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1 Dec 2009 : Column 612W—continued
Departmental Scientists
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) scientific advisers and (b) civil servants in scientific posts there are in his Department. [301927]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The MOD has 56 scientific adviser posts providing direct advice to military commanders on a number of operations. Seven civil service scientists are currently deployed to Afghanistan. Scientific advisers are part of a community of an estimated 3,000 scientific posts within the civil service in the MOD and its Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) trading fund.
Hercules Aircraft: Training
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the contract for the construction of the building to house the C130J simulator at RAF Brize Norton to be signed. [302759]
Mr. Kevan Jones: It is anticipated that the contract for the C130J Training and Mission Rehearsal Facility at RAF Brize Norton, which will eventually house the C130J Flight Simulators and other training facilities currently at RAF Lyneham, will be awarded early next year.
Immobilisation of Vehicles
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has paid in vehicle clamping charges incurred on (a) privately-owned and (b) publicly-owned land in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [302756]
Mr. Kevan Jones: MOD policy is that the driver is responsible for paying fines, including clamping, speeding and parking.
The Department has not, therefore, paid any such charges.
Iraq: Interpreters
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what protection is provided for translators previously engaged by UK forces in Iraq. [300333]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We take our responsibilities to the Iraqi interpreters who worked with UK forces in Iraq extremely seriously.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in his statement of 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 23, we introduced a policy that allowed eligible former Iraqi interpreters to settle in the UK through the Gateway protection programme. Currently some 589 Iraqi interpreters and their families, including those used by the other employing departments based in Iraq, have chosen to settle in the UK under this programme.
Merlin Helicopters: Training
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have taken part in Exercise Merlin Vortex. [302821]
Bill Rammell: Exercise Merlin Vortex was a pre-deployment training exercise to prepare the Merlin force for deployment to Afghanistan. Four hundred and twenty-two service personnel took part in the exercise, comprising 177 aircrew and 245 ground support staff. In addition, the exercise was supported by two civilian doctors.
The deployment of the Merlin force to Afghanistan began in November and will be complete by the end of 2009.
Military Aircraft
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy fixed-wing aircraft are based in the UK. [302852]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The following table gives the total number of Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force manned fixed-wing aircraft that are based in the UK as at 31 October 2009. The total Harrier GR9 and Hawk fleets, which are operated by both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force units, are included in the Royal Air Force column. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and contractor owned fleets are not included.
| Service | Total number of UK based manned aircraft |
A proportion of the Army and Royal Air Force manned United Kingdom based fixed-wing fleet are currently deployed outside the UK on expeditionary operations.
Military Alliances
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) detail and (b) scope is of the defence agreements between the UK and (i) Abu Dhabi and (ii) the United Arab Emirates. [302865]
Mr. Kevan Jones
[holding answer 30 November 2009]: The UK has a Defence Cooperation Accord (DCA) with UAE signed in 1996 by the then Secretary of State, which sets out our arrangements for security co-operation.
Earlier this year we also agreed a memorandum of understanding with the UAE armed forces which cover arrangements for UK forces to utilise air bases in the UAE, including for some sustainment flights to Afghanistan. We do not have any separate agreements or arrangements with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Puma Helicopters
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first upgraded HC2 Puma helicopters will enter service; and by what date the entire fleet will be upgraded. [303003]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The first Puma Mk2 aircraft will enter squadron service in 2012. The upgrade of the entire fleet is planned to complete in 2014.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department is of the upgrade programme to Puma helicopters; and what the cost per upgraded helicopter is. [303004]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Puma HC Mk2 Demonstration and Manufacture phase is expected to cost some £300 million. This includes the one-off costs associated with developing the required modifications and undertaking the trials activity necessary to certify the aircraft; the provision of initial support and conversion training for aircrew and maintainers; and the cost of modifying each helicopter. Each aircraft will cost in the order of £10 million to upgrade taking into account the above one-off costs.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the terms of reference are of the current review of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary; and if he will make a statement. [302317]
Mr. Kevan Jones: This is a new Value for Money Study, the terms of reference for which have not yet been agreed.
Wildcat Helicopters
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the delivery of the new Wildcat helicopters ordered by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [302795]
Bill Rammell: The Lynx Wildcat project remains on track to meet its time, cost and performance targets. There has been no escalation in price and the planned in-service date remains at January 2014. The first flight of the trials aircraft took place successfully on 12 November 2009.
