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19 May 2009 : Column 1273W—continued
Members: Data Protection
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what legal responsibilities the House authorities have under the Data Protection Act 1998 to keep hon. Members' (a) home addresses, (b) ex-directory telephone numbers, (c) bank account details and (d) other personal information secure; and if he will make a statement. [276387]
Nick Harvey: The House's Corporate Officer is the data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998 in respect of personal data held by the House Departments. The Corporate Officer, like any other data controller, must comply with the 1998 Act in respect of any personal data processed by the House Departments.
Ventilation
Mr. Burstow: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the House of Commons Commission's most recent assessment is of the efficiency of the ventilation systems in each building in the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate. [275509]
Nick Harvey: The efficiency of the numerous ventilation systems across the parliamentary estate is not monitored.
However, the associated plant and controls are continually monitored via the various building management systems installed to confirm correct and continued operation.
In addition, the effectiveness of the ventilation systems is maintained against the installed design parameters by regular maintenance.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to afford special protection from military action for Afghan citizens, with particular reference to women and children, as required under international humanitarian law. [275860]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: UK personnel operate at all times under rules of engagement which ensure that force is used in accordance with international humanitarian law. This ensures that civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure are minimised. This does not, however, restrict the inherent right of self defence that enables our military personnel to defend themselves. The rules of engagement are reviewed regularly to ensure that they remain effective and compliant with international law.
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has considered a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan; whether he has had recent discussions on the matter with other states involved in military operations; and if he will make a statement. [276330]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK's strategy for Afghanistan is long-term and based on a comprehensive approach to security, political, social and economic development.
At the recent NATO summit in April 2009, allies reiterated their commitment to support Afghanistan in building security, both in the short term during the crucial election period and in the long term; when the focus of this support will shift further towards strengthening Afghan security forces to take responsibility themselves.
We have always made clear that we would keep the commitment of UK forces under review.
Armed Forces Day
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to mark Armed Forces Day on 27 June 2009 through national events; and if he will make a statement. [276499]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The aim of armed forces day is to honour Britain's armed forces, past, present and future and it is hoped that all former and currently serving members of the forces will fully embrace the concept of the day. The Historic Dockyard Chatham will host the inaugural armed forces day national event on Saturday 27 June 2009. The event will include a parade through Chatham town centre, a drumhead service, flypasts of military aircraft and a range of other activities in the Dockyard throughout the day.
To enable communities across the UK to be involved in this inaugural year, we have also invited all local authorities to fly a flag for our armed forces. Over 460 of the 480 borough, city, district and county councils across the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man that have been invited to participate in the fly the flag event have registered to take part, as have the Governors in Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands. The intention is that this ceremony will be repeated across the country at 1030 on Monday 22 June, synchronised with similar ceremonies where we have forces deployed overseas, and that the flags will be flown until after armed forces day itself.
The MOD is also supporting over 80 community events across the country with major events in every region. A full list of events can be found at the armed forces day website at the following link:
Armed Forces: Pensions
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the chairman of each war pension committee. [274685]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 12 May 2009]: My predecessor, the former Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Derek Twigg) attended the War Pensions Committee Chairmen’s conference in September 2008.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of each war pension committee in the last year for which figures are available. [274686]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 12 May 2009]: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Members of War Pensions Committees are not paid but the overall total for their travel expenses and loss of earnings for financial year 2008-09 can be identified and was approximately £50,500.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases were handled by each war pension committee in the last year for which figures are available. [274687]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 12 May 2009]: During 2008 there were 28 cases where a panel of War Pension Committee members heard individual complaints about the way the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency had dealt with cases. These figures are broken down by WPC panel and provided in the following table.
| WPC panel | Number of cases |
In addition, individual WPC members are frequently contacted directly by individuals with concerns or inquiries about war pension related matters and are responded to directly. These numbers however, are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Dismissal
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff in his Department and its agencies were dismissed (a) for under-performance and (b) in total in each of the last 10 years. [274302]
Mr. Hutton: The following table provided details the numbers of staff who were dismissed from the Department in each calendar year since 2004.
| Dismissals relating to under-performance | Total of all dismissals | |
| (1) Records for industrial employees were migrated onto the HR system in March 2004. Any dismissals involving industrial staff prior to this date are not included. (2) Numbers for 2009 are up to and including 30 April. | ||
The figures exclude the MOD’s trading fund agencies: ABRO, the Defence Aviation Repair Agency, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Met Office and UK Hydrographic Office, as this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Pay
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff employed in London on work contracted out by his Department earn less than £7.45 per hour. [274949]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 12 May 2009]: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Work Experience
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many work placements his Department offered to (a) school pupils, (b) university students and (c) graduates in each of the last five years. [274488]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to publicise availability of the veterans' badge. [276501]
Mr. Kevan Jones: All those leaving the Services now receive their HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge in their service leavers' pack. For others, the details of eligibility and the application process are advertised on the Veterans-UK website found at the following link:
The badge has also been publicised through Government and ex-Service organisation publications and through local and national press articles featuring coverage of badge presentation ceremonies held by Ministers, MPs and external organisations. We are also promoting badge presentations as part of the armed forces day events to be held on 27 June this year. The position is kept under review, including the consideration of opportunities to provide further publicity for the scheme.
Military Bases: Aviation
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the effect of levels of handling equipment at military airports on the capacity to fulfil airbridge schedules. [276236]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The amount of handling equipment available for loading and unloading transport aircraft at military airports is sufficient to fulfil the operational airbridge schedule.
Pakistan: Deployment
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel are serving in Pakistan; and in what capacities such personnel are serving. [276264]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I can confirm that there are currently 29 UK military personnel based in Pakistan undertaking a variety of roles, including training, liaison and diplomatic duties.
The number of military personnel based in Pakistan varies from time to time. This can be for a variety of reasons, including revised tasking and changes to previous roles.
Rosyth Dockyard
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Rosyth dockyard to undertake refitting of Royal Navy (a) frigates and (b) other vessels after 2012. [276287]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The locations for future upkeep packages beyond 2012 have yet to be determined as part of the developing Surface Ship Support (SSS) Alliance.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Research
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided for farming-related research and development in real terms in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [274951]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 12 May 2009]: DEFRA’s spend profile on farming-related research and development is shown in the following table. Figures are not available prior to the formation of DEFRA in 2001.
| £ million | |||
| Total DEFRA R and D spend on sustainable farming and food | Total DEFRA R and D spend on animal health and welfare | Total DEFRA agricultural R and D spend | |
| Note: This information was taken from DEFRA’s science information system database. | |||
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