14 Oct 2008 : Column 1007W

14 Oct 2008 : Column 1007W

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 14 October 2008

Scotland

Departmental Marketing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of Government-commissioned advertising in the last 12 months relating to matters falling within the remit of his Department. [226509]

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office incurred no expenditure on advertising in 2007-08.

Departmental Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what total cost. [226429]

Ann McKechin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 2 June 2008, Official Report, column 530W, to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond).

Wales

Departmental Procurement

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of invoices for goods and services procured from small and medium-sized businesses were paid within 30 days of receipt by (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which his Department is responsible in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement. [226505]

Mr. Paul Murphy: My office paid 90 per cent. of all invoices received within 30 days, and of the small amount of invoices received from small businesses, 92 per cent. were paid within 30 days of receipt in 2007-08. The Wales Office does not have any agencies.

Departmental Written Questions

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of written Questions for answer on a named day his Department has answered on the due date in the current Session of Parliament to date. [226888]

Mr. Paul Murphy: This Session my Department has answered 24 out of 27 named day questions on the due date, a proportion of 89 per cent.


14 Oct 2008 : Column 1008W

Taxis

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was claimed in expenses for taxi travel by officials from his Department in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2005-06, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2003-04 and (e) 2002-03; and if he will make a statement. [227041]

Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department has spent the following amounts on taxis:

£

2002-03

1,266

2003-04

1,154

2004-05

625

2005-06

2,321

2006-07

2,194


Defence

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 1052W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, (1) what the details were of each confirmed report of theft; [224126]

(2) how many cases of theft are being investigated; and on what date each investigation began. [224127]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 17 September 2008]: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Liam Fox:


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14 Oct 2008 : Column 1010W
Date reported Actual incident Background Remarks

11 October 2007

Theft in Transit

Tools removed from ISO* while in transit on Contractor convoy between Lashkar Gah and Camp Bastion

*ISO standard shipping container

16 October 2007

Theft in Transit

Personal items removed from ISO while in transit between UK and Camp Bastion.

28 October 2007

Theft in Transit

Specialist cable removed from ISO while in transit between UK and Camp Bastion.

1 December 2007

Theft in Transit

Military equipment and personal items removed from ISO while in transit between Kandahar Airfield and Camp Bastion.

3 December 2007

Theft in Transit

Hesco Bastion removed from ISO while in transit between Kandahar Airfield and Lashkar Gah.

7 December 2007

Theft in Transit

Runway incursion lights removed from ISO while in transit between UK and Camp Bastion.

31 December 2007

Theft in Transit

Military equipment removed from ISO while in transit between Kandahar Airfield and Kabul.

12 January 2008

Theft in Transit

Hesco Bastion removed from ISO while in transit on Contractor convoy between Kandahar Airfield and Camp Bastion.

15 January 2008

Theft in Transit

Electrical items and plant equipment removed from ISO while in transit on Contractor convoy between Kandahar Airfield and Camp Bastion.

18 January 2008

Theft of ISO

Specialist stores removed from ISO while in transit on Contractor convoy between Kandahar Airfield and Camp Bastion.

Inquiries ascertained that ISO container did not reach intended destination

25 January 2008

Theft in Transit

Specialist stores removed from ISO while in transit between UK and Kandahar Airfield.

Inquiries ascertained that the ISO container arrived in theatre via Iran.

21 March 2008

Destroyed by EF/Theft in Transit

Specialist stores destroyed/removed from ISO while in transit between Germany and Camp Bastion.

Inquiries ascertained that 1 x ISO was destroyed by enemy forces/1 x ISO failed to arrive and 1 x ISO arrived at Camp Bastion.

2 April 2008

Theft of ISO

Accommodation stores removed from ISO while in transit on Contractor convoy between Kandahar Airfield and Camp Bastion.

Inquiries ascertained that ISO container did not reach intended destination.

12 May 2008

Theft in Transit

Military equipment removed from ISO while in transit between UK and Camp Bastion.

29 May 2008

Theft in Transit

2 x flat screen TVs removed while in transit between Kandahar Airfield and Camp Bastion.

23 June 2008

Theft from ISO

Specialist stores removed from ISO while in transit between Kandahar Airfield and Camp Bastion.

No evidence to indicate items loaded into ISO at Kandahar Airfield


Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enemy combatants were taken prisoner in Afghanistan by UK forces in each month of operations in the last two years. [225730]

Mr. Hutton: The Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking a review of its detention records and I will write to the hon. Member when the review has been completed.

Armed Forces: Food

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department's ration packs cost on average. [226766]

Mr. Quentin Davies: The average cost of the components required to make one Operational Ration Pack (ORP) are as follows:

£

24 Hr General Purpose ORP

8.75

24 Hr Sikh/Hindu ORP

8.77

24 Hr Halal ORP

9.34

24 Hr Vegetarian ORP

8.89


China: Military Alliances

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Memoranda of Understanding on military-co-operation signed during the Prime Minister’s visit to China in January 2008. [225408]

Mr. Hutton: Although a number of Memoranda of Understanding and bilateral agreements were signed during my right hon. Friend's very successful visit to China in January 2008, none related to military co-operation.

Disabled

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of staff in (a) his Department and (b) the executive agencies for which he is responsible are disabled; and what the average salary in (i) his Department and (ii) the executive agencies is of (A) full-time disabled staff, (B) full-time non-disabled staff, (C) part-time disabled staff and (D) part-time non-disabled staff. [220189]


14 Oct 2008 : Column 1011W

Mr. Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office on 8 October 2008, Official Report, column 651-57W.

European Fighter Aircraft

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for future orders of Tranche 3 Typhoon fighters; and if he will make a statement. [227033]

Mr. Quentin Davies: Negotiations with partner nations and industry on Tranche 3 are continuing; decisions will be taken once these negotiations are complete.

Iran: Weapons

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths of UK armed forces personnel in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan are considered to have resulted from the use of technology, explosives, ordnance or other weapons whose provenance is believed to be Iranian; and if he will make a statement. [225085]

Mr. Hutton: It is not possible to identify the origin of all technology, explosives, ordnance or weapons employed against British Forces operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some evidence suggests that a proportion of the equipment and armaments used in attacks originate from within the borders of Iran but the precise number is not available.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in transferring Basra airbase to Iraqi civilian authority; and if he will make a statement. [222018]

Mr. Hutton: As the Prime Minister set out in his statement on 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 662, finalising the preparations for transfer of Basra International Airport (BIA) to Iraqi control is one of the key remaining tasks for UK forces in southern Iraq.

With some support from the Royal Air Force, the Iraqi civilian authorities are already able to operate BIA as a civil airport during daylight hours. We continue to assess that—subject to security conditions on the ground—the Iraqi authorities will be able to take over development of the airport at the turn of the year.

Porton Down

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and for what purpose South Africa's Surgeon-General, Neil Knobel, visited Porton Down; and if he will make a statement. [225084]

Mr. Quentin Davies: I believe that your question relates to a claim made by Dr. Wouter Basson, during the Truth and Reconciliation Council hearings in August 2001, that Neil Knobel visited Porton Down. Officials at DSTL Porton Down have reviewed their records and have found no evidence to support the claim that this individual visited the establishment.


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