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18 Jun 2007 : Column 1436W—continued
The reason for the increase in spend during 2005-06 and 2006-07 is due to the Youth Justice Agency's specific strategy of raising public awareness of the additional services available locally through the roll-out of the Youth Conferencing process across Northern Ireland.
Freedom of Information
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Freedom of Information requests have been received by each Northern Ireland Office (a) Department or (b) agency since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force; and how many of those requests were (i) agreed and (ii) denied. [123452]
Paul Goggins: An administrative error meant that the answer to this question was not tabled prior to restoration. Had it not been missed, the answer would have indicated that the response rates for the NI Departments are as listed in the following table.
This, however, would now be a matter for the Northern Ireland administration.
The information provided covers the period from 1 January 2005 as although the Freedom of Information Act received Royal Assent in 2000 it only came into force from 1 January 2005.
| Department | Requests received— 1 January 2005 to 30 September 2006( 1) | Number of resolvable requests( 2) | Number granted in full | Number granted in part | Number withheld in full |
| (1) Figures include requests made under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. (2) Excludes requests on hold or lapsed, where information is not held or where the request was outstanding at time of reporting. (3) DCAL figures includes requests made to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. | |||||
The Department for Constitutional Affairs published quarterly reports for Whitehall Department; statistics for the Northern Ireland Office are included in these. Figures for the first quarter of 2007 (1 January to 31 March) will be published in due course.
The following table covers figures relating to the performance of the Northern Ireland Office. The information supplied in relation to the Northern Ireland Office does not include information on the agencies. The agencies are not required to monitor statistics relating to Freedom of Information requests.
| Department | Requests received— 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2006( 1) | Number of resolvable requests( 2) | Number granted in full | Number granted in part | Number withheld in full |
| (1) Figures include requests made under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. (2) Excludes requests on hold or lapsed, where information is not held or where the request was outstanding at time of reporting. | |||||
Immigrants: Crime
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foreign nationals were convicted of criminal offences in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [142638]
Maria Eagle: At present information in relation to nationality is not included in court sentencing data and therefore it is not possible to calculate the number of foreign nationals who were convicted of criminal offences. I anticipate that such information will become available with the development of the Causeway information system.
Northern Ireland Government
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those matters on which he will answer questions following the resumption of devolved government; and if he will make a statement. [142385]
Mr. Hain: I will answer questions on those matters for which I retain responsibility following the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland—primarily for policing, security policy, prisons, criminal justice, constitutional matters and the operation of the Northern Ireland devolution settlement.
Defence
Ghana
9. Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department is providing to peace support training in Ghana. [142917]
Derek Twigg:
We provide a Defence section within the high commission and an eight man British Military Advisory Training Team as assistance to peace support training in Ghana. Ghana currently deploys upwards of 2,800 peacekeepers on peace-support operations
both within Africa and elsewhere. The Defence Advisers and British Military Advisory Training Team provide day to day advice, training and assistance to this process.
Unexploded Ordnance
10. Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the steps taken to remove land mines and explosive remnants of war. [142918]
Derek Twigg: The UK has been actively engaged in removing landmines and explosive remnants of war worldwide. This has had a real impact in reducing civilian casualties. The UK is contributing funds towards humanitarian de-mining programmes and initiatives to train de-mining personnel in Kenya and Kosovo and has built an explosive destruction facility in Bosnia. In addition since 2001, the Department for International Development has contracted at least £10 million per year on mine action. In April 2007, DFID announced a further £30 million to mine action over the next three years.
Warship Procurement
11. Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the types and numbers of future warships to be ordered for the Royal Navy. [142919]
Des Browne: Over the next 20 years we expect to contract for or build more than 20 major warships, including nuclear attack submarines, new aircraft carriers and more air defence destroyers, and to begin a new class of fleet escorts. Numerous support ships will also come into service over this period.
Naval Accommodation
12. Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of the implications for naval accommodation when decisions are made about royal naval training and the basing of ships. [142920]
Derek Twigg: The potential implications for naval accommodation, for both single personnel and families, are always taken fully into account whenever decisions are taken about royal naval training or the basing of ships. These considerations are an integral component of any review, such as the defence training review and the naval base review, that could have implications for the location of naval personnel.
Operational Injuries
13. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many very serious injuries have been sustained in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq in 2007. [142921]
Derek Twigg: Between 1 January this year and 31 May, seven military personnel in Afghanistan and 14 military personnel in Iraq were categorised as very seriously injured. Regretfully, there have in addition been 16 fatalities in Afghanistan and 24 in Iraq during 2007.
Super Garrisons
14. Mr. Kidney To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the development of super garrisons in the UK. [142923]
Derek Twigg: The Army aspires to quartering the majority of its units in fewer, bigger and better garrisons, known as “super garrisons” over the coming decades. Detailed work to develop this approach is continuing. The actual locations of super garrisons have yet to be decided.
Surplus Military Equipment
15. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards are in place to prevent the acquisition of dangerous surplus military equipment by private individuals. [142924]
Des Browne: The MOD takes the disposal of military equipment very seriously. Other than major capital platforms sold on a Government-to-Government basis, the MOD does not sell any item that has a potential dangerous or offensive use, and all such items are destroyed or recycled. Other equipment sold into the commercial marketplace is demilitarised and declassified before sale, as appropriate.
Cocaine Interdiction
17. Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Royal Navy is playing in the prevention of cocaine smuggling in the Caribbean. [142926]
Des Browne: The Royal Navy makes a major contribution to international counter drug operations in the Caribbean as one element of the UK's broader counter drugs engagement in the region. During 2006-07 Royal Navy vessels were involved in the seizure of over 17 tonnes of cocaine, with a street value in the UK of £680 million.
Airfield Review
18. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on his airfield review. [142927]
Derek Twigg: Ministers have received a number of representations from hon. Members and the public about studies that have been and are being undertaken across military airfields.
Troop Relocations
19. Mr. Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the relocation of Army personnel from Germany. [142928]
Derek Twigg: As part of the Future Army Structures, I can confirm that the transition of 4th Armoured Brigade into 4th Mechanized Brigade has been made and the unit continues to train and equip for its new role. 4th Mechanized Brigade will move from OsnabrÃ1/4ck to Catterick during 2008-09.
In addition the BORONA Programme is currently assessing a number of possible UK locations for elements of the British Army's Germany-based units. No decisions have yet been taken.
RAF Cosford
20. Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Cosford. [142929]
Derek Twigg: The aeronautical engineering and communications and information systems training currently delivered at Cosford will relocate to St. Athan as proposed by the Metrix Consortium as part of the defence training review programme. No significant moves, however, are anticipated before 2011. There are currently no plans to close Cosford, and we are exploring a number of proposals for the future defence use of the site.
Veterans Badge Scheme
21. Mr. Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the veterans badge scheme. [142930]
Derek Twigg: The veterans badge scheme has proved extremely popular since it was launched in 2004, with over 460,000 issued to date. It is my intention that all armed forces veterans should receive their badge at the earliest opportunity. A regular programme of extensions to eligibility has been conducted based on our capacity to handle demand, and further extensions of eligibility to apply for the badge will follow as soon as practicable.
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