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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 10 January 2011
Defence
Afghanistan and Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel under the age of 18 have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Iraq since the commencement of military operations in each country. [31572]
Mr Robathan: There have been no deaths or casualties sustained on operations in Iraq or Afghanistan of those aged under 18. No Service personnel under the age of 18 are deployed on any operation, outside the United Kingdom, which would result in them becoming engaged in, or exposed to, hostilities. In line with United Nations policy, Service personnel under 18 are not deployed on UN peacekeeping operations.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2010, Official Report, column 985W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, which companies are sub-contracted by (a) SEAFAST Logistics and (b) Purple Foodservice Solutions to transport food and materiel to armed forces serving in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [31890]
Peter Luff: I am withholding information about sub-contractors which if disclosed could risk the safety of their employees and prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the supply chain and the armed forces.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2010, Official Report, column 985W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what regulations govern the sub-contracts placed by SEAFAST Logistics or Supreme Foodservice for transportation within Pakistan and Afghanistan in respect of protection of supply convoys by private military contractors. [31891]
Peter Luff: Regulations on the use of private military security companies in Afghanistan and Pakistan are matters for their respective Governments. However, the UK, along with all members of the International Security Assistance Force, expect any private military security company (PMSC) operating in Afghanistan to comply with the regulations laid out by the Government of Afghanistan, which is a signatory of the Montreaux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and Good Practices for States related to Operations of PMSCs during Armed Conflict.
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Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to provide security to contractor logistic convoys in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [32005]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence does not make arrangements to provide security for the contractor logistic convoys in Afghanistan.
Armed Forces: Council Tax
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what council tax rebates are available for members of the armed forces serving overseas on operational tours. [31986]
Mr Robathan: All regular and reserve personnel serving in specified operational locations who pay council tax for a property in the UK or contributions in lieu of council tax for service family accommodation can claim payment under the Ministry of Defence's (MOD's) council tax relief (CTR) scheme. From 1 April 2010, the value of the CTR payment made by the MOD direct to the individual, which is tax free, is £148 for an average six-month tour.
Armed forces personnel serving in qualifying operational locations will also receive the Operational Allowance amounting to £5,281 for a typical six-month tour, as well as free food and accommodation in theatre.
Under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 2003, local billing authorities in England and Wales have the flexibility, if they wish, to grant reductions or exemptions on an individual basis, or for a class of council tax payers.
Armed Forces: Military Decorations
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to begin his Department's review of the awarding of medals; what timetable has been set for that review; and whether the review will include opportunities for the public to make contributions. [32344]
Mr Robathan: I can confirm that the review of the rules governing the award of medals is now under way and will report to me early this year.
The background and arguments for the institutions of new medals or revisions of eligibility to existing ones are well known and understood by the Ministry of Defence. Indeed we have received many representations from campaigners. Their views will be considered as part of the review.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of preserved pension a British soldier with 15 years' service can expect to receive on attaining the age of 60 years; and what level of terminal gratuity such a solder can expect to receive at the end of service. [32309]
Mr Robathan:
The Government Actuary Department undertook a series of calculations in 2009. They projected that the annual pension on reaching aged 60 for a
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rifleman, who retired in 1994, who had served for 15 years and was a member of Armed Forces Pensions Scheme 1975, would be £5,700 per year.
On the day the pension comes into effect, their 60th birthday, a terminal grant will be paid equating to three times the pension to be paid. In this example the terminal grant would be £17,100.
Armed Forces: Young People
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel under the age of 18 years were stationed overseas in the latest period for which information is available; and in which locations such personnel were stationed. [31574]
Mr Robathan: As at 1 October 2010, there were some 40 members of the regular armed forces under the age of 18 who were stationed overseas, 30 of whom were stationed in Germany and 10 in Cyprus.
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel under the age of 18 years requested discharge under the unhappy minors’ provision in 2009-10; and how many such requests were granted. [31575]
Mr Robathan: 260 personnel left the Army under the unhappy minors’ provision in 2009-10. The naval service and Royal Air Force do not hold information centrally on those who leave by this route.
We are aware of no cases where those under 18 who had expressed a wish to leave the services were unable to do so.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to give persons entering the armed forces under the age of 18 the right to leave on attaining the age of 18 if they consider at the age of 18 that they have been mistaken in their decision to enlist. [32635]
Mr Robathan: There are no plans to change the current policy. Service personnel under 18 years who have completed 28 days of service have the right to discharge at any time before their 18th birthday provided they give the required 14 days notice. A service person under the age of 18 years three months who registered before their 18th birthday who show their clear unhappiness at their choice of career can request permission to leave the armed forces. They do not have discharge of right at this age but it is exceedingly rare for such an individual to be refused permission to leave. These safeguards help to ensure that young servicemen or women under the age of 18 years may, if they wish, leave the armed forces and that any commitment to service is both considered and voluntary.
