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10 Nov 2010 : Column 367W—continued
CJD: Drugs
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to health authorities on the use of pentosan polysulfate for the treatment of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; and if he will make a statement. [22818]
Anne Milton: The Department has issued no guidance on the use of pentosan polysulphate to treat variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Pentosan polysulphate is not licensed for the treatment of vCJD, therefore its use for this purpose is a clinical decision.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the (a) number of doses prescribed and (b) cost to the public purse of provision of pentosan polysulfate in each of the last five years. [22819]
Mr Simon Burns: The information collected by the Department does not describe the use of medicines in terms of doses or indicate the medical condition being treated. The following table shows the number prescription items for pentosan polysulfate tablets, written in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man and dispensed in the community, in England, together with the corresponding physical quantity of tablets, measured in milligrams, and net ingredient cost (NIC).
| Items ( Thousand ) | Tablets ( Thousand ) | Milligrams ( Thousand ) | NIC (£000) | |
| Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system. | ||||
Use of this drug in hospitals is limited and only the topical form appears in the data. Figures cannot be given under the agreement with the data suppliers.
Departmental Redundancy
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of redundancies arising from the spending reductions proposed in the comprehensive spending review in respect of (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies. [21563]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have announced that administration costs will reduce by a third in real terms across the public sector, including the health sector, and this was reaffirmed in the spending review.
This reduction in administration costs is expected to lead to some redundancies. However the number of redundancies will be closely affected by how the one-third reduction will be distributed across all organisations in the health sector, including primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, the Department and its arm's length bodies; and to what extent staff numbers and costs in all these bodies reduce through natural wastage or redeployments.
Therefore we cannot know for certain at this stage what number of redundancies will arise in each organisation across the health sector.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of staff redundancy in each of the next four years. [21564]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have announced that administration costs will reduce by a third in real terms across the public sector, including the health sector, and this was reaffirmed in the spending review.
This reduction in administration costs is expected to lead to some redundancies. However the number of redundancies will be closely affected by how the one-third reduction will be distributed across all organisations in the health sector, including primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, the Department and its arm's length
bodies; and to what extent staff numbers and costs in all these bodies reduce through natural wastage or redeployments.
We intend to set out estimates of the cost of redundancies associated with the reduction in administration and management costs in an impact assessment.
Doctors: Career Development
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to (a) attract and (b) retain good quality junior doctors in the NHS during the spending review period. [22732]
Anne Milton: Management of recruitment to postgraduate medical training is co-ordinated nationally through the Medical Programme Board of Medical Education England in partnership with Royal Colleges, deaneries, lead employers, the United Kingdom Foundation Programme Office and the General Practice National Recruitment Office. These arrangements have proved successful with high fill rates high for most specialties. Medical training is highly competitive with large numbers of doctors competing for vacancies each year. Some trainees do leave training programmes for a variety of reasons, but there is no evidence that this is an increasing trend.
For the longer term, the Department has committed to publishing a consultation on proposals for education and training, based on the principles in the White Paper.
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure effective continuing training for doctors following the termination of primary care trusts. [22738]
Anne Milton: The Department has committed to publishing a consultation on proposals for education and training, based on the principles in the White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS'.
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to allow naltrexone to be administered to prisoners for the purposes of treating substance abuse. [22646]
Paul Burstow: Naltrexone is formally permitted in all adult prisons for the treatment of adult prisoners. Guidance on its use was included in the clinical guidance issued by the Department in 2006: 'Clinical management of drug dependence in the adult prison setting including psychological treatment as a core part'. It is not licensed for treating young offenders.
Naltrexone is also supported for use in the community. Clinical guidelines were issued jointly by the Department and the devolved Administrations in 2007: 'Drug Misuse and dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management'.
Copies of both guidelines have already been placed in the Library.
Health Services: Greater Manchester
Julie Hilling:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely effect on the number of NHS (a) front-line staff and (b) junior
doctors working in Bolton, Bolton West and Greater Manchester areas of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review. [22739]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have already signalled their commitment to real year-on-year increases in funding and the need to protect front-line services.
Making highly skilled, professional staff redundant does not make the best use of limited national health service resources-nor does it benefit patients. Therefore, it should be considered only when all other options have been exhausted.
It is local health care organisations, with their knowledge of the health care needs of their local populations, that are best placed to determine the work force required to deliver safe patient care within their available resources.
Khat
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the health effects of the use of khat. [22816]
Anne Milton: In March 2005 the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) was asked to assess the extent of the harm posed by khat use in the United Kingdom, to the individual, their communities and to society as a whole.
The ACMD reported in January 2006.
In October of this year, the Government asked the ACMD to undertake a comprehensive review of the available evidence, to update its assessment and provide the Government with advice.
Kidney Dialysis
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts provide kidney dialysis; and how many NHS patients have received dialysis treatment in the last 12 months. [22927]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not available in the format requested. Kidney dialysis is a specialised service which is commissioned by regional specialised commissioning groups on behalf of primary care trusts. Dialysis services are provided by 52 renal units in England and their satellites and may be provided at home for suitable patients. There is a list of the United Kingdom renal units on the Renal Association website at:
and the UK Renal Registry publishes an annual report which includes data on incidence and prevalence of people on dialysis. In December 2008, the latest date for which figures are available, 20,913 patients were receiving dialysis in England.
Mental Health Services: Prisons
Mr Charles Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what services are available in prisons for the purposes of offering employment support to prisoners with mental health disorders; and what steps he plans to take to ensure the NHS Outcomes Framework
encourages prison health services to support more ex-offenders into paid employment following their release from prison. [22658]
Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
There is considerable employment support work undertaken to help prisoners across the NOMS estate. Much of this is undertaken in partnership with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills as well as the Department of Work and Pensions. This support applies to all prisoners and takes into account individual's circumstances-including mental health issues.
NOMS is a co-financing organisation and can draw down European funding. The first round of this funding-which lasts until December 2011 has a target that 46% of participants should have a learning disability/difficulties and offenders with these issues will continue to be given prominence in delivery during round 2 (January 2011 to December 2014) although the target will be regional and not national. There is no specific mental health provision in round 1 for participants with mental health issues, although there may be specific support contained in delivery plans from providers in round 2.
The Government will publish their response to the NHS Outcomes Framework consultation shortly. However, the primary purpose of the NHS Outcomes Framework will be to focus on health outcomes, delivered by the national health service through treatment and health care.
Neuromuscular Diseases: Health Services
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has for the delivery of specialist neuromuscular services under the proposed national commissioning board; [22716]
(2) what steps he plans to take to ensure that neuromuscular services improve during the period in which his proposals for the reform of the NHS are implemented; [22717]
(3) what plans he has for the future of the NHS regional specialised commissioning groups; and if he will make a statement; [22718]
(4) what guidelines his Department has issued to NHS regional specialised commissioning groups on investment in specialist neuromuscular services for the purposes of reducing the level of unplanned emergency admissions to hospital for people with neuromuscular conditions. [22719]
Paul Burstow: The White Paper sets out our future intentions for the commissioning of specialised services. It proposes that specialised services, including some for people with neuromuscular conditions, will in future be commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board.
The White Paper makes it clear that general practitioner (GP) consortia will work closely with secondary care, community partners and other health and care professionals to design joined-up services that are responsive to patients and the public. Commissioning by GP consortia will enable the redesign of care pathways to reflect the needs of their patients, which ultimately will lead to the more effective management of long-term neuromuscular conditions.
The future plans for specialised commissioning groups are currently under consideration as part of the White Paper consultation. The consultation closed on 11 October and we are currently analysing the responses. We will respond to the consultation in due course.
No guidelines have been issued to specialised commissioning groups for the purposes of reducing unplanned emergency admissions to hospital for people with neuromuscular conditions.
NHS: Redundancy
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an estimate of the likely cost to the NHS of staff redundancy as a result of the spending reductions proposed in the comprehensive spending review. [21577]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have announced that administration costs will reduce by a third in real terms across the public sector, including the health sector, and this was reaffirmed in the spending review.
This reduction in administration costs is expected to lead to some redundancies. However the number of redundancies will be closely affected by how the one-third reduction will be distributed across all organisations in the health sector, including primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, the Department and its arm's length bodies; and to what extent staff numbers and costs in all these bodies reduce through natural wastage or redeployments.
We intend to set out estimates of the cost of redundancies associated with the reduction in administration and management costs in an impact assessment.
NHS: Voluntary Organisations
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he expects voluntary sector organisations to play in the future of the NHS. [22518]
Paul Burstow: Voluntary organisations will continue to make a vital contribution to health and care, not only as the providers of services but also as advocates, partners in the co-design of services and involving and engaging local communities.
Voluntary organisations have valuable expertise, insight and experience that can improve local public services, often for the most excluded people in our communities. The voluntary sector is well placed to support commissioners in developing needs assessments and commissioning guidelines.
Current examples of voluntary sector involvement include Mumsnet who have been particularly valuable in helping to shape maternity services and Turning Point on the Connected Care Audit.
The Department is exploring a range of options to ensure that we can maximise the potential contribution of the voluntary sector. We plan to ensure that commissioners and providers across health care, public health and social care are able to harness the potential role of voluntary sector organisations in communities-helping to build strong and resilient communities as part of the big society.
Commissioning consortia will be able to decide which commissioning activities they undertake for themselves and where they will choose to buy in expertise and support from external organisations, including from voluntary sector organisations. Voluntary organisations could potentially strengthen the process of public and patient engagement and needs assessment through their knowledge and understanding of local people's needs.
As part of the reforms, we aim to free up provision of health care, so that in most sectors of care, any willing provider can provide services that meet national health service standards within NHS prices, giving patients greater choice and ensuring effective competition stimulates innovation, improves quality and increases productivity. We will look across government and public procurement to make sure that charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises have maximum opportunities to offer health and care services.
We are committed to promoting continuous improvement in the quality of services for patients and greater opportunities for the involvement of voluntary providers in offering more responsive and personalised services.
We are aware that this period of transition will be worrying for voluntary organisations. We are keen, therefore, that primary care trusts (PCTs) engage with all of their stakeholders during this transition period. This includes working in close partnership with all organisations that they hold funding agreements with through both grant and contract arrangements, recognising the principles of the Compact.
It is vitally important that we do not lose vital local services that achieve high quality outcomes and we will therefore work with PCT's in the transition to the new arrangements with the NHS Commissioning Board and general practitioner commissioning consortia, as they develop, to ensure that the sector's contribution to improved health, public health and social care is recognised.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made on the phasing out of prescription charges for patients with long-term conditions following the outcome of the comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement. [23095]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 25 October 2010, Official Report, column 126W, to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright).
Social Services: West Sussex
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet West Sussex county council's cabinet members for adults' services and future finance and resources to discuss the likely effects of demographic changes in West Sussex on (a) the provision of and (b) eligibility for adult social care in that area. [22560]
Paul Burstow:
The spending review recognises the importance of social care in protecting most vulnerable in society. In recognition of the pressures on the social care system in a challenging local government settlement, the coalition Government have allocated an additional £2 billion by 2014-15 to support the delivery of social
care. This means, with an ambitious programme of efficiency, that there is enough funding available both to protect people's access to services and deliver new approaches to improve quality and outcomes.
the national health service transferring some funding from the health capital budget to health revenue, to be spent on measures that support social care, which also benefits health. This funding will rise to £1 billion in 2014-15, and will promote improved joint working between the health and social care systems. Further details will be set out in the NHS Operating Framework 2011-12; and
additional grant funding, rising to £1 billion by 2014-15, will be made available for social care. This funding will be allocated in addition to the Department's existing social care grants, which will rise in line with inflation. Total grant funding from the Department for social care will reach £2.4 billion by 2014-15. In order to support local flexibility and to reduce administrative burdens, this funding will go to authorities through the revenue support grant.
I recently attended the National Children and Adult Social Care Conference where I met with 11 members and directors of Adult Social Care to discuss the impact of the Government's decision to prioritise social care in the spending review.
Pressures on my diary mean that I am unable to accept the request for a meeting, but if the hon. Member or representatives from West Sussex county council have any questions about the spending review settlement, I would welcome correspondence on this matter.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2010, Official Report, columns 595-6W, on apprentices, if he will publish the feedback provided by the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network since 2006; and what steps (a) current Ministers, (b) previous Ministers and (c) the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor organisations have taken as a result of advice from the Network. [23045]
Mr Hayes: The primary role of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network (AAN) is to promote greater employer engagement with apprenticeships. I welcome the contribution which the AAN gives to the apprenticeship programme, both as our eyes and ears in respect of the quality of apprenticeships and the delivery system; and as ambassadors to encourage others to offer apprenticeships.
