Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 10 December 2009
Church Commissioners
Church of England: Green Issues
Mr. Hurd: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what payments the Church Commissioners have made to Green Issues in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments have been made. [305164]
Sir Stuart Bell: In promoting strategic development opportunities, the commissioners use a wide range of professional advisers, including public consultation consultants, and I can confirm that Green Issues is one of the firms used.
The firm's primary role is to organise the public consultation associated with the promotion of major development proposals, including exhibitions and workshops, as well as liaising with various third parties such as local councillors. However, the terms of engagement are commercially sensitive and therefore cannot be deposited in the Library.
Public consultation is, of course, part of the statutory planning process but we also view it as a welcome opportunity to engage with local communities.
Defence
Armed Forces: Costs
Sir Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has charged (a)
other Government departments, (b) private sector companies and (c) foreign governments in employment costs for members of (i) his Department's civilian staff, (ii) the MOD Police Service, (iii) MOD Police and Guarding Agency and (iv) military personnel of the (A) Royal Navy, (B) Royal Marines, (C) Army and (D) Royal Air Force in each of the last five years. [304644]
Mr. Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Charges for personnel services are levied against outside bodies in accordance with the principles set out by HM Treasury in chapter 6 of Managing Public Money which requires that full costs should normally be recovered for any goods and services provided by MOD.
Armed Forces: Manpower
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) officers and (b) personnel in other ranks in each regular infantry and Royal Marine battalion were unfit for duty at the latest date for which figures are available; [305723]
(2) what the (a) required and (b) actual trained strength is of each (i) regular infantry and (ii) Royal Marine battalion. [305724]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Unfit for duty has been interpreted as medically unfit to perform any duty. Personnel unfit for duty in their primary role but who can perform a role in an alternative capacity are not included in the following tables.
The figures given include personnel filling all roles within each battalion, not just infantrymen. Separate figures for infantry officers and soldiers are not held centrally.
As at 1 October, the figures requested for the infantry are provided as follows.
| Division | Unit | Required strength | Actual strength | Number unfit for duty |
In addition to the battalions shown above there are three incremental guards companies which are primarily for public duties but which can also be used to augment the other guards battalions as required;
| Unit | Required strength | Actual strength | Number unfit for duty |
The figures in both tables include personnel filling all roles within each battalion, not just infantrymen.
Figures for Royal Marine Commandos units are shown in the table below. Due to changes in the way in which the Royal Navy records its sick personnel, it is not possible to identify the number of Royal Marine personnel who are currently unfit to perform any duty.
| Unit | Required strength | Actual strength | |
| (1) Represents a brace | |||
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