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1 May 2007 : Column 1544W—continued
Sports: Young People
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are being taken to increase participation in competitive sport among young people in (a) Romford and (b) England. [134587]
Mr. Caborn: Through the National School Sport Strategy the Government are revitalising competitive school sport in England.
The 2005-06 School Sport Survey showed the following data for competitive sport for the three School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) which fall within Romford constituency:
All schools held a competitive sports day;
72 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition; and
35 per cent. of pupils from years 4-11 were involved in inter-school competition.
All schools held a competitive sports day;
77 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition; and
43 per cent. of pupils from years 4-11 were involved in inter-school competition.
All schools held a competitive sports day;
72 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition; and
31 per cent. of pupils from years 4-11 were involved in inter-school competition.
Nationally the 2005-06 survey showed that:
97 per cent. of schools held a competitive sports day;
71 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition; and
37 per cent. of pupils from years 4-11 were involved in inter-school competition, a rise of 12 per cent. on 2003-04.
To continue to improve the quality and quantity of competitive school sport we are implementing a network of Competition Managers across School Sport Partnerships. Currently schools within the Davenant Foundation SSP are benefiting from access to a team of Competition Managers appointed from September 2006.
Sport England advise that in 2006 1,040 young people were engaged in preliminary London Youth Games events in the London borough of Havering. An additional 386 young people went to the finals, 315 of which attended the main games and 71 attended the mini-games at Crystal Palace.
In addition, we have established the UK School Games (UKSG). This is an annual event that will become the pinnacle of competitive school sport. The 2006 UKSG took place in Glasgow with 1,200 young competitors. The 2007 UKSG will take place in Coventry.
Works of Art: Valuation
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007, Official Report, columns 613-4W, on works of art: valuation, what information is required to ensure that a valuation is properly justified; and to what extent the Reviewing Committee can reduce a valuation for a UK purchaser. [134896]
Mr. Lammy:
Where an item has been sold at auction, the applicant is required to provide a copy of the entry in the sale catalogue and proof of the price at which
the item was sold. Where the valuation represents a private treaty sale or agreement to sell, the applicant is required to provide the written agreement or a certified copy of it, together with any related invoices and to confirm whether the sale agreement represents a single transaction that will not be affected by any other existing or subsequent transactions between the owner and the purchaser. Where the valuation represents an estimate, the applicant is required to provide details of the estimate with background information explaining how the value was reached.
The Reviewing Committee may recommend a valuation different from that proposed by the applicant where it considers that there are reasonable grounds to support such a recommendation. It may also recommend that the Secretary of State seek an independent valuation of the work of art in question.
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007, Official Report, columns 613-4W, on works of art: valuation, what the investigative powers are of the Reviewing Committee into valuations. [134897]
Mr. Lammy: The Committee has no formal powers of investigation, but may request the applicant to provide information to substantiate a valuation before, during and after the case hearing. If someone who applies for a licence fails to provide adequate information on valuation as requested by the Committee, the Committee may decline to make a recommendation on valuation and recommend that the Secretary of State seek an independent valuation.
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007, Official Report, columns 613-4W, on works of art: valuation, how many times an independent valuation varied from the valuation submitted to the Reviewing Committee in each of the last 10 years; and what steps were taken when this happened. [134898]
Mr. Lammy: Over the last 10 years there has been one occasion where an independent valuation varied from the valuation submitted to the Reviewing Committee. In this case, the Committee took into account all the available evidence and recommended a lower valuation than that provided by the applicant.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what submunitions are contained in the M270 tracked multiple launch rocket system that is being deployed to Afghanistan; whether he classifies these submunitions as dumb or not-dumb; and if he will make a statement. [125033]
Mr. Ingram: The M270 tracked multiple launch rocket launcher will be deployed with the new Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets.
Each GMLRS rocket has a unitary (single munition) high explosive warhead, it does not employ submunitions.
Ammunition: Iraq
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the percentage of smart cluster munitions which fail to explode immediately. [134773]
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 20 April 2007, Official Report, column 800W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith).
Armed Forces: Dogs
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average daily cost of feeding a dog in military service was in each of the last three years, broken down by service. [134092]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 26 April 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 March 2007, Official Report, column 1648W.
Armed Forces: Health Services
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has been unable to fulfil an agreed whole-time equivalent number of staff in (a) Ministry of Defence hospital units and (b) NHS trusts in each year since 2001; and how much financial compensation has been paid as a consequence. [133147]
Derek Twigg: The number of occasions when the agreed whole-time equivalent numbers have not been achieved, and the costs of meeting these shortfalls, are detailed as follows. The relevant contracts with the NHS trusts have provided for the Department to pay for civilian locum or agency replacements only since financial year 2005-06. Before then the contractual terms provided for lower levels of payment to be made by the trusts to the Department for the agreed service.
In financial year 2005-06 there were 33 occasions when the agreed whole time equivalent numbers to be provided to NHS trusts hosting Ministry of Defence hospital units were not reached. The total sum reimbursed to the NHS trusts concerned was £1.34 million.
