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19 Nov 2008 : Column 500W—continued
Military Attachés
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2008, Official Report, columns 309-10W, on military attachés, what the reasons for the increase in the cost for the defence section in Albania between 2000-01 and 2001-02 were. [236761]
Mr. Kevan Jones:
The reason for the increase in cost for the Defence Section in Albania between 2000-01 and 2001-02 was that in March 2001, the last month of financial year 2000-01, a Military Liaison Officer (MLO) was seconded to the British embassy in Albania to help assess the feasibility of establishing a defence section in that country. His pay-related costs during that time were funded from another budgetary area within the Ministry of Defence while his subsistence costs were
funded from the attaché budget, as shown in the answer of 15 July 2008, Official Report, columns 309-10W. In April 2001 an accredited defence attaché and his support staff were deployed to Albania and funded from the attaché budget, with the result that the costs of the defence section for the full financial year (2001-02) are shown in the answer of 15 July 2008, Official Report, columns 309-10W.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2008, Official Report, columns 309-10W, on military attachés, if he will publish a breakdown of the cost of the defence sections in (a) Paris and (b) Moscow for each of the last three years. [236762]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The following table provides a breakdown of the cost for the Defence sections in Paris and Moscow for the last three financial years.
Military Decorations
Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to establish a medal for members of the armed forces injured or killed in combat, analogous to the Purple Heart medal issued in the United States. [236454]
Mr. Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement the then Defence Secretary made on 10 June 2008, Official Report, column 10WS which announced the plans for additional recognition for the families of members of the armed forces who die on operations and as a result of terrorist action. He made it clear that much detailed work would be required to work out the detail of this plan. Good progress is being made but it will be some months before we are ready to implement the plan. We hope to announce further details before the end of the year on matters such as the design and the qualifying criteria.
Military Police
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fatal incidents were investigated by the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch in each overseas theatre of operations since Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s inspection of August 2006; and what the outcome of each investigation was. [236157]
Mr. Kevan Jones: When UK armed forces personnel are killed on operations, the Royal Military Police Special Investigation branch RMP(SIB) carry out an investigation in order to determine if there is any criminal liability on the part of UK personnel. The evidence they gather is passed to the military chain of command. In more serious cases, the case papers may be referred for trial by court martial.
The RMP(SIB) have investigated 129 incidents involving UK armed forces fatalities which have occurred since 1 August 2006. Of these, 106 investigations resulted in no further action being taken against any member of the UK armed forces; 20 are ongoing; and three were referred to the Army Prosecuting Authority (APA). Of the three cases referred to the APA, one was discontinued and two resulted in trial by court martial.
The evidence collated by the RMP(SIB) is also passed to coroners. For details of outstanding inquests and verdicts, I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Defence and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice on 30 October 2008, Official Report, column 36WS.
Navy: Defence Equipment
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to provide Royal Navy ships with non-lethal weapons similar to those available to the US Navy for the interdiction of pirates in the Northern Indian Ocean. [237188]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 18 November 2008]: The MOD has no current plans to fit non-lethal weapons to Royal Navy ships, although research continues to establish their potential utility. As with all emerging technologies, MOD continues to review the possibilities such innovation presents.
UK weapon systems are consistent with international protocols, such as the Geneva convention. Their use is governed by Rules of Engagement, which ensures the application of proportionate force appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
Nuclear Disarmament
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the implications for UK nuclear weapons policy of the speech by the United Nations Secretary-General on 24 October 2008 on the importance of nuclear disarmament and security in a nuclear weapons-free world. [236369]
Mr. Hutton: I welcome the contribution to the debate on multilateral nuclear disarmament made by Mr. Ban in his speech to the East-West Institute in New York on 24 October and, specifically, his acknowledgment of the UK’s leading role. It is important that all states work together to create the security environment conducive to further multilateral disarmament, leading ultimately to a world free of nuclear weapons. This would include zero tolerance on instances of proliferation.
Piracy: Detainees
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance has been issued to Royal Navy commanders on the detention of pirates on board Royal Navy vessels; and if he will make a statement. [237195]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 18 November 2008]: Commanding officers of Royal Navy ships are issued with guidance on the applicable law and principles relating to the handling and detention of those suspected of committing offences on the high seas. In addition, the handling of detainees and the humanitarian principles governing that activity are laid down in UK armed forces doctrine. More generally, the conduct of counter-piracy operations is governed as necessary by the applicable rules of engagement specific to a particular mission.
