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1 Feb 2007 : Column 496W—continued
| Property disposal 2005-06 | |||
| Date of sale | Post | Type of asset | Gross sales receipt (£) |
| (1) Figure represents 60 per cent. deposit received—the balance is due in financial year 2006-07. | |||
| Vehicle disposals 2005-06( 1) | |||
| Date of sale | Post | Type of asset | Gross sales receipt (£) |
| (1) The date of sale and the identity of the purchaser are not held centrally, the dates given in the table are the dates the transactions were registered on the fixed assets register. | |||
EU Constitution
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she has made to the German Chancellor’s recent statement on implementation of a constitution for the European Union. [117736]
Mr. Hoon: The Government pays close attention to statements by Chancellor Merkel as current President of the European Council. There is at present no consensus among EU member states on the future of the Constitutional Treaty. On the basis of extensive consultations with member states, the German Presidency will present a report on the state of discussion with regard to the Constitutional Treaty, and possible future developments, to the June European Council. We have every confidence that Chancellor Merkel will seek to find a consensus among member states. The Government’s approach to these discussions was set out in my written ministerial statement of 5 December 2006, Official Report, columns 10-11WS.
Nuclear Transfers
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) the transfer of heavy water and (b) the supply of (i) plutonium, (ii) uranium-235, (iii) beryllium and (iv) lithium-6 to Israel via Norway ceased. [117768]
Dr. Howells:
In 1958 the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) agreed to transfer back to Norway control of 25 tons of heavy water—11.5 tons of which was in the UK at the time. This was surplus stock that the UKAEA no longer required. By 1961, the Government became increasingly concerned about
its end use; and therefore refused to help facilitate any further shipments of heavy water to Israel.
We are not aware of any supply of plutonium, uranium-235, beryllium or lithium-6 from the UK to Israel via Norway.
Overseas Territories: Police Inspections
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when each police force in each Overseas Territory was subject to inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in the past 10 years; what the level of inspection was in each case; and if she will place in the Library copies of each report. [111531]
Mr. Hoon: Although there is no statutory requirement for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to undertake inspections of Overseas Territories’ Police Forces, as they are non-Home Office forces, during the last ten years HMIC has undertaken inspections in Gibraltar (full inspections in 2002 and 2003 followed by Baseline Assessments in 2005 and 2006), Bermuda (full inspection in 2003), the Cayman Islands (full inspection in 2002) and the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus (full inspections in 1997 and 2001 and Baseline Assessment in 2005). As these inspections were by invitation of the Governor and Overseas Territory Government concerned, the reports were not published by HMIC, although some have been published locally.
We will consult with Territory governments about placing copies of the locally published reports in the Library of the House.
Overseas Territories: Regiments
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to determine the (a) pay structure and (b) revisions to the pay structure of soldiers in (i) the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, (ii) the Royal Bermuda Regiment and (iii) military units of other Overseas Territories; what the (A) rates of pay and (B) conditions are of (1) soldiers in those regiments and (2) soldiers in the UK armed forces at equivalent ranks; and if she will make a statement. [111767]
Mr. Hoon:
Pay rates for UK service personnel are recommended by the independent Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB), which reports annually to my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary. The AFPRB bases its recommendations on broad comparability with the pay of civilian occupations of similar job weight and responsibility within the UK. To this basic pay is then added an additional element called the “X-factor” (currently 13 per cent. of basic pay). This adjustment to military pay is recommended by the AFPRB in recognition of the differences between conditions of service experienced by members of the UK armed forces over a full career and conditions in UK civilian life, which cannot be taken directly into account in assessing pay comparability. The “X-factor” is paid to service personnel (up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent at the mid pay point, beyond which it
tapers) throughout their service careers—regardless of where they are serving—and is pensionable.
The 13 per cent. “X-factor” is for regular personnel and some reservists, particularly those who are mobilised. The majority of reservists, however, receive 5 per cent. or 0 per cent. “X-factor” reflecting the different levels of commitment from those of regular personnel.
All UK service personnel are on Pay 2000, an incremental structure designed to recognise performance, length of service, and qualifications. In the case of other ranks there are two pay spines—higher and lower—and personnel are allocated to them according to their trade and rank.
Basic pay is part of a wider remuneration package payable to service personnel which includes specialist pay e.g. flying pay or parachute pay, to recruit and retain personnel in specific branches or arms within the services. Various allowances are also payable, such as a separation allowance, to compensate personnel for time away from their permanent base and separation from their families.
Members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RGR) are on the same pay structure as UK regular forces, but with a lower level of “X-factor”, 5 per cent., to reflect their different level of commitment. RGR reservists receive an “X-factor” of 2.5 per cent. Where members of the RGR volunteer for service with UK regular forces, however, they receive the same remuneration package as their UK counterparts. Pay rates for the Regiment are adjusted annually by the Ministry of Defence in accordance with the increases recommended by the AFPRB. The RGR is paid for by the UK Government.
The criteria used to determine the pay structure and revisions to the pay structure, and the conditions of service for the Bermuda Regiment, and the Falkland Islands Defence Force are a matter for the Governments of those Overseas Territories in accordance with their delegated responsibilities. They are not funded by the Government.
The Overseas Territories’ military units exist primarily for local defence, whereas the UK armed forces have an expectation of worldwide service. The respective conditions of service of these organisations will therefore be tailored accordingly.
As the information requested on pay scales is lengthy, it has been placed in the Library of the House.
Serbia
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the elections in Serbia and their implications for the process leading to Serbia’s possible accession to the EU. [117737]
Mr. Hoon: Foreign Ministers discussed the 21 January Serbian elections at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting on 22 January in Brussels. The Council welcomed the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections and took note of the preliminary election results which indicated a clear majority for reform orientated political parties.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I regularly discuss Serbia’s EU perspective with EU counterparts. The January GAERC called for the speedy formation of a Government committed to Serbia’s European course and prepared to tackle the challenges ahead in a spirit of constructive co-operation with the international community. As underlined by the December 2006 European Council, Serbia needs to accelerate efforts to meet the necessary conditions, notably full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
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