[Official Report, 10 June 2011, Vol. 529, c. 7MC.]Arms Trade Treaty
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking in preparation for the second Preparatory Committee on the Arms Trade treaty in February 2011; and which officials of which grades from his Department will attend the Preparatory Committee. [32556]
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Dr Fox: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) fully supports the Government’s efforts to establish an Arms Trade treaty that will help prevent irresponsible trade in conventional weapons. The MOD is an active member of the cross-Whitehall team led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that is preparing for the Preparatory Committee in February 2011. The UK’s delegation will be led by John Duncan, Ambassador for Multilateral Arms Control and Disarmament. The size and make-up of the rest of the delegation will be finalised during January 2011.
Departmental Catering
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on catering in each month since April 2010. [31695]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]: Catering for Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian personnel employed at UK defence establishments who pay for their food is provided through regional prime contracts administered by Defence Estates or under multi-activity contracts placed by relevant top level budget holders. UK based armed forces personnel are primarily catered for through catering, retail and leisure contracts (incorporating Pay As You Dine arrangements), which are being introduced across the UK. Some 65% of armed forces personnel are catered for under these arrangements. Costing information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
For armed forces personnel not fed under catering, retail and leisure arrangements and for those serving on operations and overseas exercises, there is a single food supply contract with Purple Foodservice Solutions Ltd. The expenditure for April to November 2010, including the cost of food, administration and transport, is shown in the following tables:
|
|
Spend (£ million) |
The MOD has also procured Operational Ration Packs over the same period for which the expenditure was:
|
|
Spend (£ million) |
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Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible has spent on catering and refreshments in each month since April 2010. [31874]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]:Information on expenditure on catering and refreshments by the Ministry of Defence’s non-departmental public bodies is not recorded separately, except in the case of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees which incurred such expenditure as follows: April to August 2010—not recorded separately, September 2010—£388, October 2010—£429 and November 2010—£61.
Departmental Consultants
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential to reduce the costs to his Department of consultants. [31140]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is co-operating fully with the Cabinet Office led initiative to reduce consultancy expenditure. It is too early to assess by how much costs will reduce but MOD expenditure on consultants will be published in the normal way at the end of the financial year.
Departmental Energy
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what temperature his Department maintains in offices at Basil Hill Barracks, Corsham. [31091]
Mr Robathan: The Defence Equipment and Support Information Systems and Services Corsham New Environment building, at Basil Hill Barracks, is fitted with a fan-coil system, providing heat in the winter and chilled air in the summer. It is controlled remotely through the building management system and provides an ambient temperature between 19-23 degrees celsius.
Departmental Manpower
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent staff his Department employed in (a) April 2010 and (b) each subsequent month. [31560]
Mr Robathan: [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The following table shows the total full-time equivalent strength of the Ministry of Defence by month from April 2010 to November 2010.
| Month | FTE |
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| Note: Totals listed are full-time equivalent and have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: DASA (Quad Service) | |
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fixed-term appointments his Department has made since May 2010. [31564]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]: Between 12 May 2010 and 30 November 2010 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) appointed 177 members of staff on fixed-term contracts. In all instances fixed-term appointments are used to reflect the finite nature of the requirement and include casual appointments as well as longer fixed-terms.
64 of the appointments are apprentices who are employed on limited-term apprenticeship contracts while they undertake their training. Apprenticeship contracts are exempt from the civil service external recruitment freeze. The recruitment of apprentices is part of our continuing commitment to providing the engineering skills needed in the MOD.
39 appointments are teachers employed on short-term contracts in schools educating the children of servicemen and women in Germany and Cyprus. These contracts all began at the start of the academic year.
The majority of other appointments are in direct support of ongoing operations in Afghanistan and include medical staff employed in the operational theatre and drivers appointed on a short-term basis in the UK to provide cover for service personnel deployed on current operations.
Details of special adviser appointments, including names and salaries, are published on the Cabinet Office website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
Recruitment to the civil service is regulated by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The Act established the Civil Service Commission with the role of regulating recruitment to the civil service, principally through their Recruitment Principles. All those employed since 12 May 2010 have been recruited to the Department have been in accordance with these Recruitment Principles. The Recruitment Principles are available at:
http://www.civilservicecommission.org.uk/admin/assets/spaw2/uploads/files/Recruitment_Principles.pdf
Departmental NDPBs
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much each of his Department’s non-departmental public bodies has spent on redundancy payments since the beginning of May 2010. [31565]
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Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]: None of the Ministry of Defence’s non-departmental public bodies (the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the National Army Museum and the Royal Air Force Museum) have made any redundancy payments since May 2010.
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has made of the cost of redundancies in each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies in (a) financial years (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and, (iii) 2013-14 and (b) each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [31570]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The Ministry of Defence has three executive non-departmental public bodies: the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), the National Army Museum and the Royal Air Force Museum. The Portsmouth subsidiary of the NMRN (the Royal Naval Museum) is currently implementing a redundancy programme. No expenditure has been made to date but provision of £104,000 has been made in financial year 2010-11. No other redundancies are currently expected or planned for by any of the museums over the period covered by this question.
Departmental Pay
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of his Department’s payroll in May 2010; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the payroll in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15. [31294]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The payroll cost for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for May was £1,011.502 million. The forecast cost for the whole of this financial year is £12,273.236 million.
The cost of the payroll in future years will depend on a number of factors, including the number of civilian and military personnel employed. The MOD announced significant reductions to both these numbers in the Strategic Defence and Security Review. Final savings figures will depend on detailed implementation of these reductions, which will be subject to full consultation with all relevant parties, including the trade unions and the devolved Administrations, as well as the results of mandatory assessments on the impact that the measures will have on sustainability, equality and diversity and health and safety. The MOD is therefore not prepared to release more detailed figures at this time.
Departmental Press Releases
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of how many such briefings his Department was informed
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that the embargo had been breached; what steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on how many occasions his Department has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010. [31915]
Mr Robathan: Since 26 May 2010, the Ministry of Defence has not provided media briefings with or without embargo prior to an oral statement to the House.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the effect of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax on his Department's annual expenditure. [31187]
Mr Robathan: 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 (MOD) due to the increased level of value added tax is approximately £38 million in financial year 2010-11.
It is not possible to produce a precise estimate of the effect on future annual expenditure until the MOD completes its annual planning exercise, which will affect the proportion of departmental spend that is subject to VAT. However, other things being equal, the MOD's best estimate for 2011-12 is £155 million.
Departmental Reviews
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what departmental policy reviews his Department has undertaken since 6 May 2010; on what date each such review (a) was announced and (b) is expected to publish its findings; what estimate he has made of the cost of each such review; who has been appointed to lead each such review; to what remuneration each review leader is entitled; how many (i) full-time equivalent civil servants and (ii) seconded staff are working on each such review; from which organisations such staff have been seconded; and how much on average such seconded staff will be paid for their work on the review. [21887]
Dr Fox: This information is not held centrally. I have tasked my Department to collate this information and I will write to the hon. Member with a full response as soon as this information is collated.
Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Tom Watson:
The Secretary of State for Defence undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary question on 15 November 2010, (Official Report, column 559W) with further details of those reviews the Ministry of Defence has undertaken since 6 May 2010. I am responding on his behalf. We have conducted nine such reviews, the details of which are attached here:
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Departmental Telecommunications
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential savings to the public purse of increased use of (a) telephone and (b) videoconferencing to replace face-to-face meetings. [31694]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]: It is too early to say, at this point in the financial year, how much will be saved by the increased use of telephone and video-conferencing to replace face-to-face meetings. But all staff have been asked to avoid travel where the business need can be met in other ways. This new approach both reduces costs and increases productivity.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by each non- departmental public body for which his Department is responsible of the potential savings to the public purse of increased use of telephone and video-conferencing to replace face-to-face meetings. [31875]
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Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]:It is too early to say, at this point in the financial year, how much will be saved by the Ministry of Defence’s non-departmental public bodies through increased use of telephone and video-conferencing to replace face-to-face meetings. But all staff have been asked to avoid travel where the business need can be met in other ways such as telephone and video conferencing. This new approach reduces costs and increases productivity.
Departmental Travel
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on grey fleet in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [28854]
Mr Robathan: Expenditure on the grey fleet was some £34 million in 2008-09 and £32 million in 2009-10. This expenditure represents the cost of fixed mileage rates through which service and civilian personnel are assisted with the expenses they incur when using a privately owned vehicle for travel on official Ministry of Defence business. The figures do not include the reimbursement of any parking or toll charges, where incurred, as we do not break down such expenses by mode of travel, whether private vehicle, MOD vehicle or hire car.
