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21 Jan 2009 : Column 1452W—continued
Policing and Justice: Devolution
13. Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account he plans to take of the discovery of Semtex and detonators in the Republic of Ireland in December 2008 in his plans for devolution of policing and justice responsibility. [248312]
Mr. Woodward: While I have no reason to believe this find is inconsistent with the previous comments made by the IMC, the Commission will wish to consider carefully the outcome of the Garda investigation when it is complete.
Economic Situation
14. Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the economic situation in Northern Ireland. [248313]
Mr. Woodward: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with Northern Ireland Ministers on a wide range of subjects including economic matters, which are of course devolved. I met the Minister for Finance and Personnel yesterday to discuss economic matters relating to Northern Ireland.
Departmental Data Protection
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended and (c) dismissed for losing (i) memory sticks, (ii) laptop computers, (iii) desktop computers and (iv) mobile telephones belonging to his Department in each year since 1997. [248257]
Paul Goggins: There have not been any such cases in the Northern Ireland Office since 1997.
Electronic Equipment
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 12 November 2008, Official Report, column 1211W, on electronic equipment, for what reasons electronic equipment with a value of more than £1,000 is classed as capital expenditure. [243437]
Paul Goggins: Electronic equipment with a value of more than £1,000 is classed as capital expenditure in line with the departmental accounting policy which sets the threshold for capitalising items at £1,000.
Prisoners: Per Capita Costs
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average daily cost of keeping a person in prison in Northern Ireland was in the last period for which figures are available. [247044]
Paul Goggins: The average daily cost of keeping a person in prison in 2007-08 was £222.
Scotland
Departmental Written Questions
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in the last 12 months Ministers in his Department have used their discretion to rule that a parliamentary question for written answer should be answered because it would be in the public interest to do so, even though to do so would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold of £700. [249126]
Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has not answered any written questions when the cost of preparing the answer would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold as the Minister did not believe it to be in the public interest to answer such questions irrespective of cost.
Defence
Armed Forces: Manpower
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength of reserve units in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces based in Ashford constituency is; and how many personnel from such units have been deployed on operations overseas in the last 12 months. [249189]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are two Territorial Army sub-units of 103 Battalion REME in Ashford, namely 133 Workshop Company, REME and 103 Battalion REME Stores Section RLC. The units have a strength of 79 and nine personnel respectively. During the last 12 months, five members from those units were deployed on operations overseas.
Departmental Catering
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) directly-operated and (b) franchised catering outlets his Department and its agencies provides for staff. [249071]
Mr. Kevan Jones: This information is not held in the format requested. Catering in MOD establishments is usually provided as part of facility management multi-activity contracts, or is contracted out under the Pay As You Dine initiative. Details of the outlets are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Written Questions
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last 12 months Ministers in his Department have used their discretion to rule that a parliamentary question for written answer should be answered because it would be in the public interest to do so, even though to do so would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold of £700. [249137]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The information requested is not recorded.
European Fighter Aircraft
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when firm orders will be placed for Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft; in what respects their capabilities will differ from Tranche 1 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [248632]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The contract for Typhoon Tranche 2 was signed in December 2004 and the first deliveries of aircraft from that tranche commenced in October 2008.
Tranche 1 aircraft are optimised for air-to-air combat; an air-to-surface capability has also been integrated and was declared combat ready by the RAF in July 2008. In common with the Tranche 1 specification, Tranche 2 aircraft have air-to-air capability, and an enhanced air-to-surface capability is scheduled to be integrated on Tranche 2 aircraft from 2012. Negotiations with partner nations and industry are continuing on the Typhoon Tranche 3 contract and decisions will be taken once these negotiations are complete.
NATO Response Force
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units form the British commitment to the NATO Response Force in 2009. [249734]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: From January to June 2009, the UK’s commitment to the NATO Response Force is a Maritime Component Command Flagship with Destroyer/Frigate escort, Mine Hunter and associated logistic support (an Auxiliary Repair Ship, Support Ship and Logistic Ship Dock (Auxiliary) with Boarding Team); and a Deployable Air Operating Base, four Air Defence Aircraft, four Fighter Bomber Aircraft and four Close Air Support Aircraft together with two Transport Aircraft and up to two Airborne Early Warning Aircraft.
From July to December 2009, the UK will contribute a Destroyer/Frigate Escort Ship and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft; a Land Component Command Headquarters and associated support, and a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Company; six Fighter Bomber Aircraft, six Close Air Support Aircraft, two Air-to-Air Refuelling Aircraft, two Transport Aircraft and up to two Airborne Early Warning Aircraft.
