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27 Apr 2009 : Column 1020W—continued
Terrorism: Finance
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009, Official Report, column 791 on terrorism: finance, which of the projects aimed at addressing the development-related causes of radicalisation are delivered by subcontractors; and what measures are in place to monitor the performance of such subcontractors. [270550]
Mr. Thomas:
The Department for International Development (DFID) works with a wide range of partners to deliver our projects: private contractors, civil society organisations, international agencies and developing country governments. DFID’s standard operating procedures require that all projects be monitored regularly
to ensure the agreed scope of work is delivered to a satisfactory standard by the lead provider or contractor, and their subcontractors. Measuring the achievement of outputs/outcomes against performance indicators, and addressing any emerging problems in a timely way, are key aspects of DFID’s approach to project management. Each individual project’s value and risk assessment will determine the appropriate level of monitoring undertaken. Measures to manage the risks identified in project plans are also reviewed regularly, in line with the Department’s guidance on risk management.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the government of Zimbabwe on the humanitarian situation in that country. [269494]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: As yet there has been no direct UK contact at ministerial level with the new Government in Zimbabwe. However, officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) and colleagues from other Whitehall Departments are in regular contact with the new Government in Harare about the humanitarian situation and the terms under which a more direct aid relationship between the UK and Zimbabwe could be resumed. In the meantime we are continuing to provide significant levels of humanitarian support through the United Nations and non-governmental organisations.
Defence
Aircraft Carriers: Rosyth
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs he estimates will be created in east central Scotland consequent upon the construction of the new aircraft carriers at Rosyth. [271247]
Mr. Quentin Davies: It is expected that the current core workforce for Rosyth Dockyard of around 1,200 will rise to around 1,400 at peak production of the carriers. In addition MacTaggart Scott and Co. Ltd., who employ 245 staff at the Loanhead site, Nr Edinburgh, were awarded the contract for the manufacture of aircraft lifts for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. Further additional jobs may be created in second and third tier suppliers in the area.
Boscombe Down
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to upgrade the runway at Boscombe Down. [270369]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The main runway at MOD Boscombe Down is currently being resurfaced and the associated aeronautical ground lighting and signage are being replaced in order to maintain the existing capability of the airfield. There are no plans for the runway to be upgraded.
Colombia
John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department met representatives of the Colombian government to discuss defence matters in 2008. [270944]
Mr. Hutton: MOD Ministers had no official meetings with Colombian officials in 2008. Other members of the Ministry of Defence, however, routinely met representatives of the Colombian Government in the course of their duties. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Buildings
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what properties (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies have sold in each of the last five years; and how many have been sold for housing developments. [265108]
Mr. Kevan Jones: I will place a copy of the list of land and property sold by the Department and its agencies in each of the last five years, together with an indication of the expected planning use in the Library of the House. This replaces any previous lists. It should be noted that actual future use is a matter for the purchasers and local planning authorities to determine.
The MOD and the Department for Communities and Local Government are delivering affordable housing as part of wider government agenda. We have in the past sold a large number of strategic sites to DCLG, including Oakington barracks in Cambridge, Connaught barracks in Dover and Roussillon barracks in Chichester. This relationship continues with other sites at Aldershot, Daws Hill and Borden being currently discussed.
Departmental Hospitality
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on entertainment and hospitality in each financial year since 2001. [265405]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Official entertainment is typically offered where we host foreign Defence Ministers, armed forces representatives and civilian officials in the UK to use our influence to prevent conflict, pursue UK security policy interests and enhance professional contacts. Commanding officers may include entertainment in events for members of their unit to enhance and develop cohesiveness and team spirit. We may also include entertainment to further wider public understanding of defence, for example during an official parliamentary visit to a military unit or where we are launching a major defence initiative. Entertainment, which must be modest, usually takes the form of light refreshments, lunches, dinners or, more rarely, receptions.
We have reported the costs of entertainment in our annual report.
These figures include expenditure by the defence agencies, but not by the MOD's trading funds and Executive non-departmental public bodies, which lie outside the MOD's accounting boundary.
Copies of our annual report and accounts are available in the Library of the House and online under the MOD's Freedom of Information Publication Scheme at:
Military Aircraft
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual flying hours were for (a) C-130, (b) C-17 and (c) Tristar aircraft in each year since 2001. [271389]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the table contained in my answer of 10 July 2008, Official Report, column 1748W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).