Private cars are normally only authorised for use on MOD business if a pool car is not available and a private car is the most cost-effective travel option. We have additionally asked all staff, as part of a package of financial management measures for 2010-11, to avoid travel at all where the business need can be met in other ways, such as by e-mail and video or audio conferencing. This both saves cost and increases the productivity of staff, by reducing time spent travelling.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on taxi fares in each month since April 2010. [31693]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) reimbursed the cost of taxi fares to service personnel over the period April to November 2010 as follows:
|
|
Amount reimbursed (£) |
Taxi fares claimed by civilian staff are not recorded separately from bus and underground fares and parking and toll costs.
Staff, both civilian and military, may only use a taxi for official duty when there is a business benefit to the MOD or when it saves money. A taxi is typically used where no other suitable form of public transport is available. In the present economic conditions, we are constraining the amount of travel undertaken.
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Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible has spent on (a) taxis, (b) the Government Car Service and (c) other travel in each month since April 2010. [31873]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]:The Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s non-departmental public bodies do not record their travel and subsistence costs separately, except as follows:
The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees incurred such costs as follows: April to August 2010—not recorded separately, September 2010—£2,941, October 2010—£2,725 and November 2010—£1,697.
The MOD has been billed £5,774 by the Review Board for Government Contracts for travel and subsistence and courier services provided between 1 April to 31 October 2010.
Taxi fares claimed by the MOD’s non-departmental public bodies are not recorded separately. Staff may only use a taxi for official duty when there is a business benefit to the MOD or when it saves money.
The MOD’s non-departmental public bodies made no use of the Government Car Service between April and November 2010.
Ex-servicemen: Teachers
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Department for Health, (b) the Department for Education and (c) the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the proposed Troops to Teachers programme; and if he will make a statement. [29992]
Mr Robathan: We are committed to rebuilding the armed forces covenant and regular discussions take place with a number of Government Departments to ensure that it is put in place. The Troops to Teachers initiative was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education in the White Paper published on 24 November. This programme is one strand of our covenant commitment and my officials are working closely with other Government Departments including the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Department of Health.
Gurkhas: Pensions
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed with ministerial colleagues the estimated difference in cost to the public purse between providing equal pensions to all Gurkha veterans and providing welfare benefits to Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and are now living in the UK. [32285]
Mr Robathan: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, has held no discussions with his ministerial colleagues on this subject.
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Gurkha Offer to Transfer was open to soldiers who had already retired prior to its implementation in 2006. [32286]
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Mr Robathan: Yes, providing that they had served on or after 1 July 1997, which was the date the Brigade of Gurkhas became a UK based force.
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid from the public purse through the Gurkha Pension Scheme in each financial year since 2006. [32287]
Mr Robathan: The following table details how much has been paid from the public purse through the Gurkha Pension Scheme:
|
|
£ |
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Gurkha Offer to Transfer was implemented retrospectively. [32288]
Mr Robathan: The Gurkha Offer to Transfer (GOTT) was one element of a wide ranging review of Gurkha terms and conditions of service. The decision was taken to apply the GOTT back to July 1997 because that was the date the Brigade of Gurkhas became a UK based force.
HMS Bulwark
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the refit of HMS Bulwark planned for 2016; and where he expects that refit to take place. [32312]
Peter Luff: The location of HMS Bulwark’s refit is subject to ongoing discussions involving members of the Surface Ship Support Alliance (the Ministry of Defence, Babcock Marine and BAE Systems Surface Ships). Since no final decision regarding the refit has been made, I am withholding information relating to estimated costs as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Military Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the seventh C-17 to be ready for use in Afghanistan. [32313]
Peter Luff: The seventh C-17 Globemaster III aircraft is expected to enter service with the RAF this month. The aircraft is expected to be available for operational tasking, which includes flights to Afghanistan, in February 2011.
NATO: Military Exercises
Ms Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2010, Official Report, column 283W, on NATO, for what reason the UK made no contribution to the Sabre Strike exercise; and if he will make a statement. [32586]
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Nick Harvey: As stated in the answer given to the hon. Member on 8 December 2010, Official Report, column 283W, Exercise Sabre Strike was a non-NATO exercise comprising troops from the four participating states: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the USA. Due to its quadripartite nature and limited scope, the participation of British forces was not sought and invitations to observe were issued only to neighbouring countries.
