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29 Jan 2009 : Column 711W—continued
Water Supply
Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008, Official Report, column 1626W, on water supply, for what reason the original timetable for water companies to prepare their statement of response to the consultation was not met. [252078]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The overriding requirement of section 37 of the Water Industry Act 1991 is that a water company must provide a coherent plan that demonstrates how it will ensure a supply and demand balance for water.
In their statements of response, water companies must respond to the representations they received and say how these have been reflected in their plans and any changes that have been made to the plan in light of the representations.
The original timetable was extended to allow water companies additional time, which they needed in order to provide the evidence required to demonstrate the impacts any changes made to the plan will have on their subsequent appraisal, and selection, of the preferred water supply and demand options necessary to maintain their statutory water supply duties over the next 25 years.
Women and Equality
Departmental Buildings
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what Government Equalities Office assets are planned to be sold in each financial year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; what the (a) description and (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each such sale is; and if she will make a statement. [251677]
Maria Eagle: As recorded in its Annual Report and Resource Accounts 2007-08 the Government Equalities Office does not own any fixed or intangible assets.
Departmental Internet
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what websites the Government Equalities Office (a) funds and (b) part-funds. [251670]
Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has overall responsibility for one website:
The GEO has also made a financial contribution to the Ethnic Minority Foundation to develop a website aimed towards issues of concern to young people.
Departmental Training
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much the Government Equalities Office spent on digital media training courses provided by the Internet Advertising Bureau in 2008; how many such training sessions were held in 2008; and how many staff in the Government Equalities Office attended at least one such training course. [252238]
Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office has not spent any money on digital media training courses.
Domestic Violence: Nottinghamshire
John Mann: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many recorded incidents of domestic violence there have been in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) Nottinghamshire in each of the last three years; and how many of these resulted in a successful prosecution. [250763]
Maria Eagle [holding answer 26 January 2009]: Government figures from 2006-07 and 2007-08 show the number of domestic violence cases being reported has increased. This is a testament to the growing confidence victims have that they will be listened to and their reports effectively investigated coupled with the specialist and practical support victims receive.
The available data on domestic violence incidents are based on domestic violence arrest rates taken from the Statutory Performance Indicators (SPI 8a) suite used in police force performance assessments for 2007-08. The following table shows the number of recorded incidents of domestic violence in Nottinghamshire for each of the last three years. The Government do not hold discrete figures for Bassetlaw.
| Nottinghamshire domestic violence incidents | |
| Number | |
The following table shows the outcome of prosecutions for domestic violence from the records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The figures are for Nottinghamshire as a whole. No discrete figures are held in respect of Bassetlaw.
| Nottinghamshire Crown Prosecution Service domestic violence outcomes | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
The figures represent the number of defendants whose case was completed in each year and are divided into convictions, (including guilty pleas), and unsuccessful outcomes which represent all outcomes other than where a conviction is recorded.
There has been an improvement in the proportion of post-charge proceedings for domestic violence resulting in a conviction over recent years. Nationally, convictions increased from 63.5 per cent. of completed cases in 2006 to 72 per cent. in 2008. The improvement in CPS Nottinghamshire over the same period was from 59.7 per cent. to 69.1 per cent.
Domestic Violence: Victims
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government have taken to support women and children who are subject to domestic violence in the last two years. [250058]
Maria Eagle:
Independent domestic violence advisers provide invaluable support to victims of domestic violence and their families. Evidence shows that incidents of victimisation decrease and victims are less likely to withdraw from cases. This is why we have provided over £6 million this financial year to support the extension of Advisors and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences across England and Wales. Also, in 2006-07, local authorities spent over £61 million of their funding allocated through the Supporting People programme on housing-related support services for women at risk of domestic violence. Further, last financial year we provided funding to local
authorities worth £47.2 million through the Homelessness Strategy and Support Directorate's grant programmes a proportion of which can be used to develop outreach and other innovative models, such as the sanctuary scheme.
Females: Human Trafficking
Mr. Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will work with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to bring forward proposals for a commissioner with the remit of reducing the trafficking of women to the UK for sexual exploitation. [251266]
Maria Eagle: We believe that existing mechanisms (the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking and the Home Office NGO Stakeholder Group) provide appropriate forums for discussion and advocacy on issues surrounding trafficking for sexual exploitation, as well as allowing for close scrutiny of progress on the Action Plan and the Council of Europe Convention.
As Minister for Women and Equality, I ensure all Government departments are considering the specific concerns of vulnerable women. The Home Office and the UK Border Agency continue to work with our international partners both to raise awareness of human trafficking and further strengthen our ability to prevent this crime taking place.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on improving security in Afghanistan in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [252001]
Mr. Hutton: In 2008 progress was made across Afghanistan but the insurgency remains resilient and 2009 will continue to present significant security challenges in certain areas of the country, particularly in the south and east.
In Helmand, successful military operations by ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have allowed more of the province to come under the control of the Afghan Government. The recent Operation SOND CHARA saw Task Force Helmand, supported by ANSF, successfully clear Taleban from the town of Nad-e-Ali and its environs creating a secure environment to promote stabilisation and economic growth.
Aircraft Carriers
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the date for the completion of the Royal Navy aircraft carriers has been delayed; and if he will make a statement. [252897]
Mr. Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made on 11 December 2008, Official Report, column 65WS.
Armed Forces: Married People
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of personnel in each service who were (a) divorced and (b) separated in each year between 1997 and 2006. [251962]
Mr. Kevan Jones: For the number and proportion of divorced personnel, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 28 April 2008, Official Report, column 51W.
Figures on separation rates for this time period could be provided only at disproportionate cost and no such estimates have been made.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of personnel in each service who were (a) divorced and (b) separated in each month in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008. [251963]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Records on the number of serving military personnel by marital status for this time period are not held centrally, following the implementation of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits of each sex have joined each unit of each of the armed forces at each rank in each of the last 10 years. [252098]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Information on armed forces recruitment by sex can be found in United Kingdom Defence Statistics (UKDS) 2008, Table 2.19 Intake to UK regular forces from civil life by Service and sex. UKDS is published annually; the most recent publication shows figures for the 12 months to 31 March 2008 and can be found at:
Intake to UK regular forces from civil life by unit could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The majority of personnel recruited into the armed forces do so at the lowest level rank of either the officer or other ranks rank structure. Only professional personnel (for example doctors and lawyers) are recruited at any other than the lowest rank and therefore data has not been provided.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the next stage in the Future Rapid Effects System procurement will be; and whether his Department has plans for off-shelf procurement of reconnaissance vehicles. [252096]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Outline plans for the procurement of the Future Rapid Effects System were announced by the Secretary of State for Defence on 11 December 2008, Official Report, column 65WS. The MOD is currently considering how to take forward the procurement of the Utility Vehicle element of the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) programme in order to ensure we provide Defence with the best possible capability at the best value for money.
The Specialist Vehicle element of the FRES programme continues to make good progress and received Initial Gate approval to enter its Assessment Phase in June 2008. A range of programme options are currently being considered for the Reconnaissance variant, FRES Scout. A recommendation as to the preferred option will be made to the Department's Investment Approvals Board upon completion of the Assessment Phase.
Army : Deployment
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions the (a) heavy and (b) light artillery regiments have been deployed in each of the last 10 years; and (i) to which locations and (ii) on which operations they were deployed. [252100]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The deployments of the heavy and light artillery regiments over the last 10 years are shown as follows:
| Heavy artillery units | |||
| Unit | Operation name | Location | Date |
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