In this time of fiscal restraint, it is both important and powerful to have such blue chip businesses and business leaders championing apprenticeships to employers, and therefore the role of the AAN becomes increasingly important. The AAN has provided valuable advice and feedback to Ministers and others since its creation in 2006. Issues covered have included:
the skills strategy and the contribution of apprenticeships;
apprenticeship framework design, content and levels of qualification;
careers advice and guidance;
reducing bureaucracy;
diversity;
pay;
role and function of the National Apprenticeship Service;
online vacancy matching service; and
progression to HE.
This is achieved through Ministers attending AAN meetings at which employer engagement and policy issues are discussed, Ministers and senior officials speaking at events hosted by members, correspondence and meetings on specific issues and the AAN responding to BIS and other consultation exercises. The feedback of the AAN helps to ensure that the programme is fit for purpose, that numbers increase and quality continues to improve.
The AAN has also commissioned work in two important areas to inform the policy debate; the net benefit to employer investment in apprenticeships (IER 2008) and a comparative international study of apprenticeships (CEP, 2010). These reports, alongside details of the AAN's work and membership, minutes of meetings, consultation responses, letters and speeches are all published on the AAN website: www.employersforapprentices.gov.uk. I am happy for this to include correspondence between myself and the AAN in the future.
CJD: Research
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what research projects into Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease the Medical Research Council has provided funding in each of the last three years; and what the outcomes of those projects were. [22954]
Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) has funded basic research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) since the late 1970s. The MRC continues to fund research across the spectrum from basic biological studies through to applied clinical research.
In the last three years, MRC expenditure on TSE was as follows:
2007/08: £6.8 million
2008/09: £8.9 million
2009/10 : £9.9 million.
Much of this research is conducted by the MRC Prion Unit, an international centre of excellence focussing principally on human prion disease, as well as through other TSE researchers working in universities throughout the UK. As this research is still ongoing, it is too early to report on outcomes. MRC welcomes proposals in all areas of TSE research and particularly in the development of new diagnostic tests and therapeutics. In addition, MRC encourages TSE research that may also inform on the basic mechanisms of other neurodegenerative disorders.
A list of the relevant research projects that have received MRC funding, between 2007/8 and 2009/10 is below. Further information on these projects, as well as other research supported by the MRC can be found at:
EU Grants and Loans
George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on future arrangements for the administration of payments out of EU Structural Funds. [22538]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 9 November 2010]: To date I have not had any direct discussions with my EU counterparts on future arrangements for the administration of payments out of EU structural funds. In England, the Department for Work and Pensions has operational responsibility for the European social fund and the Department for Communities and Local Government has operational responsibility for the European regional development fund.
Higher Education: Admissions
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) applicants and (b) successful applicants from each socio-economic group there were for places on undergraduate degree courses to study (i) medicine, (ii) accounting, (iii) law, (iv) veterinary medicine, (v) engineering and (vi) dentistry at universities in England in each year since 2001. [22143]
Mr Willetts: The latest information, which has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), is given in the table. The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) was introduced in 2002. UCAS have not released NS-SEC data for 2009 entry. Final figures for 2010 entry will be available in January 2011.
Higher Education: Student Numbers
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of students who had been educated in (a) Wansbeck constituency, (b) Northumberland and (c) the UK who were at university in the last 12 months. [22926]
Mr Willetts: Figures for higher education enrolments who were educated in Wansbeck constituency, Northumberland county and the UK are not available. As an alternative, figures for enrolments to higher education institutions who were resident in Wansbeck constituency, Northumberland local authority and the UK have been provided in the table as an alternative.
The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) relates to the 2008/09 academic year. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011. The Department has recently received updated postcode information; therefore figures in the answer may not match those previously published. Figures exclude students studying higher education level courses at further education colleges.
| Undergraduate enrolments( 1) from Wansbeck parliamentary constituency( 2) , Northumberland local authority( 2) , and the UK-UK higher education institutions academic year 2008/09 | |
| Area | Undergraduate enrolments |
| (1) Enrolments cover students in all years of study, not just first year students. (2 )Excludes enrolments whose parliamentary constituency or local authority could not be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | |
Innovation
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what powers and responsibilities the Technology Strategy Board will have in relation to his proposed innovation centres. [23242]
Mr Willetts: The overall network of centres will be established and overseen by the Technology Strategy Board but individual centres will have a high degree of autonomy so they can respond to business needs.
