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1 July 2010 : Column 618W—continued
Burma: Export Controls
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the purchase by the Burmese government of dual use goods which could be used in the development of nuclear weapons; and whether he has taken steps to ensure that no such dual use goods can be exported to Burma from the (a) UK and (b) EU. [5158]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We are concerned by reports suggesting that Burma may be developing a covert nuclear programme in collaboration with North Korea.
We continue to urge Burma to act strictly in accordance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to abide by the terms and conditions of its International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement, and declare all nuclear material in its possession. Should there be authoritative evidence that Burma is in breach of its international obligations, the UK would raise the matter with other EU member states.
Our ambassador to Rangoon has recently lobbied the Burmese regime on their obligations under UN sanctions and raised proliferation issues with senior members of the military. We will continue to raise our concerns at the highest possible level.
Bilaterally the UK actively discourages trade and investment with Burma which could benefit members of, or those persons associated with, the Burmese military regime. The EU has had restrictive measures in place against Burma since 1996. The EU Council Decision (formerly an EU Common Position) was renewed for a further year in April. EU sanctions against Burma are calibrated to address the deteriorating political situation and abuses of civil and human rights by the military regime. There are at the present time no specific EU measures in place which restrict the export of machinery to Burma with a potential dual use of this nature.
Jo Swinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his German counterpart on the alleged breach by Germany of the EU Common Position on Burma
through the export to that country of industrial equipment with a potential dual use in a nuclear weapons programme. [5160]
Mr Bellingham: The EU has had restrictive measures in place against Burma since 1996. EU restrictive measures against Burma are calibrated to address the deteriorating political situation and abuses of civil and human rights by the military regime. The EU Council Decision (formerly an EU Common Position) was renewed for a further year in April. There are no specific EU measures in place which restrict the export of machinery to Burma, with a potential dual use of this nature. Bilaterally the UK actively discourages trade and investment with Burma, which could benefit members of, or those persons associated with, the Burmese military regime.
We continue to urge Burma to act strictly in accordance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to abide by the terms and conditions of its International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement, and declare all nuclear material in its possession. In light of the activities suggesting Burma is acting in contravention of its international obligations, the UK is seeking to raise the matter with other EU member states.
Our ambassador to Rangoon has recently lobbied the Burmese regime on their obligations under UN sanctions and raised proliferation concerns with senior members of the military regime and we will continue to raise our concerns at the highest possible level.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of assistance given by North Korea to Burma in the acquisition of nuclear weapons technology. [5161]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We are concerned by the allegations that Burma may be developing a covert nuclear programme in collaboration with North Korea. We take such issues very seriously. We continue to urge Burma to act strictly in accordance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to abide by the terms and conditions of its International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement and declare all nuclear material in its possession.
We continue to urge all countries, including Burma, to respect their obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874 which clearly prohibit the export from North Korea of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.
Our ambassador to Rangoon has recently lobbied the Burmese regime on their obligations under UN sanctions and raised proliferation concerns with senior members of the military regime. Burma cannot afford to risk the grave consequences of breaching the measures that have been adopted to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr Brazier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on allegations of the proposed expulsion by the government of Israel of Palestinian Members of
Parliament, Mohammed Abu Tir, Ahmed Othwan, Mohammed Tutah and Khalid Abu Arafa from their homes in Jerusalem. [4337]
Alistair Burt: The UK is extremely concerned by recent reports of Palestinians' residency permits being revoked. We can confirm that President Abbas has requested the Israeli Government to rescind their decision.
Pitcairn Islands: Child Protection
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what child protection measures are in place to protect children on the Pitcairn Islands from convicted sex offenders. [5080]
Mr Bellingham: A Child Safety Review, commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development, was completed by independent experts (including from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation) in June 2009. The Government are working to implement the recommendations made in the report for further strengthening of child safeguarding measures on Pitcairn.
There is a significant community of professionals based full-time on Pitcairn including a community police officer seconded from the New Zealand Police Service, a family and community adviser (who is a New Zealand trained social worker), a teacher and a doctor. There is also an FCO official, stationed full-time on Pitcairn, who is engaged in safeguarding work. All professionals receive child protection training before they go to the island and there are established policies and procedures in place for handling specific child protection concerns. Most members of the island community have also attended human rights training and child protection training.
Convicted offenders who are released on parole are subject to a number of conditions laid down by the Pitcairn Parole Commission, including restrictions on their movements and on whom they may associate with. Offenders are closely monitored by their supervision officer-the community police officer. Offenders are also obliged to participate in an Offender Treatment Programme, which is now almost completed.
A Pitcairn Sexual Offences Ordinance (2010) has recently been introduced. This is modelled on the UK Sexual Offences Act 2003. It provides for a sex offenders register, Sexual Offences Prevention Orders and Risk of Sexual Harm Orders.
A further review of child safety is planned for 2011.
