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21 May 2008 : Column 308W—continued
Departmental Freedom of Information
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many freedom of information requests made to his Department were (a) answered (i) within 20 days, (ii) within 40 days, (iii) within 60 days, (iv) after 60 days, (b) not answered and (c) answered citing an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a reason not to provide the requested information in each year since the Act came into force. [201723]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Justice has published two annual reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments) in 2005 and 2006. These reports can be found at the following address:
The 2007 annual report is currently being drafted for publication in June 2008. However, statistics on requests received in each quarter of 2007 have been published and can be found via the MOJ website:
Information requests where deadlines were extended beyond 40 days are not collected in the form requested; however the proportion of resolvable requests the Department answered “in time” (i.e. meeting the deadline or with a permitted extension) in 2007 was 87 per cent.
For 2005 and 2006, the reports show the number of requests received by the Department which were withheld, either in full or in part, where an FOI exemption or EIR exception was applied. For 2007, the number of such requests was 390, based on aggregated quarterly statistics from 2007. Requests withheld solely under the exemption applicable to “information available by other means” are not included; statistics on these are not collected centrally because they are dealt with as routine business.
Departmental Publications
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the Ministry of Defence quarterly performance reports from each year since 1997. [206916]
Des Browne:
The Department has published an annual performance report (since 2002-03 the annual report and accounts) setting out its end year performance since 1996-97. Copies are available in the Library of the House. The Department has also published quarterly
performance reports on its website since the fourth quarter of 2003-04. These can be found at:
http://www.mod.uk/Defencelnternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/ModPSASD AandTechnicalNotes.htm
Where these have comprised the formal autumn or spring performance reports, copies were automatically placed in the Library of the House at the time of publication. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House of any quarterly reports that have been published on the Department's website but not previously placed in the Library.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of the helicopter fleet is (a) in service, (b) in the forward fleet and (c) fit for purpose, broken down by (i) service and (ii) helicopter type. [206153]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The number and type of helicopters used by the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force which are in the Forward fleet and considered fit for purpose are detailed in the following table. Forward fleet aircraft are those that are available to the front-line command for operational and training purposes (i.e. those not in depth maintenance). Aircraft defined as fit for purpose are those considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date.
| Helicopter type | In service (total fleet) | Average number of aircraft in Forward fleet | Percentage of total fleet in Forward fleet | Average number of aircraft fit for purpose (FFP) | FFP as a percentage of total fleet | FFP percentage of Forward fleet |
The figures shown are the average for the month of April 2008 (with the exception of the search and rescue Sea King Mk 3/3a data, which cover March 2008 due to technical problems). The number of helicopters fit for purpose will vary from day to day due, primarily, to routine maintenance requirements. Operational capability is measured in terms of flying hours rather than the number of airframes available.
Military Bases: Long Marston
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Royal Engineer Depot at Long Marston was sold; what price was received; and whether there was a development uplift clause in the sale contract under which a portion of any gain in value from a grant of planning permission is to be paid to the public purse. [203654]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 6 May 2008]: The Central Engineer Resource Depot was sold in November 2004 for just over £11 million.
The contract contains a clawback clause whereby if enhanced development worth more than £12 million is
given planning approval within 20 years of the date of sale, the Ministry of Defence will receive 50 per cent. of any uplift in value.
Navy: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on whose authority a Royal Navy maintenance team was recently sent to Dubai; for what reasons it did not complete its scheduled job; and what the cost was. [206903]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Based on the information provided, I am unable to identify the occasion to which the hon. Member refers. Should he wish to write to me with more details, I will investigate this matter further.
Radioactive Wastes
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many used fuel cores from naval reactors are stored at (a) the Naval Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay, (b) Devonport Dockyard, (c) Rosyth Dockyard and (d) Sellafield. [206529]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security. Ultimately, all used fuel cores will be stored at Sellafield.
RAF Weston on the Green
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to sell RAF Weston on the Green to Parkridge Holdings if proposals for the Weston Otmoor eco-town proceed; and if he will make a statement. [203800]
Derek Twigg: Defence Estates officials have held informal exploratory meetings with Parkridge Holdings.
No undertakings have been given and further discussions would be necessary were Weston-on-the-Green to be included on the final shortlist of proposed eco-towns.
Smoking
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years. [205044]
Derek Twigg: Main Building, Old War Office and St. Georges Court are smokefree. No smoking shelters have been constructed at these sites.
UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech delivered at the launch of the UKTI Defence and Security Organisation at Lancaster House on 8 May 2008. [207046]
Des Browne: The launch of the UKTI Defence and Security Organisation took place at Lancaster House on 8 April 2008. In the event, I spoke without notes, loosely based around a prepared speech, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Equality
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department met the civil service diversity targets set out on page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008. [204712]
Mr. Woodward: The following tables set out how the Northern Ireland Office has performed against the civil service diversity targets set out in page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008. The Northern Ireland Office continues to work closely with Cabinet Office colleagues to achieve a diverse civil service, representative of the communities we serve.
| SCS—Diversity | |||
| Percentage | |||
| Women | Proportion | Target | Shortfall |
| SCS feeder grades | |||
| Percentage | |||
| Proportion | Target | Shortfall | |
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