Personnel Recovery Centres
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to provide support for the opening of personnel recovery centres. [32211]
Mr Robathan: The Army Recovery Capability (ARC) was launched in February 2010 by the previous Government as a joint venture between the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion. The coalition Government remains fully committed to the ARC. It represents a multi-million pound commitment by the MOD and the Service charities. A key component of the ARC is the provision of four Personnel Recovery Centres (PRCs) in Catterick, Colchester, Tidworth and Edinburgh. The MOD to date has committed £35 million over the next four years to the ARC which includes the provision of military and civilian personnel to co-ordinate, manage and deliver the ARC, including staff for the PRCs. Help for Heroes has committed a total of £70 million and The Royal British Legion has committed £50 million over the next 10 years to the ARC.
The Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force also have their own bespoke recovery capabilities, tailored to their particular Service's requirements. The facilities and support provided by the ARC, including the PRCs, will also be open to personnel from the two other Services, including mobilised reservists.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on travel by (a) Ministers and (b) civilian staff as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review consultation process. [31466]
Dr Fox [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) was core departmental business incorporated into the routine work of Ministers and staff. It is not possible to identify what element of travel costs during the period of the SDSR was incurred specifically as part of the review process.
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on (a) resources and (b) allowances for staff working on the Strategic Defence and Security Review consultation process. [31467]
Dr Fox
[holding answer 20 December 2010]: The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) was core departmental business incorporated into the routine work of Ministers and staff. It is not possible to identify
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what element of resources and allowances during the period of the SDSR was incurred specifically as part of the review process.
Trident
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assumptions were made in respect of the number of submarines to be manufactured when his Department made its estimate of the cost of replacing Trident included in the summary of the Value for Money review. [27440]
Dr Fox: We remain committed to a policy of Continuous At Sea Deterrence. The cost of replacing the Trident submarines, as set out in the summary of the Value for Money Review, is based on building four submarines. However, the Strategic Defence and Security Review is clear in stating that the decision to finalise the detailed acquisition plans, design and number of submarines will be taken at Main Gate around 2016.
USA: Cluster Munitions
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2010, Official Report, column 427W, on USA: cluster munitions, whether he has made an assessment of the steps his Department took to inform both Houses of discussions with officials of (a) the US administration and (b) other governments relevant to the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill (i) before and (ii) during the passage of the Bill; and if he will make a statement. [32570]
Dr Fox: No, I have not made an assessment; this is a matter for the previous Government.
Warships: Crew
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the normal ship’s company while on operational duty is for (a) HMS Ocean and (b) HMS Illustrious. [31944]
Peter Luff: The ship’s complement for HMS Ocean is 285 personnel and for HMS Illustrious is 726 personnel. Personnel numbers will vary depending on the nature of the operational tasking.
Warships: Decommissioning
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for (a) HMS Chatham, (b) HMS Campbeltown, (c) HMS Cumberland, (d) HMS Cornwall and (e) RFA Largs Bay after decommissioning. [32340]
Peter Luff: It is too early to determine the future plans for HMS Chatham, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Cumberland, HMS Cornwall and RFA Largs Bay. Any decisions will be in line with the Ministry of Defence's policy for handling surplus assets.
Welsh Language
Hywel Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last published a Welsh language scheme in accordance with the provisions of
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the Welsh Language Act 1993; and at which web addresses such schemes can be accessed in
(a)
Welsh and
(b)
English. [31162]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence last published a Welsh Language Act 1993 compliant Welsh Language Scheme in December 2009. It can be accessed on the MOD website in Welsh at the following address:
http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/9C5306B3-A9D8-423D-AB35-A1055377EDA7/0/20101011_revised_MOD_ welshlanguagescheme_welsh.pdf
and in English at the following address:
http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/78E1B15B-77FE-4BF2-BB8C-AF2F4BEE5C0E/0/20101011_revised_MOD_ welshlanguagescheme_english.pdf
Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
Timber
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the compliance of (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s criteria for sourcing sustainable timber. [27838]
Mr Robathan: The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has not set criteria for sourcing sustainable timber as such, but refers to internationally agreed criteria such as the Pan-European Operational Level Guidelines for Sustainable Forest Management, as endorsed by the Lisbon Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (2-4 June 1998), the UNCED Forest Principles (Rio de Janeiro, June 1992) and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) criteria and guidelines for sustainable forest management. The Government’s timber procurement policy is based on these same internationally agreed criteria for sustainable forest management.
The Ministry of Defence, its agencies and its non-departmental public bodies ensure compliance with Government policy on timber and wood derived products. The MOD has a standard condition that is used in all contracts where such products are to be supplied. It requires the contractor to obtain and retain evidence of sustainability for timber and wood-containing products delivered to the MOD and consumed during performance of contracts. It also requires the contractor to submit data on timber procurements to the MOD.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dangerous Dogs
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many disqualification orders have been issued following convictions of individuals of offences under sections 3(1) and 3(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in (a) England and (b) Wales in the last 10 years. [31339]
Mr Paice: Data on disqualification orders under section 4(1)B of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 are not collated centrally.
