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27 Oct 2009 : Column 237W—continued
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce vehicle-mounted radar devices to armed forces vehicles in order to detect improvised explosive devices. [295685]
Mr. Quentin Davies: A range of equipment is in service to counter the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and mines, but no single piece of equipment can provide complete protection. While it is impossible to protect troops from every eventuality, we do everything possible to tackle the risks posed by IEDs, both in terms of equipment capability, but also the critical areas of tactics and training. I cannot go into the specific details of technical solutions such as electronic counter-measures as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the operational security of our armed forces.
Defence Academy: Finance
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget of the Defence Academy of the UK was in each year since 2002; and how much the Academy has spent in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) Scotland and (e) overseas in each such year. [295765]
Bill Rammell: The Defence Academy's Operating cost for each financial year since 2002 is detailed in the following table.
| Financial year | Net operating cost after interest (£) |
The additional information relating to how much the Academy has spent in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and overseas in each year is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent assessment is of the security situation in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [295917]
Bill Rammell: While insurgents still mount occasional high-profile attacks, such as the horrific bombings in Baghdad on Sunday, the security situation in Iraq is nonetheless continuing to steadily improve. Levels of violence are substantially less than at the height of the insurgency three years ago, and remain at a level last seen in 2003. South East Iraq, where UK forces operated, remains largely peaceful.
Joint Exercises
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the Joint Warrior military exercises; [295854]
(2) what steps his Department has taken to minimise the adverse environmental impact of military exercises conducted in Moray Firth. [295855]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 26 October 2009]: The Ministry of Defence takes its responsibilities towards the environment very seriously. Prior to Exercise Joint Warrior, the Royal Navy consulted widely with interested parties such as non-governmental organisations, local authorities, various national rural agencies, and landowners. During the planning of the exercise, environmental impact assessments were conducted for all potentially damaging activities. All participants were given extensive briefs on safety and environmental considerations which specified that environmental awareness takes priority over military training objectives, and a precautionary approach is adopted to all aspects of the exercise which may have an environmental impact. Ships remain ready to take immediate action to minimise any risk. Before any active sonar transmissions, a full environmental impact assessment is conducted, look-outs are posted, and equipment is used to listen for marine mammal activity. If marine mammals are detected sonar transmissions are terminated or modified in order to minimise the risk. There are also continual monitoring procedures that ensure compliance with international pollution prevention standards and crews are also trained to manage onboard incidents to minimise environmental impacts. No environmental impact has been reported following the most recent Joint Warrior exercise.
Met Office
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have held with the Operational Efficiency Programme project team on the future of the Met Office; and when the next such meeting will take place. [295641]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Operational Efficiency Programme (OEP) Met Office Review Group comprises officials from the Ministry of Defence, Shareholder Executive, HM Treasury and the Met Office. The review group meets regularly in undertaking the review. The next review group meeting is schedule for 27 November 2009.
The Secretary of State for Defence is regularly briefed on the progress of the review.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a statement on the future of the Met Office. [295642]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Met Office Operational Efficiency Programme (OEP) Review Group is exploring a number of options, including reviewing Met Office's business model, ownership structure and commercial activities and opportunities.
An update on the Met Office OEP review will be provided around the pre-Budget report.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider the merits of placing responsibility for the commercial operations of the Met Office (a) within a single Government department and (b) with a single minister. [295643]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Met Office is a trading fund of the Ministry of Defence. As the owner, I have day to day ministerial responsibility for the Met Office, including its commercial activities. Ministerial responsibility for the Met Office ultimately rests with the Secretary of State for Defence.
The Met Office Operational Efficiency Programme Review Group is exploring a number of options, including reviewing Met Office's business model, ownership structure and commercial activities and opportunities. An update on this work will be provided around the pre-Budget report.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to meet private sector stakeholders as part of his Department's ongoing review of the Met Office. [295644]
Mr. Kevan Jones: As the Met Office Operational Efficiency Programme Review Group develop more detailed work over the coming months engagement with the private sector will be considered.
Territorial Army
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army members there are in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West and (c) the UK. [295484]
Bill Rammell: The number of Territorial Army (TA) personnel in Lancashire, the North West and the UK as a whole are shown in the following table.
| Number of TA personnel | |
These figures include those TA personnel mobilised in support of operations.
