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9 May 2007 : Column 208W—continued


The figures, for cases decided by the Secretary of State, should be seen in the context of the total number of planning decisions made by Inspectors of the Planning Inspectorate:

Number

2002-03

14,950

2003-04

18,194

2004-05

17,403

2005-06

21,493

2006-07

20,860


For the most recent year, the 16 decisions made by the Secretary of State against the recommendation of the Inspector represents 0.08 per cent. of the total number of decisions made by Inspectors or the Secretary of State.

There are no regional planning authorities, as suggested in the question. It may be that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the Government Office regions. Should this be the case, I would be more than happy to provide him with this information on request.

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account she takes of local residents’ views when determining planning applications. [135778]

Meg Munn: The Secretary of State fully takes into account the views of local people when determining planning applications. The principle of fully considering the views of local people, and the importance the Secretary of State ascribes to this process, is outlined in paragraphs 40-44 of Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development.

Furthermore, the Secretary of State will always consider the Inspector’s Report, inquiry evidence and post-inquiry representations—all of which incorporate the views of local people.

Defence

Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on reconstruction works in Afghanistan being undertaken by those responsible to him. [132266]

Mr. Ingram: The Secretary of State announced the deployment of additional Royal Engineers on 10 July 2006 to accelerate the reconstruction effort in southern Afghanistan. It is worth noting, though, that the UK task force as a whole is deployed to provide security so that reconstruction and development may take place.

The following tables list quick impact projects being undertaken in Helmand Province, and the progress that has been made to date. I have stated the agency responsible for the implementation of each project, and identified whether the responsible agency reports to the MOD. It is important to note, however, that in all instances the military work closely with other Government Departments and non-governmental organisations to agree key priorities with the Afghan authorities. In many instances, project delivery will require the involvement of a number of agencies. This is in line with our comprehensive approach.

In addition to the projects in the following table, there are a number of long-term development initiatives being undertaken throughout Afghanistan, to which the Department for International Development (DFID) contributes. DFID funds around $60 million over three years (2006-09) in support of their Helmand Agriculture and Rural Development Programme.


9 May 2007 : Column 209W

9 May 2007 : Column 210W
Security
Responsible agency Agency responsible to MOD Location Title Total cost ($) Status

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Permanent Vehicle Check Point (PVCP)

21,387

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Gereshk

Afghan National Police (ANP) Infrastructure in Gereshk

240,000

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Afghan National Army (ANA) Platoon House

40,387

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

ANP Outposts

143,964

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

4 x PVCPs

155,000

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

4 x Enhanced PVCPs

110,000

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Helmand

Construction resources for 12 modular Military Construction Force built ANP temporary police stations/PVCPs

600,000

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

New Joint Provincial Coordination Centre

161,147

Complete

Governor’s Office

No

Lashkar Gah

2 x PVCPs

16,800

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Ablutions at US Protection and Investigations (USPI) compound for Afghan National Auxiliary Police (ANAP) training

5,265

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Tombstone

Camp Shorabak (ANA) Mosque

100,000

Planned

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Provision of security infrastructure for Governor’s office and Bost Hotel

84,227

In progress

Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT)

Yes

Kajaki

Water/Fuel storage for the ANA

1,200

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Gereshk

Upgrade to ANA compound in Gereshk

15,000

Complete

Operations Company

Yes

Laskhar Gah

Upgrade to Muktar Gate

6,475

In progress

42 Commando

Yes

Nowzad

Rubble Clearance

0

In progress

Royal Military Police (RMP)

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Bonus Scheme for ANP top-performers at PVCPs

3,000

In progress

Information Exploitation Group

Yes

Garmsir

Garmsir PVCP repairs

700

In progress

Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)

No

Lashkar Gah

Afghan Meeting facility

651

Complete

Total

1,705,203



9 May 2007 : Column 211W

9 May 2007 : Column 212W

9 May 2007 : Column 213W

9 May 2007 : Column 214W
Social and economic development
Responsible agency Agency responsible to MOD Location Title Total cost ($) Status

Helping Afghan Farmers Organisation (HAFO)

No

Gereshk

Sayed Tajdar Shrine: wall and gate construction

21,224

Complete

HAFO

No

Gereshk

Sayed Tajdar Shrine: road and footpath construction

33,076

Complete

HAFO

No

Lashkar Gah

Improvement of Friday market and Gabion wall

140,623

Complete

HAFO

No

Cha-i-Anjeer

Improvement of Friday market

24,950

Complete

HAFO

No

Lashkar Gah

Gabion Extension

34,108

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Safean Playground

50,000

In progress

PRT

No

Lashkar Gah

Support to Office of Governor to respond to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) needs

