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17 Sep 2007 : Column 2173W—continued
Departments: Energy
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department has in the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group. [155398]
Derek Twigg: The MOD did not play a role in the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (which no longer exists); however the MOD regularly consults across Government on energy security matters.
Falkland Islands: Armed Conflict
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will amend the criteria to enable the South Atlantic Medal 1982 to be awarded to those who served on RMS St Helena in support of the UK Government; how many peopled served on the RMS St Helena during the Falklands War; and if he will make a statement. [155202]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 12 September 2007]: RMS St. Helena, operating in company with the Royal Navy mine-sweepers HMS Brecon and HMS Ledbury, served in the waters surrounding the Falkland Islands after hostilities had ceased on 14 June 1982.
None of the three vessels accrued the necessary length of qualifying service to meet the eligibility criteria for the South Atlantic Medal 1982. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright MP) on 11 January 2007, Official Report, column 711W, when I said that the eligibility criteria for the South Atlantic Medal 1982 were carefully and extensively considered at the time this medal was instituted. There are no plans to review these criteria.
Available MOD records do not indicate how many Royal Navy personnel served on RMS St. Helena at the time of the Falklands war, but there were approximately 32 civilians.
Iraq: Armed Forces
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi citizens have been trained at Sandhurst since 2003; how much the Government has spent on supporting the training of Iraqi officers at RMA Sandhurst; and if he will make a statement. [155255]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 12 September 2007]: Eight Iraqi officer cadets have attended, or are attending, training at Sandhurst since 2003. The Government have spent £360,795 on supporting their training, inclusive of flights to and from the UK and English language tuition. This initiative complements our wider training and mentoring efforts aimed at building the capability of Iraqi Security Forces, so that they are increasingly able to take responsibility for security in Iraq.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent and scale of ordnance, explosives and other weaponry used against UK forces in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 12 months which his Department believes to have originated in, or passed through, Iran. [155537]
Des Browne: There is evidence that armaments, in particular improvised explosive devices, that originate in Iran are being deployed against our troops in southern Iraq and in Afghanistan. We have made it clear that any Iranian links to illegal armed groups in Afghanistan and Iraq, either through supply of munitions, training or funding, is completely unacceptable.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definition he uses of overwatch, as used to describe the role of British armed forces in Southern Iraq. [155150]
Des Browne [holding answer 12 September 2007]: Overwatch is a term used by UK military planners in Multi-National Division South-East to describe the force posture by coalition forces within a given province in Iraq, in relation to the progressive transfer of security responsibility to Iraqi security forces.
There are three phases of overwatch: tactical, operational and finally strategic. As each province passes through these phases, the division of responsibility between coalition and Iraqi security forces is adjusted to take account of the changing security situation and increasing capabilities of the Iraqi armed forces.
In the UK’s area of responsibility in Iraq, three of the four provinces (Al Muthanna, Dhi Qar, and Maysan) are currently in the operational overwatch phase. Security in the fourth province, Basra, will remain the responsibility of coalition forces until the conditions are appropriate to transfer responsibility to the Iraqi Security Forces.
Kenley Airfield
Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected cost is of the proposed fence at Kenley Airfield, Croydon. [155507]
Des Browne: The expected cost of the proposed fence at Kenley Airfield, Croydon, the erection of which is subject to planning permission, is approximately £154,000 including VAT.
NATO: Pipelines
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status is of the NATO Pipeline System; and if he will make a statement. [155399]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The NATO Pipeline System was developed to ensure that NATO's requirements for petroleum products and their distribution could be met at all times. The system comprises 10 separate fuel storage and distribution systems with a total of 12,000 km of pipeline linking storage depots, air bases, civil airports, refineries and ingress points. Of these systems, two are multi-national systems and eight are national systems.
One of the eight national systems, the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS), is owned by MOD and operated by the Oil and Pipelines Agency, a non-departmental public body. Although owned by MOD, the GPSS is a key element of the UK's critical national infrastructure. GPSS irreducible spare capacity is exploited for commercial use with military/commercial throughput split approximately 20:80. On the basis of commercial receipts, the MOD moves and stores its aviation fuel at no cost.
Territorial Army: Anniversaries
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding he intends to make available to (a) regional and (b) local organisations to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement. [155233]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 12 September 2007]: The events marking the centenary of the Territorial Army will be funded from a combination of public resources and suitable non-public donations and sponsorship. The planning of events is continuing and I will announce further details later this year.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the projects being planned to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement; [155436]
(2) what budget has been allocated to celebrations to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement. [155437]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: As outlined in my predecessor’s written statement of 12 June 2007, Official Report, column 41WS, the programme of events will start with a media launch to raise awareness of this key anniversary. The main national level event will take place on Horse Guards Parade and at St. James' Palace on Saturday 21 June 2008. Further major events will be occurring between May to September next year around the country and are anticipated to include a commemorative service in St. Paul's Cathedral and primary events in regional capitals.
