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14 May 2008 : Column 1576W—continued
Human Trafficking: Social Security Benefits
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the extent of the practice of smuggling babies into the UK for the purpose of benefit fraud; and what steps her Department is taking to prevent it. [205455]
Mr. Coaker: The Home Office has not carried out an estimate of the extent of baby smuggling into the UK for the purpose of benefit fraud. However, the scoping report published by the Child Exploitation On Line Protection Centre (CEOP) in 2007 identified six children who had been trafficked specifically for benefit fraud.
The Government are aware of isolated cases where children have been brought into the country by adults for the purpose of claiming benefits. Since October 2007 the Paladin Team, a police-led multi-agency child protection unit based at London ports, has investigated two individuals suspected of trafficking children for benefit fraud. These are being progressed through the Criminal Justice System.
The Government deplore all forms of human trafficking and are determined to fight these through its UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking. The action plan is currently being updated.
Passports
Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of British citizens who do not have a valid UK passport. [204900]
Meg Hillier: The total number of passports issued by IPS and currently valid is estimated at 48,080,000 (an exact figure cannot be given because lost and stolen passports may not be immediately replaced).
When this figure is compared with the current population of the United Kingdom (61,412,000) it is estimated that 21.7 per cent. of the UK population do not hold a valid UK passport.
Theft: Architecture
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) incidents of and (b) convictions in relation to theft of architectural features there were in England in each year since 1997; [205084]
(2) what steps she is taking to tackle the theft of architectural features from historic buildings in England. [205085]
Mr. Coaker: The Home Office is not specifically tackling the theft of architectural features from historic buildings in England.
Local police and other partners in crime prevention and reduction have a wide range of measures and powers available for their use in tackling whichever crime and disorder issues are a priority for them. We would expect them to respond appropriately to prevent and investigate offences of such theft, as they would to other crimes, taking into account available resources and other demands and priorities.
Data on the numbers of such thefts, and prosecutions or convictions for such thefts, are not identifiable from information held centrally.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2008, Official Report, column 831W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that unauthorised items are not posted by service personnel from the theatre of operations to the United Kingdom. [205123]
Des Browne: All mail is scanned before dispatch from Theatre. All prohibited items are removed and returned to the Theatre Distribution Office for investigation.
Armed Forces: Commonwealth
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce a cap on the number of personnel recruited to the armed forces from Commonwealth countries. [204756]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The armed forces are proud to recruit high quality recruits from countries with close historical and political ties. While no decision has been taken to introduce a cap on Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland citizens, we are looking at the rising levels within the armed forces.
Commonwealth and Irish citizens make a huge contribution to the armed forces and bring a range of skills and talents, which enrich the service as a whole, and we would wish to continue to recruit them.
Armed Forces: Compensation
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compensation claims were rejected where the time limit was part of the consideration in making the decision in each year since 2005. [205135]
Derek Twigg: As the armed forces compensation scheme only started from 6 April 2005 the five year time limit for any claims under the scheme has not yet expired and therefore no claims have been rejected under this criterion.
Armed Forces: Disability Living Allowance
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for disability allowance have been refused under (a) the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and (b) the War Pension Scheme in each of the last 10 years. [203987]
Derek Twigg: A total of 5,475 disablement pension claims have been rejected under the War Pensions Scheme between 1 April 2001 and 31 December 2007. Figures are presented by financial year in table 1. Data are available in the format required only as far back as the financial year 2001-02.
A total of 1,650 compensation claims have been rejected under the Armed Forces and Reserves Compensation Scheme between its introduction on 6 April 2005 and 31 December 2007. Figures are presented by financial year in table 2.
| Table 1: Rejected war pensions claims, each financial year since 2001-02 | |
| War Pensions Scheme | |
| Financial year | Rejections |
| Table 2: Rejected armed forces compensation claims, each financial year since the AFCS scheme was introduced | |
| Armed Forces Pension Scheme | |
| Financial year | Rejections |
Armed Forces: Housing
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discount is offered to (a) service personnel and (b) service leavers living in properties owned by Annington Homes who wish to buy their accommodation. [203980]
Derek Twigg: The majority of service families accommodation (SFA) properties in England and Wales were sold to Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL) in 1996 under a sale and leaseback arrangement. When the Department no longer has a requirement for AHL properties, they are returned to AHL for disposal on the open market. Properties are unoccupied when they are returned to AHL.
