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6 Apr 2010 : Column 1204W—continued
For the total amount of bonuses paid to all civilian staff, I refer the hon. Member to the ministerial correction dated 25 March 2010, Official Report, columns 3-4 MC.
This response excludes information on staff below the SCS in MOD Trading Funds, which have separate pay delegations.
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in bonuses to civil servants in his Department in each year since 2006. [306431]
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) year-end and (b) in-year bonuses were paid to officials in his Department in each of the last three years; and how much was paid in such bonuses in each such year. [307096]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).
Departmental Security
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department ceased to maintain a database of passes issued to major defence contractors. [323686]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence has never maintained a comprehensive database of passes issued to defence contractors for the whole of the defence estate. The information is not held centrally and could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. For information about passes issued to employees of private defence companies for access to London buildings, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 March 2010, Official Report, columns 641-42W.
Electronic War
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has undertaken research on whether terrorist groups are seeking to obtain the capability to carry out electromagnetic pulse attacks on the UK. [325553]
Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 March 2010, Official Report, column 479W. I have nothing further to add.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on the threat of an electromagnetic pulse attack on the UK in the context of the National Security Strategy. [325554]
Bill Rammell: The Government's National Security Strategy and the Cyber Security Strategy of June 2009 provide a view of potential state and non-state led threats against the UK into the future including the possible use of high power radio frequency transmissions or electromagnetic pulses to damage or disrupt unprotected electronics. The Ministry of Defence was fully involved with the development of this work.
Falkland Islands
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to increase the level of defence spending on the Falkland Islands. [324892]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We keep the level of defence spending on the Falkland Islands under regular review to ensure that it remains appropriate to fund the tasks required.
Falkland Islands: Land Mines
Harry Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government expect full mine
clearance in the Falkland Islands to be completed; and what relevant contracts to effect such clearance have been entered into. [325548]
Bill Rammell: The UK was granted a 10-year extension to its obligations under the Ottawa convention in November 2008. De-mining of the Falkland Islands therefore has to be completed by March 2019.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently funding a four-site de-mining programme in the Falkland Islands. Clearance of these sites started in December 2009 and is expected to complete by July 2010. To date over 1,100 mines have been located and destroyed. Analysis of this project will inform future clearance work.
Future Rapid Effect System
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what export potential was claimed by (a) BAE Systems and (b) General Dynamics as part of their proposals to upgrade the Future Rapid Effect System armoured reconnaissance vehicle contract. [325159]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Neither BAE Global Combat Systems or General Dynamics UK made any specific claims with regard to export potential as part of their tender for the Specialist Vehicle programme.
Inquiries: Northern Ireland
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Ministry of Defence had spent under each budget heading on the (a) Rosemary Nelson, (b) Robert Hamill, (c) Billy Wright and (d) Saville Inquiry on the latest date for which figures are available. [325474]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: As at the end of February this year the Ministry of Defence had incurred a total of approximately £35.6 million in expenditure on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, of which £32.5 million represented legal costs and the remainder other costs. I gave the latest available figures on costs incurred by the Department in connection with the Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright Inquiries in a written answer on 9 November 2009, Official Report, column 40W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble).
The Department has incurred no expenditure in connection with the Robert Hamill Inquiry.
Low Flying
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many wind farm developers have agreed with his Department that low-flying aircraft activity may take place in the area of their wind farms. [325339]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Wind farm developers do not control the airspace within which their equipment is sited, and the Ministry of Defence does not have to approach them for authority to operate low-flying aircraft in the area of wind farms. However, generally, military aircraft will not operate in close proximity to wind farms, and will always maintain the appropriate minimum separation criteria.
