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13 Mar 2009 : Column 776W—continued
Defence
Defence Intelligence Staff: Manpower
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff the Defence Intelligence Staff employed in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) civilian staff and (b) service; and what the projected numbers for the next five years are. [257680]
Mr. Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 9 February 2009, Official Report, column 1528W. I should point out that the answer contained an error for April 2007. The correct figure is provided in the following table.
The breakdown of DIS staff numbers for the years since April 2006 is as follows:
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008 | |
The projected figures for the next five years are:
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | |
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in 2008-09 to date. [260352]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Costs incurred on reimbursable expenses in 2008-09, will be available only when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament. This is expected to be before the 2009 summer recess.
Departmental Public Consultation
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments for (a) polling and (b) other services his Department has made to (i) Deborah Mattinson and (ii) Opinion Leader Research Limited since 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement. [261059]
Mr. Kevan Jones: No payments have been made centrally by the MOD to either Deborah Mattinson or Opinion Leader Research Limited since December 2007.
Central payments represent some 95 per cent. of the departmental total and exclude only those payments made (a) on behalf of other Government Departments or by other Government Departments on the MOD's behalf, (b) by the MOD's trading funds (which lie outside the MOD's accounting boundary), (c) locally by the Department, or (d) in relation to collaborative projects where the payments are made through international procurement agencies or overseas Governments.
Departmental Visits Abroad
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much expenditure was incurred in respect of overseas visits which (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) his Department’s senior officials undertook in 2008. [262184]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Since 1999, the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the financial year 2007-08 was published on 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 102WS, and for the first time, included details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. The information is also available at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/propriety_and_ethics/assets/travel_2007_2008.pdf
The information for the financial year 2008-09 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the “Ministerial Code”.
The expenditure incurred in respect of overseas visits by senior officials is made in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the requirement to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. However, the details for 2008 could be collected only at disproportionate cost.
Ex-servicemen: Mental Health Services
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide psychological screening for those who have served in the armed forces (a) one year and (b) five years after discharge; and if he will make a statement. [261047]
Mr. Kevan Jones:
Health care for veterans is the responsibility of the health departments and NHS and the 2009 NHS Operating Framework includes a section on veterans' services. NHS services such as screening are not decided centrally but commissioned in line with local needs and priorities. MOD, DOH and the third sector are working together to raise awareness of military issues among civilian health professionals and
administrators and NHS-led veterans’ mental health services providing best practice assessment and treatment in an accessible acceptable way are being piloted at sites across the country. These pilots will run for two years with independent evaluation and analysis. Lessons learned will inform future service planning. For those veterans with mental health problems living outside pilot areas and who have served in operations since 1982, the Medical Assessment Programme at St. Thomas's hospital, London, provides a mental health assessment by an expert in the problems that arise from military service. Treatment recommendations are then made to the GP.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of (a) blood platelets and (b) blood plasma transported to Iraq for use by the armed forces were destroyed because they were past their use-by date in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement. [262568]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Records held by the MOD reflect the difference between the amount of blood supplied to operations and the amount transfused. From August 2007 to the end of February 2009, the difference between the amount of blood supplied to Iraq and the amount transfused was 396 units of blood platelets and five units of fresh frozen plasma. Each unit contains approximately 300 ml. There are a number of reasons for this difference, for example expiration of the use-by date, damage in transit or accidental exposure to high temperature.
Prior to August 2007, information was not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Northern Ireland Security Guard Service
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 21 October 2008, Official Report, column 192W, on the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service, what progress has been made on the review of the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service; and when he expects the review to be completed. [263042]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Northern Ireland Security Guard Service (NISGS) are MOD employees and are a professional, armed and trained body who provide security at MOD establishments in Northern Ireland. The NISGS review was initiated in order to examine the structure and responsibilities of the NISGS as part of the normalisation process. It was neither designed as a review into NISGS capability nor as a security review. It was divided into two parts: Part 1 examined the establishment (numbers) of the NISGS to support the reducing number of military bases and examine their roles and responsibilities; Part 2 was to determine future requirements including the retention of special constable (SC) status.
The paper has been staffed through the chain of command and the review is in its final stage. The decision on removal or retention of SC status is pending until consultation with trade unions is complete and resource implications are fully addressed.
We expected the review to be completed by the end of 2008 but this deadline was internal and self-imposed by HQ NI and 38 (Irish) Brigade. The review was more
complex than originally anticipated with a broad range of subject matter experts’ views to be sought. Further work was therefore directed to ensure all resource implications and advice had been properly addressed. The report date was therefore slipped to the end of March 2009, with the full knowledge of both the MOD and trade unions. Trade union consultation on the findings of the review will commence shortly, before promulgation of the outcome to NISGS personnel.