Navy: Deployment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average unit tour interval was for each ship type in the Royal Navy over the last eight years. [249708]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The average tour unit interval by surface ship type, defined as a ship being away from its base port for more than three months, from 2003 for which information is available is as follows (rounded to the nearest month):
| Months | |
Survey Vessels have up to two and a half year deployments.
River Class Patrol Vessels on Fishery Protection undertake eight week (approx) taskings.
Falkland Island Patrol Vessel permanently deployed.
Spearhead Land Element
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which regiment or battalion forms the Spearhead Land Element (SLE); whether it is fully equipped; whether the present SLE is deployed; and when the future SLE will take over from the present SLE. [249726]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The 3rd Battalion The Rifles forms the Spearhead Land Element (SLE), which is not currently deployed. The SLE is currently fully equipped in accordance with the Joint Rapid Reaction Force Directive and operational mounting instructions. The next SLE will be provided by the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, who will assume this role from 1 March 2009.
Culture, Media and Sport
Beaches: Naturists
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on the provision of naturist beaches. [248130]
Barbara Follett: My officials have consulted colleagues in DEFRA, the Department responsible for beaches, who have advised that there is no specific policy on the provision of naturist beaches.
However, The Marine and Coastal Access Bill will provide for a new right of access to the English coast and the expectation is that most beaches will be included within this, which will not affect any existing rights or permissions for naturists that may exist on the coast.
DEFRA officials are arranging a meeting with British Naturism to hear their views on the coastal access proposals.
Byron Review
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of his Department's staff provided support for the Byron Review. [247419]
Barbara Follett: Two members of staff (one at Grade A and one at Grade B) provided support for the review as it was conducted.
Departmental Marketing
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in the last 12 months. [243725]
Barbara Follett: In the period from 1 December 2007 to 30 November 2008, the amount spent by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on advertising was as follows: (a) public appointments £142,595; (b) communications £14,340; and (c) recruitment £24,343.
Mass Media: Economic Situation
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on (a) recent reductions in advertising revenues to (i) television companies, (ii) radio companies and (iii) newspapers and (b) recent job losses in the media industry; and if he will make a statement. [248976]
Barbara Follett: I have received a number of representations from the television, radio and press sectors on a variety of issues affecting the media industry, including advertising revenues and employment. Full details of recent correspondence in these areas could be identified only at a disproportionate cost.
Public Libraries
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the aggregate scheduled duration of opening for all libraries per 1,000 population in each local authority was in each of the last three years; [247577]
(2) what proportion of static libraries provided access to (a) internet services, (b) broadband internet services and (c) wi-fi internet services in each local authority area in each of the last three years; [247578]
(3) how many electronic workstations with access to the internet there were in library service outlets per 100,000 population in each local authority area in each of the last three years; [247579]
(4) how many library visits were made per 100,000 population in each local authority area in each of the last three years. [247581]
Barbara Follett: This information is not held centrally. However, the Public Library Statistics, published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), contain similar data to that being sought. The House of Commons Library holds copies for the period in question.
Public Libraries: Standards
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what proportion of requests for books from library service points were met within (a) seven, (b) 15 and (c) 30 days in each local authority area in each of the last three years; [247580]
(2) what proportion of library users aged 16 years and over viewed their library service as very good or good in each local authority area in each of the last three years; [247582]
(3) what proportion of library users aged under 16 years viewed their library service as good in each local authority area in each of the last three years; [247583]
(4) how many items were added through purchase to library service outlets per 1,000 population in each local authority area in each of the last three years. [247584]
Barbara Follett: The information requested is published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in Public Library Statistics. The House of Commons Library holds copies for the period in question.
Sports: North East
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking in conjunction with Sport England to promote sport participation projects in the North East to meet regional priorities on health and well-being. [245859]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Legacy Action Plan commits to getting 2 million people more active by 2012, and Sport England will deliver 1 million of these through sport. The remaining 1 million is a cross Government target, and Sport England will contribute by making wide links with those involved in promoting physical activity, such as primary care trusts and local authorities, as a platform for many people to become involved in sport.
Sport England is also funding a Facilities Improvement Service designed to assist selected local authorities with their planning tools and ensure that they take a strategic view of facility provision. This service is currently working with Middlesbrough and Gateshead councils. Sport England will additionally invest up to £10 million per year of capital funding in projects to promote a sustainable approach to community facilities throughout the country, including the north east region.
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