As stated in my previous answer there is no requirement for the Department to hold data on average flying hours therefore the data provided are for planned and actual flying hours only. Figures for financial year 2008-09 are provided in the following table.
| Planned | Actual | |
NATO: Location
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department have with their (i) French and (ii) US counterparts discussed the relocation of NATO Allied Command Transformation from Norfolk, Virginia to continental Europe in the last 12 months. [271502]
Mr. Hutton: There have been no such discussions.
RAF Leuchars
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the introduction of the three Typhoon squadrons to RAF Leuchars. [270467]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: 6 Squadron is planned to stand-up with Typhoon at RAF Leuchars on 1 October 2010. It is planned that two further squadrons, which have yet to be allocated nameplates, will stand-up at RAF Leuchars on 1 October 2011 and 1 October 2012 respectively.
RAF Lyneham
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his decision on the future of RAF Lyneham. [270371]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I expect to make an announcement shortly.
RAF Northolt
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future development of RAF Northolt. [270370]
Mr. Kevan Jones: RAF Northolt has been identified as a core defence site and as such its future is secure. Current plans for development continue under Project MoDEL through which the MOD is rationalising its estate in London. There are no current plans to develop the site further.
Rescue Services
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards bringing the Search and Rescue capability provided by his Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency together as a single service. [270912]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minster for Defence Equipment and Support, (Mr. Davies) on 13 January 2009, Official Report, column 559W, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey).
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions bidders had to comply with in tendering for the contract to provide the Search and Rescue Service. [270913]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: A Contract Notice inviting requests to participate in the competition for the provision of the harmonised UK search and rescue capability was issued in the Official Journal of the European Union on 12 May 2006. Respondents were subsequently invited to demonstrate their understanding of the requirement and their experience, competence and suitability in relation to it. A number of suitable parties were selected for participation in a competitive dialogue procedure in accordance with European Union procurement regulations; two consortia remain.
Somalia: Piracy
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the unclassified version of the Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters daily counterpiracy campaign update slide for each Monday of each month since February 2009. [270942]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Territorial Army: West Midlands
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which Territorial Army units are based in the West Midlands; [270387]
(2) how many Territorial Army units based in the West Midlands have taken part in military operations in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq, either as units or by sending individual personnel; [270388]
(3) what percentage of Territorial Army personnel based in the West Midlands have previously served in the armed forces full-time. [270389]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Territorial Army (TA) units based in the West Midlands are listed as follows:
The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry
210 Battery Royal Artillery
214 Battery Royal Artillery
125 Field Squadron Royal Engineers
301 Troop Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers
35 Signal Regiment
37 Signal Regiment
4 Mercian Regiment
6 Flight Army Air Corps
159 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corps
202 (Medical) Field Hospital
225 Field Squadron (Medical)
126 Workshop Company Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
116 Provost Company Royal Military Police
29 Military Intelligence Company
Birmingham University Officer Training Corps
143 Brigade Regional Training Centre
West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
HQ 12 Signal Group
Information on what percentage of TA personnel based in the West Midlands have previously served in the armed forces full-time is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Since 2003, 15 TA units within 143 (West Midlands) Brigade have supported operations in Iraq, and 13 in Afghanistan. Of these, five units have supported both theatres. Participation has been both as formed cohorts and through the provision of individual augmentees.
World War I: Battlefields
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with representatives of the Belgian government on the preservation of First World War battlefield sites; and if he will make a statement. [270866]
Mr. Kevan Jones: While there are no plans for discussions with representatives of the Belgian Government on the preservation of First World War battlefield sites, the Government do maintain a close interest in these sites. Although my Department’s policy is to discourage their disturbance, we do however recognise that in parts of Europe land reclamation and construction activity will mean that battlefields may need to be disturbed. In such cases, on behalf of the UK, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) keeps in close contact with the Belgian authorities who are fully aware that the discovery of any remains of British or Commonwealth service personnel is to be immediately reported to the CWGC and the local police. They are also aware of the need to protect the remains together with any associated artefacts and personal effects for possible identification and re-burial.
Home Department
Community Relations: Finance
Mr. Paul Goodman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2009, Official Report, column 1481W, on community relations: finance, how much of the work in prisons aimed at tackling vulnerability to radicalisation
and being funded by the National Offender Management Service and partner agencies is being delivered by sub-contractors; and what mechanisms are in place to monitor the performance of such sub-contractors. [270581]
Mr. Straw: I have been asked to reply.
The Home Office funds one mentoring scheme which operates within prisons. Evaluation of this scheme is being undertaken by an independent third party under the supervision of the research team in the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism.
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