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19 Dec 2006 : Column 1898W—continued
EU Co-operation
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2006, Official Report, column 362W, on EU co-operation, if he will place in the Library a copy of the UK response to the Headline Goal Questionnaire; and if he will make a statement. [109519]
Des Browne:
Officials have begun work to redact classified information from the UK’s response to the Headline Goal Questionnaire. Once this process has
been completed a copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House. The response will also be included in the MOD Publication Scheme.
Eurocorps
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2005, Official Report, columns 539-40W, on UK liaison officers with Eurocorps, if he will place in the Library a list of the reports from liaison officers. [108521]
Des Browne: We are conducting a search of our archives to ascertain which reports are held on record. Once this process is complete, I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Ex-servicemen: Psychological Rehabilitation
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on psychological rehabilitation of ex-servicemen in each year since 1997. [109060]
Derek Twigg: Information prior to 2000 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For MOD expenditure from Financial Year 2001-02 onwards I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 December 2006, Official Report, column 933W, to the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Willie Rennie).
Iraq
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those killed by British forces in Iraq in the last 12 months were (a) militants and (b) civilians. [109133]
Des Browne [holding answer 18 December 2006]: There is no reliable means of ascertaining the numbers of combatants or non-combatants killed by British Forces in Iraq, but the UK makes every effort to minimise the impact of military action on the Iraqi population.
NHS Treatment: War Pensioners
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the level of communications between NHS trusts and clinicians on war pensioners' entitlement to priority NHS treatment. [107959]
Derek Twigg: War pensioners, including recipients of awards under the armed forces compensation scheme, are entitled to NHS priority examination and treatment for conditions accepted as due to service. Priority is primarily a function of clinical need and is determined by the clinician in charge, subject only to emergency and other urgent cases.
Regular reminders about priority treatment for war pensioners are circulated by the health services to senior NHS managers who are tasked to ensure that relevant clinical staff are aware.
The Ministry of Defence and its Veterans Agency receive feedback from individual war pensioners and ex-service organisations on the delivery of priority treatment. Where necessary, the Department takes up individual cases with the relevant health authority.
Nuclear Submarines
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are times when Trident submarines are deployed with fewer than 48 warheads; and if he will make a statement. [108789]
Des Browne: As set out in the White Paper, “The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent” (Cm 6994), published on 4 December 2006, “normally, only one Trident submarine is on deterrent patrol at any one time, with up to 48 warheads on board” (Box 2-1). I am withholding further information as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the defence of the United Kingdom.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Trident submarines are routinely loaded with their full complement of 16 missiles; and if he will make a statement. [108790]
Des Browne: The Trident submarine on patrol can carry up to 16 missiles but normally carries fewer. I am withholding further information as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the defence of the United Kingdom.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those consulted on the estimate of procurement timeframe for the programme to build new Vanguard-Class ballistic missile submarines; and if he will make a statement. [108797]
Des Browne: Officials have discussed submarine build programme timeframes with representatives from industry, primarily from BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Devonport Management Ltd. As was noted in paragraph 1-7 of the White Paper (Cm 6994), published on 4 December 2006, we have also taken account of the US and French experiences in this area.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the planned service lives of HMS (a) Trafalgar, (b) Turbulent, (c) Tireless, (d) Talent and (e) Triumph were extended; and why the planned service lives of HMS (i) Torbay and (ii) Trenchant were reduced. [108806]
Des Browne: The White Paper, “Delivering Security in a Changing World, Future Capabilities”, published in July 2004, explained that our requirement for nuclear attack submarines could be met by a fleet of eight boats from 2008 onwards. The planned service lives of both the Swiftsure and Trafalgar-class submarines have been adjusted accordingly, taking into account their material state and scheduled maintenance programmes, as well as the expected in-service dates of the new Astute class submarines.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the construction and operation of a facility to fabricate the fuel rods for four replacement ballistic missile submarines; and what the projected cost is of these plans. [108861]
Des Browne: The Ministry of Defence is considering options for future fabrication of submarine reactor cores, including construction of a new facility or update of the existing facility. I am withholding the estimated cost of any investment in the facility, operation of the facility and manufacture of reactor cores for replacement ballistic missile submarines on the grounds that disclosure may prejudice contract negotiations with industry.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the replacement ballistic missile submarines will use the PWR2 reactor. [108881]
Des Browne: The Ministry of Defence is considering a range of options to provide nuclear power for a replacement ballistic missile submarine, including PWR2.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected costs are of (a) submarines, (b) tactical weapon systems and (c) strategic weapons systems' equipment for replacement ballistic missile submarines on the basis of a fleet of four submarines. [108884]
Des Browne: The initial cost estimates set out at paragraph 5-11 of the White Paper (Cm 6994) on the future of the UK's nuclear deterrent, which was published on 4 December 2006, include the potential costs of all of these elements. At this very early stage of the procurement process, we are not in a position to break these estimates down in the way requested.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected costs are of (a) missiles and (b) strategic weapons systems equipment for a successor missile system to Trident on the basis of a fleet of four submarines. [108885]
Des Browne: I have nothing further to add to paragraphs 5-11 of the White Paper (Cm 6994) on the future of the UK's nuclear deterrent, which was published on 4 December 2006.