The Technology Strategy Board will work with industry, stakeholders, and the wider Government to identify the priority areas and governance structure for the elite network of Technology and Innovation Centres by April 2011.
National Apprenticeship Service
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who the (a) Chief Executive and (b) Chairman of the National Apprenticeship Service is; how long each has been in post; how much each is paid, including any pension contributions from the employer; and in which publications and on which websites each post was advertised when it was last vacant. [22734]
Mr Hayes: Simon Waugh was appointed to the role of chief executive of the newly formed National Apprenticeship Service in January 2009. The role was advertised in the Sunday Times and on the Times Online, and by the recruitment consultants, Gatenby Sanderson. The role was created in 2009 and Simon has been the only person to hold this position. In the summer of 2010, my Department agreed to Simon becoming executive chairman. Prior to this, the role of chairman of the National Apprenticeship Service did not exist.
The National Apprenticeship Service is embedded in the Skills Funding Agency which was created on 1 April 2010. Salary information for all Skills Funding Agency
and National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) senior civil servants, including Simon Waugh's are available on the Skills Funding Agency website
National Scholarship Fund
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how he expects the National Scholarship Fund to operate; and who he expects to be eligible for awards from the Fund. [22675]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 8 November 2010]: All universities that want to charge a higher graduate contribution than the £6,000 threshold will be obliged to participate in the National Scholarships programme. We will consult students and university organisations on the details. We will look to increase the leverage of Government funding by getting matched contributions from universities. Our current preference is for universities to offer scholarships to targeted students-including the principal beneficiaries of the pupil premium-that would mean at least their first year is free. Other attractive ideas include expanding the model of a foundation year for young people with high potential but lower qualifications.
Regional Growth Fund
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Local Growth White Paper, Cm 7961, what timescale he has set for the establishment of growth hubs. [22650]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will set out its plans for business improvement, including growth hubs, in more detail shortly.
Science: Finance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the sum in private sector funding likely to be attracted by each £1 in science funding from the public purse over the comprehensive spending review period. [23060]
Mr Willetts: The Government does not have an explicit estimate of the amount of private sector funding attracted by £1 of public spending on science-with the significant degrees of uncertainty involved, such an estimate is likely to be unreliable.
In 2008 (the most recent year for which data is available) Government expenditure on research and development and higher education expenditure on research and development, together known as public sector expenditure on research and development, was equal to 0.162+0.469 or 0.631% of gross domestic product. Business expenditure on research and development, which includes financing from abroad, 1.097% of gross domestic product. Therefore for every £1 of public research and development expenditure in 2008 there was £1.74 of business research and development expenditure.
Skills Funding Agency: Manpower
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff are employed by the Skills Funding Agency specifically to work on communications and campaigns; and what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of the Agency on this level of staffing. [22733]
Mr Hayes: Decisions about the number of staff within the Skills Funding Agency who work on communications and campaigns are an operational matter for Geoff Russell, the chief executive of the agency. I have therefore asked him to reply direct to my hon. Friend.
I have not had any recent discussions with the chief executive of Skills Funding on the number of Skills Funding Agency staff working in these areas. However, as is the case with all public bodies, the Skills Funding Agency is being streamlined. It is already making an 11% additional saving in 2010-11 and will be expected to make further significant savings to its administrative costs over the spending review period.
Students: Fees and Charges
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who he plans to consult on options for mechanisms to enable early repayment of tuition fee loans; and if he will make a statement. [22676]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 8 November 2010]: The Government are committed to the progressive nature of the repayment system. It is therefore important that those on the highest incomes post graduation are not able unfairly to buy themselves out of this progressive system by paying off their loans early. We will consult on potential early repayment mechanisms-similar to those paid by people who pre-pay their mortgages. These mechanisms would need to ensure that graduates on modest incomes who strive to pay off their loans early through regular payments are not penalised. For example, a 5% levy might be charged on additional repayments each year over a specified amount such as £1,000 or £3,000. Alternatively, those on higher incomes (eg over £60,000) who made an additional repayment could be required to pay a 5% levy on this sum. We will consult with students, universities, higher education bodies and other experts.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force personnel are deployed in Afghanistan in support of combat aircraft flying operations. [21839]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 4 November 2010]: The RAF currently has approximately 1,900 personnel deployed in Afghanistan. The specific number of RAF personnel supporting Tornado GR4 in Afghanistan is being withheld as the information could prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Afghanistan: Security Forces
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2010, Official Report, column 881W, on Afghanistan: security forces, if he will discuss with his Afghan counterpart the recruitment and desertion statistics for the Afghan police and army referred to in his Answer. [20589]
Dr Fox: I regularly talk to Defence Minister Wardak on a range of issues including the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
Working closely with the Government of Afghanistan, we continue to make progress in enhancing the capacity and capability of the ANSF, including on specific measures to improve recruitment and retention. However, these issues are ultimately matters for the Government of Afghanistan.
