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18 Oct 2007 : Column 1233W—continued
Departments: General Election
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency preparations his Department made for the possibility of a general election in autumn 2007; and what the costs were of those preparations. [157003]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 15 October 2007, Official Report, column 823W, by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first told that the Prime Minister would be announcing troop withdrawals during his visit to Iraq. [157216]
Des Browne [holding answer 15 October 2007]: In preparing for the Prime Minister’s visit, I discussed with him all aspects of our future policy in Iraq including troop withdrawals.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what bases UK forces are stationed in Iraq; and what measures are in place in each such base to prevent death or injury from rocket attack. [158445]
Des Browne: The precise area of deployment of UK forces in Iraq can and does vary according to the operational circumstances. The vast majority of UK forces are based at the Contingency Operating Base at Basra airport. UK forces are also present in much smaller numbers at a number of other locations in Iraq, including in Baghdad and Dhi Qar province.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 12 September 2007, Official Report, column 2072, to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) about force protection.
Navy
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what long-term capacity the Royal Navy will retain in respect of (a) minehunters and (b) patrol vessels. [157212]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 15 October 2007]: While the defence programme is kept under regular review, the July 2004 White Paper "Delivering Security in a Changing World - Future Capabilities" (CM6269) explained that we plan to retain a fleet of 16 mine counter measure vessels. We also intend to maintain a balanced fleet of patrol vessels to fulfil a variety of commitments in home waters and overseas.
Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals (a) captured and (b) killed by British Forces in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan since 2001 have been of Iranian nationality. [157036]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence does not maintain records on the nationality of individuals killed in engagements involving UK forces in Iraq or Afghanistan.
As far as we can determine, no Iranian nationals have been processed at the Divisional Internment Facility or its predecessor, the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility, since the latter was established in December 2003. However, most individuals logged in our records do not have their nationality recorded, primarily because this is not always readily attainable and verifiable. Our records indicate that five Iranian nationals were captured and released by UK forces in Iraq prior to December 2003.
Individuals captured by UK forces in Afghanistan are held only temporarily before being either released or passed to the Afghan authorities. We do not routinely maintain records on nationality in these cases.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average number of days for Relief in Place operations between each roulement to (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq was in each year since 2001. [157040]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In Afghanistan, large-scale Relief in Place operations were not conducted prior to the start of Herrick IV in 2006. The average number of days for subsequent Relief in Place operations in 2006 was 55 days.
In Iraq, the average number of days for Relief in Place operations after the initial deployment of 2003 was as follows:
| Days | |
Roulements for 2007 are not yet complete, but the proposed timelines suggest that the average will be 47 days and 36 days for Afghanistan and Iraq respectively.
Salisbury Plain: Hunting
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether trail and drag hunting is permitted on the Salisbury Plain Training Area. [157074]
Derek Twigg: Hunts and beagle packs that have traditionally hunted over defence land are permitted to trail and drag hunt on the defence estate, including Salisbury Plain, subject to the issue of an appropriate licence. However, trail and drag hunting activities cannot currently take place on Ministry of Defence land due to the foot and mouth outbreak, as part of measures implemented by DEFRA to control the spread of the disease.
Submarines: Procurement
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what timeline he expects for the future submarine programme, including the dates for (a) high level design specification, (b) design matures, (c) long leads, (d) start of construction, (e) nuclear power plant trials and (f) sea trials. [158336]
Des Browne: The Future Submarine Programme is required to deliver a new submarine in around 2024, which is the forecast date for entry into service of the first of the new class. The timetable to achieve this comprises a two-year concept phase, a seven-year design phase, a seven-year build phase and a period of sea trials. Work on the concept phase is now under way and dates for various aspects of the programme are under consideration as part of this work. As stated in my answer of 26 July 2007, Official Report, column 1252W, to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd), we currently expect to reach the Initial Gate approval point in 2009. This will signify the end of the concept phase.
War Pensions
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which areas of the world members of the merchant marine who qualify for a war pension served. [158440]
Derek Twigg: This information is not available in the form requested. The Mercantile Marine scheme provides for awards to be made to members of the mercantile marine who have sustained injuries whilst serving during conflict and war. The scheme dates from the second world war and in addition to that war the scheme applied in principle to members of the mercantile marine involved in the Korean war, the Suez crisis, the Falklands conflict and the first Gulf conflict.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what objections his Department made to wind farm planning applications in each of the last two years. [158424]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence has objected to a total of 21 planning applications since October 2005.
Women and Equality
Discrimination Law Review
Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when the Government plan to publish their response to the consultation on the Discrimination Law Review Green Paper. [157818]
Barbara Follett [holding answer 15 October 2007]: We were pleased with the substantial response to the consultation—more than 4,000 replies. I will be considering the Government's response with colleagues and plan to publish it as soon as possible.
Equality
Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the Government's definition is of equality. [157725]
Barbara Follett: The Government's vision of an equal society is one where there is opportunity for all and responsibility from all, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation. In such a society all people should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and the talents of each should contribute to the well being of all.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when the Government plan to publish their Single Equality Bill. [157819]
Barbara Follett [holding answer 15 October 2007]: The responses to the consultation on proposals for a new Equality Bill are currently being considered. We remain committed to introducing the Act during this Parliament.
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Buildings
Mrs. May:
To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the addresses were of each of the
premises occupied by the (a) Commission for Racial Equality, (b) Disability Rights Commission and (c) Equal Opportunities Commission prior to the establishment of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. [157115]
Barbara Follett: The information is as follows.
Mrs. May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the addresses are of each of the premises occupied by the establishment of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. [157116]
Barbara Follett: The information is as follows.
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