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4 Mar 2010 : Column 1325W—continued
Cadet Forces
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) school-aged children in maintained schools and (b) other school-aged children were enrolled in community cadet forces in the latest year for which figures are available; [316310]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The information required is not held in the format requested. The data provided reflect only the category of State schools (noting that for the purposes of Combined Cadet Force (CCF) data collated by MOD, all other schools are categorised as Independent).
As at 1 April 2009, and subject to the caveats mentioned above, there were 7,579 School pupils who were members of their State School's Combined Cadet Force. However, given that the majority of Cadets are members of a community-based Cadet unit, it is estimated that some 90,000 cadets are state school pupils. In the same timeframe there were some 130,000 cadets overall. It should also be noted that there are 25 known partnerships where Independent Schools with CCFs provide cadet places to neighbouring State schools; for these partnerships it is not possible to identify the numbers of State School cadets.
Full statistics on cadet forces can be found on the Defence Analytical Services and Advice organisation's website in their Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 7:
Defence Equipment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) rifles, (b) mortars, (c) machine guns and (d) artillery weapons were (i) in service with the Army and (ii) available for use by the Army in operations on the latest date for which figures are available. [319491]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The in-service figures for rifles, mortars, machine guns and artillery weapons are provided in the following table. Availability data for rifles, mortars and machine guns are not held centrally. I am withholding information on the number of artillery weapons currently available on operations, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
| In s ervice (n umber ) | |
Departmental Buildings
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) area and (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by his Department. [310532]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Within Defence, the civil office estate is defined as that which is capable of being shared with other Government Departments. Information in respect of these offices will take some time to collect and verify. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Other office space outside this definition includes facilities within armed forces establishments and buildings. This information is not recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Sarah Teather:
In my answer of 14 January (Official Report, column 1103W) I undertook to write to you with details of the area and estimated value of vacant and occupied office space owned and rented by this Department.
Within the defence estate, the civil office estate is broadly defined as that which is capable of being shared with other Government Departments. On this basis the details are as follows:
| Owned | ||
| Square metre space | Equivalent rental value (£ million) | |
| Rented | ||
| Square metre space | Total rental value (£ million) | |
Office space outside this definition includes facilities within Armed Forces establishments and space used as offices (perhaps temporarily) within buildings of a different type such as hangars on barracks.
Departmental Paper
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) suppliers and (b) brands of (i) paper and (ii) paper products his Department uses; and what his Department's policy is on the procurement of those materials. [320031]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) procures the majority of its paper and some paper products from Office Depot UK Ltd. under an enabling contract that was awarded to the company in 2007. Paper products are also procured from Lyreco UK Ltd under a similar enabling contract for the supply of stationery items. Specialist photographic paper is supplied by Calumet.
The brands of paper available under the Office Depot contract are: Office Depot/Niceday; Evolve; Xerox; IQ Selection; Mondi IQ; Conqueror; Epsom; Hewlett Packard; Fizz; Regal; Maine; Satimat; Crusade; Amber; Graphic; Colorit; Lumi; Kodak and Fuji.
The brands of paper products available under the Office Depot, Lyreco and Calumet contracts are: Mondi IQ; Conqueror; Epson; Hewlett Packard; Office Depot; Xerox; Kraft; Vanguard; Lyreco/Impega; Avery; Brother; Dymo; P-touch; Clairefontaine; Jiffy; Tyvek; NewGuardian; Tenzalope; Post-it; Pukka Pad; Black n'Red; Unipad; Vestry; Goldline; Collins; Sasco; Filofax; Nobo; Acco; Bantex; Leitz; Centurion; Eastlight; Elba; Exacompta; Esselte; Concord; Acco and Fellowes.
MOD's procurement policy requires the use of recycled paper and paper products except where these do not meet specific requirements, such as for specialist photographic paper. Recycled content under the current contracts with Office Depot and Lyreco varies between 70 per cent. and 100 per cent. It will be our aim in the follow-on contracts to adhere fully to the Government's policy, except in cases where there are specific specialised needs.
