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23 Apr 2009 : Column 805W—continued
We encourage Japan, as an important donor, to bring its influence to bear on the Burmese regime to respond to the demands of the UN Security Council, to implement peaceful political change and to respect human rights.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has discussed the political and human rights situation in Burma with his Japanese counterpart; and what plans he has for future discussions. [270223]
Bill Rammell: We regularly discuss the political and human rights situation with Japan at ministerial and at senior official level in Tokyo, London and in New York, where Japan attends meetings of the UN Secretary-General’s Group of Friends of Burma. I also raised Burma during my visit to Japan in March 2009. We hope there will be a further opportunity to discuss Burma at the G8 summit in July.
We encourage Japan, as an important donor, to bring its influence to bear on the Burmese regime to respond to the demands of the UN Security Council, to implement peaceful political change and to respect human rights.
Members: Correspondence
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 18 February 2009 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire on the Prime Minister’s special representative on conflict resolution mechanisms. [267534]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 31 March 2009]: A reply was sent on 20 April 2009.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take at the United Nations in respect of the reported Qassam rocket attack on Eshkol by Palestinians in Northern Gaza on 15 April 2009; and if he will make a statement. [270494]
Bill Rammell: We unreservedly condemn rocket attacks targeting innocent civilians. The UK led the way at the UN to achieve Security Council Resolution 1860 which clearly condemns all violence directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism. It also spelt out that a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means. We continue to work to make progress towards such a solution.
Parliamentary Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to answer question number 260384 tabled by the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks on 2 March 2009 on Mr. Binyam Mohamed. [270655]
David Miliband: This question was answered on 20 April 2009, Official Report, column 494W.
Syria: Prisoners
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to assist and support Maryam Kallis, who is being detained without charge in Syria. [270257]
Bill Rammell: Following repeated requests at official and ministerial level we were given consular access to Mrs. Maryam Kallis on 8 April 2009 and have since delivered essential supplies to her on two occasions. We have requested further consular access from the Syrian authorities. We have also requested a full explanation of the reason for her detention.
Consular officials have been in close contact with the family of Maryam Kallis to keep them informed of progress and any developments in this case.
Thailand: Aviation
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Thailand on the timetable for an inquiry into the air crash in Phuket in September 2007 in which British citizens were involved. [270376]
Bill Rammell: Consular staff in Bangkok last spoke with the Director of Aviation Safety Standards from the Civil Aviation Department for Thailand before Easter. The investigation into the cause of the One Two Go airline crash at Phuket airport on 16 September 2007 is still going on. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have passed the official technical investigation report to the Thai Government. The Thai technical sub-committee is reviewing the report and it is due to be finalised and endorsed by the Thai Minister for Transport in mid May 2009. However, this time frame could slip, depending on decisions by the technical sub-committee. Once the report is finalised it will need to be translated into several languages, including English, and then checked by the ICAO. The Thai authorities have 30 days to produce the translation and the ICAO have a further 60 days to check and verify the technical details of the translation. This would mean that the verified English translation of the report will be released by mid August 2009 at the earliest.
Our embassy in Bangkok is monitoring the progress of the investigation and we will alert the right hon. Member and the families concerned as soon as the report is made public.
Tibet: Human Rights
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Chinese authorities to seek to halt the death sentences recently imposed upon certain Tibetan individuals; if he will make an assessment of whether the judicial process which resulted in these death sentences was in accordance with international standards; and if he will make a statement. [270681]
Gillian Merron:
We have consistently appealed to the Chinese Government to ensure fair trials in accordance with international standards for those individuals arrested in connection with the disturbances in Tibet in March
2008. We continue to make clear our abolitionist stance on the death penalty and to urge the Chinese authorities to reduce its scope and application.
Zimbabwe: Sanctions
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the Government’s policy that former Zanu-PF Minister Florence Chitauro should be included in the list of those subject to an EU assets ban and travel freeze; and if he will make a statement. [246292]
Bill Rammell: We do not comment on or discuss individual cases of those who may or may not be candidates for addition to the EU targeted measures. Such decisions are taken in conjunction with EU colleagues. Comment ahead of time would alert potential candidates and prompt asset flight, but we do intend to discuss and encourage EU partners to consider further additions to the EU targeted measures list in response to the increase in human rights abuses, particularly abductions, that we have seen.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel have been engaged in operations in Afghanistan since 2001; and how many are expected to be involved over the next five years. [269920]
Mr. Hutton: As at 1 March 2009, 65,520 members of the UK armed forces have been identified as having deployed to Afghanistan. This figure does not include personnel deployed to Afghanistan between the periods 1 January 2003 and 14 October 2005 for which data are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
We do not comment on future troop deployments but our force levels are kept under regular review by chiefs and Ministers as part of routine defence business.
Annual Survey of Leave
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the latest Annual Survey of Leave. [257691]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The 2007-08 DASA Survey of Leave did not occur. Since 2007, insufficient data have been readily available to collate statistics on the amount of leave taken by armed forces personnel.