Communities and Local Government
Regional Spatial Strategy
16. Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the current timetable is for the revision of regional spatial strategies. [295536]
Mr. Denham: Good progress has been made in completing the first round of revisions to the eight Regional Spatial Strategies which cover England.
To date six regions have published their final revisions as follows:
12 May 2008: East of England
21 May 2008: Yorkshire and Humber
15 July 2008: North East
30 September 2008: North West
12 March 2009: East Midlands
6 April 2009: South East.
The west midlands is taking a phased approach to the revision of its RSS:
Phase 1 covering the black country was finalised on 15 January 2008.
Phase 2 which covers wider housing issues among other things has been through an examination in public and I am currently considering the panel's report published in September. I expect to consult on any proposed changes in the new year and publish the final plan later in 2010.
The south west RSS was due to be published last summer. However in the light of a legal judgment on sustainability appraisal we have agreed to do some further work and consultation and aim to publish it in 2010.
19. Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes to housing targets in Solihull are to be proposed in the phase 2 revision of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the West Midlands as a result of the report by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners. [295539]
Mr. Malik: The independent panel examining the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy has recommended that the housing targets for Solihull should be increased from 7,600 to 10,500. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering his Proposed Changes, which will be published for consultation following completion of sustainability appraisal and habitats regulation assessments.
Council House Building
17. Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what rules apply to local authorities in the first and second rounds of the council house building programme. [295537]
John Healey: All local housing authorities in England are eligible to bid to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). I announced successful round one bids in September; and the deadline for submitting bids in round two is 30 October.
Code For Sustainable Homes
18. Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account his Department's Code for Sustainable Homes takes of provision for the offsetting of embodied energy in house building. [295538]
John Healey: Embodied energy is addressed in two of the nine categories in the Code for Sustainable Homes:
the materials category rewards use of construction materials with lower embodied energy; and
the management category encourages construction sites to measure and reduce energy consumption.
Unitary Authority Status
20. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will authorise the holding of a local referendum in cases where a shire district or borough council seeks the status of a unitary authority. [295540]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The process by which a local authority in a two-tier area can become a unitary authority is set out in Part 1 the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. It requires one or more local authorities for the whole, or part of an area, to make a unitary proposal in response to an invitation from the Secretary of State.
The statute does not provide for a referendum.
Business Rates
21. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will undertake an impact assessment for the 2010 business rates revaluation; and if he will make a statement. [295541]
Barbara Follett: Regular revaluations are a standard part of the business rates system and are required by statute. Therefore, no impact assessment has been undertaken by my Department on the overall implementation of the 2010 business rates revaluation. An impact assessment on the proposed transitional arrangements scheme for revaluation 2010 was published on 8 July.
Homelessness Street Counts
22. Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology his Department uses in undertaking homelessness street counts. [295542]
Mr. Ian Austin: Local authorities evaluate the extent of rough sleeping within their area in accordance with the methodology on street counts set out in CLG's 'Guidance on evaluating the extent of rough sleeping-2007 revision', which was developed in conjunction with the voluntary sector. The total number of rough sleepers found on street counts is published each September.
Rent Equalisation
24. Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his assessment is of the likely effect on social housing tenants of a policy of rent equalisation; and if he will make a statement. [295544]
John Healey: Under the Government's established rent restructuring policy established in 2001, rents charged for similar properties in similar areas in the two social housing sectors are expected to converge. It is designed to ensure equality and fairness for tenants in the housing association and local authority sectors.
Aerials: Planning Permission
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning controls there are on the erection of mobile telephone masts. [295638]
Mr. Ian Austin [holding answer 26 October 2009]: Full details of planning policy on telecommunications are set out in planning policy guidance 8.
Business Improvement Districts: Scotland
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has responsibility for arrangements for co-ordinating policy on business improvement districts in Scotland with the Scottish Executive. [295250]
Barbara Follett: Policy on business rates, including on business improvement districts, is a devolved matter. The Department therefore has no responsibility for arrangements for co-ordinating policy on business improvement districts in Scotland with the Scottish Executive.
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