| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
24 Mar 2009 : Column 268W—continued
Gary McKinnon
Chris Huhne: To ask the Solicitor-General what her most recent estimate is of the cost to the Crown Prosecution Service of the extradition case against Gary McKinnon. [264680]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not routinely ascertain the total cost of proceedings in individual cases. The costs in counsel's fees to the CPS of the extradition proceedings involving Gary McKinnon are £41,851.47.
Opinion Leader Research
Mr. Baron: To ask the Solicitor-General how much the Law Officers' Departments have paid Opinion Leader Research in each financial year since 2003-04. [265998]
The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers' Departments have made no payments to Opinion Leader Research since 2003-04.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many snatch land rovers were deployed in Helmand province in each month since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [265971]
Mr. Hutton: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of each of the armed forces re-enlisted in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [265898]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The table provides the number of personnel re-enlisted to the UK Regular Forces(1) by Service in each of the last five financial years.
| Naval Service( 2) | Army( 3) | Royal Air Force | |
| n/a = Not available (1) UK Regular Forces include Nursing Services and exclude Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas and mobilised reservists. (2 )Naval Service data cannot be provided because although some re-entrants are logged on the system it is thought this is only part of the re-entrant population. (3) Financial year 2006-07 is for an 11 month period from 1 April 2006 to 28 February 2007. (4 )Post JPA implementation (RAF from 1 April 2006, Naval Service from 1 October 2006 and Army from 1 April 2007) information on the number of re-enlisted personnel is unavailable. Note: Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. | |||
Armed Forces: Training
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trainees completed the Military Annual Training Test 7 in each of the last three years; what the pass rate was in each year; what work is carried out in order to determine the choice of question and effectiveness of training in each subject area; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of the test. [259883]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Military Annual Training Test 7 (MATT 7)—Operational Law—was created and implemented as mandatory for all officers and soldiers on 1 August 2008. Prior to that, Operational Law was taught within MATT 6.
There are hundreds of courses available to Army trainees, which vary in length from a few days to many months and which have varying requirements for encompassing MATT 7.
During phase one training the Law of Armed Conflict is taught and tested, although there is no requirement for trainees at this stage to complete MATT 7.
Phase two training varies in length and content between each of the Arms and Services; as a result, the requirement for them to undertake operational law training also varies. For those phase two trainees whose course is less than six months in length, MATT 7 is not mandated. For those on a phase two course which will last more than six months, MATT 7 is mandated.
At 2 March 2009 5,077 trainees were recorded as having completed MATT 7. Officers and soldiers of the Field Army are required to pass MATT 7 annually and it is routinely completed during pre-deployment training. Validation of the training is carried out by the Army’s Directorate of Training ensuring standards are maintained across the Army.
I have placed a copy of the latest version of the test in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces: Working Hours
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average working hours for personnel in each service have been in each year since 2005. [265139]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not held centrally. However Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) carry out a continuous survey of working patterns which is used to provide estimates of the average weekly hours worked over a financial year.
Copies of the continuous survey of working patterns reports from 1997-98 to 2006-07 are available in the Library of the House.
The 2006-07 continuous survey of working patterns report includes estimates of average weekly hours worked by Service. A five year time series of these estimates is provided on page 4 of this report.
The 2007-08 report will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.
AWE Burghfield: Planning Permission
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes of 26 June 2008, Official Report, column 337W, on AWE Burghfield: planning permission, on what dates he expects to submit planning applications for the proposed Enriched Uranium Facility and Hydrodynamics Facility at AWE Aldermaston to the local planning authority. [265155]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The latest forecast date for the submission of the planning application for the proposed replacement Uranium Handling Facility is the fourth quarter of 2009. The date for the proposed Hydrodynamics Facility is mid-2010.
Defence: Equipment
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial value is ascribed to (a) a soldier’s life and (b) general troop safety in undertaking economic analysis to appraise (i) new defence equipment and (ii) upgrading of existing defence equipment; and if he will make a statement. [265972]
Mr. Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham and Stamford the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, (Mr. Davies) gave on 13 January 2009, Official Report, columns 557-58W.
Departmental ICT
Dr. Fox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental (a) computers, (b) laptops and (c) memory sticks were lost in each year since
2007; and what the value of such equipment was. [265408]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The following table provides the number of computers, laptops and USB sticks that have been reported as lost in each year since 2007 until 18 March 2009. An estimated asset replacement cost has been used to derive the value for the losses as the actual recorded value could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
A number of the lost items have subsequently been recovered and these are reflected in the table.
| MOD Asset Lost | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Total (number subsequently recovered) | Assumed value per asset (£) | Total value of lost assets (£) | Net value of assets (i.e. minus recovered items (£) |
The figure for 2008 includes the result from a Department wide audit of assets and may include items lost or unaccounted for during many previous years. These figures continue to be revised in light of any notified additional losses or, later, more accurate clarification of incident details.
The Ministry of Defence is alert to the vulnerabilities of computer, laptop and USB assets and therefore information security policies and procedures are being continually reviewed and revised to drive down the number of information assets lost and to mitigate any subsequent impact.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down his Department’s Spring Supplementary Estimates 2009-10 on the same basis as in the answer of 14 July 2008 to the hon. Member for Aldershot, Official Report, column 167W, on departmental public expenditure. [259452]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Gerald Howarth:
I undertook to write to the hon. Member in answer to his Parliamentary Question on 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1366W about the Department's Spring Supplementary Estimates for 2009-10.
A copy of the tables, which provide a detailed breakdown of the Department's Spring Supplementary Estimates 2008-09, which I have interpreted as being the appropriate year, and a copy of my letter have been placed in the Library of the House.
Military Aircraft
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fast jet aircraft of each type there are in (a) the Royal Air Force and (b) the forward fleet; and how many are fit for purpose. [265141]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of fast jet aircraft in the RAF, forward fleet and those fit for purpose are provided in the table. The figures shown are a snapshot of the position on 28 February 2009.
| Aircraft type | Total fleet | Forward fleet | Fit for purpose |
The number of aircraft in the forward fleet comprises aircraft which are serviceable and those which are short-term unserviceable. Short-term unserviceable aircraft are undergoing minor works, forward maintenance or any other unforeseen rectification work that can arise on a day-to-day basis. Serviceable aircraft available to the front line commands for operational and training purposes are termed fit for purpose. Aircraft which are undergoing major servicing or routine maintenance are within the depth fleet and are therefore not relevant to this question.
Although delivery of six Hawk T2 has been accepted they have not yet been released to service.
Military Exercises
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military exercises were cancelled in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; and what the reasons were for cancelling each exercise. [264957]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The military exercises cancelled each year since 2004-05 are summarised at table 2 on page 54 of the MOD annual report and accounts 2007-08 (volume 1). The reasons for cancellation are various and include: effectiveness of delivery; value for money constraints; international policy dimensions and circumstances; operational constraints; and focus on current operations. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.
During calendar year 2007, a total of 722 training events were scheduled in the Defence Exercise programme (DXP), of which 61 (8.4 per cent.) were cancelled. Of these cancellations, 16 were due to operational
commitments, 36 due to changing priorities and the remaining nine were for other reasons.
During calendar year 2008, a total of 584 training events were scheduled in the DXP of which 58 (9.9 per
cent.) were cancelled. Of these cancellations, four were due to operational commitments, 20 due to changing priorities and the remaining 34 were for other reasons.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |