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11 Jan 2007 : Column 706Wcontinued
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) meetings and (b) correspondence between him and (i) defence manufacturers and (ii) defence industry lobbyists in the last 12 months. [105196]
Mr. Ingram: The Defence Ministers have held the following meetings with defence manufacturers, defence industry lobby groups and trades unions over the period 1 December 2005 to 1 December 2006.
A list of all correspondence between the Defence Ministers and defence manufacturers and defence industry lobby groups is not held by the MOD and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what events have been planned to commemorate the 25(th) anniversary of the Falkland Islands War. [113483]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence is organising events to commemorate the 25(th) anniversary of the Falklands conflict in June 2007. I refer the hon. Member to the details that I gave in a written ministerial statement on 16 November 2006, Official Report, column 2WS.
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider awarding the South Atlantic Medal to all servicemen and women who served on HMS Ledbury, HMS Brecon and RMS St. Helena during the Falklands campaign of 1982; and if he will make a statement. [114585]
Derek Twigg: The eligibility criteria for the South Atlantic Medal 1982 were carefully and extensively considered at the time. There are no plans to review these criteria.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on 1 Battalion Grenadier Guards of the withdrawal of some of the troops' longer separation allowance. [113371]
Derek Twigg: The allowance to which the hon. Gentleman refers the accumulated turbulence bonuses (ATB). These are ending on 31 March 2007 following a decision agreed in 2003 as part of a rebalancing of pay and allowances to target better those personnel who experience the most separation. This change has been well publicised across all three services.
The 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards made a representation to retain the ATB for the duration of their tour of Afghanistan between March and November 2007. While full consideration was given to the representation, it was concluded that there was no justification for treating them differently from other parts of the armed forces. ATB will however be paid to those personnel who qualify for it until the end of March 2007. After that, they will move onto the new allowance systemlonger separation allowancewhich has a maximum daily payment of £25.42 per day, compared with the current maximum daily payment of £12.82.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of television advertising campaigns in 2006 in encouraging the recruitment of infantry personnel. [112988]
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