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21 Jun 2007 : Column 1987W—continued
Defence: Procurement
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value is of orders for urgent operational requirements placed in the last 12 months; and if he will list those items of equipment costing over £250,000. [143050]
Mr. Ingram: Between 1 June 2006 and 31 May 2007 the total value of approved urgent operational requirements was some £810 million. As the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are still ongoing, much information regarding specific urgent operational requirements remains operationally sensitive and is withheld as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security of our armed forces.
Departments: Advertising
Mr. Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much revenue his Department received from advertisements on his Department’s (a) public information leaflets and (b) public websites in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [142729]
Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Aviation
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights to overseas destinations were taken by (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers in his Department in each of the last three calendar years; and what the total cost of such flights was. [144936]
Derek Twigg: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2006-07 is currently being compiled and will be published before the summer recess. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code, the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.
Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to extend the eligibility for the issue of Veterans lapel badges to former members of the Women’s Land Army. [143507]
Derek Twigg:
Although the Women’s Land Army included the word “Army” in its title, it was a civilian organisation formed to support agricultural production. While the Ministry of Defence acknowledges the importance of the efforts of all those who contributed to the country’s war efforts in 1914-18 and 1939-45, it is not responsible for the recognition of those who served in such civilian occupations. Nor would it be appropriate to extend to them eligibility for the armed forces Veterans
badge which was instituted specifically as a mark of recognition of service in the United Kingdom’s armed forces.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts his Department has with private military and security companies for services provided in Iraq; what the value is of each such contract; what contracts are being (a) negotiated and (b) considered; what the expected value is of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [132618]
Des Browne: For the purposes of this response I have taken the question to refer to armed security contracts.
The use of private mobility and security companies for the static guarding of empty buildings is currently being considered.
I also refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 March 2007, Official Report, column 1657W, to the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Derek Conway). No contracts are currently being negotiated between MOD and private military and security companies for services in Iraq.
Members: Correspondence
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the hon. Member for North East Milton Keynes’s constituent Mr. Ron Nield to be sent a reply to his letter to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. [138906]
Derek Twigg: If the hon. Member could provide me with Mr. Nield’s personal details (including service number if applicable), the date and subject matter of his letter and the address he wrote to I will be happy to provide him with the information he seeks.
Military Bases: Colchester
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many years the consortium awarded the private finance initiative for the Colchester garrison will have ownership of the land. [136841]
Derek Twigg: Under the terms of the Colchester garrison redevelopment contract RMPA Services PLC was granted a 150-year head lease over the land that forms the new garrison site. The Ministry of Defence retains overall ownership.
Nimrod Aircraft
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fuel leaks were recorded aboard RAF Nimrod aircraft in the six months prior to September 2006. [142811]
Mr. Ingram: Between the period 1 March 2006 and 31 August 2006 a total of 52 fuel leaks were reported on Nimrod MR2 and R1 aircraft. A fuel leak is defined as any leakage of fuel from aircraft couplings, pipes or fuel tanks. These did not compromise the safety of the aircraft and were rectified under normal maintenance procedures.
North Atlantic Council
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the North Atlantic Council defence ministers meeting on 14 and 15 June 2007. [144046]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 19 June 2007]: NATO Defence Ministers discussed a range of issues including the continuing transformation of NATO’s capabilities, missile defence, and operational commitments in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Force planning issues were discussed at the annual meeting of the Defence Planning Committee in Defence Ministers’ Session, and nuclear planning issues at the Nuclear Planning Group.
In addition, Afghanistan’s Defence Minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak attended a special session of the North Atlantic Council together with the non-NATO nations contributing to the International Security Assistance Force. Allies underlined their commitment to the mission in Afghanistan, noted the progress that has already been made, and stressed the importance of Afghan ownership of security issues. The Council noted that the UN had been given a wider remit in the current Security Council Resolution and supported the efforts of the UN to maximise its impact and to expand its presence in the provinces of Afghanistan.
The Council also condemned the Taliban practice of deliberately endangering the civilian population of Afghanistan and underlined NATO’s commitment to avoiding civilian casualties.
A copy of the final communiqué of the North Atlantic Council in Defence Ministers’ Session can be found at:
Project Al Yamamah
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds have been held by the Defence Export Services Organisation in relation to the Al Yamamah defence contract since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [143089]
Des Browne: The financial arrangements of the Al Yamamah programme are confidential between the two Governments. I am withholding details as they would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations and harm the interests of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to authorise the publication of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s reports on the Al Yamamah contract. [142299]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1495W, to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone).
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will publish the annexes to the Al Yamamah contract which cover support services; [142301]
(2) what requirement was laid down in the Al Yamamah contract on BAE to inform Ministers of payments made under the support services annexes of the contract; and if he will list all payments reported to Ministers as having been made under those provisions showing (a) the date, (b) the purpose and (c) the recipients of such payments. [142302]
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which Ministers in his Department have been informed of payments made under the support services annexes of the Al Yamamah contract since 1997; [143183]
(2) when Ministers in his Department were first informed of payments being made by BAE Systems under annexes on support services to the Al Yamamah contract; [143005]
(3) what mechanisms were in place in his Department for official authorisation of payments made under the support services annexes of the Al Yamamah contract by BAE Systems before 1 June 2007; [143197]
(4) when the last payment was made by BAE under the support services annexes of the Al Yamamah contract of which his Department was made aware; and what information he has on arrangements for any future payments. [143198]
Des Browne [holding answer s 19 June 2007]: Agreements reached under the Al Yamamah programme are confidential between the two Governments. I am withholding details as they would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations and harm the interests of the United Kingdom.
RAF Brize Norton
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether landing rights have been provided to Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia at RAF Brize Norton; and if he will make a statement. [143093]
Des Browne: A Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence and Aviation registered aircraft used by Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia, HZ-124, has been granted landing rights at RAF Brize Norton. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 May 2007, Official Report, column 1053W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).
Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the status of the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme. [144013]
Des Browne [holding answer 19 June 2007]: The Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme was completed in July 2001; an unclassified summary of the work is available in the Library of the House.
Education and Skills
Anthony Bailey
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what role (a) Anthony Bailey and (b) Eligo International played in the Academies programme; and what payments each received. [144543]
Jim Knight: Anthony Bailey is on the governing body for Sheffield Park academy and Sheffield Springs academy, which are sponsored by the United Learning Trust.
Eligo International has no role in the Academies programme.
There have been no payments made by the Department to either Anthony Bailey or Eligo International.
Apprenticeships
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of students entering (a) apprenticeships and (b) advanced apprenticeships were already in employment in each year since 1997. [128574]
Phil Hope: Data on apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships are collected on the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) individualised learner record (ILR). The work-based learning (WBL) ILR was collated for the first time in 2002/03 and figures are given from that time. The following table shows the number of learners starting advanced apprenticeships and apprenticeships each year who were in employment on the day before their training commenced as a percentage of all starts.
| Learners in employment | |||
| Number | Percentage | Total learners | |
| Note: Learners who are not employed on the day before their apprenticeship starts could enter as an employed status apprentice and their employment status then changes because of the Apprenticeship programme. | |||
Children in Care: Standards
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will ensure that Ofsted involve young people with experience of care in its inspecting of care homes. [142311]
Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 15 June 2007:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, for reply.
You asked whether Ofsted would ensure that young people with experience of care are involved in its inspection of care homes.
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