Nuclear Weapons
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United Kingdom’s Negative Security Assurance to non-nuclear weapons states applies in relation to the circumstances in which the United Kingdom might use its nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement. [108794]
Des Browne: The United Kingdom remains fully committed to the security assurances given to non-nuclear weapon states in our letter of 6 April 1995 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and noted in Security Council Resolution 984 of that year. The UK also stands by the security assurances we have given in the Protocols we have ratified to Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaties.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for ensuring an adequate supply of tritium to maintain the UK's nuclear weapons’ capability until 2055; and what the projected cost is of these plans. [108859]
Des Browne: As stated in paragraph 7-4 of the White Paper (Cm 6994), we will be undertaking a detailed review of the life of the existing warhead stockpile, and a decision on whether to replace or refurbish the warhead is likely to be necessary in the next Parliament. This will include reviewing supplies of Tritium. The outcome of this work will not be available for some time. The possible costs in this area are included in the estimated costs set out at paragraph 5-11 of the White Paper. At this very early stage of the procurement process, we are not in a position to break these estimates down in the way requested.
UK Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he estimates the eligibility for the UK Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge will be extended beyond 31 December 1969. [109078]
Derek Twigg: I intend that every veteran should be able to apply for the HM Armed Forces Veteran's Badge at the earliest opportunity. The recent announcement on 8 November 2006 that eligibility had been extended to 1969 was the latest in a challenging programme of such extensions. Our plans are kept under review and further extensions will be announced as soon as practicable, based on the capability of the Veterans Agency to meet the forecast demand.
UK Nuclear Weapons Capability
Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of (a) the projected total cost of maintaining the UK's nuclear weapons capability and (b) the costs of (i) procurement, (ii) the atomic weapons establishment and (iii) running costs from 2007 to 2055. [105409]
Des Browne: Our initial estimates of the future costs (including the procurement costs) involved in sustaining our independent nuclear deterrent capability were set out in paragraphs 5-11 to 5-14 of the White Paper: ‘The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent’, published on 4 December.
Warships
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to enable Royal Navy ships placed in extended readiness to be capable of rejoining the fleet if required; which ships are being held in this state; and how quickly each could be brought to operational status. [109280]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 18 December 2006]: HMS Invincible is the only vessel currently defined as being in extended readiness. She is in a very low state of readiness and it would take approximately 18 months
to return her to the fleet. HMS Invincible is capable of being regenerated but there is no requirement to do so at this time.
There are an additional five ships at a low readiness state that would take in excess of 180 days to be made operational.
Trade and Industry
Companies: Investigations
Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which companies his Department is investigating; what types of investigation each case involves; and when each investigation is expected to report. [104603]
Mr. Darling [holding answer 5 December 2006]: Companies Investigation Branch, part of the Insolvency Service, an executive agency of the DTI, investigates companies using powers in the Companies Act 1985. The vast majority of these investigations are conducted using the power under section 447, are confidential and are completed in about three months. The investigations are not announced and the results cannot be published. The detailed work of the Companies Investigation Branch is reported to Parliament as part of the Companies Annual Report, the most recent report was printed on 9 October 2006 and a copy is available from the Libraries of the House.
Consultants
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the policy advisers listed on page 219 of his Department’s annual report are consultants; and if he will make a statement. [109441]
Malcolm Wicks: The figures provided by AHRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC and PPARC under the ‘Policy Advisers’ heading on page 219 of the DTI’s 2006 departmental report do not include any consultancy costs. The figures provided relate to staff employed directly by these research councils using the DTI definition of ‘Policy Advisers’ as relating ‘to the costs of staff formulating policy/strategy including Board Members, Chief Executives, senior staff etc’.
ESRC has historically used different definition for ‘Policy Advisers’ and the figures presented on page 219 for ESRC include consultancies in addition to board and council member costs. The 2004-05 figure under the ‘Policy Advisers’ heading for ESRC includes expenditure of £130,645 on consultants.
All expenditure under the ‘Policy Advisors’ heading on page 219 for CCLRC relates to expenditure on consultancy.
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the purpose was of the expenditure in relation to (a) Gambia and (b) Dornier aircraft referred to in table B4 of his Department’s annual report; and if he will make a statement. [109435]
Malcolm Wicks: The expenditure related to the following Research Council’s capital projects:
(a) Gambia—a redevelopment project by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to renew laboratory and clinical facilities at the Fajara site of the main MRC Laboratories.
(b) Dornier aircraft—the purchase by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) of a research aircraft for earth observation work. This will ensure unbroken and long-term access to a suitable aircraft.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the purpose was of the (a) smart metering, (b) microgeneration, (c) power train, (d) European Home Leisure Accident Surveillance Survey, (e) national minimum wage and EC directives, (f) external legal fees and (g) Cambridge/Massachusetts Institute of Technology expenditure itemised in annex B1 of his Department’s annual report. [109444]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is as follows.
The provision represents funding to help co-finance with energy companies an energy demand reduction pilot, focusing on smart meters and associated feedback devices.
The provision represents part of the additional funding of £50 million, announced in the Budget 2006, for the Low-Carbon Buildings Programme. This will fund capital grants to help fund the installation of microgeneration technologies in a range of buildings including schools, social and local authority housing, businesses and public buildings.
Power Train was the engine-making part of MG Rover, which went into administration with the rest of the MG Rover Group in April 2005. The Department made two loans, totalling £6,500,000, to the administrators in April 2005 to provide working capital during the first week of the administration process. The total provisions shown in the departmental report cover the two loans as well as the Department’s contribution of £2,683,000 to the Rover Task Force, which had been set up in 1991.
European Home Leisure Accident Surveillance Survey (EHLASS)
The Department expected to receive minor sums of income from several EU projects, and a forecast was therefore included in the 2005-06 plans, with EHLASS quoted as an example of a project that had generated income in the past. In the outturns, no income was received in relation to EHLASS, but £300,000 was received from the EU for a conference on Corporate Social Responsibility and for the Gender Equality programme of the UK presidency.
National minimum wage and EC directives
Expenditure was to ensure that employers and those in work, particularly vulnerable workers, were aware of their responsibilities and rights under both UK and EC legislation. It was also to ensure that where necessary there was appropriate enforcement bodies in place to enforce them.
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