Defence
Afghanistan and Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of military waste materials have been removed from (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan since British troops entered each country; what quantities of such waste remain in each country; at what locations such waste has been treated or buried; and what the cost of treatment or burial has been in each case. [3739]
Peter Luff: The quantities of military waste material removed, remaining, treated or buried in Afghanistan and Iraq are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2010, Official Report, columns 2-3W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, how much of the remainder of £27 million will be spent on (a) remote vehicles and (b) military working dogs. [4386]
Peter Luff: The allocation of an additional £67 million announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2010 to support the campaign to counter the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat in Afghanistan, includes more than £11 million for remote control vehicles for use by our Counter-IED teams, and approximately £2 million for enhancements to our military working dog capability.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2010, Official Report, columns 2-3W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, how many vehicles of each type will be purchased with the £67 million to support the campaign to counter the improvised explosive device threat in Afghanistan. [4387]
Peter Luff: I am withholding this information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our armed forces in Afghanistan.
Armed Forces: Barnsley
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people from (a) Barnsley East constituency and (b) the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley are serving in (i) the Army, (ii) the Royal Navy and (iii) the Royal Air Force. [5147]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held centrally. I can confirm however that as at April 2010 no service personnel were stationed in Barnsley.
Armed Forces: Enfield
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people resident in (a) the London Borough of Enfield and (b) Enfield North constituency are currently serving in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force. [5590]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held centrally. I can confirm however that as at April 2010 no Service personnel were stationed in Enfield.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of the (a) Future Family of Light Armoured Vehicles programme, (b) Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement programme and (c) Future Rapid Effect System Utility Vehicles programme on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many vehicles were procured under each programme. [4670]
Peter Luff: Cost information on the Future Family of Light Armoured Vehicles (FFLAV) programme, which dates from the early 1990s, is not held in the format requested.
The estimated costs to the public purse of the other two programmes are as follows:
As at September 2002, the cost of the Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement (TRACER) Programme was some £131 million.
The cost to date for the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) Utility Vehicle programme is £133 million.
While no vehicles have been procured under either of the above programmes, the money invested has refined the understanding of the requirement, reduced technical risk and increased the skills of both the department and industry with specialist management and integration skills.
Defence Equipment and Support: Salaries
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed by Defence Equipment and Support at Abbey Wood; and what the cost of their salaries was in the latest year for which figures are available. [4351]
Peter Luff: On 1 April 2010, there were 21,810 staff within Defence Equipment and Support, of which 7,656 service personnel and civilian staff were employed at MOD Abbey Wood, excluding contractors' employees. The annual staff cost, excluding overtime and allowances, is approximately £330 million.
Defence: Finance
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the funding allocated to doubling the Operational Allowance will come from the (a) reserve and (b) defence budget. [4264]
Mr Robathan: The operational allowance, estimated to be a total of £114 million in 2010-11, is drawn equally from the Government Reserve and the core Defence budget. This reflects the priority that this Government place on both supporting our armed forces on operations and rebuilding the Military Covenant.
Defence: Procurement
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the capacity of small and medium-sized businesses to complete the pre-qualification questionnaire for businesses wishing to tender for defence procurement contracts. [4840]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence has been working with the Office of Government Commerce and other Departments to identify and implement ways of improving access to public procurement by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This includes simplification of the pre-qualification process, and the Ministry of Defence is considering adopting a standard pre-qualification questionnaire developed by the OGC for lower-value procurements. This should reduce the administrative burden on SMEs wishing to tender for defence procurement contracts.
Departmental VAT
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the change in the level of value added tax his Department will be required to pay in financial year (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [4571]
Peter Luff: Departmental budgets are set on a tax-inclusive basis. Based on currently planned expenditure, the estimate of the additional expenditure required by the Ministry of Defence based on the increased level of value added tax is approximately £38 million in financial year 2010-11. Budgets for the financial year 2011-12 have not yet been set and it is not possible to estimate the impact of tax changes in that year.
France
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2010, Official Report, column 181W, on France, for what reasons there was no accommodation cost for the Minister; and for what reasons the cost of accommodation for officials was £88. [4326]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 28 June 2010]: During my visit to France for the 70th anniversary of Dunkirk I was the guest of the Mayor of Dunkirk and did not accrue accommodation costs. Officials stayed at local accommodation at a total cost of £44 per room.
Future Large Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the first Airbus 400M will be delivered to the UK; when it will enter service; and what estimate he has made of the unit cost of each aircraft. [4596]
Peter Luff: The A400M military transport aircraft programme will be reviewed as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, but on current plans the first UK delivery is expected in 2014 and it is due to enter service with the Royal Air Force in 2015.
I am withholding the unit cost information for commercial reasons.
Met Office
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the future of the Met Office will be considered as part the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [4916]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Halton (Derek Twigg) on 9 June 2010, Official Report, column 182W.
Met Office Review Group
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects the Met Office Review Group to meet; and whether the remit of that Group has changed since his appointment. [4917]
Mr Robathan: The Met Office Review Group is not due to meet in the near future; however work continues on the implementation of the review's 2009 recommendations.
The remit of the group has not changed since my appointment.
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