You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

9 Oct 2006 : Column 178W—continued


9 Oct 2006 : Column 179W

Departmental Lawyers

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the job descriptions are of lawyers employed in his Department; what those descriptions were in 1997; what the cost was of lawyers employed in his Department in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [90948]

Derek Twigg [holding answer 13 September 2006]: The work of civilian lawyers employed in the Ministry of Defence is to provide legal support and services to the Department across the range of its activities and business. The particular requirements of the Department for legal advice are necessarily dependent on the circumstances prevailing at any one time. The summary description of the current work of the various teams of lawyers based in the UK reflects the main areas of law on which advice is required, and is as follows:

Legislation

Operational and International Humanitarian Law

Personnel and Pensions Law

General Law

Commercial Law

In addition to the UK lawyers there are two teams based overseas in Germany and Cyprus.

The team based in Germany provides legal advice to UK forces and their civilian component on all aspects of living in and operating in and from Germany. This includes advice on the application of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, its Supplementary Agreement relating to Germany, and other international and bilateral arrangements.

The Attorney General and Legal Adviser team based in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), Cyprus, provides legal advice to the SBA Administration. He has independent control of prosecutions before the SBA Court. He and his team draft legislation and provide advice to meet the needs of the SBA Administration, including the provision of advice on the Treaty of Establishment, on legal aspects of policy development.

The salary costs of civilian lawyers employed in the Department in each of the last 10 years is as follows:

£ million

1997-98

1.27

1998-99

1.31

1999-00

1.48

2000-01

1.53

2001-02

1.92

2002-03

2.52

2003-04

2.94

2004-05

(1)—

2005-06

3.29

2006-07

(2)1.52

(1) As a result of changes in accounting procedures and the transfer of the Department's lawyers from the Treasury Solicitor into the MOD during the course of 2004-05 an accurate figure for this year is not available.

(2) Figures cover the period 1 April 2006 to 31 August 2006.


Departmental Travel

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights were taken by Ministers and officials in his Department on departmental business in each of the past 12 months. [90326]

Derek Twigg: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Environmental Policies

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for the recycling of waste by each of the services. [90315]


9 Oct 2006 : Column 181W

Derek Twigg: Recycling provision varies from site to site depending on the location and availability of local recycling facilities. Waste management activities, including recycling, are organised and managed through multi-activity contracts or through facility management companies. Usually facilities for the recycling of varying waste streams are provided. Site environmental advisors provide local guidance and instructions on waste management.

Recyclable material associated with domestic accommodation for service personnel is generally collected by the relevant local authority.

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to inform armed forces personnel of the nearest recycling facilities to their accommodation. [90324]

Derek Twigg: Waste awareness initiatives, such as site introductory briefs and presentations, are carried out to inform armed forces personnel of the most appropriate collection scheme and/or the whereabouts of the nearest recycling facility to their accommodation.

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the merits of converting departmental vehicles to liquefied petroleum gas. [90327]

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence’s non-operational vehicles are provided under the terms of two separate contracts, one for the UK and one for Germany. There are currently six liquefied petroleum gas vehicles available for use as part of the UK contract.

In line with the Government’s targets for sustainable development, the MOD is reviewing, with both contractors, a range of options, including increasing the availability of vehicles that use alternative fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas.

The MOD’s operational vehicle fleets are managed to comply with UK and EU legislation and the current NATO Single Fuel Policy. Since the acceptance and implementation of this policy in 1991, all operational vehicles procured will run on diesel or kerosene type fuels. For older vehicles, conversion programmes have been undertaken where this represents a cost-effective option for the remaining life of the fleet.

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to promote Fair Trade products in departmental catering establishments. [90328]

Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) on 15 February 2006, Official Report, column 2094W.

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to source local products for use in departmental catering establishments (a) in the UK and (b) overseas. [90329]

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence currently has a single global food supply contract with Purple
9 Oct 2006 : Column 182W
Foodservice Solutions under which the supplier is responsible for supplying food to the armed forces both in the UK and on operations worldwide. In accordance with the MOD's procurement policy contractors are encouraged to purchase British produce whenever it is competitive and consistent with meeting the quality standards. The MOD is working with DEFRA and industry to maximise the competitiveness of British produce.

Falkland Islands

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units are stationed in the Falkland Islands. [89670]

Mr. Ingram: The units stationed in the Falkland Islands are as follows:

Joint Units

Maritime Units

Land Unit

Air Units

In addition to the permanent units listed above, Atlantic Patrol Task (South) deploys either a frigate or destroyer, supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, into the Falkland Islands Joint Operations Area for the majority of the year.

Files (Asbestos Contamination)

Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the letter of 29 March to the hon. Member for Sunderland South (Ref: D/US of S/DT 1572/06/C/is), when he expects to gain access to the files contaminated by asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [87045]

Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, wrote on 26 September 2006 with a response to your request.


9 Oct 2006 : Column 183W

Foreign Language Training

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on foreign language training for military personnel in the last year for which figures are available. [89276]

Derek Twigg: Approximately £7.7 million was spent on foreign language training for military personnel in financial year 2005-06. This figure includes the running costs of the Defence School of Languages at Beaconsfield.

Next Section Index Home Page