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19 Jan 2009 : Column 1050W—continued
Departmental Equality
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the (a) sex, (b) ethnicity, (c) age, (d) disability, (e) sexual orientation and (f) religion or belief of its staff; and what assessment he has made of his Department's performance against its targets relating to diversity in its workforce. [246015]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence's assessment of its performance against its targets relating to the diversity of our workforce is contained in the annual report against our Equality and Diversity Scheme 2008-11. The report covering the period 2007-08 will be published early January, and will be available both in the Library of the House and on the website:
Departmental Pay
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that temporary and permanent employees of his Department employed at the same grade receive the same hourly rate of pay. [248409]
Mr. Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 98W.
Military Aircraft
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tucano aircraft are in service with the Royal Air Force; and what plans have been made to manage the retirement of the fleet. [248174]
Mr. Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 105W.
The run-down of the Tucano fleet will be managed so as to achieve a smooth transition to any replacement capability delivered as part of the UK Military Flying Training System and will ensure that training commitments are met.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many air-to-air refuelling sorties were flown by the (a) Tornado and (b) Harrier fleets in the United Kingdom in each month of each of the last five financial years; [248571]
(2) what the rate of rejection of eco-engines from first line in the United Kingdom was in each week of each of the last five financial years; [248526]
(3) how much aviation fuel was transferred to the Tornado air defence and ground attack fleets during air-to-air refuelling operations in the United Kingdom in each week of each of the last five financial years; [248527]
(4) how much aviation fuel was used by the Tornado air defence and ground attack fleets in the United Kingdom in each week of each of the last five financial years; [248528]
(5) how much aviation fuel was consumed by the Harrier fleet in the United Kingdom in each week of each of the last five financial years; [248577]
(6) what the rate of rejection of RB 199 aero engines from first line was in the United Kingdom in each week of each of the last five financial years. [248585]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member.
Military Intelligence
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department plans to begin the next phase of the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance capability. [248581]
Mr. Quentin Davies: ISTAR capability is being developed through a range of programmes which are at different stages. Accordingly it is not possible to identify a distinct and comprehensive phase of ISTAR capability.
Our general approach to ISTAR capability was set out in the MOD Memorandum published in the HCDC report on ‘The contribution of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to ISTAR capability’ (Thirteenth Report of Session 2007-08).
Missiles
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what upgrades were made to Brimstone air to surface missiles during 2008; and what further upgrades his Department has planned. [248175]
Mr. Quentin Davies: During 2008 the Brimstone missile was upgraded to provide an air-launched low-collateral variant that could be used against static and moving ground targets. In addition, we are currently considering the development of an Insensitive Munition variant of Brimstone.
Trident
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Trident II systems his Department is planning to build; and what estimate he has made of the likely length of time between the delivery of each Trident II. [247539]
Mr. Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 111W.
Turkey: Defence Sales
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the public purse has received for the sale of the three Type-42 destroyers Glasgow, Cardiff and Newcastle to a Turkish ship breaker. [248812]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The final sale price for the T42s will be dependant on the volume of metals salvaged and its market price following recycling. The arrangement entered into by the MOD, secured following a competitive tender, will provide a minimum guaranteed price and potentially a further payment depending upon the prevailing market conditions.
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reservations his Department is seeking to make in relation to the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [248192]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Reservations and/or interpretative declarations in respect of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities are being considered by four Departments: Home Office, Ministry of Defence, DCSF and DWP. This information is in the public domain and was most recently referred to in an answer to Lord Morris of Manchester by Lord McKenzie of Luton, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Works and Pension on 18 December 2008, Official Report, column WA65.
The precise details of the reservations/interpretative declarations are being finalised by the four Departments, and will be subject to clearance by DA Committee before the necessary Explanatory Memorandum for ratification of the convention is laid for parliamentary scrutiny.
The Ministry of Defence has indicated that there is a need to enter a reservation in respect of the armed forces reflecting the relevant provisions of EC Framework Directive Employment (2000/78/EC) and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). MOD officials are working closely with DWP officials to finalise the wording of the armed forces' reservation which is required to preserve the combat effectiveness of the armed forces.