Air Force: Military Bases
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) live fire and (b) practice weapons are permitted for use at (i) RAF Wainfleet, (ii) RAF Donna Nook, (iii) RAF Holbeach, (iv) RAF West Freugh, (v) RAF Tain and (vi) the Cape Wrath Range. [22950]
Mr Robathan: RAF Wainfleet was closed on 3 December 2009. Details of the live fire and practice weapons permitted for use at Defence Training Estate (DTE) Donna Nook, DTE Holbeach, MOD West Freugh, DTE Tain and DTE Cape Wrath are detailed as follows:
Live Fire:
Ball/Tracer up to 30mm (including 7.62mm, 0.5 inch, 20mm, 27mm, 30mm)
Practice Weapons:
3kg
14kg
5401b High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
10001b High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
CRV-7 Inert (Ground Attack Rocket)
BDU-33(Practice Bomb)
BDU-50 (Freefall and Retarded) (Practice Bomb)
BDU-56 (Freefall) (Practice Bomb)
DTE Holbeach
Live Fire:
Ball/Tracer up to 30mm (including 7.62mm, 0.5 inch, 20mm, 27mm, 30mm) TOW (Tube-launched Optically Tracked Wire command data link guided missile)
Practice Weapons:
3kg
14kg
5401b High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
10001b High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
CRV-7 Inert (Ground Attack Rocket)
BDU-33 (Practice Bomb)
BDU-50 (Freefall and Retarded) (Practice Bomb)
BDU-56 (Freefall) (Practice Bomb)
This unit is operated and managed by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD and is cleared for use of the following air-launched weapons:
Live Fire:
Ball/Tracer up to 30mm (including 7.62mm, 0.5 inch, 20mm, 27mm, 30mm)
5401b HE (Freefall and Retarded)
10001b HE (Freefall and Retarded)
Practice Weapons:
UK and US Practice bombs
5401b HE Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
10001b HE Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
Paveway II, III and IV inert laser guided bombs
Live Fire:
Ball/Tracer up to 30mm (including 7.62mm, 0.5 inch, 20mm, 27mm, 30mm)
Practice Weapons:
3kg
14kg
5401b High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
10001b High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
CRV-7 Inert (Ground Attack Rocket)
BDU-33(Practice Bomb)
BDU-50 (Freefall and Retarded) (Practice Bomb)
BDU-56 (Freefall) (Practice Bomb)
Live Fire:
Ball/Tracer up to 105mm (including 7.62mm, 0.5 inch, 20mm, 27mm, 30mm, 40mm, 105 mm)
10001b High Explosive (Freefall and Retarded)
Mk-82 High Explosive (Freefall and Retarded)
Practice Weapons:
3kg
14kg
10001b High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
Inert Paveway II
CRV-7 Inert (Ground Attack Rocket)
10001b High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
BDU-33(Practice Bomb)
BDU-50 (Freefall and Retarded) (Practice Bomb)
BDU-56 (Freefall) (Practice Bomb)
Mk-82 High Explosive Simulated (Freefall and Retarded)
Mk-84 High Explosive Simulated (Freefall)
Aircraft Carriers: Military Aircraft
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on the aeronautical industry of not proceeding with his Department's proposals for the short take-off and vertical landing aircraft variant for the new aircraft carriers. [21333]
Peter Luff [holding answer 2 November 2010]: The decision to purchase the Carrier Variant of the Joint Strike Fighter was made on operational grounds. It offers advantages in terms of interoperability with allies, range, and pay load and through life costs over the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.
The industrial implications of the key strategic defence and security review choices were given careful consideration, but we have not made a specific assessment of the impact on the aeronautical industry of the decision to proceed with the Carrier Variant of the Joint Strike
Fighter, rather than the STOVL version. However, UK companies have a significant interest in the overall Joint Strike Fighter programme, including the carrier and Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) variants.
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