Prime Minister
Christmas
Mr. Roger Williams:
To ask the Prime Minister how many Christmas parties his Office plans to host in 2009; what has been budgeted for each such reception; what
estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables, (h) fruit and (i) alcohol to be served at each such function which is produced in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [300862]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office (Kevin Brennan) on 13 January 2009, Official Report, column 582W.
Information on official and charity receptions held at 10 Downing Street is published by means of an annual list as soon as it is ready at the end of the financial year.
Commonwealth
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what his policy is on the role of the UK in the Commonwealth; [301098]
(2) what bilateral meetings he plans to hold during the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago; [301099]
(3) what objectives he has set for the outcome of the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. [301104]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 30 November 2009, Official Report, column 113WS.
Departmental Meetings
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister which (a) individuals other than Ministerial colleagues and officials of his Office and (b) organisations he met in an official capacity in the week commencing 9 November 2009. [301170]
The Prime Minister: I had meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals.
Departmental Rail Travel
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he last travelled by train in the course of his official duties. [301191]
The Prime Minister: I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements, including regular use of trains. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the "Ministerial Code", and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers".
Trinidad and Tobago: Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many civil servants he expects to accompany him to the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago; [301100]
(2) which Ministers he expects to accompany him to the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. [301103]
The Prime Minister: Information on all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 is published on an annual basis. Information for 2009-10 will be published in the normal way.
Uganda: Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister (1) which Ministers accompanied him to the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda; [301101]
(2) how many civil servants accompanied him to the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda. [301102]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the annual list of overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers, costing in excess of £500, for 2007-08, published by the Government. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken for the Child Support Agency to pass on to resident parents payments which are not administered by means of electronic transfer. [300250]
Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken for the Child Support Agency to pass on to resident parents payments which are not administered by means of electronic transfer. [300250]
When the CSA receive the child maintenance payment from the non-resident parent by an electronic transfer it takes up to one day to process the payment and pass it on to the parent with care. Where a cheque is received it can take up to three days to clear.
Parents with care are encouraged to receive maintenance payments from the CSA by electronic transfer into their bank accounts, rather than by cheque which can take two days to produce and then be posted to the parent with care before the funds can be drawn.
The CSA's preferred method of payment for non-resident parents using the collection service is direct debit or a deduction from earnings order, since both are significantly more reliable and resilient than other methods. The benefits of using direct debit or a deduction from earnings are promoted when agreeing a method of payment with non-resident parents.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Departmental Visits Abroad
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what overseas visits she has undertaken since taking up her post. [301781]
Jim Knight: I can confirm that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has not undertaken any overseas visits since taking up her post.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether she has plans to direct parents in receipt of out-of-work benefits with children who (a) are in receipt of an award of disability living allowance mobility component and (b) have an award of disability living allowance under appeal to undertake work-related activity. [302789]
Helen Goodman [holding answer 30 November 2009]: We announced during passage of the Welfare Reform Act 2009 that parents with a child in receipt of any rate of care component of disability living allowance will be exempt from the requirement to undertake work-related activity while claiming income support.
Those with children in receipt of the mobility component of disability living allowance, but no care component, will be required to undertake work related activity.
Some parents will be exempt from work-related activity, including those with a child in receipt of any level care component of disability living allowance. If an award of disability living allowance is removed we will require the parent to undertake work-related activity.
Disability Living Allowance: Lone Parents
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) for what reasons she has decided to exempt lone parents from benefit conditionality when their child is receiving the care component of disability living allowance; when she intends to bring forward regulations setting out the exemptions; and if she will make a statement; [301720]
(2) for what reasons she has decided not to exempt from benefit conditionality lone parents of children receiving the mobility component of disability living allowance; when she intends to bring forward regulations setting out the exemptions; and if she will make a statement. [301721]
Helen Goodman: Under existing regulations, lone parents who would otherwise be required to claim jobseeker's allowance, but who have a child in receipt of the highest or middle rate care component of disability living allowance, are not required to be available for work in return for benefit. The entitlement conditions to the care component of disability living allowance lay out clear expectations of, at a minimum, a requirement for attention for a significant portion of the day, some or all of which could be expected to be carried out by a parent.
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