To date, 27 such occasions have been identified for financial year 2006-07 and the total cost of reimbursement has been £1.01 million.
There has been no shortfall in either financial year in the provision of agreed whole time equivalent numbers to any other NHS Trusts hosting military medical personnel.
Civilian Global Navigation System
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential implications for British national security of European proposals to institute a civilian global navigation system. [134353]
Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
The UK welcomes the development of Galileo, Europe's civil global navigation satellite system, under civil control, and its many civil applications. We will continue to scrutinise Galileo's development so that any national security implications that could arise from the programme or its applications can be dealt with appropriately.
Defence
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the formal (a) meetings and (b) correspondence which (i) he, (ii) other Ministers in his Department and (iii) officials in his Department have had in an official capacity with representatives from the defence industry since 1 December 2006; when each meeting took place; who attended each meeting; what the subject was of each meeting; and if he will make a statement. [129394]
Mr. Ingram: Defence Ministers have held the following meetings with defence manufacturers between 1 December 2006 and 31 March 2007.
18 January—Met with representatives of Vosper Thornycroft and Fleet Support Ltd. during a visit to HM Naval Base, Portsmouth.
Minister for Defence Procurement (Minister for Defence Equipment and Support from 6 March 2007)
10 January—Attendance at a BAE Systems Leadership Meeting.
15 January—Meeting with representatives from BAe to discuss UK/FR high level working group.
16 January—Meeting of the National Defence Industry Council.
17 January—Meeting with representatives from General Dynamic UK to discuss the FRES project.
18 January—Meeting with representatives from British Nuclear Group to discuss decommissioning of redundant nuclear submarines.
18 January—Meeting with a representative from Ventures Business Research to discuss possible areas co-operation.
24 January—Meeting with a representative from Babcock to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
24 January—Meeting with representatives from Currie and Brown to discuss management IT software opportunities.
25 January—Meeting with representatives from Carlyle Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
29 January—Meeting with representatives from Agusta Westland to discuss helicopters.
30 January—Meeting with representatives from Raytheon to discuss a range of equipment issues.
1 February—Meeting with representatives from the Carlyle Group to discuss QinetiQ.
22 February—Meeting with representatives from Eurocopter to discuss helicopters.
22 February—Meeting with representatives from VT Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
28 February—Meeting with representatives form BAE Systems to discuss munitions.
1 March—Meeting with a representative from Babcock to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
5 March—Meeting with a representative from the Carlyle Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
6 March—Meeting with Deloitte to discuss the Defence Industry Strategy.
12 March—Meeting with a representative from BAE Systems to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
12 March—Meeting with a representative from MBDA to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
12 March—Meeting with a representative from VT Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
19 March—Meeting with a representative from BAE Systems to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
19 March—Meeting with a representative from the Carlyle Group to discuss the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
26 March—Meeting with a representative from General Dynamics UK to discuss various equipment programmes.
27 March—Meeting of the National Defence Industry Council.
27 March—Meeting with a representative from the MBDA to discuss the Defence Manufacturers Association.
29 March—Introductory meeting with a representative from Nexter with discussions including FRES and munitions.
29 March—Meeting with a representative from Finmeccanica to discuss a variety of equipment issues including helicopters.
Under Secretary of State for Defence
1 March—Meeting with a representative from Marshalls Aerospace to discuss the relocation of the company to Cambridge airport.
6 March—Meeting with a representative from EDS Ltd. to discuss the introduction of a new Veterans card.
Each of the Defence Ministers may also have met with defence manufacturers on other less formal occasions during the period, including whilst visiting company premises or at party political events.
Details of every meeting between officials and representatives from defence manufacturers is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However there will have been numerous regular and ad hoc meetings since 1 December 2006.
Land: Sales
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2007, Official Report, column 1035W, on land: sales, in what circumstances a land quality assessment is not carried out; and how the value of the land is calculated in those circumstances. [134516]
Derek Twigg: It is normal for the MOD to undertake Land Quality Assessments (LQA) on all sites being considered for disposal.
In line with industry best practice, the MOD LQA process adopts a structured phased approach and is tailored to individual site conditions. It is not necessary to carry out every phase for all sites. For example past use may be such that potential risks identified at a LQA preliminary phase may be sufficiently quantified not to warrant proceeding to the next phase. The value of the land will ultimately be determined by the market.
Mercenaries: Iraq
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the rules of engagement for private military companies operating in Iraq. [133528]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 23 April 2007]: I have been asked to reply.
The operation of private security companies in Iraq is regulated by Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Memorandum Number 17. CPA legislation remains in force as part of the law of Iraq by virtue of Article 130 of the Iraqi Constitution until amended or repealed by the Iraqi Government. Annex A to CPA Memorandum Number 17 sets out binding rules on the use of force, which apply to all private security companies in Iraq. I will arrange for CPA Memorandum Number 17 to be placed in the Library of the House. It is already available on the following website:
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