Military Bases: Security
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2010, Official Report, column 465W, on "Military Bases: Security", in which military bases the incursions were recorded. [318619]
Mr. Kevan Jones: RAF Fylingdales, HMNB Clyde and RAF Mildenhall.
Communities and Local Government
Departmental Advertising
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on advertising by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible in each year since 2005. [320779]
Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) on 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 478W, and to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 7 January 2010, Official Report, columns 502-03W.
Departmental Theft
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many thefts from his Department have been recorded in the last two years. [318999]
Barbara Follett: In the financial year 2007-08 there was a total of 17 thefts from the Department for Communities and Local Government. The items stolen are:
| Number | |
In the financial year 2008-09 there was a total of 11 thefts from the Department for Communities and Local Government. The items stolen are:
| Number | |
The stolen building passes were reported and cancelled ensuring that no unauthorised entry to CLG premises occurred.
None of the information contained on laptops, PCs or BlackBerrys was classified. However, each laptop and PC was password protected and the BlackBerrys were both encrypted and password protected.
Derelict Land: Regeneration
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government it he will establish a Coalfields Regeneration Review to gauge progress and identify priorities for the future. [320516]
Mr. Ian Austin: Communities and Local Government intend to undertake a review of the Government's programme to regenerate former coalfield communities. The Department will work with stakeholders on the details of the review and an announcement will be made in due course.
Homes and Communities Agency and Tenant Services Authority: Equality
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the (a) Tenant Services Authority and (b) Homes and Communities Agency has obtained legal advice on its obligations under the provisions of the Equality Bill. [320280]
John Healey: Neither the Homes and Communities Agency nor the Tenant Services Authority has sought external legal advice on the provisions of the Equality Bill. However, both organisations have considered in-house legal advice and have published single equalities schemes.
Housing Revenue Accounts
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he intends to publish a draft revised Circular 8/95 on the operation of the Housing Revenue Account ring fence. [320571]
Mr. Ian Austin: We intend to make an announcement in the next few weeks which will describe the progress we have made on self-financing, set out more details of our proposals and provide a summary of responses to the consultation. We expect this will include proposals on how the housing revenue account ring fence would operate within a reformed system.
Housing: Chelmsford
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many first-time buyers purchased a home in West Chelmsford constituency in the last three years. [320353]
Mr. Ian Austin: Estimates of the number of first-time buyers buying a home with a mortgage in the UK are published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders based on their Regulated Mortgage Survey. However, these data are not available at the geographical level requested.
Regional Planning and Development
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what strategic development areas (SDAs) there are in England; how many homes are expected to be constructed in each SDA; and when each area is expected to be completed. [320258]
Mr. Ian Austin: "Strategic development area" is not an official or specific designation-it is a general planning term like the phrase "town centre" used in many, but not all, development plans (local, regional and sub regional) to refer to areas where development is expected to happen. We therefore do not hold the information requested.
Social Rented Housing: Finance
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many properties were funded under the Temporary Social Housing programme in each of the last three years; [318774]
(2) how many properties managed by registered social landlords and funded through the Temporary Social Housing programme in 2008-09 were owned by (a) private individuals, (b) unregistered social landlords and co-operatives, (c) local authorities and (d) other public bodies; [318731]
(3) how many properties in receipt of Temporary Social Housing programme funding were (a) improved and (b) unimproved in each of the last three years; [318733]
(4) how many properties in receipt of funding under the Temporary Social Housing programme in 2008-09 were (a) subject to compulsory purchase orders, (b) subject to Empty Dwelling Management Orders, (c) long-term privately owned, (d) awaiting redevelopment or sale and (e) over shops in town centres; [318734]
(5) how many registered social landlords were in receipt of funding under the Temporary Social Housing programme in each of the last three years; [318735]
(6) how much was spent on the Temporary Social Housing programme in each of the last five years. [318736]
Mr. Ian Austin [holding answer 25 February 2010]: The following table shows spend on temporary social housing (TSH) through the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) over the last five years.
| £ million | |
| Source: HCA | |
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