60,000

Complete

Information Operations (IO)

Yes

Lashkar Gah

improvements to Media Centre

8,336

Complete

Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC)

Yes

Lashkar Gah/Gereshk

Installation of solar-powered lighting

280,960

In progress

IO

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Support to Radio Stations

150,000

In progress

HAFO

No

Lashkar Gah

Weir on Helmand River

161,848

Complete

HAFO

No

Lashkar Gah

Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River

168,045

Complete

HAFO

No

Lashkar Gah

Silt Removal from Helmand River

259,479

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Bost Hospital Generator and Mortuary

130,400

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Security wall for Women’s Centre

30,000

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Building work for Kartelegan and Toortank day care centres

86,052

Complete

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Women’s Centre sewing ISAF badges to UK mil uniforms

750

Complete

Governor’s Office

No

Nahrisiraj

Work to clear and strengthen stretch of Nahrisiraj canal

12,000

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Construction of 8 new classrooms at Zacor School

80,008

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Connection of a new school to electricity grid

1,809

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Construction of a 20 room midwifery hostel

221,762

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Construction of a perimeter wall for Cha I Anjeer school

25,000

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Essential repairs to Bolan Bridge

231,728

In progress

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Welfare Association for Development of Afghanistan (WADAN) Playground

1,090

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Repairs to 3 schools

185,062

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Improvements to Lashkar Gah library

13,925

Complete

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Sports equipment for 8 schools

0

Planned

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah

School sports equipment

30,000

Planned

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Kartelegan Playground

52,237

Complete

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Welfare Centre Kitchen

15,819

In progress

HAFO

No

Lashkar Gah

Women’s Park

840,813

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

New School in Qala-e-Khana

0

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Refurbishment of Nawa School

72,713

In progress

Ministry of Public Health

No

Lashkar Gah

Rapid Assessment of Mukhtar IDP camp

973

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Musa Qaleh

Repairs to 3 mosques

350,000

Planned

Royal Engineers

Yes

Gereshk

Playground and Football pitch

39,098

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Gereshk

Seminar Awal School repairs

0

Planned

Royal Engineers

Yes

Gereshk

Technical School repairs

0

Planned

Royal Engineers

Yes

Gereshk

Abolfathi Botsi Boys School Repairs

0

Planned

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Ministry of Agriculture Tree

6,750

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Garmsir

Reconstruction using local labour—road, wells, ditches

4,000

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Garmsir

Culvert bridge

500

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Garmsir

Bore Hole and Hand Pump

1,750

In Progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Nahr-e-Saraj

Lashkar Gah-Gereshk canal road culvert and gravel track repairs

28,272

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

3 km asphalt road and solid drainage Kartelegan-601

429,950

In progress

CIMIC

Yes

Garmsir

CHC Generator Repair

505

In progress

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah/Gereshk

Midwifery Kits

5,416

In progress

Stabilisation Advisor (STABAD)

No

Lashkar Gah

Carpet weaving pilot project

82,733

In Progress

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Furniture for Zacor High School

20,000

Complete

PRT

No

Helmand

Support to Director of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (DRRD) for Musa Qaleh IDPs

800

Complete

CIMIC

Yes

Gereshk

Refuse Collection Points and new trucks

34,000

In progress

CIMIC

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Upgrade to Bost Hospital Grounds

150,860

In progress

CIMIC

Yes

Gereshk

Furniture for Gereshk Women’s Group

1,920

Complete

HAFO

No

Lashkar Gah

Lashkar Gah Bus Station

854,327

In progress

UK Task Force (UKTF)

Yes

Garmsir

Wells and Water Tower

10,800

In progress

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Covered waiting area at Bost Hospital

7,000

Complete

Royal Engineers

Yes

Lashkar Gah

Reconstruct Dept of Land Registry

98,142

In progress

CIMIC

Yes

Helmand

Procure 3 GPS units

500

In progress

PRT

No

Helmand

Provide Plant Machinery to DRRD

2,268,000

In progress

Police Mentors

No

Lashkar Gah

Additional Support to the Traffic Division

40,000

In progress

Total

7,860,113


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