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Agencies Merger
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Procurement Agency and the Defence Logistics Organisation are to merge; and if he will make a statement. [82702]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 3 July 2006, Official Report, columns 27-29WS.
Armed Forces Abroad (Telecommunications)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to negotiate with telecommunications service providers preferential rates for family members telephoning members of the UK armed forces serving abroad. [82977]
Mr. Watson: The telecommunications market is one of the most competitive and dynamic sectors of the UK economy, with a comprehensive range of services to suit a wide variety of needs. There is no likelihood that Ministry of Defence intervention in this market in general would provide any additional flexibility. However, for service personnel, their families and the defence community in particular, the Defence Discount Directory is continuing to work with the major service providers to explore what special discounts they might be able to offer. Also, service literature and websites give advice to families on general communications issues, with contact options that include telephone, email, e-bluey and the British Forces Post Office system among others.
British Armed Forces Federation
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he has had with the newly formed British Armed Forces Federation. [82695]
Mr. Watson: No meetings have taken place.
Clansman Radio
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for withdrawing the Clansman radio from service with the UK armed forces. [81850]
Mr. Ingram: The planned out of service date for Clansman is April 2008.
Darfur
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide troops for United Nations peacekeeping operations in Darfur; and in what capacity they would serve. [83136]
Mr. Ingram: One UK military officer is currently deployed to the United Nations (UN) Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO), in New York, to help develop UN plans for Darfur.
There are presently no plans to deploy any further military personnel.
Departmental Legislation
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his practice is regarding meeting, discussing and taking into account the views and opinions of (a) private individuals and (b) representatives of organisations when drawing up and framing legislation to be introduced by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [81287]
Mr. Watson: The Ministry of Defence always seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making process; both informal and formal. The Department holds meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts. Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Department's formal consultations which abide by the code of conduct on consultation. Known stakeholders are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the code, the Department then gives feedback on the responses received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.
Departmental Premises (Security)
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has (a) directly and (b) indirectly employed illegal immigrants as security guards. [80815]
Mr. Watson: I am aware of one instance in which the Ministry of Defence recruited a security guard who was later identified as an illegal immigrant. The man concerned provided false documentation and references on recruitment. Upon detection later by the Ministry of Defence police, his employment was immediately terminated.
I am not aware of any illegal immigrants being indirectly employed by the MOD as contract security guards.
Diabetes/Depleted Uranium
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has he (a) commissioned, (b) evaluated on and (c) received from other sources on possible links between the incidence of diabetes and exposure to depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement. [83759]
Mr. Watson: The Ministry of Defence has not commissioned, evaluated or received any research on possible links between the incidence of diabetes and exposure to depleted uranium.
Diego Garcia
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requirement there was on the US Administration to inform the UK Government that mines were stored on ships in UK territorial waters surrounding Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement. [82347]
Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply.
The Exchange of Notes between the United States and the United Kingdom concerning the availability for defence purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory 1966 and subsequent Exchange of Notes between the two Governments do not require the United States to provide this kind of information. It is important to note that the territorial sea surrounding Diego Garcia is the territorial sea of the British Indian Ocean Territory, an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the British Government has requested a catalogue of military equipment, arms or munitions held on US ships in the UK territorial waters surrounding Diego Garcia, pursuant to its obligations under the Ottawa Treaty in the last five years. [82348]
Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply.
The UK is not obliged under the Ottawa Convention to request such a catalogue from the United States and has not done so. The Ottawa Convention, moreover, applies only to anti-personnel landmines. The territorial sea surrounding Diego Garcia is the territorial sea of the British Indian Ocean Territory, an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.
Equal Opportunities
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are assigned to equal opportunities investigation teams, broken down by rank; how many investigations have been undertaken by the teams since their establishment; and how many disciplinary cases have been initiated as a result. [79916]
Mr. Watson: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
EU Emission Trading Scheme
Michael
Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what the total cost of (a) administering and
(b) buying allocations for each military establishment included
in the EU Emission Trading Scheme was in its first year of operation.
[82736]
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which installations within his responsibilities are registered with the European Union Emission Trading scheme; and what the cost of carbon credits for each installation was in 2005-06. [83370]
Mr. Watson: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is registered as the operator of 29 sites under the European Union Emission Trading Scheme, with a further four sites registered where the facilities management contractors act as operator on behalf of the MOD.
The table details the cost of carbon credits and administrating and buying additional permits for each of the establishments registered within the first year of operation of the EU Emission Trading Scheme.
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