National events are further being supported by a range of regional and local activities, with a broad emphasis on TA veterans and members of the TA currently deployed on operations. The final programme
is currently in the latter stages of development and the broad outline of this will be available in the early autumn.
The majority of TA100 activities around the country will be in conjunction with existing, planned representational or Army-in-Society events, which will be re-profiled or enhanced, if necessary, for the purposes of this milestone occasion thus minimising costs.
A substantial proportion of the cost of the celebrations will be met from corporate and private donations. The publicly funded element which has yet to be finally determined will be drawn in part from the Department's central commemorations team and in part from allocations. TA manpower to support the events will be resourced from allocated man training days. There will be no impact on operations, preparing for operations or core training.
Type 45 Destroyers
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what economies of scale he estimates could be made, per warship, if a flotilla of (a) six, (b) seven and (c) eight Type 45 Destroyers were to be built. [151187]
Des Browne [holding answer 25 July 2007]: The data to make accurate comparative calculations over Type 45 Destroyer fleet sizes are not available. However, value-for-money will be one of many considerations in the decision on future Type 45 orders.
Woolwich Barracks
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of Woolwich barracks. [155144]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 12 September 2007]: My predecessor announced in September 2005 that Woolwich Barracks would be retained and would become the future home for Public Duties Incremental Companies, their supporting elements from Chelsea and an infantry battalion from Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow.
The work on the redevelopment of Woolwich Barracks to accommodate these units is expected to start within the next few months following recent planning approval.
Innovation, Universities and Skills
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which responsibilities of the former (a) Department for Education and Skills and (b) Department of Trade and Industry his Department holds; whether responsibilities have been transferred to his Department from any other Department; and for which (i) agencies and (ii) other bodies his Department is responsible for. [147747]
Mr. Lammy: All of these details are contained in the Machinery of Government statement of the 29 June which has been placed in the House Library.
Departments: Information Officers
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by his Department. [153242]
Mr. Lammy: At present, DIUS has a staff of four permanent press officers. Currently we are using nine additional press officers supplied through the Central Office of Information.
Departments: Marketing
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on what date a sign for his Department's headquarters was commissioned. [147881]
Mr. Lammy: Interim signage for the Department using an interim logo was commissioned on 27 June so that it was available for use in departmental buildings on 28 June. The Department's logo was then commissioned on 27 June.
Departments: Postal Services
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what volume of correspondence his Department sent (a) by Royal Mail and (b) by other commercial delivery services in each of the last five years; and what the reasons were for the use of other commercial delivery services. [150441]
Mr. Lammy: The information requested has been included as part of the response given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families on 3 September 2007, Official Report, columns 1712-13W.
Departments: Publicity
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of advertising commissioned over the last 12 months for policy areas now within his Department's responsibility; [148511]
(2) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of advertising commissioned in areas by his Department and other Government Departments now within his Department's responsibility in the last 12 months. [148677]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created on 28 June. I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families on 3 September 2007, Official Report, column 1713W and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on 17 July 2007, Official Report , column 279W.
Further Education: Leeds
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will list the further education provision available for post 16-year-olds within the Leeds, West constituency. [148649]
Mr. Lammy: The Department does not hold details of all the publicly funded post-16 provision at local or regional levels. I am therefore copying this to Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's chief executive so that he can respond with the information you have requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 14 September 2007:
I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question which asked the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to list the further education provision available for post 16 year olds specifically within the Leeds West Constituency.
The 05/06 data shows well over 6,000 Leeds West residents are currently in LSC funded FE learning provision, with about a fifth of these being aged 16-18. The vast majority of these are with Leeds based providers.
However, although there are a number of FE learning centres on the periphery of Leeds West, there is no locally based provision in the constituency.
Leeds West borders the Leeds city area to the east, where most provision is found, and Horsforth to the North West, where some Park Lane College provision is available.
Higher Education: Admissions
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students his Department has estimated will enrol in courses at higher education institutions in each academic year up to 2009-10. [155091]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 10 September 2007]: Current projections show the numbers of students rising from 1,508,000 in 2006/07 to 1,554,000 in 2007/08.
The following table shows recent years’ outturn figures.
| Academic year | Total full-time equivalent students |
These figures are on a full-time equivalent basis, and cover all (UK, EU and overseas domiciled) students, studying at higher education institutions (HEIs) and further education colleges (FECs) in England.
Estimates of likely numbers of students beyond 2007/08 have not yet been made, and will depend on the final settlement of the current Comprehensive Spending Review.
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