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14 May 2007 : Column 504W—continued
Zimbabwe: Travel Restrictions
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the government of Portugal on upholding the travel ban on Robert Mugabe and those closely associated with his regime in the context of the summit between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States to be held in Portugal in November. [136731]
Dr. Howells: The UK wants a successful EU-Africa Summit that signals the EU’s commitment to Africa and confirms a genuine partnership between the two continents founded on a respect for good governance and human rights, which is currently lacking in Zimbabwe. We have made our views on Zimbabwean representation at the Summit clear to our EU partners. On 22 March the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met with the Portuguese Ambassador where the matter of Mugabe attending the summit was raised. We will look to the Presidency for a solution on Zimbabwean attendance that is consistent with the EU Common Position on Zimbabwe.
Education and Skills
Care Proceedings
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were the subject of new care proceedings in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 1997. [134671]
Ms Harman: I have been asked to reply.
The following table shows the number of applications (number of children) who were subject to new care proceedings in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year from 2003 to 2006.
| Number of Public Law Children Act Applications m ade for a Care Order, 2003-06 | ||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | |
Language Service Professionals
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if he will take steps to protect the professional title of language service professionals for deaf people, including (a) BSL/English interpreters, (b) lipspeakers, (c) deaf-blind interpreters and (d) speech to text reporters; [115951]
(2) if he will take steps to create a register of all language service professionals for deaf people, including (a) BSL/English interpreters, (b) lipspeakers, (c) deaf-blind interpreters and (d) speech to text reporters for public bodies; [115952]
(3) when he will answer Questions (a) (i) 115951 and (ii) 115952 tabled on 11 January, and (b) 126821, tabled on 7 March, by the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham. [128420]
Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have responsibility for funding providers of post-16 further education and training. This funding includes Additional Learning Support (ALS) which is used by providers to fund the additional learning needs of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including those learners with hearing impairments. Providers determine how their ALS funding is used to ensure that it meets the needs of their learners.
The Department is not responsible for protecting the professional titles, or providing a register of language service professionals, as it is for providers to determine how best to meet the needs of their learners, and therefore which professionals to use to deliver this support.
Poverty: Durham
Dr. Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the rate of poverty is amongst children in (a) County Durham and (b) the City of Durham; and what it was in 1997. [126173]
Mr. Jim Murphy: I have been asked to reply.
The information is not available below the level of Government Office Region.
Pupils: Contraceptives
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in (a) Essex, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) the Metropolitan Police Area of London distribute the morning after pill to pupils (i) with and (ii) without parental knowledge or permission; and which plan to do so in the next 12 months. [136774]
Beverley Hughes: The data requested are not collected by this Department. Health professionals are able to supply Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) to under 16s without notifying parents, provided they are satisfied that the young person is competent to understand fully the implications of any treatment. Our position is that EHC should be available to help prevent pregnancy in emergency situations, but not used as a substitute for more reliable forms of contraception.
Secondary Education: Student Numbers
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many secondary schools have (a) between 1,000 and 1,500 pupils, (b) between 1,500 and 2,000 pupils and (c) more than 2,000 pupils in each local authority area. [132179]
Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House Library.
Defence
Service Personnel: Health Care
8. Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision his Department makes for the healthcare of injured servicemen and women. [136576]
Derek Twigg: A key factor in the Government’s duty of care towards the members of the armed forces is ensuring they receive high-quality medical care, both while deployed on operations and back in the UK. This can range from life-saving surgery in our deployed field hospitals and NHS facilities in the UK, to treatment of routine ailments on a daily basis. Our mental health services are configured in line with national best practice.
18. Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of medical support for service personnel on their return to the UK from operational theatres; and if he will make a statement. [136589]
Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Mr. Evennett).
Iraq
14. Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Iraq. [136582]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh).
19. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Iraq. [136590]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) and Surrey Heath (Michael Gove).