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Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been convicted of (a) breeding or breeding from, (b) selling or exchanging, (c) making or offering to make a gift of, (d) allowing to be in a public place without a muzzle or lead and (e) abandoning or allowing to stray any (i) pit bull terrier (ii) Japanese tosa, (iii) dogo argentino and (iv) fila brasileiro in each of the last five years. [31342]
Mr Paice: It is not possible to identify the type of fighting dog from data collated centrally. However, the number of people convicted of these offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England and Wales in each of the last five years can be found in the following table. Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the conviction rate was in respect of offences committed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each year since its implementation. [31344]
Mr Paice: The conviction ratio in respect of offences committed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each year since its implementation can be found in the following table. Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring.
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|
Conviction ratio (found guilty as a percentage of proceeded against) |
10 Jan 2011 : Column 20W
| Notes: 1. These statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3. Staffordshire police force was only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table. 4. 2008 figures exclude convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August. Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit, Ministry of Justice. | |
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many invoices her Department processed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [30751]
Richard Benyon: The information requested is given in the following table.
|
|
Number |
| Note: The RPA figure does not include payments made to farmers under the single payment scheme. | |
10 Jan 2011 : Column 21W
Departmental Press Releases
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions her Department has provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of how many such briefings her Department was informed that the embargo had been breached; what steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on how many occasions her Department has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010. [31919]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has made no oral statements since 26 May 2010.
Deposit Refund Schemes
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many submissions on deposit refund schemes her Department has received from (a) individuals, (b) non-governmental organisations and (c) companies and trade associations as part of its review of waste policy in England; [32437]
(2) what proportion of the responses received to her Department’s consultation on waste policy in England related to deposit refund schemes. [32438]
Richard Benyon: Of the 309 responses to the Government’s Review of Waste Policies’ Call for Evidence, which ran between 29 July and 7 October, 43 (14%) included comments about deposit refund schemes. Of these 43 responses, 17 were from local authorities, 13 from non-governmental organisations (including campaign groups and charities), five from businesses, five from individuals and three from trade associations.
Five comments about deposit refund schemes were made on the review’s interactive website and 50 out of 1,500 contributions to our online survey also referenced deposit schemes. The survey and interactive website were both active between 29 July and 9 September.
In addition, we received 1,458 e-mails in support of the “Many Happy Returns” campaign conducted by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, which called for the implementation of a UK-wide deposit refund scheme for 2015.
The Government are considering the arguments and evidence put forward relating to deposit refund schemes as part of the Review of Waste Policies. Preliminary findings of the review will be published in May 2011.
EU Fisheries Council
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 144W, on the EC Fisheries Council, which officials accompanied her to the meeting of the EU Fisheries Council in December 2010. [31530]
Richard Benyon: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code. Eight officials accompanied the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries.
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Flood Control
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on which flood defence schemes work is being undertaken; on which flood defence schemes which have been approved by the Environment Agency work has not yet commenced; and in which financial year work is due to commence for each such scheme. [31285]
Richard Benyon: The following table shows the flood schemes currently under construction in this financial year.
It is too early to identify individual new flood defence projects that will be funded during the coming spending period. Detailed decisions on individual schemes will only be reached once annual budgets are finalised. These decisions will take account of the response to the public consultation that DEFRA launched on 24 November, setting out potential changes to the way in which Government funding is allocated to projects.
| Flood schemes under construction financial year 2010-11 | ||
| Project name | Region | Operating authority |
|
Ipswich Flood Defence Management System: EDF P ‘Cable Diversion’ |
||
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Adwick-Le-Street and Toll Bar (A1 to Ea Beck Triangle) Embankment Improvements, Ea Beck |
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Scarborough Strategy Priority Schemes East Pier to Castle Holms |
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans her Department has made to respond to flooding resulting from melting snow. [32757]
Richard Benyon: Most local authorities, and the local resilience forums of which they are part, have multi-agency flood plans, which set out their planned responses to flooding events. These are based on guidance produced by central Government; DEFRA is the lead Department for the central response to potential and real flooding events including from melting snow. Local authorities also benefit from the daily forecasts from the Flood Forecasting Centre, which include assessments of the risk of flooding from snow melt at an individual county level.
