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6 Oct 2008 : Column 248W—continued
Bye-Law Review Team
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the terms of reference are of the Army's Byelaws Review Team. [223736]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The terms of reference for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Byelaws Review Team are to review all of the MOD byelaws and bring them up to date.
More detailed information on the terms of reference as well as other useful background information can be found online at:
Cluster Munitions
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries of service personnel resulted from cluster munitions and other similar ordnances in each of the last five years. [222525]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There has been one death and no injuries to UK service personnel as a result of cluster munitions or similar ordnances in the last five years.
In March 2003, in Iraq, a UK serviceman was attempting to diffuse an M42 bomblet, which unfortunately exploded and killed him.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cluster munitions were deactivated (a) in the field of action and (b) amongst UK stores of weapons in each year since 1997, broken down by location. [222526]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Information which would confirm how many cluster munitions have been deactivated in each respective operational theatre since 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Stocks of all UK cluster munition types have been withdrawn from service and a number are currently
awaiting disposal, but they are not deactivated while being held in UK stores; deactivation occurs at the point of disposal.
I can confirm that the disposal of the total stock of 82,900 high explosive M483 shells began in April 2005 and was completed in July this year and that the total stock of 3,687 BL755 bombs (including variants), have been removed from the Ministry of Defence's inventory and shipped to Germany for physical disposal, which is expected to be completed in 2009.
The disposal process in respect of our total stock of 7,282 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) M26 rocket pods began in September 2007 and should be completed by the end of 2013.
A contract has recently been placed for the disposal of 4,270 CRV-7 multi-purpose sub-munition (MPSM) warheads; disposal is due to complete in 2009. The disposal of 56,000 L20A1 extended range bomblet shells (ERBS) is currently the subject of a competitive tendering process, and it is expected that disposal will be completed in 2010.
In all cases, disposal includes both the munitions and their sub munitions.
Dangerously Ill Forwarding of Relatives
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the standard Dangerously Ill Forwarding of Relatives (DILFOR UK) payment was in the latest period for which figures are available; [222068]
(2) what his Department’s annual expenditure was on the (a) Dangerously Ill Forwarding of Relatives (UK) and (b) Dangerously Ill Forwarding of Relatives (Overseas) programmes for each year since 2003. [222069]
Mr. Kevan Jones: There is not a standard payment for the Dangerously Ill Forwarding of Relatives (UK) (DILFOR (UK)). Each payment made will vary depending on the number of relatives, travel and accommodation costs incurred. Information about the average DILFOR (UK) payment is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Information about the Department’s annual expenditure on DILFOR (UK) and DILFOR (Overseas) for each year since 2003 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Defence Equipment: Procurement
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which 10 companies have supplied his Department with the most equipment in the last 12 months; and what the UK-based workforce is of each company. [222340]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: This answer takes “most equipment” to mean the total value of assets delivered, as it is a more relevant measure than volume or quantity. The 10 companies that received the highest total direct payments(1) from the Ministry of Defence during financial year 2007-08 in respect of equipment procurement, along with the approximate number of UK-based employees of each company, are shown in the following table.
| Company | Employees( 2) |
| (1) Expenditure excludes payments made through other nations or international procurement agencies on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. (2) Employee numbers are based on information provided by the companies and BERR. (3) Westland Helicopters Ltd: Employee numbers refer to the UK based employees of parent company Agusta Westland. (4) Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd: Employee numbers refer to the UK based employees of Babcock Marine which includes Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd. | |
Defence Estates
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans are in place for the re-investment of capital generated by the sale of land identified as disposable in the Defence Estates Development Plan. [222493]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The capital generated from the planned sale of MOD land is reinvested in defence in accordance with Treasury guidelines, and in line with our priority of support to our people, including improved accommodation.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what acreage of land is owned by his Department and used for non-military agricultural purposes; and for what reasons such land is held. [222529]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Data regarding the amount of defence land used for agricultural purposes have not been reported since 2005. At that time some 106,000 hectares of defence land was used for agricultural purposes. Agricultural land is held by the Department to provide a realistic military training environment.
Defence Training Review Programme
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of the contract for package 1 of the Defence Training Review programme is. [223990]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The value of the DTR package 1 contract is currently estimated at £9.2 billion, while the residual costs to the MOD are estimated to be about £2.8 billion. These figures will continue to be subject to the outcome of negotiations with Metrix and the ongoing review of the proposal and assumptions related to the project.
Defence: Secondary Education
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who has (a) contributed resources to, (b) offered to develop and (c) taken part in online polls relating to the Defence Dynamics e-learning tool; [208881]
(2) what the results were of (a) the online polls and (b) the rating of lessons in relation to the Defence Dynamics e-learning tool website; [208882]
(3) what (a) representations he has received on and (b) audit he has conducted of the e-learning product Defence Dynamics; and if he will place in the Library copies of the representations received; [209037]
(4) how many students have used the e-learning product Defence Dynamics; [209038]
(5) how many people have registered on the Defence Dynamics website; [209039]
(6) who have registered on the Defence Dynamics website have (a) used interactive exercises, (b) registered a class, (c) used teaching materials, (d) accessed the multimedia library, (e) downloaded multimedia resources, (f) used forums, (g) filed a complaint and (h) reported technical problems; [209040]
Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member.
