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31 Oct 2006 : Column 324W—continued
Agency Trading Accounts
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the Memorandum Trading Accounts for the (a) Defence Transport and Movements Agency, (b) Defence Vetting Agency, (c) Disposal Service Agency, (d) Duke of York's Royal Military School, (e) Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency, (f) Naval Recruiting and Training Agency, (g) Pay and Personnel Agency, (h) RAF Training Group Defence Agency, (i) Service Children's Education, (j) Veterans Agency, (k) Medical Supply Agency, (l) Queen Victoria School and (m) Warships Support Agency for each of the last two financial years; [93049]
(2) if he will place in the Library copies of the 2004-05 Memorandum Trading Accounts for the (a) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (b) Army Training and Recruitment Agency, (c) British Forces Post Office, (d) Defence Analytical Services Agency, (e) Defence Bills Agency, (f) Defence Communications Services Agency, (g) Defence Dental Agency, (h) Defence Estates, (i) Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency, (j) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, (k) Defence Medical Education Training Agency, (l) Defence Procurement Agency and (m) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency; [93051]
(3) if he will place in the Library copies of the 2005-06 Memorandum Trading Accounts for the (a) Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency, (b) Army Training and Recruiting Agency, (c) British Forces Post Office, (d) Defence Analytical Services Agency, (e) Defence Bills Agency, (f) Defence Communications Services Agency, (g) Defence Estates, (h) Defence Medical Education Training Agency, (i) Defence Procurement Agency and (j) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency. [93064]
Mr. Ingram: MOD agencies do not currently produce Memorandum Trading Accounts.
Aircraft Carriers
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected date of commission is of the future aircraft carriers; and what tonnage they will be. [94911]
Mr. Ingram: The projected programme dates, including commissioning and in-service dates, for the future aircraft carriers will only be set following the main investment decision and once they have been approved by Ministers. This decision has not yet been taken, and will only be taken when we know with confidence the risks, the costs and the associated contractual framework involved in building the carriers. The current design of the carriers assumes a start of life displacement of some 65,000 tonnes.
Animal Experiments
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what animals are being used in experiments at the Alverstoke Institute, Gosport; for what purposes they are being used; and if he will make a statement. [94937]
Derek Twigg: The only animals used for research purposes at the Alverstoke site are goats. QinetiQ Alverstoke uses the animals as part of a research programme that advises on safe procedures and treatments for submariners escaping from a disabled submarine.
Chaplains
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the number of chaplains in each of the Armed Forces. [97318]
Derek Twigg:
The Royal Navy currently has 70(1) chaplains and is seeking to recruit up to its establishment of 75(1) chaplains. A review of the Royal Navy chaplaincy service is currently taking place as part of the Navy Board Personnel Change Programme
to ensure that the establishment, placement and training of chaplains matches the current, and anticipated, needs of the service.
The Army currently has 145(1) chaplains and is seeking to recruit up to its establishment of 160(1) Chaplains.
The RAF currently has 70(1) chaplains and is seeking to recruit up to its establishment of 75(1) chaplains.
In addition to serving service chaplains the armed forces have four full time civilian chaplains to the military for the Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu and Muslim faiths. There is also an honorary officiating chaplain to minister to those of the Jewish faith. There are no plans to change the number of these chaplains.
(1 )All figures have been rounded to the nearest five
Defence Estates
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on co-operation with regional development agencies when surplus Defence Estates property is being disposed of; what assessment he has made of the implications for employment and regeneration of such disposals; and if he will make a statement. [95606]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 20 October 2006]: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is required to obtain market value when disposing of surplus assets. However, this Department places all surplus land on English Partnership's “Register of Surplus Public Sector Assets” to allow other Government Departments and agencies to express an interest, including regional development agencies. The MOD works closely with English Partnerships, regional development agencies, local authorities and other key stakeholders when considering its disposal strategy. This will normally include an assessment of development and regeneration opportunities through preparation of a planning brief which can be taken forward by prospective purchasers.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment Defence Estates makes of local economic development priorities when disposing of surplus property. [95607]
Derek Twigg
[holding answer 20 October 2006]: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is required to obtain market value when disposing of surplus assets. Defence Estates—the MOD agency with responsibility for the defence estate—works closely, however, with all interested parties to seek the best possible future use for the site. It is our normal practice to work with local planning authorities in disposing of sites and discussions of local economic development priorities
should take place as part of that process, including with other Government agencies and Departments on a case by case basis.
Defence Vetting Agency
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff from the Defence Vetting Agency have been contracted to the Office for Nuclear Security since 2005; and for how long each has been contracted. [94230]
Departmental Expenditure
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on food and alcohol for its staff working out of office in each year since 2001-02. [91922]
Derek Twigg: Expenditure on food and alcohol consumed by staff working on detached duty is not distinguished separately from the associated expenditure on travel and accommodation and could be provided at disproportionate cost only. The conduct of civilian staff on detached duty is guided by principles set out in the Civil Service Code of Conduct and in Government Accounting. The MOD Civilian Travel Manual emphasises the need to exercise economy and observe the highest standards of financial propriety.
Departmental Lawyers
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 October 2006, on departmental lawyers, if he will break down by main area of law the cost of departmental lawyers in each of the last 10 years. [93303]
Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Redundancies
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many redundancies there were in his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of such redundancies was in each year; how many temporary staff were employed in each year; and how many staff were seconded by outside organisations to posts within his Department in each year. [95251]
Derek Twigg: Available information is shown in the following table. Information on redundancies for civilian staff prior to 1999-2000 is not available.
Energy Consumption
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps have been taken to address energy waste through lack of insulation in departmental properties. [90325]
Derek Twigg: It is the policy of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to comply fully with the Building Regulations. This includes the requirement to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions for buildings also covered by part L2 Conservation of Fuel and power for England and Wales which came into force in April 2006. Accordingly, the MOD is adopting a range of policies to improve the whole-life efficiency, energy use, and sustainability of its built estate.
Measures include improved air tightness, higher thermal mass, care in sizing, positioning and detailing windows, orientation of buildings and the use of sustainable building materials and construction techniques. These measures are reflected in new and refurbished buildings which are better designed and more energy efficient; and in efforts to monitor and improve the way that defence personnel use energy in buildings that they occupy.
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