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26 Feb 2007 : Column 1025W—continued
Middlesex Guildhall
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Minister has taken to mitigate the impact of the new Supreme Court upon the Grade II* status of Middlesex Guildhall. [122299]
Ms Harman: I have been asked to reply.
The Grade II* status of Middlesex Guildhall will remain unchanged following its renovation for use as the new Supreme Court. Our renovation plans have been developed by renowned conservation architects Feilden and Mawson. They will achieve the long-term conservation objective of securing the upkeep of an historic building by maintaining it in beneficial use, in a sustainable manner. Our plans will also improve access to the building, yet lower the intensity of use. The history of the site and the Guildhall will be displayed in a purpose-built exhibition and interpretation centre within the building.
Swimming Pools
Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public swimming pools there were in England in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07. [122982]
Mr. Caborn: Annual figures for the number of public swimming pools in England are not kept centrally.
However, Sport England advise that Active Places, a publicly available database of sports facilities across England, shows the number of pools (not sites) in local authority, education and commercial ownership as follows:
| Number | |
As of November 2006 (most recent analysis of data):
| Number | |
Television: Licensing
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many personnel were involved in detecting those avoiding payment of television licence fees in Northern Ireland in (a) 2002 and (b) 2007. [122689]
Mr. Woodward [holding answer 23 February 2007]: The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration under contract to the corporation. I have referred the question to the BBC's Head of Revenue Management. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Prime Minister
Iraq: Al-Qaeda
Nick Harvey: To ask the Prime Minister what the evidential basis is for his statement to the House of 21 February 2007 that Al-Qaeda commenced its activities in Iraq in 2002. [123196]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my letter to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Ellwood). A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Members Staff: Surveillance
Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Wilson doctrine applies to staff of hon. Members. [123771]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written ministerial statement I made to the House on 30 March 2006, Official Report, column 95WS.
Philippines
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister what plans there are for visits by him to the Philippines. [122996]
The Prime Minister: For security reasons, my future engagements are announced as and when appropriate.
Constitutional Affairs
Administration of Justice
Mr. Gray: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what facilities are provided for litigants attending hearings in person at the Royal Courts of Justice to consult law reports and legal texts. [122554]
Ms Harman: There are no facilities for litigants in person attending hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice to consult law reports and legal texts.
Departments: Complaints
Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) how many complaints were received by her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2006-07 to date; [121683]
(2) how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2006-07 to date. [121685]
Ms Harman: Information about these complaints and the complaints units for these years is not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Departments: Manpower
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what methods her Department uses to retain skilled staff in socially deprived areas of the UK; and if she will make a statement. [122240]
Ms Harman: We are currently conducting a pay and grading review that will address inconsistencies in our current pay structures which have arisen following machinery of government changes which have created more than 50 different sets of pay and grading arrangements in the Department.
Our pay and grading review proposes the introduction of regional pay ranges.
Departments: Pay
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact on staff morale of the introduction of the new department pay system to be introduced on 1 April 2007. [122232]
Ms Harman: The intention is to introduce the new arrangements from 1 August 2007.
Various means of monitoring, including meetings with trade union representatives, a regular survey of staff and meetings between staff and members of the Department's management board will enable us to assess the impact of our proposals. We will take action in the light of this monitoring of staff.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure that staff in all parts of Wales will continue to receive pay which is comparable with that of staff carrying out similar roles in other areas of the UK under the new pay system to be introduced from 1 April 2007. [122246]
Ms Harman: The intention is to introduce the new arrangements from 1 August 2007.
The DCA will be introducing regional pay as part of its new pay structure. The Department understands that the introduction of regional pay to reflect the reality of local market conditions will be an expectation in HM Treasury's public pay guidelines. The objective of the new pay structures is to enable the Department to recruit and retain staff by ensuring that staff in all areas receive pay which is comparable with the local pay market. Staff in Wales will continue to receive pay which is comparable with that of staff carrying out similar roles in other areas of the UK.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) PCS and (b) other trade union organisations on the long-term effects on staff pay of the new departmental pay system to be introduced from 1 April 2007. [122247]
Ms Harman: The intention is that the new arrangements for pay and grading will apply from 1 August 2007.