Military Bases
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current estimated monetary value is of the property comprising (a) Naval Base Clyde, (b) Royal Marines Condor, (c) RAF Leuchars, (d) 2nd Division HQ Craigiehall, (e) Defence Estates Hebrides and (f) Fort George; and how much his Department plans to spend on redevelopment at each of these bases. [316518]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Details of all Ministry of Defence holdings over £1 million, together with their latest asset valuations can be found in chapter 7 of the National Asset Register, on HM Treasury's website
It will take a little more time to collect and verify information relating to how much the Department plans to spend on redevelopment at each base. I will write to the hon. Member.
We are interpreting DE Hebrides as referring principally to Ministry of Defence sites at Benbecula and St. Kilda and a few other locations.
Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Angus Robertson:
In my answers of 9 February (Official Report, column 814W-815W) I undertook to write to you with details of how much the Ministry of Defence (MOD) plans to spend on the redevelopment of various bases in Great Britain.
Work is currently under way at the MOD'S Hebrides Range to assess the investment required to maintain its capability. Until this work is complete, for which a deadline has not been set, any anticipated redevelopment expenditure cannot be identified. Also, no redevelopment work is planned at RAF Brampton as it is due to close in 2012.
For the remaining sites, the forecasted expenditure for the next five years on work that is considered to be redevelopment is as follows:
| MOD site | Total forecasted expenditure (£ million) |
Weapons: Transport
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the staffing levels required at each waterside depot to maintain the safe supply of armaments to vessels. [325582]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Staffing levels were assessed as part of the proposals made in the Business Improvement Programme undertaken by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency's Explosives Business Stream. These proposals are subject to trade unions consultation, which is due to complete in July 2010. It would be inappropriate for me to comment while the consultation is ongoing.
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he took account of the recommendations of the Haddon-Cave Nimrod review in respect of the proposals for the supply of armaments to waterside depots by direct delivery contained in the Business Improvement Programme consultation. [325583]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Safety is paramount in the munitions environment. The use of direct delivery, if fully implemented, will be consistent with the Haddon-Cave recommendations.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 300284, on departmental pay, tabled on 18 November 2009. [313133]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I replied to the hon. Member today. I apologise for the delay.
House of Commons Commission
Nurseries
Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2010, Official Report, column 170W, on nurseries, for what reason there is no reference to the petition in the minutes of the Commission's meeting of 8 March 2010; and when the Commission plans to respond to the petitioners. [324986]
Nick Harvey: The Commission made no decision on 8 March on a response to the petition. It agreed a response on 29 March.
Mr. Chope: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will place in the Library a copy of the fully costed options appraisal for a child care facility at 1 Parliament street as agreed by the Commission at its meeting on 23 November 2009. [325750]
Nick Harvey: It is not the practice to publish advice given to the Commission. However, as the hon. Member knows, in response to a request from the Administration Committee, Mr. Speaker wrote to the Chairman of that Committee in January explaining how the planned site had been selected from among the sites initially considered and setting out the estimated cost of converting each of the premises covered by the fully costed options appraisal.
Speaker's Adviser
Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much the Speaker's special adviser has claimed for travel expenses since he was appointed. [325460]
Nick Harvey: No expenses of any kind have been claimed.
Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many days the Speaker's special adviser has worked since 30 November 2009. [325461]
Nick Harvey: The Speaker's adviser has worked for 73.5 days since 30 November 2009, up to and including 12 March 2010.
Unite
Mr. Dunne: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the House of Commons Commission recognises the Unite trade union. [325348]
Nick Harvey: The Unite union is not a recognised trade union under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 for the purpose of collective bargaining with the House Service. However, the House Administration has recently agreed a draft memorandum of understanding with Unite and the Members' and Peers' Staff Association, who represent staff employed by hon. Members. The memorandum covers a range of areas for dialogue, including IT, catering, training and premises-related issues.
Communities and Local Government
Audit Commission
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to place a cap on the maximum salary and remuneration package for the post of chief executive of the Audit Commission. [324509]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This appointment is to be made by the Audit Commission, whose Chair has assured my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that in this recruitment exercise the Commission will follow the principles for public sector pay that we are developing with the Chair of the Senior Salaries Pay Review Body.
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