While there is no obligation on AHL to offer discounts to current or former service personnel when selling its properties, it has in the past offered certain incentives, concessions or priority to personnel voluntarily. While there is no requirement on the Department to maintain a record of such sales, we understand that between 25 to 30 per cent. of properties have been sold in this way. We are exploring with Annington Homes what more can be done to help service leavers obtain accommodation.
Armed Forces: Pay
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific savings are being made in order to implement the armed forces pay review body recommendations for 2008. [205130]
Des Browne: No specific savings have been made to implement the armed forces pay review body recommendations for 2008.
Armed Forces: Procurement
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of material supplied by British companies procured by or on behalf of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [204987]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 12 May 2008]: The Defence Industrial Strategy sets out the UK's requirement for a sustainable industrial base and makes clear which industrial capabilities we need to retain in the UK to ensure we can continue to operate the equipment the way we chose to maintain appropriate sovereignty and protect national security. The Ministry of Defence procurement of non-warlike requirements is subject to the EC Public Procurement Regulations that requires such opportunities to be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Armed Forces: Publications
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the joint service publications (a) JSP 498, (b) JSP 501, (c) JSP 510 and (d) JSP 512. [175456]
Derek Twigg: I shall arrange for copies of the four publications concerned to be placed in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces: Uniforms
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 May 2008, Official Report, column 834W, on armed forces: uniforms, what steps his Department takes to ensure no child labour is involved in the manufacturing of the Combat Soldier 95 uniform. [205126]
Des Browne: Defence clothing contract conditions stipulate that no person under the prevailing legal minimum age limit, and in any case never under the age of 14, is employed by any contractor or subcontractor. Combat Soldier 95 clothing is largely manufactured in China where the legal minimum age is 16. MOD staff have visited subcontractors and audited them to try to ensure compliance with Chinese legislation.
Ballistic Missile Defence
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) his United States counterpart and (b) the NATO Secretary-General on the prospective third site for a European-based missile defence system following the Secretary-General's speech on missile defence delivered on 5 May in Geneva. [205229]
Des Browne: The issue of ballistic missile defence is discussed routinely, both bilaterally with the United States Administration, and in NATO forums. It is not the practice of the Government to make public details of all discussions with foreign governments as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what pan-Balkans (a) Ready Battalion and (b) Standby Battalion Operational Reserve Force is available to support European Force Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [204567]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The NATO/EU pan-Balkans Operational Reserve Force (ORF), currently made up of a battalion from the UK, Germany and Italy, continues to provide the necessary capability to reinforce both the NATO operation in Kosovo and EU operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH). The security situation in BiH is stable and current troop levels are considered sufficient. Should military commanders judge that reinforcements are required, the ‘Ready’ and ‘Standby’ ORF battalions are available to provide the additional support.
Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the risk analysis carried out to identify the organisation needed to maintain the service level to front line commands during the transitions from (a) Caversfield to Ensleigh and (b) Ensleigh to Abbeywood. [203186]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Risk analysis and management is an ongoing activity within the DE&S Collocation Project and across all areas of DE&S business. The effective management of risk has already led to the successful move from Andover to Abbey Wood of over 1,000 posts directly supporting the front line. I shall place the original risk analysis in the Library of the House as part of the relevant extracts of the internally approved investment appraisal for bringing forward the move of Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (DC IPT).
Defence Equipment
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reassessed wear rates of UK military equipment; and whether he has made a comparison of wear rates between UK and US military equipment. [203331]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Each equipment type has its own maintenance requirement and ‘wear rates’ are not recorded centrally. We expect to repair and overhaul military equipment used on operations more often than is normally planned in through life costing. No comparisons have been made between UK and US military equipment.
Defence Estates: Cost Effectiveness
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings targets were set for Defence Estates for regional prime contracts in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09. [205131]
Derek Twigg: No in year savings targets were set for Defence Estates in 2007-08 or have been set for 2008-09 against the funding allocated to regional prime contracting.
Departmental ICT
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Defence Information Infrastructure programme. [204351]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I remain content that the performance of the Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) programme is continually assessed via its comprehensive governance structure. The fixed element of the DII programme is currently running behind its original implementation schedule; however, the deployable element, which will directly support our front line troops, is progressing on schedule to meet its declared delivery dates. The programme overall remains within 3 per cent. of its approved programme cost and is on track to deliver the benefits supporting its original approval.
Departmental Internet
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2008, Official Report, column 1924W, on departmental internet, whether it is possible to determine which creations and amendments to Wikipedia made before January 2008 were made by (a) military and (b) Civil Service personnel. [202382]
Derek Twigg: This information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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