QinetiQ
15. James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with QinetiQ in relation to public access to (a) Foulness Island and (b) Ministry of Defence land operated by QinetiQ. [136583]
Derek Twigg: I have had no discussions with QinetiQ in relation to public access either at Foulness Island or at other Ministry of Defence sites operated by QinetiQ.
However, the Department is keen to maximise public access to its sites where possible, including those operated on its behalf by QinetiQ. Such access must be balanced with the need to ensure security and public safety.
Iran: Seizure of British Equipment
16. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in recovering boats and equipment seized by Iran from UK armed forces in (a) June 2004 and (b) March 2007. [136586]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne).
Helicopters
17. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve the availability of helicopters in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan. [136587]
Mr. Ingram: We keep the requirement for helicopters in both theatres under constant review.
Last summer my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary announced the deployment of an additional two Chinook to Afghanistan and an increase in the available helicopter hours.
On 30 March, he announced our plans to make an additional 14 helicopters available for deployment by converting eight Chinook Mk3 aircraft and purchasing another six Merlin from Denmark.
Landmines
20. Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his assessment is of the effectiveness of initiatives taken by the UK to remove landmines and explosive remnants of war. [136591]
Mr. Ingram: MOD has three initiatives to remove landmines and explosive remnants of war. These three projects are judged to be highly successful: the first involves 98 explosive ordnance disposal and de-mining personnel for the Kosovo Protection Corps. The second is the Bosnian project, which on completion will have destroyed over 10,000 tons of ammunition. And the third is the International Mine Action and Training Centre in Kenya, which has trained some 3,800 African and international personnel in de-mining and associated skills. Wider initiatives by the UK, funded by DFID at £10 million per year are targeted at the world's poorest nations which have reduced casualties significantly.
Afghanistan
21. Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with NATO counterparts on NATO's commitment to operations in Afghanistan. [136592]
Des Browne: I meet frequently to discuss Afghanistan with my NATO counterparts and with Defence Ministers of other countries committed to operations in Afghanistan, such as Sweden and Australia.
Ballistic Missile Defence
22. Mr. Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the potential role of ballistic missile defence in UK security policy. [136593]
Des Browne: We welcome the recent announcement by the US to augment their ballistic missile defence system with interceptors based in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic, thereby also providing coverage for most of Europe, including the UK. We continue to examine the potential options for the role of ballistic missile defence in UK security policy, both with the US and other NATO allies.
Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations
Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the deployment of new armoured vehicles in Afghanistan. [136641]
Des Browne: The first batches of Mastiff and Vector protected patrol vehicles have been delivered to Afghanistan and deliveries will continue over the coming weeks and months.
I am withholding details of delivery schedules as it would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our armed forces.
Air Force: Military Bases
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) military and (b) civilian aircraft (i) took off from and (ii) landed at each operational Royal Air Force flying station in the United Kingdom between 11 pm. and 7 am in the last 12 months for which figures are available on (A) weekdays and (B) weekends; and which stations were involved. [136439]
Mr. Ingram: These data will take time to collate. Once this work has been completed I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Aircraft Carriers: Procurement
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place the order for the new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy. [136180]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) on 3 May 2007, Official Report, column 1848W.
Armed Forces: Children
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether there are any cases of families consisting of a married couple with children in which both parents are serving in combat overseas in HM armed forces; [130649]
(2) whether there are any cases in which all legal guardians of a child are serving in combat overseas in HM armed forces. [130650]
Derek Twigg: All three services have policies that aim to minimise the incidence of both service parents of children being deployed on operations concurrently, though the overriding factor is the identified operational requirement. Also, guidance is issued to service personnel to highlight the need for appropriate care arrangements to be in place.
The armed forces record the details of dependent children (children for whom a service person has parental responsibility). Records are not held of other arrangements made by service personnel for their children or for children of third parties.
At this time, records show there are fewer than five HM armed forces married (or civil partners) couples with children in which both parents are serving in combat areas overseas. This figure has been rounded up for data protection reasons to avoid the identification of any individuals.
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