Unmanned Air Vehicles
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce plans to trial further technology demonstrator unmanned aerial vehicles. [247761]
Mr. Quentin Davies [holding answer 15 January 2009]: The Mantis and Taranis UAV technology demonstrator programmes are already progressing. UAVs have proved their worth on current operations and we recognise the role they are likely to play in the future mix of military capability. Details of further relevant research activities are contained within our Defence Technology Plan, due to be published shortly.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Predator or Reaper systems have been purchased by the Government; and how many are still flying. [248691]
Mr. Quentin Davies: We have purchased one Reaper system (also known as Predator B), comprising air vehicles, ground stations, communications infrastructure and HQ facilities. I am withholding information on the number of air vehicles currently in use as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Veterans: Pensions
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans who have been diagnosed as having less than 12 months to live, have applied for a serious ill-health lump sump payment under an armed forces pension scheme; and if he will make a statement. [244828]
Mr. Kevan Jones: No veterans, diagnosed as having less than 12 months to live, have applied for a serious ill-health lump sum payment under armed forces pension scheme 2005.
Warships: Procurement
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) surface ships and (b) submarines are on order; and when each is due to be (i) completed and (ii) entered into service. [247016]
Mr. Quentin Davies: We are in the middle of a very large programme of investment in new warships, centred on the Type 45 Destroyers, the Future Aircraft Carriers and the Astute Class submarines.
Of the six Type 45 Destroyers on order, two, Daring and Dauntless, have been built and commenced their sea trials. The other four vessels, which are in various stages of build, are expected to reach similar stages in the coming years: Diamond in 2009, Dragon in 2010, Defender in 2011 and Duncan in 2012. Daring is expected to enter into service next year with the other five at a rate of approximately one a year thereafter.
The two new Aircraft Carriers, Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales, were originally due to enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively. The Equipment Examination found that there is scope to improve alignment with the
Joint Combat Aircraft project. This is likely to mean delaying the in-service dates of the new carriers by one to two years.
The four Astute Class submarines that have been ordered (Astute, Ambush, Artful and Audacious) are in various stages of production. The planned in-service dates are subject to ongoing detailed review. There has, however, been some delay to the programme and we are in the process of re-baselining the programme timetable and an announcement will be made in due course. We intend to note a further three submarines in this class.
Transport
Air Routes
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances he would consider designating the air link between London Gatwick and Plymouth as a Public Service Obligation (PSO) route as defined in European Regulation 2408/92 and 95/93; and if he will make a statement. [248094]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 15 January 2009]: The criteria for imposing a PSO were set out in “Guidance on the Protection of Regional Air Access to London”, published by the Department in December 2005. It can be found on the DfT website at:
Under the Guidance, it is for regional stakeholders or devolved Administrations to apply to the Secretary of State for a PSO to be imposed. No application has been received in relation to the Plymouth to Gatwick route.
The EU rules governing the imposition of PSOs on air routes have been refined by Regulation EC 1008/2008. The Department will be revisiting the 2005 guidance in the light of this, but we do not anticipate making large scale changes.
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the designation of the air service between London Gatwick and Plymouth as a public service obligation route in accordance with EC Regulation 2408/92 and 95/93; and if he will make a statement. [249383]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The criteria for imposing a PSO were set out in “Guidance on the Protection of Regional Air Access to London”, published by the Department for Transport in December 2005. It can be found on the DFT website at:
Under the guidance, it is for regional stakeholders or devolved Administrations to apply to the Secretary of State for a PSO to be imposed. No application has been received in relation to the Plymouth to Gatwick route.
The EU rules governing the imposition of PSOs on air routes have been refined by Regulation EC 1008/2008. The Department will be revisiting the 2005 guidance in the light of this, but we do not anticipate making large scale changes.
Aviation
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of UK regional air services are operated by each airline in each region. [248095]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 15 January 2009 ]: The information requested is set out in the following table, which has been compiled by the CAA.
| Major airlines’ percentage share of UK terminal airport passengers (scheduled and charter) by DFT planning region in 2007 | ||||||||
| Percentage | ||||||||
| Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | North of England | Midlands | South West | South East | Total UK excluding Channel Islands | |
| (1) MyTravel and Thomas Cook Airlines have now merged. (2) Thomson and First Choice Airways have now merged. (3) XL Airways filed for bankruptcy in September 2008. (4) Airlines which don’t have at least a 2 per cent. share of passengers in any regions (may include subsidiaries of named airlines). Notes: 1. Terminal passengers are sourced from CAA Airport Statistics, and includes all reporting UK airports. 2. A one-way domestic trip is counted twice, on departure from one airport, and on arrival at the other. 3. Using other measures of airline activity, such as flights, or passenger or seat kilometres, will give a different picture. 4. Individual airlines are listed where they hold a unique air operator certificate. However, some may have common ownership, such as the three bmi airlines. | ||||||||
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