| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
20 Jun 2007 : Column 1805W—continued
Defence
Armed Forces: Hospitals
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2007, Official Report, column 139W, on the armed forces: Selly Oak hospital, what recent assessment he has made of the views of military patients treated at hospitals of the University of Birmingham Foundation Trust. [143756]
Derek Twigg: The latest analysis of the pilot patient survey (now covering the period from late December 2006 to 31 May 2007) confirms earlier findings that the overwhelming majority of military in-patients treated at the trust's hospitals who responded to the survey consider their overall care to have been “excellent”, “very good” or “good”. Questionnaires were returned by around three-quarters of in-patients surveyed over the period. Participation in the anonymous survey is voluntary.
Armed Forces: Housing
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of infestation by vermin in forces’ accommodation were reported in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [142102]
Derek Twigg: Recording of pest infestation information is the responsibility of the individual Heads of Establishments and Records only have to be retained for three years. Given the large number of establishments it will take a little time to ascertain what information can be collected and collated.
I will write to the hon. Member as soon as inquiries are complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Defence Housing Executive
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Defence Housing Executive’s Annual Report and Accounts for each year since 1999. [142524]
Derek Twigg: Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts are available in the Library of the House.
Departments: Advertising
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to (a) television, (b) radio and (c) print media. [128077]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence engages in a range of recruitment and public relations campaigns in order that the work of the MOD and armed forces is communicated to the general public. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Gurkhas: Medical Treatment
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access Gurkha soldiers have to medical treatment in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [143689]
Derek Twigg: Medical treatment for the individual Gurkha soldier is the same as that provided to his serving British counterpart.
Iraq and Afghanistan: Medical Suppliers
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms are in place to monitor the provision of medicine and medical supplies to armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. [142968]
Derek Twigg: Highly effective procedures are in place, at all levels of the Ministry of Defence, to monitor the provision of medicine and medical supplies to deployed forces.
Specialist medical supply staff are deployed in both theatres to monitor usage on the ground and ensure timely and accurate re-supply demands to the UK base.
There are also specialist medical officers in the headquarters in both Iraq and Afghanistan and part of their role is to oversee the provision of medical supplies. Similarly, there are medical personnel within the permanent joint headquarters to advise senior commanders on medical matters, including if necessary, the provision of supplies.
Medical supplies are given a high priority and, in the case of medicines, are always transported by the fastest means.
Maritime Role Three Medical Capability
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capabilities, infrastructure and equipment will be provided under the Maritime Role Three Medical Capability. [140996]
Derek Twigg: The Maritime Role Three Medical Capability will contribute to the medical care of UK personnel deployed on operations. The project is currently undertaking research to confirm the overall defence requirement. Accordingly, the precise nature of the capabilities, infrastructure and equipment to be provided have not yet been determined.
Princess Royal Barracks
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the parents of Army recruits who died at Deepcut Army Barracks were not informed that Devon and Cornwall police had recommended a murder inquiry into the deaths; and if he will make a statement. [143402]
Mr. Ingram: The outcome and reporting of the review by the Devon and Cornwall police on the Surrey police investigation into the deaths of four recruits at Deepcut is entirely a matter for the police authorities involved and the Home Office.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he was (a) informed about and (b) approved the closure of the website relating to the Deepcut Review conducted by Nicholas Blake QC; and if he will make a statement. [143403]
Mr. Ingram: No. The website was set up by Nicholas Blake QC for the duration of the review and closed recently, more than a year after the report was published in March 2006. The report is still available on the internet on Nicholas Blake’s webpage at Matrix Chambers at:
A copy will also shortly be put on to the MOD’s website at:
RAF Northolt
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions (a) the Prime Minister and (b) other Ministers of the Crown flew from RAF Northolt in each year since 2003. [137920]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 17 May 2007]: The following table details on how many occasions the Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Crown have flown from RAF Northolt in each financial year since 2003:
| Financial year | Prime Minister | Ministers of the Crown |
Somalia: Piracy
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance the UK is (a) sending and (b) planning to send to aid the United States' efforts to end piracy off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. [143234]
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken by the Royal Navy against piracy off the coast of Somalia. [143331]
Mr. Ingram: The UK currently has forces deployed as part of the Coalition Naval Task Force which operates in the Arabian sea and Indian ocean, including off the coast of Somalia. These assets are deployed on a range of maritime security tasks, and could respond to incidents of piracy should they arise.
Submarines: Pay
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost is of submarine pay being paid to Royal Navy personnel not currently serving onboard a submarine. [143607]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 18 June 2007]: The total cost of submarine pay is currently approximately £27 million per annum of which £12 million per annum is paid to personnel not currently serving on board a submarine.
Territorial Army
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how the figure for the planned reduction for funding for the Territorial Army in financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 as a result of the Defence Programme 2007 was arrived at; and what factors were taken into account in deciding to make the reduction; [142678]
(2) when the Armed Forces Minister was first informed of the potential impact of the reduction of funding for the Territorial Army in financial years 2007-08 to 2008-09. [142908]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 15 June 2007]: A range of measures was considered collectively during the Department’s Planning Round to balance the Defence Programme and ensure that all areas of Defence, including the Territorial Army, operate as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. It was judged that we could make a small adjustment to TA expenditure in order to ensure that resources were allocated in line
with Defence priorities, while ensuring that TA support to current operations remained unaffected.
