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21 Jun 2007 : Column 1983W—continued
Palestinians: EC Aid
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the restored EU funding to the Palestinian Authority will be directed to (a) the West Bank and (b) Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [144361]
Hilary Benn: On 18 June, EU Foreign Ministers discussed the resumption of assistance to the Palestinian Authority. They concluded that the EU should develop the conditions for urgent practical and financial assistance. The EU has not yet decided how this will be delivered. However, we will wish to ensure that assistance addresses the needs of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinians: International Assistance
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what changes are planned to the operation of the Temporary International Mechanism for the delivery of aid to the Palestinian people following recent events in Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [144360]
Hilary Benn: No decisions have yet been taken on changes to the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) following recent events in Gaza. The TIM continues to provide support for the basic needs of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Quartet recently extended the TIM until the end of September 2007.
Tanzania: Overseas Aid
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support has been given to the Presidential Parastatal Sector Reform Commission in Tanzania for (a) work in the area of water and sanitation and (b) other work in each year since 1994; on what dates technical assistance grants were given; what the aid funding was for each grant; and to whom consultancy contracts were awarded. [143944]
Hilary Benn: The Tanzanian Government established the Parastatal Sector Reform Commission (PSRC) in 1993 to reform and privatise loss-making public entities (including ports, railways and airlines). At the time, there were approximately 400 such entities, costing the Government US $100 million annually.
At the request of the Government of Tanzania, DFID provided a total of £7.1 million to the PSRC to
support the divestiture of publicly-owned companies in Tanzania between 1992 and the end of our programme of support in March 2007.
DFID’s support helped to ensure that the privatisation process was implemented in a fair and transparent manner and that regulatory bodies were established to ensure privatised entities worked for the benefit of Tanzania. The assistance provided was used for the purposes of contracting advisory support for:
management of the privatisation process
broadening of share ownership—to afford Tanzanians greater opportunities to own shares in privatised entities
amendments to relevant enabling legislation and regulations, and supporting the development of suitable local regulatory capacity
Different companies were awarded contracts. All work was procured under prevailing Tanzanian Government procurement regulations. The grants provided were for:
Technical Assistance—total value of £6.1 million (from 1992-2007)
Development support—total value of £1 million (from 2003-07)
The contracts that were provided for work in the area of water and sanitation are set out in table 1 as follows.
The UK funded 10 contracts valued above £100,000 each in the period from 1992 to 2007 in support of PSRC. An additional 39 contracts of lesser value were awarded for smaller pieces of work—calculating the total value of these contracts would involve disproportionate cost. Table 2 sets out amounts and a description of the main grants and contractors.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) mines, (b) mortar rounds, (c) projectiles by calibre, (d) missiles and (e) air dropped weapons were expended by members of UK armed forces as part of the NATO deployment in Afghanistan in each of the last six months. [142850]
Mr. Ingram: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Aircraft Carriers: Procurement
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the delay in the construction of the two new aircraft carriers for the UK has resulted in job losses at dockyards. [143442]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 18 June 2007]: No date has been set for commencement of manufacture of the future aircraft carriers and there has, therefore, been no delay. The main investment decision will be taken when we are confident that we have a robust, affordable deal.
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on dockyards in the UK if the Government decide to collaborate with France in the construction of the proposed two new aircraft carriers for the UK; [143444]
(2) what talks have taken place with members of the aircraft carrier alliance on the involvement of France in the construction of the proposed two new aircraft carriers for the UK; [143445]
(3) what discussions there have been with trades unions about the involvement of France in the construction of the proposed two new aircraft carriers for the UK; [143446]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer s 18 June 2007]: We have always stressed that co-operation with France through industry-to-industry links may offer potential benefits to both nations. This was covered most recently when my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, Lord Drayson met with the trade unions and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance Chief Executive last month. It has been agreed with France that for co-operation to work, it must deliver cost savings and must do so without delaying UK or French programmes.
Armed Forces: Dental Services
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the duties are of each defence dental personnel role; how many hours per week those in each role are expected to devote to the provision of dental care; and how many patients those in each role saw in each of the last five years. [138790]
Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces: Deployment
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) location and (b) number of personnel was for each operational deployment in 1997. [119056]
Mr. Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Housing
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much HM Treasury has passed to the Ministry of Defence from monies received from Annington Homes in connection with sales of former Ministry of Defence housing and land in (a) the UK and (b) Colchester. [121129]
Derek Twigg: These monies enter a consolidated general cash account and are not paid back to the Ministry of Defence directly by Her Majesty's Treasury.
Armed Forces: Pay
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed service personnel have received a tax-free bonus for service in (a) Iraq, (b) Afghanistan and (c) the Balkans since October 2006. [142594]
Derek Twigg: The information broken down by operational theatre is not held within legacy service pay systems and the new Joint Personnel Administration system in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
As at 13 June 2007, some 46,333 armed forces personnel had received payment of the tax-free Operational Allowance. This figure includes payments to Army personnel for more than one operational tour and excludes payments after 31 March 2007 to deceased, discharged and special forces personnel for all three services.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been undertaken on the vertical and horizontal centre of gravity position of each of the various types of Land Rover used by the armed forces. [141041]
Mr. Ingram: The Department examined centre of gravity issues for Wolf Land Rovers when the Bowman communication system was introduced. The suspension on vehicles fitted for radios and Weapons Mount Installation Kits was improved by the fitment of a rear anti roll bar, which improved the vehicle’s stability.
Snatch Land Rovers have also been assessed to examine the effects on stability and performance by the fitment of armour and the variety of potential load configurations.
The latest Land Rovers, like other vehicles procured by the MOD, were subject to rigorous assessment through a military validation and trials period, prior to acceptance into service.
Ballistic Missile Defence
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the UK has made to the study agreed at the NATO summit in Riga in 2006 on a collective alliance territorial missile defence system. [143941]
Des Browne: The missile defence feasibility study that was delivered to the NATO summit in 2006 was financed from NATO common funds to which the UK contributes. QinetiQ were part of the industrial consortium that undertook the work. In common with other NATO nations, the UK reviewed and commented upon the feasibility study, and contributes to the continuing discussions in NATO on the implications of missile defence for the alliance.
Bank of England
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have given authorisations in relation to monies (i) held in and (ii) transferred from a British Aerospace account at the Bank of England since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [143088]
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of the Paymaster General and her officials was in relation to the Bank of England account used for payments under the support services annexes to the Al Yamamah contract. [143182]
Des Browne [holding answers 19 June 2007]: The Department is not aware of any such account.
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