The 2007-08 survey was planned as part of the MOD’s programme of evidence to inform the AFPRB’s 2009 report. This year, however, information on leave for the armed forces was constrained by JPA weaknesses, both in data entry and the ability to interrogate the system. As a result no DASA survey could be concluded. AFPRB noted this in their 2009 report.
MOD is addressing this data gap for future years by issuing clear instructions to ensure that personnel, through single service chains of command, are fully aware of the importance of keeping leave records.
The 2006-07 copy of the Survey of Leave remains available in the Library of the House.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account his Department takes of life cycle costs in the procurement of armoured vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [269812]
Mr. Quentin Davies:
Predicted whole life costs for a project are taken into account during the approvals system which is part of the investment appraisal, and the MOD’s standard equipment procurement procedure, undertaken when a decision is made between investment options. For procurements made under the Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) procedures, the delivery
speed of life-saving equipment is the absolute priority and the capability may be so specific that we would not expect to retain it beyond the operation. In these cases, while support costs are considered for UORs, predicted whole life costs are generally not calculated as a pre-cursor to the procurement.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured vehicles he expects his Department to procure in the next 10 years; what estimate he has made of the cost of such procurements of each type; and which companies have been contracted to provide such vehicles to date. [269813]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Over the next 10 years we expect to procure the following armoured and partially armoured (protected) vehicles:
| Vehicle | Company | Estimated number to be delivered | Current estimated cost (£ million) |
| (1) Includes Indirect Resource DEL | |||
We also expect to procure a number of Future Rapid Effect System vehicles. These vehicles have not yet reached their Main Gate investment decision point when the quantities and cost will be set and the companies to deliver the vehicles will be selected.
Defence: Internet
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's budget for cyber defence was in each of the last three years. [269922]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The responsibility for managing and operating our systems is delegated to different bodies within the Department, which are required to protect the networks in accordance with policy and known threats. The budget information for these responsibilities is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which countries the Government has signed bilateral agreements on cyber warfare and terrorism in the last three years. [269923]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The MOD has not signed any bilateral agreements that cover cyber warfare and terrorism in the last three years. The Department does routinely co-operate at various levels with a number of different countries both bilaterally and multilaterally on matters involving information assurance and computer network defence which would encompass responses to cyber warfare and terrorism.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on cyber security. [270025]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The communiqué adopted by heads of state and governments at the NATO 60th Anniversary Summit at Strasbourg/Kehl on 3-4 April highlighted that NATO has recently agreed its policy on cyber defence, established a cyber defence management authority and improved its computer incident response capability.
The UK MOD is represented at various NATO cyber defence symposiums and workshops throughout the year. These meetings include the annual NATO Information Assurance Symposium and NATO cyber defence workshops. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Hutton) and his ministerial counterparts are briefed on these matters as required.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms are in place to co-ordinate the work of the different Government Departments that deal with cyber warfare. [270095]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are a number of existing mechanisms for co-ordinating the Government's approach to conflict issues, and many of these mechanisms are appropriate for dealing with related activities in the cyber domain. The UK's overall approach to cyber security is currently the focus of a cross-departmental project led by the Cabinet Office, in which the MOD is closely involved.
Departmental Assets
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last reviewed its assets and land and property holdings with a view to identifying and disposing of surpluses. [269867]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Department keeps its estate under constant review to ensure it is the right size to meet present and planned future defence requirements. The Defence Estate Development Plan, last published in 2008, set out how the estate will be developed to meet the future needs of defence, and the priorities for investment and rationalisation arising from it. Once identified as being surplus to defence needs, land and property is disposed as quickly as possible in line with Treasury guidance.
Departmental ICT
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average server capacity utilisation by each division of his Department was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [269582]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There are many systems throughout the MOD that use servers. Information relating to average server capacity utilisation for each area of the Department over the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, the following information is available for two of the largest systems (Defence Information Infrastructure Convergence (DII(C)) and Defence Information Infrastructure Future (DII(F)).
The average server capacity utilisation for DII(C) across the financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 was 65 and 55 per cent. respectively. This does not include system administration and back-up, which would take utilisation to over 80 per cent. in both years.
The server capacity utilisation for DII(F) across the period August 2008 to March 2009 ranged between 50 and 80 per cent., depending on which server function was being used. This does not include system administration and back-up, which again would take utilisation to over 80 per cent.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) printers and (b) multi-function devices with printing functions were in use in each division of his Department in each of the last five years; how many such devices had a function enabling two-sided printing; and if he will make a statement. [269608]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Information on the total number of printers and multi-function devices with printing functions in use in each area of the Department in each of the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
A central record is, however, held of those printers currently available for use on two of the Department's largest IT systems, the Defence Information and Infrastructure Convergence (DII(C)) and the Defence Information and Infrastructure Future (DII(F)) programmes. The number of printers available on these systems is provided in the following table.
| IT system | Number of printers |
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