Energy and Climate Change
Members: Correspondence
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Buckingham of 20 October 2008, on grants for home insulation. [262732]
Joan Ruddock: I signed a reply to the hon. Member on 9 March and apologise for the delay, which was due to departmental re-organisation.
Warm Front Scheme: Lancashire
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was paid in Warm Front grants to residents in West Lancashire constituency in 2007-08. [261976]
Joan Ruddock: Warm Front grants to residents in West Lancashire totalled £1,333,018.45 in 2007-08.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Land
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what area of farmland in England was classified as (a) grade 1 (excellent), (b) grade 2 (very good), (c) grade 3a (good), (d) grade 3b (moderate), (e) grade 4 (poor) and (f) grade 5 (very poor) in each of the last 10 years. [262116]
Jane Kennedy: No estimates for the area of farmland in England by land grade classification have been made. Figures for Wales fall under the jurisdiction of the devolved authority.
Recycling: Glass
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to allow licensed premises to use municipal bottle banks to dispose of glass bottles. [262620]
Jane Kennedy: There are no plans to do so, however, where an agreement has been made between the waste generator and the local authority or site operator, then such commercial use of a site is permitted.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
British Council: Finance
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2009, Official Report, column 1413W, on terrorism: finance, how much the British Council plans to spend (a) in each country and (b) on each type of project in each of the three years from 2008-09 to 2010-11. [262406]
Caroline Flint: The British Council, received £6 million funding, over three years, for their Reconnect programme. The main aim of the initiative is to train 10,000 overseas young leaders at most risk of radicalisation or extremism. Decisions on particular funding allocations for countries or projects are based on a number of factors including the priority the Foreign and Commonwealth Office accords a particular country as well as the quality of particular project proposals. This programme will be monitored regularly to ensure it remains on track and will be evaluated on completion. The British Council has ongoing professional evaluation in place for all its programmes.
Departmental Training
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2009, Official Report, column 1845W, on departmental training, when the audit of skills in his Department is expected to be completed. [258145]
David Miliband: We have identified and defined the core skills needed to deliver the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s departmental strategic objectives, and existing levels of proficiency. We are also defining specialist skills which reflect the work of the FCO across its network. As part of this process we mapped skills required against roles within the organisation. The next step will be to record the skills we have throughout our work force. This will be an ongoing process which will help inform decisions on learning and development, recruitment and workforce planning.
I am placing in the Library of the House information on our skills work. The documents set out our core skills, which are compatible with Professional Skills for Government, and details and explanations of levels of proficiency. The documents also give details of the mapping exercise which identified skills within the organisation and contributed to the development of the core skills framework.
EU Globalisation Fund
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications have been made by the UK to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund since 2007; what the purpose was of each such application; and how much has been paid out in respect of each such application. [258915]
Caroline Flint: The UK has made no applications to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund since 2007.
Iran: Arms Trade
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of breaches of the prohibition in UN Security Council Resolution 1747 against the sale, transfer or supply of arms or related material from Iran; and if he will make a statement. [261001]
David Miliband: I am aware of reports that Iran has breached UN Security Council Resolution 1747 by attempting to transfer arms-related material via the MV Monchegorsk, a Cypriot-flagged vessel.
We understand that the MV Monchegorsk was ordered into Limassol harbour by the Government of Cyprus in late January, where it now remains. Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou has said that the Monchegorsk was in “clear” breach of UN sanctions banning Iran from exporting arms and related material. Cyprus has dealt with the situation effectively and entirely in line with UN and EU requirements.
We continue to urge Iran to comply with international law. It is unacceptable that Iran acts in breach of UN Resolutions and such action only serves to further undermine international confidence in Iran.
Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek agreement on the extension of the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia beyond 19 March 2009. [253956]
David Miliband: The UK supports the mandate given to the African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by the UN, most recently through UN Security Council Resolution 1863. This resolution provides a mandate to AMISOM until 16 July 2009, as well as providing for a package of support to that mission. The AU’s own mandate for this mission is a matter for AU member states themselves, but the UK has encouraged these states to extend this mandate beyond 19 March 2009, including by my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown at the AU Summit on 1-2 February 2009. The UK is also supporting the implementation of AMISOM’s mandate financially, with a contribution of £10 million during this financial year toward the costs of the mission. We also intend to contribute to the UN trust fund and logistical support package for AMISOM authorised under resolution 1863.
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