Mosquitos
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department (a) had discussions with Oxitec prior to and (b) holds information on the (i) consent procedures in place for and (ii) environmental impact assessment of the experimental release of genetically-modified mosquitos in Grand Cayman in 2009 and 2010. [31740]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA did not have any discussions with Oxitec prior to the trial release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Grand Cayman, nor do we hold information on the associated consent procedures as these are a matter for the Cayman authorities alone. Subsequent to the trial release Oxitec has provided us with a copy of the risk assessment that was undertaken with the Cayman authorities.
Nocton Dairies
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on farming practices at Nocton Dairies, Lincolnshire; and if she will make a statement. [32262]
Mr Paice: I have received numerous letters on this subject from animal welfare organisations, MPs and individual members of the public.
I am unable to comment on individual planning applications. However, when in operation, all dairy farms must comply with the relevant legislation, including comprehensive animal welfare legislation, whatever the size of unit or system of production.
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North East England
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Ministers of her Department have visited the North East since their appointment; on what date such visits took place; and for what purposes such visits were undertaken. [31601]
Richard Benyon: The information requested is set out in the following table.
Recycling
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the contribution of remanufacturing to her Department's waste strategy. [30710]
Richard Benyon: A joint policy project between DEFRA'S Waste and Sustainable Consumption and Production Programmes is examining the subject of waste prevention. This project will input both to the current review of waste policy as well as to the preparation of a National Waste Prevention Programme by December 2013, as required under the revised waste framework directive.
Part of the early work of the project has involved reviewing the existing evidence relating to business waste prevention. This is an in-depth scoping study to help examine the current knowledge base as well as identify priority gaps that need to be filled by subsequent research studies. Remanufacturing is one aspect of waste prevention being covered in this review study.
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Ritual Slaughter
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether planned changes to food labelling regulations will include consideration as to whether meat products have been processed using religious ritual measures. [32634]
Mr Paice: At the European Parliament’s (EP’s) first reading of the proposed food information regulation (FIR), the EP introduced a proposal to require meat from animals that have been slaughtered without stunning to be labelled as such. Negotiations in Europe are at an early stage.
We do not consider an amendment to the FIR to be the right vehicle for providing information on the method of slaughter. We believe this is primarily a welfare issue should be dealt with in this context.
There appears to be little support for the proposed EP amendment from other member states. However the EP may seek to incorporate its proposal into the draft food information regulation at the second reading stage.
Supermarkets: Competition
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the implementation of the Grocery Supply Chain Code of Practice and the appointment of the adjudicator; and if she will make a statement. [30331]
Mr Paice: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with her opposite number in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on a range of topical issues, which includes the establishment of a groceries code adjudicator to monitor and enforce the groceries supply code of practice. This was most recently discussed in December.
Welsh language
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department last published a Welsh language scheme in accordance with the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993; and at which web addresses such schemes can be accessed in (a) Welsh and (b) English. [31164]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA last published a Welsh language scheme in 2005.
Both Welsh and English versions of the scheme are available via:
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/reports
Zoos: EU Law
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects on annual welfare standards in England of the EU Directive on Zoos, 1999/22/EC. [31941]
Mr Paice:
The directive is implemented through the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 which requires animals in zoos to be accommodated in conditions which aim to satisfy their biological and conservation requirements. The
10 Jan 2011 : Column 28W
Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice expand on these requirements and specify the minimum standards, including welfare standards, zoos must meet. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 also covers zoo animals.
Local authorities have responsibility for licensing and inspecting zoos in their areas and are empowered to impose and enforce conditions to ensure that high standards are maintained. DEFRA has not carried out a separate assessment, but will take very seriously any reports of welfare problems it receives.
Transport
Airports
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will encourage UK airports serving international flights to locate or relocate to regions of the country with lower than average snowfall. [29728]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has no plans to introduce policies to encourage airlines to relocate flights to airports in regions of the country with lower than average snowfall.
Aviation: Radio Frequencies
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential for increasing the efficiency of the use of radio spectrum by the aviation sector. [31458]
Mrs Villiers: Responsibility for efficient use of the radio spectrum rests with Ofcom, the independent regulator. On 14 December 2010, Ofcom published a statement setting out a new pricing structure for VHF frequencies used by the aviation sector. Ofcom has previously proposed that Government take responsibility for the strategic management of spectrum used for maritime and aviation radar and aeronautical navigation aids. Officials are considering the practicality of doing so.
Aviation: Security
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the continuing requirement for restriction on carriage of toner cartridges by air; and if he will make a statement. [31131]
Mrs Villiers: Further interim measures were introduced on 10 December 2010. These included measures to replace the restrictions on toner cartridges flying in cargo or hand baggage. The new measures stipulate that:
Printing equipment with ink or toner cartridges inside and where the cartridge weighs more than 500g are not to be carried in air cargo or mail into, from or via the UK unless they originate from a UK validated known consignor.