Substantive answer from Derek Twigg to Andrew Murrison:
I undertook to write to you in answer to your parliamentary questions on 12 June 2008,
Official Report, columns 420-21W about Defence Dynamics. As you asked a number of questions I will answer each in turn.
Who had contributed resources to, offered to develop and taken part in online polls relating to Defence Dynamics.
Kids Connections are the agency commissioned by the Central Office of Information (COI), on behalf of the MOD, to produce Defence Dynamics. Under supervision of the MOD Schools Adviser, Kids Connections has been responsible for creating the site from conception stage through to its current maintenance and continuing development. Kids Connections work in partnership with a panel of practising teachers from across the whole of the UK.
As interest in the programme develops so more offers of assistance in developing resources have been made. Offers have mostly come from within the Department. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has offered to be more formally involved in reviewing materials.
What were the results of online polls and lesson ratings.
The online poll asks a range of questions relating to frequency of use, relevance, appropriateness and future planning.
On average 20 teachers participate per month.
On average 7 students participate per month.
The average lesson rating is 8 out of 10.
What representations have we received and what audit has been conducted of the e-learning product.
Many representations have been made on the materials contained on the website. Some can be found on the discussion strands on the site itself, others have been made by teachers in face-to-face contact at national Education Shows and in other meetings with teachers. Almost all reflect positive support for the resource. The remainder suggest ways in which lesson plans might be improved. It would be difficult to place these representations in the Library and they are best viewed in the context of the website at www.defencedynamics.mod.uk.
The resource was launched in November 2007 with the first major audit of the website due at the end of 2008. The audit will be managed by an external organisation selected by COI. I shall place a copy of the audit report in the Library of the House when this becomes available.
How many people have registered oh the website and how many students have used it.
2,961 teachers have fully registered on the Defence Dynamics website. Additionally non-registered teachers and Heads of Department also use the site.
It is not possible to track unique user hits due to multiple students sharing PC's and IP addresses in schools and there is no registration process. In total there have been 69,887 page views on the student website up to 12 June 2008.
Access, registration, usage and technical issues.
The following points address the questions you raised on access, registration and technical issues.
The total number of interactive exercises used is 131.
There are currently 174 registered classes. Each class roughly averages 25 students, thus approximately 4,350 students have been registered. If a teacher registers a class it indicates a commitment to using the site and reflects well on the quality of the material contained.
It is not possible to accurately report the number of individuals who have 'used' the teaching materials as they are available to registered and non-registered users.
1,774 teachers have viewed and downloaded at least one resource in the multimedia library.
2, 014 videos have been downloaded, however these may be shared and therefore no exact user figure is available.
23 teachers have taken part in 16 forum threads.
Number of complaints
The number of complaints by registered users is as follows:
Error in lesson materials - 5 teachers.
Registration issue - 7 teachers.
Technical issues -11 teachers.
How many schools have acquired and used the multi-media tool cited at page 25 of the Report of Inquiry into National Recognition of our Armed Forces.
The number of schools that have registered to the website to access the resources is 2,322 and a further 1,558 schools have registered to receive the CD Rom only but have not registered to the website. Other youth organisations and non-registered schools are also using Defence Dynamics resources - thus exposing more young people to these educational resources.
In addition, 1,774 registered teachers have downloaded at least one element from Defence Dynamics and 23,493 anonymous users (not logged in) have viewed resources.
Defence Dynamics and the former Schools Presentation Teams are not directly comparable because two different media are involved. However, we expect that the cumulative effect of students interacting with Defence Dynamics lessons will produce a similar result to that of the half-day Team presentation.
Departmental Air Travel
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 27W, on carbon emissions: Government departments, how much air mileage incurred through departmental travel was used to calculate the departmental payment to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund in each year that his Department has participated in the fund, broken down by (a) domestic, (b) short haul and (c) long haul flights. [221938]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Since 2006, the MOD has offset Head Office non-operational official and ministerial flights, through the Government's Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF) managed by EEA Fund Management. For the year 2006-07, the MOD paid the total offsetting cost of £180,599.38 to the GCOF. This is broken down as follows:
| Km | |
MOD is currently calculating its return for 2007-08.
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether those staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies who are entitled to business class or first class air travel are permitted to (i) travel in a cheaper class to the destination and (ii) benefit in monetary terms or kind from the saving. [221946]
Mr. Kevan Jones: All official travel is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code and internal Policy Rules and Guidance. Ministry of Defence or Defence Agency staff entitled to first or business class air travel are permitted to travel in a cheaper class if they wish. Many business areas actively encourage staff to travel by the most economical means in order to reduce travel and subsistence costs.
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