RAF Brize Norton
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much further infrastructure work is required at RAF Brize Norton before the Hercules fleet arrives; and what his estimate is of the cost of that work. [237386]
Mr. Kevan Jones: A number of infrastructure projects are being undertaken at RAF Brize Norton in preparation for the arrival of the Hercules fleet. These include the relocation of a simulator training facility; relocation of Forward Support and stores; provision of suitable freight handling capacity; expansion of the aircraft battery bay and engine bay; relocation of Hercules Force HQ. Additionally the relocation of 47 Air Despatch Squadron will be required as part of the move.
Other infrastructure work is also being undertaken at Brize Norton which does not relate solely to the arrival of the Hercules fleet.
The full costs of all infrastructure works related to the arrival of the Hercules fleet are not identified separately and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the timing of the Hercules fleet's removal to RAF Brize Norton; and how that removal will be phased. [237387]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The move of the C130K and C130J fleets from RAF Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton is being planned for Summer 2011. The move will be phased to ensure support to operations is maintained.
Submarines
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the maximum future endurance on station of the Astute-class submarines. [236076]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Once deployed, Astute can patrol for 90 days and should not require refuelling throughout her full service life of over 25 years.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the crew strength per boat is in terms of (a) officers and (b) men, in respect of the current generation of attack submarines; and what the crew strength will be in respect of each Astute-class submarine; [236077]
(2) what assessment he has made of the practicability of having two crews for each Astute-class submarine. [236078]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The manpower liability for an Astute and Trafalgar Class submarine is as follows:
| Class | Trafalgar | Astute |
The Astute Class of submarine is and will continue to be manned using the watch rotational manning system currently employed for Royal Navy attack submarines. This system allows the required availability of the submarines to be met while ensuring leave and training periods for all personnel.
Tornado Aircraft
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average number of flying hours for Tornado GR4 aircrew has been in each month in 2008 to date. [236462]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Average monthly flying hours for Tornado aircrew is not recorded centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
USA: Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the implications for UK nuclear weapons policy of the speech made by the United States Defence Secretary Robert Gates on 28 October 2008 in respect of United States plans to retain and replace its nuclear weapons system and warheads. [236370]
Mr. Hutton:
In his speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, Secretary Gates considered a number of elements of the United States nuclear weapons policy. His general assessments closely
match those articulated in the 2006 White Paper “The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent” (Cm 6994).
Communities and Local Government
Christmas
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much (a) her Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in the last 12 months. [237491]
Mr. Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 November 2008, Official Report, column 1322W, to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) and the answers given by my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 17 January 2008, Official Report, column 1472W and the hon. Member for Guildford (Anne Milton) on 4 February 2008, Official Report, column 839W. Information on decorations could be answered only at disproportionate cost.
Council Tax: Fraud
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 30 October 2008, Official Report, column 1258W, on council tax, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commission guidance to local authority fraud investigators on how to follow up potential frauds and other anomalies. [235860]
John Healey: The guidance issued by the Audit Commission on the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is limited to how to interpret and prioritise the data matches released through NFI. The Commission does not provide guidance on the investigation of the referrals. It is the responsibility of each participating body to investigate matches, where appropriate, in line with their own policies and procedures.
As part of its continued development programme, the Commission has introduced online training tutorials for NFI 2008-09. This training material is integrated into the NFI web application and as such cannot be provided separately. Brief guidance notes to supplement the online material will be made available before the launch of the NFI 2008-09 results on 28 January 2009. A copy of those notes will then be placed in the Library.
Copies of the Commission’s guidance material issued to participating bodies for NFI 2006-07 have been placed in the Library, although this material is now out of date.
Council Tax: Pensions
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of council tax receipts in England were used to fund pension schemes that are funded by local authorities in the latest period for which figures are available. [237002]
John Healey:
A proportion of total local authority revenue goes towards meeting pension liabilities and
costs, but there is no specific proportion of council tax receipts which is used to meet this liability.
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