under the oversight of the Independent Commission on Police Complaints. [79881]
Mr. Ingram: The Royal Military Police (RMP) Special Investigations Branch (SIB) have a minimal interface with the general public in comparison to their civilian counterparts. As a result, complaints by third parties unconnected to the armed forces about the conduct of the RMP (SIB) are far less likely to occur. We do not therefore consider it appropriate for the RMP (SIB) to be brought under the oversight of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
However, a
comprehensive redress of complaints system exists for all service
personnel, including service police personnel, who wish to complain or
express a grievance about any matter related to their service.
Improvements were proposed under the Armed Forces Bill which included a
redress panel system where panels would include an external,
independent member for certain types of complaints, and an external
reviewer focussing on process, delay, fairness, and the effectiveness
of the procedure, and providing recommendations for improvements where
necessary. Further to the Deepcut Review, we plan to extend the role of
the external reviewer, renamed as the Service Complaints Commissioner,
who would have statutory powers to receive a complaint or allegation
from a service person, family or other third party, to place it in the
hands of the chain of command and to be notified
of the outcome. The Commissioner would have direct access to Ministers
and would publish an annual report on the complaints
process.
These proposed arrangements will now be subject to the full process of Parliamentary scrutiny in the context of the remaining stages of the Armed Forces Bill’s passage through Parliament.
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training is available to members of the Royal Military Police in the conduct of European Convention of Human Rights Article 2—compliant investigations into an overseas death in barracks. [79884]
Mr. Ingram: Members of the Royal Military Police (RMP) Special Investigation Branch (SIB) follow standard police investigative procedures and receive training that conforms to UK Home Office standards, modified to take account of the Military Criminal Justice System. As such, both their training, either basic or continuation, and their investigative techniques, are compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Culture, Media and Sport
Biodiversity
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department plans to take to monitor the extent to which public bodies which report to her comply, from October, with their duty to conserve biodiversity in exercisingtheir functions, under section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. [74406]
Mr. Woodward: Under section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, all public bodies have a duty to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity in the exercising of their functions. There is no statutory obligation on Departments to monitor the extent to which public bodies comply with this duty. However, we understand Defra is working with a wide range of partners to develop guidance for public bodies to support the implementation of this duty and will involve all relevant Departments on the development of guidance.
Correspondence
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average cost to her Department was of replying to a letter written (a) by an hon. Member and (b) by a member of the public in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much of that sum is accounted for by (i) officials’ time, (ii) cost of stationery and (iii) postage costs. [80469]
Mr. Lammy: The information requested is not recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishesa report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/peers correspondence. The report for 2005 was published on 30 March 2006, Official Report, columns 76-78WS.
Departmental Finance Directors
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) name, (b) professional and academic qualifications and (c) relevant experience are of the finance director of her Department. [80091]
Mr. Lammy: My Department’s finance director is Nicholas Holgate. He has a degree in economics and is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. His relevant experience comprises 18 years’ employment in HM Treasury, including three years as head of strategy, finance and purchasing.
Horse Racing
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to enable the Government to meet its manifesto commitment to end its financial involvement in horse racing. [80844]
Mr. Caborn: The Government's 2005 manifesto commitment with regards to horseracing stated,
“Having passed the necessary legislation the Government remains committed to completing the sale of the Tote to a Racing Trust”.
My Department is pursuing a closed sale of the Tote to a consortium of racing interests.
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultation (a) has taken place and (b) is planned on the extension of the horseracing levy beyond 2009; and with whom. [80845]
Mr. Caborn: No decision has been taken to extend of the Horserace Betting Levy beyond 2009, although the matter is under consideration by my Department following the publication of the phase two report of the Future Funding of Racing Review Group, Chaired by Lord Donoughue of Ashton.
In order to inform this consideration the Review Group subsequently produced a further report (a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses) aimed at identifying improvements that could be made to the Levy Board's operation. The Group received submissions from:
Arena Leisure Plc
Ascot Racecourse
The Association of British Bookmakers
The British Horseracing Board
Gala Coral Group Plc
GG Media Ltd.
Industry Committee (Horseracing) Ltd.
