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8 Oct 2008 : Column 638W—continued
Diabetes
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent steps the Government has taken to prevent diabetes; [225136]
(2) what recent steps the Government has taken to improve treatments for diabetes patients in the NHS. [225137]
Ann Keen: This Government continue to support the implementation of the Diabetes national service framework (NSF) and work with key partners to support the NHS in driving forward improvements in diabetes care. The Department, in partnership with Diabetes UK and the National Diabetes Support Team, has published reports, documents and toolkits in a number of areas that are intended to provide quality information and standards for commissioners and health care providers to help them plan and deliver services envisaged in the NSF.
“Putting Prevention First”, published on 1 April 2008 and already placed into the Library, outlined plans for a national programme of vascular checks, which PCTs will begin to roll out in 2009-10. Full roll out is anticipated in 2012-13 when we hope the checks will be available to all people between the ages of 40 and 74, on a five year rolling basis. The checks aim to help people be healthier for longer by assessing and managing their risk of developing vascular conditions, such as chronic heart disease and diabetes. The checks will ensure that people are given information about their health, supported to make lifestyle changes and, in some cases, offered earlier interventions.
Defence
Aircraft Carriers
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what planning his Department has undertaken in respect of the manning of the Future Aircraft Carriers; and if he will make a statement. [224452]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 6 October 2008]: A specific manning team was established during the early stages of the Future Aircraft Carriers Project charged with producing a detailed manpower plan. This plan has evolved as the design of the carriers has matured and will continue to evolve. It is intended to produce an endorsed manpower plan by the end of 2009. However, further refinement will continue until the ships enter service. Our current planning assumption is that the Future Carriers will be manned with a core compliment of 680. This figure excludes flight crew for embarked aircraft.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Royal Navy personnel man existing aircraft carriers; and how many will be required to man each of the Future Aircraft Carriers; [224453]
(2) what effect he anticipates on the manning of other units of the Fleet when (a) the first and (b) both of the Future Aircraft Carriers receive their full crews. [224455]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 6 October 2008]: The two existing operational carriers are each manned with a core complement of 698. Our current planning assumption is that the Future Carriers will each be manned with a core complement of 680. Both these figures exclude flight crew for the embarked aircraft.
Armed Forces: Food
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) pork and (d) chicken supplied to the armed forces came from livestock reared in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [224740]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Under the MOD single food supply contract, 100 per cent. of pork and gammon, and 55 per cent. of beef is sourced from the UK. Of the poultry requirement, up to 15 per cent. is sourced from the UK, although 100 per cent. of turkeys are British, and an initiative has been launched to increase the number of British chickens procured. Recently the amount of British lamb procured has increased from 9 per cent. to 19 per cent., and the MOD continues to look for opportunities to increase this further while still achieving best value for money. Figures for food procured under the Pay as You Dine project, which now accounts for more than 50 per cent. of troops fed, are not held centrally, although these contractors are also required, wherever competitive, to give full consideration to procuring British products.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of the armed forces' (a) Mastiff, (b) Jackal, (c) Panther and (d) Snatch Land Rover vehicles were (i) in service, (ii) fit for purpose and (iii) out of service at the latest date for which figures are available; [223673]
(2) what percentage of the armed forces' (a) Vectors, (b) Viking and (c) Bulldog vehicles were (i) in service, (ii) fit for purpose and (iii) out of service at the latest date for which figures are available. [223846]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The information requested is as follows:
| Vehicle | In Service ( percentage of fleet number) | Fit for Purpose ( percentage of in service number) | Out of service (percentage of fleet n umber ) |
The Snatch figures highlight the fact that two of the early variants are now obsolete and cannot be used. They are currently awaiting disposal.
The percentage of Viking Fit for Purpose reflects 18 vehicles which are part of the Total Fleet but which are awaiting replacement. They are therefore In Service but not Fit for Purpose.
Army: Buildings
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the proposed new Army Headquarters land at Andover will be in new, purpose-built accommodation; and if he will make a statement; [225203]
(2) when the Army will vacate Erskine Barracks at Wilton. [225205]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The new Land Forces Headquarters at Andover will use existing buildings which will be refurbished as necessary to provide updated accommodation for all staff.
The Army will vacate Erskine Barracks at Wilton progressively between mid-2010 and 2012.
Departmental Data Protection
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many notifications (a) his Department and (b) its agencies made to the Information Commissioner following the loss or mishandling of personal information or data in each of the last three years; and what was notified in each case. [222901]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence including its agencies has published details of the personal data related incidents notified to the Information Commissioner's Office in 2007-08 in its Annual Report and Accounts published on 21 July 2008. Two such incidents were notified.
During 2005-06 the Department formally reported one incident of accidental disclosure of protected personal data to the Information Commissioner's Office.
As a result of a limited failure by an automatic mailing machine, three members of the Army Regular or Long Term Reserve received copies of letters containing personal details of other reservists': name and address; next of kin name and address; marital status and date of marriage; the name and nationality of spouse; and bank account number, account title and sort code.
Letters of apology were sent to the reservists whose personal data were disclosed without consent.
I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 25 June 2008, providing the final report on measures for data handling procedures in Government.
Helicopters: Sales
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) army helicopters have been sold by his Department to foreign governments since April 2002. [224726]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Since April 2002 the Disposal Services Authority has sold three Sea King helicopters to Australia in the financial year 2005-06. They were not in an airworthy condition and were sold for spares recovery through Agusta Westland under a Commercial Marketing Agreement.
Communities and Local Government
Council Housing: Empty Property
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 1 July 2008, Official Report, column 791W, on housing: empty property, what proportion of the dwellings in each Government Office region were empty public sector dwellings in both years. [222885]
Mr. Iain Wright: The term public sector has been interpreted to mean “social rented” dwellings, i.e. local authority and registered social landlord owned dwellings.
The following tables show the level of social rented vacancies against the level of total vacancies in both 2006 and 2007. These tables show all vacancies, both long and short term.
| Dwelling vacancies in 2006 (long and short term vacancies) | |||||
| Total empty domestic dwellings as at 9 October 2006( 1) | Local authority vacancies as at 1 April 2006( 2) | Registered social landlord vacancies as at 31 March 2006( 3) | Total social vacancies | Percentage of total vacancies that are social rent | |
| Dwelling vacancies in 2007 (long and short term vacancies) | |||||
| Total empty domestic dwellings as at 8 October 2007( 1) | Local authority vacancies as at 1 April 2007( 2) | Registered social landlord vacancies as at 31 March 2007( 3) | Total social vacancies | Percentage of total vacancies that are social rent | |
| (1) Council Taxbase and Council Taxbase Supplementary (CTB1 and CTB1S) returns from local authorities. Figures are reported as at October in each year. (2) Local authority vacancies reported by local authorities to Communities and Local Government through the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA). Figures are reported as at 1 April in each year. (3) Registered social landlord vacancies as reported by registered social landlords to the Housing Corporation through the Regulatory Statistical Return. Figures are reported as at 31 March in each year. | |||||
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