All other restrictions on printer cartridges are lifted.
The ban on all air cargo from Yemen and Somalia remains in place.
Work is ongoing, on an EU wide basis, to agree an internationally applicable regime for the carriage of such freight.
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Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the oral Statement of 1 November 2010, Official Report, columns 632-3, on the aviation security incident, when he expects the airport security scanners which the Secretary of State for the Home Department undertook to send to Yemen to be sent. [31244]
Mrs Villiers: As part of the Government's package of measures to support the Government of Yemen, we have agreed with them a detailed programme to assist the improvement in aviation security at Sana'a International airport. This programme includes the provision of aviation security equipment and training.
We have been in regular discussion with the Yemeni authorities to deliver this programme, which is approaching the implementation stage. Subject to a number of contractual issues and other considerations we are hopeful that purchase and delivery of equipment will be completed by the end of March 2011.
Shipping: Pilots
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received on section 32(1) of the Pilotage Act 1987 in relation to the regulation of standards of qualifications for statutory pilots. [32641]
Mike Penning: The Department considers that the industry funded body Ports Skills and Safety (PSS) is best placed to improve pilotage skills and standards. In early 2011, PSS will begin implementing a programme to update the National Occupational Standards for pilots, and in due course, to develop Certificates of Competence for new and existing UK pilots.
Bus Services: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2010, Official Report, column 188W, on bus services: finance, what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the 20 per cent. reduction in Bus Service Operators Grant on (a) bus fares and (b) service reductions in (i) London, (ii) metropolitan areas with an integrated transport authority and (iii) non-metropolitan areas. [27645]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport estimates that the approximate average impacts of the 20% reduction in Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) could be:
| Percentage | ||
| Area | Impact on fares | Impact on services |
I spoke to the Confederation of Passenger Transport who represent the bus industry following the spending review, who were hopeful that, in general, the small reduction in BSOG could be absorbed without fares having to rise.
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Buses: Exhaust Emissions
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the £30 million Green Bus Fund has been allocated to (a) local authorities in Sussex and (b) Brighton and Hove. [30432]
Norman Baker: None of the £30 million Green Bus Fund has been allocated to local authorities in either Sussex or Brighton and Hove. No bids were received from these local authorities.
Contracts: Public Finance
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the cost to the public purse has been of staff on fixed-term contracts in his Department in each month since April 2010; [30941]
Jim Fitzpatrick: (2) how much his Department has spent on staff on fixed-term contracts in each month since April 2010. [30945]
Norman Baker [holding answer 15 December 2010]: The following table shows how much the Department for Transport and its seven executive agencies has spent on staff on fixed-term contracts in each month since April 2010.
|
|
£ |
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the maintenance and operating costs were for the Dartford Crossing in each year since 2008. [32539]
Mike Penning: The accounts of the Highways Agency details the following expenditure on maintenance and operating costs for the Dartford Crossing:
| Financial year | Expenditure (£ million) |
The expenditure in 2009-10 includes an estimate of the Dartford maintenance and operating costs delivered through the M25 PFI contract.
In May 2009, the agency signed a 30-year design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) PFI contract with Connect Plus (M25) Limited. As part of this new contract, the function of managing the crossing and collecting charges transferred to Connect Plus (M25) Limited from 13 September 2009. The inclusion of the Dartford Crossing as part of this DBFO contract was designed to ensure the agency could achieve maximum
10 Jan 2011 : Column 31W
value for money from the new contract. Due to the nature of the contract, the agency pays a single service payment to cover all of the contract activities, including maintenance and operating costs of the crossing.
Departmental NDPBs
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff have been appointed on a fixed-term contract by each non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department since May 2010. [31019]
Norman Baker [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The number of staff appointed on a fixed-term contract by each non-departmental public body sponsored by this Department for Transport (DFT) since May 2010 are as follows:
|
|
Staff |
| Notes: 1. DFT non-departmental public bodies are: RFA—Renewable Fuels Agency BTPA—British Transport Police Authority Cycling England DPTAC—Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee DOR Ltd—Directly Operated Railways Ltd NLB—Northern Lighthouse Board Passenger Focus TLS—Trinity Lighthouse Service TCs and DTCs—Traffic Commissioners and Deputy Traffic Commissioners 2. Cycling England does not exist as its own legal entity—it is essentially part of DFT. It ceases to exist after March 2011. | |