The Jockey Club
Ladbrokes Plc
The National Association of Bookmakers
The National Trainers Federation
Northern Racing Ltd.
The Racecourse Association
The Racehorse Owners’ Association
The Rails Bookmakers’ Association
Satellite Information Services Ltd.
Timothy Hale (in support of the RCA)
Watson Bookmakers Ltd.
Weatherbys Ltd.
William Hill Plc
Should the Government decide to extend the Levy beyond 2009 further consultation will be carried out.
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State forCulture, Media and Sport pursuant to her statement of 18 March 2005, Official Report, column 29WS, on funding of horse racing, what progress has been made in working with football leagues to develop solutions to the funding difficulties arising from a judgment by the European Court of Justice. [80846]
Mr. Caborn: I have met with representatives of premier league, football leagues, Scottish football leagues on a number of occasions to discuss the impact of the European Court of Justice’s ruling on database rights.
I understand that a deal is now under negotiation between Football Dataco, which licenses football fixture data, and British bookmakers which I am optimistic will provide guaranteed funding for the football leagues in the short to medium term.
Internet Gambling
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations shehas received from gambling addiction support and campaign groups on problem gambling on the internet. [80852]
Mr. Caborn: We have received a number of representations from gambling addiction support groups, faith groups and others about problem gambling and the Internet.
We are engaged in regular discussions withthese bodies via my Department's Gambling Act Implementation Community Liaison Group.
Public Consultations
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of14 June 2005, Official Report, column 1223W, on consultations, what mechanisms are in place to ensure value for money in public consultations. [80758]
Mr.
Lammy: In order to ensure that consultation is as
effective as possible, my Department follows the Government’s
code of practice on consultation. By following the code i.e. carrying
out comprehensive
consultation and taking on board the views of those likely to be
affected and the views of experts, the Government are more likely to
meet its policy objectives. Following each formal consultation, the
DCMS is obliged, under the code, to give feedback regarding the
responses received and how the consultation process influenced the
policy in question.
Radio Licences
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will bring forward legislation to allow her Department (a) to intervene in and (b) to review the decisions taken by Ofcom in connection with the granting of radio licences; and if she will make a statement. [80170]
Mr. Woodward: The Government have no plans to introduce powers to allow them to intervene in Ofcom’s licensing decisions, nor do they believe there is a case for a review at this time.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what appeals mechanism is available to radio stations who have their request for a radio licence rejected by Ofcom; and if she will make a statement. [80171]
Mr. Woodward: If an unsuccessful applicant believes that Ofcom has acted unlawfully then they can ask for the decision to be judicially reviewed.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what radio licences have been granted in each county in England and Wales since the enactment of the Communications Act 2003; what applications for such licences have been rejected; what the reason for rejection was in each case; and if she will make a statement. [80172]
Mr. Woodward: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), as independent regulator for the communications sector. Accordingly my officials have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive’s letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Scottish Bed Tax
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment her Department has made of the likely impact of a bed tax on the Scottish tourism industry. [81144]
Mr. Woodward: The Department has not made such an assessment. As is appropriate in the case of an independent review, my Department will fully assess the potential impact of any recommendations thatSir Michael Lyons makes in his final report on the function, future role and funding of local government once he has made them.
The Public, West Bromwich
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether work has recommenced on The Public arts organisation in West Bromwich. [80623]
Mr. Lammy: Some enabling works on the site of The Public will take place during the summer, but it is anticipated that more significant activity will recommence on the site in early October.
Following the agreement of a rescue package for the arts organisation The Public Charity Ltd., the artistic content and gallery commissions have been reviewed and work on testing the content for the gallery will begin shortly.
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the role of the Arts Council is in the tendering process for the future use of The Public in West Bromwich. [80624]
Mr. Lammy: Arts Council England are part of a stakeholder group which currently also includes the other funders, Sandwell metropolitan borough council, Advantage West Midlands and the Government Office West Midlands. The brief for the tendering process was written with the joint agreement of this group. Representatives of Arts Council England were involved in the shortlisting of submissions and were on the interview panel for the shortlisted proposals.
Tourism
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many tourist information centres were (a) in operation, (b) opened and (c) closed in England in each year since 2000; [80273]
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