I met with the Justices Unions Parliamentary Group in February 2007. DCA have been in discussion with (a) PCS and (b) Prospect and FDA for several months exploring the broad principles of our pay and grading proposals. Discussions on our detailed proposals commenced in January.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what (a) training, (b) guidance and (c) other information her Department plans to give to executive officer grade staff who have not previously been subject to performance related pay on the changes to the way in which they will be paid under the new pay system to be introduced from 1 April 2007; [122252]
(2) what steps her Department has taken to ensure that (a) staff and (b) management have a comprehensive understanding of the workings and effects of the new departmental pay system to be introduced on 1 April. [122238]
Ms Harman: The intention is to introduce the new arrangements for pay and grading into the Department for Constitutional Affairs from 1 August 2007.
Support in the form of guidance notes, information booklets and management briefings is being made available to provide training, guidance and other information to executive officer grade staff (and all other staff) about these changes.
Staff are being kept informed of developments through regular communications and managers are being trained and equipped to deal with the new policies and procedures. These activities are ongoing and will continue until and beyond the introduction of the new arrangements in August.
Departments: Theft
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from her Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months. [121985]
Ms Harman: The Department had a break-in at a county court and £268.82 cash was stolen in DCA funds. A DVD player was stolen from a magistrates court valued at £110.00. Total value £378.82
Legal Aid
Mr. Clegg: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of cases delayed by a legal aid application in each of the last five years. [122183]
Ms Harman: Information on the number of cases delayed by a legal aid application is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Defence
Training
13. Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the impact of current levels of deployment on training in the armed forces. [122592]
Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence constantly assesses the impact of operations and adjusts training programmes accordingly. Current levels of operational deployment in the armed forces have resulted in a shift of focus, particularly in the land and air environments, towards training for specific operations rather than for general contingencies.
Sierra Leone
14. Mary Creagh : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to assist peace support training in Sierra Leone. [122593]
Mr. Ingram: The United Kingdom has invested considerable effort in helping to build a Sierra Leone security sector capable of assuming responsibility for the country's security. We have provided most of the 100 strong international military advisory and training team which has been a great success to date. On peace-support operations, Sierra Leone has just started to prepare its personnel and this month passed a milestone with the deployment of three military observers to the UN missions in Nepal and East Timor. We continue to provide day to day advice and assistance to this process.
Nuclear Weapons
15. Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reduce the upper limit on the number of operationally available nuclear warheads to fewer than 160. [122594]
Des Browne: I intend that the planned reduction in the maximum number of operationally available nuclear warheads from fewer than 200 to fewer than 160, announced in December last year, will take place this year.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the public consultation on the White Paper “The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent”. [122588]
Des Browne: Since the publication of the White Paper last December, the Ministry of Defence has received some 700 written representations on the issue of the future of the UK's nuclear deterrent. I and my ministerial colleagues have also been involved in a variety of discussions and debates on this issue, including giving extensive evidence to the Defence Committee and responding to questions from a number of hon. Members.
MOD Police
17. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength of the Ministry of Defence Police is; and what it was in May 1997. [122596]
Derek Twigg: The current strength of the Ministry of Defence Police is 3,501. Although strength figures are not available for May 1997 there were 3,827 Ministry of Defence Police officers in March 1997.
The reduction in numbers between 1997 and 2007 can mainly be attributed to an Army programme to replace Ministry of Defence Police officers with Military Provost Guard Service personnel; and closures and relocation of Ministry of Defence establishments.
Iran
18. Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of Iranian involvement in the internal affairs of neighbouring states where British armed forces are deployed; and if he will make a statement. [122597]
22. Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of Iranian involvement in the internal affairs of neighbouring states where British armed forces are deployed; and if he will make a statement. [122601]
Des Browne: Iran's behaviour in support of terrorist groups in the region continues to be a cause for concern.
Support from within Iran, including by the Quds Force, goes to groups who are attacking our forces and fuels the sectarian violence in Iraq. In our assessment some of the improvised explosive devices that are being used against our forces use technology that originates from Iran.
The Government of Iraq have made it clear that they will not tolerate Iranian activity that undermines the prospects for a secure, stable and democratic Iraq.
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