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14 May 2008 : Column 1581W—continued
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2008, Official Report, columns 1807-08W on departmental manpower, how many of the employees under 18 years of age are receiving at least one day's training per week. [204933]
Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Gerald Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what value of (a) RfR1 and (b) RfR2 (i) operating income and (ii) non-operating income was
(A) appropriated in aid and (B) surrendered to the Consolidated Fund in each year from 2001-02 to 2006-07. [205469]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: This information has been published in the MOD's annual report and accounts for the years in question, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. In summary:
| £000 | ||||
| Operating income | Non-operating income | |||
| Financial year | Appropriation in aid | Surrendered to consolidated fund | Appropriation in aid | Surrendered to consolidated fund |
| (1) An amount collectable on behalf of the Consolidated Fund in respect of the QinetiQ sale £357,771,000 was also paid to the Consolidated Fund. (2) Amounts collectable on behalf of the Consolidated Fund in respect of repayment of QinetiQ loan £49,900,000 and sale of certain assets £44,300,000 were also paid to the Consolidated Fund. (3) An amount collectable on behalf of the Consolidated Fund in respect repayment of the QinetiQ loan £46,429,000 was also paid to the Consolidated Fund. | ||||
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what value of (a) operating income and (b) non-operating income was (i) appropriated in aid and (ii) surrendered to the Consolidated Fund in each year from 1992-93 to 2000-01. [205470]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: This information has been published in the MoD's appropriation accounts for the years in question, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. In summary:
| £ million | ||
| Financial year | Appropriation in aid | Surrendered to the consolidated fund |
The appropriation in aid did not distinguish between operating and non-operating income for these periods.
Departmental Stationery
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on official ministerial (a) business cards and (b) headed paper in each year since 1997. [201629]
Derek Twigg: This information is not held.
Iraq Conflict
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department were first informed that a video tape existed of the United States aerial attack which killed Lance-Corporal Hull. [122369]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 26 February 2007]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 20 February 2007, Official Report, column 370W. The handling of the audio/video recording in question is being investigated. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when the investigation is complete and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Julian Lewis:
You will recall that I wrote to you on 11 September 2007 about the investigation into the handling of the US cockpit recording of an attack on a UK light tank in Iraq on 28 March 2003. We have now received the Joint Army/RAF investigation report on the unauthorised disclosure of the cockpit recording and I am therefore able to give you a substantive response to the specific questions you asked in your parliamentary question (Reference 122369, Official Report, 5 March 2007 columns 1642/3W).
I can now confirm that officials were informed of the existence of the CD recording when preparing for the Board of Inquiry into the incident. The recording, among other material, was requested by the Board of Inquiry from the US authorities and received on 23 April 2004 via the MOD's Permanent Joint Headquarters. Ministers received written advice about the existence of the CD recording and its unauthorised disclosure on 2 February 2007 in relation to the issue being raised at the Coroner's inquest.
As a result of the failings identified, remedial action is being taken. A new security education programme is being introduced as part of a wider security awareness campaign to ensure that those involved in the handling of classified and sensitive material are aware of the rules and procedures to be followed. An instruction on the release of US (and other third country) material during legal proceedings has also been issued to all MOD personnel to remind them of their responsibilities in respect of the secure handling of protectively marked US material, and we are in the process of establishing new arrangements for the management of Boards of Inquiry and Inquests to ensure a more consistent approach across the Department. The US authorities have been informed of the investigation's findings and of the remedial action taken.
I can assure you that I take the protection of classified material, especially that entrusted to us by a close ally, very seriously, and the Permanent Secretary has asked the chain of command to consider whether administrative or disciplinary action against any individual is appropriate in light of the finding of the report.
Personnel Carriers
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fully armed personnel carriers are deployed in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan. [202170]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 28 April 2008]: I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Kosovo: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rules of engagement will be of the UK operational reserve battalion for its deployment to Kosovo. [204145]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK Operational Reserve Force battalion will operate under a UK rules of engagement profile. I am withholding further information as its release would, or would be likely to. prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the mission for the deployment of the UK Operational Reserve Force to Kosovo is. [204565]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK Operational Reserve Force battalion will provide NATO with extra flexibility in maintaining peace and stability for all communities in Kosovo.
Massereene Barracks
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the proceeds of the sale of Massereene Barracks in Northern Ireland will be retained within his Department's budget or returned to the Exchequer. [205393]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) retains the full benefit of disposal receipts, which form part of the Defence budget agreed with HM Treasury during the periodic spending reviews. In line with Treasury guidance, the proceeds of receipts are reinvested by the MOD in key priorities.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2008, Official Report, column 484W, on military aircraft: helicopters, what the average number of flying hours flown by helicopter pilots was in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in the last 12 months. [204555]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Between 1 May 2007 and 30 April 2008, the average number of flying hours per helicopter pilot per two-month tour was 106 for those serving in Iraq, and 111 for those serving in Afghanistan.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to answer 203199, on defence procurement, tabled by the hon. Member for New Forest East on 28 April 2008. [205549]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I replied to the hon. Member on 13 May 2008, Official Report, column 1528W.
Duchy of Lancaster
Admiralty House
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who owns the freehold to (a) the Government flats in Admiralty House and (b) Admiralty Arch. [205436]
Phil Hope: The Cabinet Office is responsible for the freeholds of both Admiralty House and Admiralty Arch.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008, Official Report, column 1692W, on Admiralty House: official residences, how many bathrooms the official residence occupied by Lord Malloch-Brown has. [205511]
Phil Hope: The flat occupied by Lord Malloch-Brown has two bathrooms.
Births
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many births there were in each primary care trust area in 2006-07. [205199]
Phil Hope: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 May 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question about how many births there were in each Primary Care Trust area in 2006-2007. (205199)
Birth statistics from the birth registration system are published on a calendar year basis. The latest year for which figures are available is 2006. The published number of live births in 2006 by Primary Care Trust area was provided to you by the Office for National Statistics in March 2008 in response to a previous question (ref 195752).
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