This measure formed part of the Defence Programme 07 submitted to Ministers in February 2007 for consideration and approval, as part of the departmental planning round process.
International Development
Developing Countries: Education
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) whether he expects the targets set at the recent G8 summit for education for every child to be met by 2015; [143733]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that targets set at the last G8 summit for education for every child will be met by 2015. [143773]
Hilary Benn: While the G8 did not agree additional long-term education targets at the Heiligendamm summit, the G8 did agree to implement the commitments on development made at Gleneagles. This includes support for long-term funding for education, and to continue to work with partners and other donors to meet shortfalls in all Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) endorsed countries, estimated by the FTI Secretariat at around $500 million for 2007.
With regard to the Millennium Development Goal target of achieving universal primary education by 2015, faster progress and a concerted effort by all donors is needed. The UK has already made a long-term commitment to help achieve this target through our promise to provide £8.5 million over 10 years in support of education, announced in April 2006. The support for long-term funding agreed at Heiligendamm is welcomed and shows that the UK approach and example should be adopted. We will continue to use all opportunities to urge other donors to also meet their promises.
Malawi: Water
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he expects UK funding for the World Bank’s Second National Water Development Programme in Malawi to be allocated to one or more specific components of the World Bank project; what the time scale is of the UK contribution; and if he will make a statement. [143963]
Hilary Benn:
The UK is looking to contribute to the World Bank’s second National Water Development Programme in Malawi through the World Bank’s Africa Catalytic Growth Fund (ACGF). The ACGF, part of the Bank’s Africa Action Plan, aims to help Africa make faster progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and increasing the rate of economic growth. Financed by voluntary contributions, the ACGF complements other sources of development financing, including those from the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). The UK has committed £200 million to the ACGF, of which £90 million has been paid to the Bank, to date, to support five projects. We are currently discussing
with the Bank a proposed ACGF allocation of about $30 million (£15 million) to the Malawi National Water Development Programme, which would focus on strengthening the rural water supply and sanitation component, to be financed from the next UK contribution to the ACGF (due in April 2008).
Somalia: Overseas Aid
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the outcomes of UK financial support for the Somali Transitional Federal Government. [144178]
Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 14 June 2007, Official Report, columns 1250-51W, which outlines the details, effectiveness and tangible examples of the UK’s support to the Somali Transitional Federal Government.
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of the adequacy of the level of humanitarian funding to Somalia. [144180]
Hilary Benn: Our assessment is that funding for humanitarian activities is adequate, but we remain concerned about access issues for agencies trying to work on the ground, and about the continuing restrictions being placed on humanitarian actors by the Transitional Federal Government.
The United Nations appeal is $262 million (£132 million), of which 54 per cent. is currently funded. The ICRC appeal is 46 million Swiss francs (£18.7 million), of which 57 per cent. has been received and 72 per cent. pledged.
The UK is committed to addressing humanitarian needs in Somalia. So far in 2007, DFID has committed £6.3 million in additional funds to help those worst affected by the fighting and the ongoing humanitarian needs. We keep in close contact with UN agencies and our partners on the ground to ensure that DFID’s humanitarian response fits the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.
Sudan: Asylum
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to make aid available to refugees from Darfur in the Central African Republic. [143235]
Hilary Benn: Following the aerial attack on the southern Darfur town of Dafak in May, a total of 2,650 Sudanese refugees fled over the border to north-eastern Central African Republic. The United Nations humanitarian agencies have assessed the situation and have begun an airlift to deliver essential food, shelter and household items to those in need. This assistance is funded by the $100,000 from the UN’s local Emergency Response Fund, to which DFID contributed £550,000 in April, in addition to the $6.4 million provided from the UN’s global Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) since 2006. DFID is the single largest donor to the CERF, providing $154 million since 2006.
DFID remains concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Central African
Republic, and the impact on refugees and other vulnerable people. In response, we have increased our humanitarian commitment to the country to £2 million in 2007.
Tanzania: Debts
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the debt relief allocated to Tanzania by (a) the World Bank and (b) the African Development Bank has (i) been received by Tanzania and (ii) remains to be delivered in the latest period for which figures are available. [143743]
Hilary Benn: Tanzania completed the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) in 2001, receiving debt cancellation worth $861 million from the World Bank and $155 million from the African Development Bank. In 2006, Tanzania received a further $1,375 million of debt cancellation from the World Bank and $245 million from the African Development Bank under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). All figures are in 2005 Net Present Value (NPV) terms.
Tanzania’s debt cancellation under HIPC and MDRI is irrevocable. Tanzania will not be required to make any payments on any debts disbursed by the World Bank before the end of 2003 and by the African Development Bank before the end of 2004. In their 2006 Status of HIPC and MDRI Implementation Report, the World Bank and IMF reported that $595 million of the debt cancellation at the World Bank and $102 million at the African Development Bank was yet to be delivered. The World Bank has advised us that this will be corrected in the 2007 report, which will show that all HIPC and MDRI debt cancellation for Tanzania and the other countries that have completed the HIPC Initiative has been delivered.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |