Mining: Compensation
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to compensate communities for the environmental impact of aggregate extraction. [42424]
Richard Benyon: The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) provided funding for local communities affected by aggregates extraction from 2002 until the end of March this year, when it will be discontinued. The decision was taken as part of the spending review settlement in October 2010, where we looked very carefully across all DEFRA’s priorities to identify where we can make best use of the available funds.
In 2011-12, we will fund a modest, short term project to help ensure that the findings from the £60 million already invested in ALSF Research and Development are accessible to those who can put them into practice, and to achieve the potential improvements in environmental performance. This will bring together material from numerous research reports and websites into a professional website tool run and maintained by the Minerals Industry Research Organisation.
Moorland Association
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met representatives of the Moorland Association. [41878]
Mr Paice: The Secretary of State has not met with the Moorland Association, but the Minister with responsibility for natural environment and fisheries, the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon) met with their representatives on 2 November 2010.
New Forest
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on permitting the Forestry Commission to introduce car parking charges in the New Forest; and if she will make a statement. [39140]
Mr Paice [holding answer 8 February 2011]: The introduction of car parking charges on the public forestry estate is an operational matter for the Forestry Commissioners.
Rivers: Water Supply
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Environment Agency is taking to tackle over-abstraction from the river (a) Dart, (b) Teign, (c) Yealme, (d) Erme and (e) other south Devon rivers; and if she will make a statement. [41430]
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Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency assesses the sustainability of water resources in England, including the Dart, Teign, Yealme, Erme and other south Devon rivers, to inform its future management of abstractions. Where over-abstraction has occurred, the Agency can take action through its Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme.
The Environment Agency also carries out compliance visits, which are targeted at rivers where there is stress from potential over-abstraction, and analyses abstraction volumes to ensure levels remain within the limits agreed in a licence. Licence holders found to be in breach of their conditions can ultimately face legal action.
Rural Areas: Business
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rural businesses her Department has assisted in Maidstone and the Weald constituency in each of the last five years; and how much has been spent on each business. [42590]
Richard Benyon: The following table shows the assistance which has been provided to rural businesses in the Maidstone and Weald constituency under DEFRA's rural development programmes over the last five years:
|
|
Scheme | Number of businesses assisted | Individual grant awards (1) (£) |
| (1) This is based on the total grant awarded to the project. In some cases it may be that the applicant has not yet claimed the full amount. (2) England Rural Development Programme 2000-06. (3) Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13. | |||
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what sources of (a) Government and (b) EU funding are available to (i) farmers, (ii) rural villages, (iii) rural businesses, (iv) local authorities, (v) parish councils and (vi) rural voluntary organisations to assist in the regeneration of rural economies. [42591]
Richard Benyon: Funding is available under DEFRA’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) to improve the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry; improve the environment and the countryside; improve the quality of life in rural areas and encourage diversification of economic activity. Applicants for RDPE funding can include farmers, rural businesses, rural community groups and voluntary organisations, all of which have already benefited from this funding. Farmers also benefit from funding under the single farm payment.
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Rural enterprise is also able to benefit from the advice and support provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills programmes, and considerable work has been done to ensure that the Regional Growth Fund will be accessible to rural (as well as urban) areas which are currently dependent on the public sector. This will help them make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity. Rural communities and rural voluntary groups can access relevant funding from both national and local government sources open to civil society bodies. In addition, DEFRA and the Department for Communities and Local Government are currently supporting the town and parish council sector through funding to support community empowerment. Local authorities have, of course, recently been notified of their formula grant allocations for the coming financial year, and this funding is intended to enable them to meet the needs of all their residents, rural and urban.
While the Government recognise that some of their funding can be beneficial for businesses and communities, they believe that the most serious barriers hindering economic development in both rural and urban areas are the top-down restrictions affecting planning, growth and local action. The Government are seeking to remove these barriers, for example through the provisions of the Localism Bill, in order to enable local authorities and empower communities to address their own locally- identified needs. The creation of Local Enterprise Partnerships will help with the drive to sustainable local growth, focusing on local economic priorities.
Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has undertaken any research on the effects of tributyl tin from the hulls of ships on the marine environment in the Irish Sea since 2003. [42127]
Richard Benyon: The Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), together with colleagues in the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland, and the Fisheries Research Services in Scotland, have carried out studies on the effects of tributyl tin (TBT) on dogwhelks in the seas around the UK, including the Irish sea. The results, based on surveys in 2004 and 2007, show that effects on reproduction (imposex) have continued to reduce compared with the results of earlier surveys. A further survey was started in 2010, but the results are not yet available.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library the latest dataset from the central database on marine pollution held by the Environment Agency. [42128]
Richard Benyon: A copy of the latest dataset from the Environment Agency’s central database on marine pollution has been placed in the Library.
Special Areas of Conservation
Sheryll Murray:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the European Commission
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since June 2010 on the evidence and advice contained within the submission of candidate Special Areas of Conservation to the Commission. [42171]
Richard Benyon: A package of candidate Special Areas of Conservation was put forward to the European Commission on 20 August 2010. This package of sites was identified to ensure that, together with further sites to be submitted before the end of 2012, the United Kingdom meets its obligations under article 4 of the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). The European Commission has acknowledged the receipt of these sites but has not had discussions on them with DEFRA. The European Commission evaluates the proposals with assistance from the European Topic Centre and, if satisfied that they are acceptable, they will add the sites to the Community list of possible Sites of Community Importance to be adopted in accordance with article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive.
Squirrels
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department is considering placing obligations on future owners, leaseholders or managers of woodland owned by the Forestry Commission to control the size of the grey squirrel population as part of its proposals for the sale of woodland. [39905]
Mr Paice: The consultation on the future of the public forest estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
Steart Coastal Management Project
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the public purse is of the Steart coastal management project. [41533]
Richard Benyon: The total indicative scheme costs for the Steart Peninsula flood management projects are estimated to be between £17 million and £20 million. Land acquisition accounts for £5 million to £7 million of this amount. Options for efficiencies will be considered as the proposal develops.
Sugar Beet
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the effects of recent weather conditions on the viability of the sugar beet industry. [38607]
Mr Paice
[holding answer 7 February 2011]:The severe weather this winter has had an impact on the sugar beet campaign and we are expecting UK sugar production to be around 50,000 tonnes less than was forecast. This is due not just to the freezing conditions of December, but also to the rapid thaw which occurred in January. These conditions were extreme and should
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not impact on the long-term viability of the sugar beet industry in the UK, the prospects for which I believe remain strong.
I am aware that British Sugar and the NFU are working to ensure that losses to the industry are minimised and that they have agreed to examine together the lessons learned from the experiences of the current campaign.
Supermarkets: Competition
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable she has set to establish a groceries code adjudicator to monitor and enforce the groceries supply code of practice. [40834]
Mr Paice: The establishment of a groceries code adjudicator (GCA) will require primary legislation. The draft Bill to establish the GCA will be brought forward in the near future. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is leading on the Bill, with close co-operation from DEFRA.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account she has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development. [42607]
Richard Benyon: The refreshed Compact frames DEFRA’s approach to working with civil society in general. In respect of policy development specifically the Compact stresses transparency, and working with civil society at the earliest possible stages. DEFRA officials are actively engaging with civil society in policy development and my Department is applying this approach across all key policy areas.
Senior managers in DEFRA have received written briefing on the Compact and the importance of reflecting the letter and the spirit in their work. We are also embedding the Compact in DEFRA’s ‘policy cycle’ training guidance—the policy cycle is the framework used to guide policy development in DEFRA.
Uplands: Game
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of (a) the effectiveness of management of upland areas for game and (b) its contribution to local economies. [41870]
Mr Paice: Game management can be important for the management of land through the provision of cover for wildlife, and through the creation and management of habitats such as woodland, grouse moors, beetle banks and hedgerows. 96% of grouse moor sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) are now in favourable or recovering condition, an increase from 51% in 2006. This is a reflection of moorland managers’ awareness of the importance and sensitivity of upland biodiversity.
Game management can also be important for the rural economy. While no specific assessment has been made of the contribution of game management to upland areas, shooting contributes in the region of £1.6
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billion to the rural economy, and supports the equivalent of around 70,000 full-time jobs; much of this contribution will be in upland areas.
Water Meters
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether she has assessed the effects on each income decile of the population of the introduction of compulsory water metering; [38523]
(2) what her policy is on the introduction of compulsory water metering in England. [39278]
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage the use of water meters. [41790]
Richard Benyon: The Government will set out their policy on metering in the Water White Paper which is due to be published this summer taking into account household affordability of bills.
Wild Ducks: Pest Control
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences to cull ruddy ducks were issued in each of the last three years; and what estimate she has made of the number of ducks that were culled. [41713]
Richard Benyon: The programme to control ruddy ducks in the UK is delivered by a dedicated team from the Food and Environment Research Agency. In England, a licence for the culling of ruddy ducks was issued to the team by the licensing authority (Natural England) for each of the last three years (2008 to 2010) and a similar annual licence was issued by the Scottish Executive for the culling of birds in Scotland.
A licence for culling ruddy ducks in Wales was issued in 2008 and 2009 by the Welsh Assembly Government acting as the licensing authority in Wales. The 2009 license in Wales expired in autumn 2010 and has been replaced by a General Licence under which any future culling in Wales will take place. No ruddy duck shooting, as part of the DEFRA eradication programme, has taken place in Northern Ireland.
The total number of ruddy ducks confirmed shot in England, Scotland and Wales for each of the past three years is as follows:
|
|
Ruddy ducks |
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the ruddy duck cull. [41714]
Richard Benyon:
The programme to control ruddy ducks in the UK has been delivered by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) as part of an EU LIFE funded project. During the course of the
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programme, the project manager has made regular reports that provide information regarding the effectiveness of the eradication programme and which are available on the FERA website.
The reporting so far received indicates the ruddy duck population in the UK has been reduced from approximately 4,400 at the beginning of the programme in September 2005, to the most recent estimate of less than 120 birds. DEFRA considers therefore that the programme to date has been very effective.
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to continue the ruddy duck cull until the population is eradicated. [41715]
Richard Benyon: The eradication programme in the UK is currently being delivered by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) as part of an EU LIFE co-funded project. This project comes to an end in March 2011 but DEFRA remains committed to continuing the eradication programme through to completion. The Department is currently finalising options for how the eradication work will be delivered following the close of the EU LIFE funded project.
Defence
3M Health Care
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has awarded to 3M Health Care and its subsidiaries since 2007; and if he will make a statement. [43009]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence contracts database records no central award of contracts to 3M Health Care since 2007-08, although we have made a few purchases from the company under our low-value purchasing arrangements.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on decompression of employees who had served in Afghanistan in each year since 2002. [35522]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 21 January 2011]:This information is not held in the format requested. However, the costs incurred by British Forces Cyprus for personnel using Bloodhound Camp for decompression since 2005, when personnel first decompressed there when returning from Operation Telic in Iraq, are as follows:
|
|
Cost of decompression (£ million) |
| (1) Actual to date | |
The figures include the costs of infrastructure, IT, utilities, fuel and equipment support.
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Personnel who have been serving in both Afghanistan and Iraq have used Bloodhound Camp for decompression during this period, with the exception of financial year 2010-11. No personnel from Iraq decompressed in this period.
Costs associated with the airbridge and troops’ salaries have not been included as these are not directly attributable to decompression.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel (a) in total and (b) who have served in Afghanistan have been through decompression in each year since 2002. [35524]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 21 January 2011]:The figures requested are available for Cyprus from 2005 when personnel first undertook decompression there when returning from Operation Telic in Iraq.
|
|
Herrick | Telic | Total |
Air Force: Military Bases
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which RAF bases are designated as emergency landing sites for the US Space Shuttle; [41399]
(2) what agreement he has reached with the US Administration on emergency landings of the Space Shuttle; and what payment the US Administration is liable for under the agreement. [41462]
Nick Harvey: RAF Fairford is the only RAF base designated as an emergency landing site, also known as a launch abort site, for the US Space Shuttle.
RAF Fairford is made available to the United States Visiting Forces. There is no separate agreement relating to its designation as a launch abort site for the US Space Shuttle and no separate arrangements exist for payment in this respect.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2011, Official Report, column 455W, on military bases, if he will list the occasions on which hon. Members have received briefings from the civilian and service personnel responsible for his Department’s review of RAF bases. [41785]
Nick Harvey:
My right hon. and learned Friend visited the Ministry of Defence on 18 January 2011, to discuss the future of RAF Leuchars. I am not aware of any other briefings to individual hon. Members from the civilian or service personnel on the departmental review. Local matters I know have been the subject of discussion between the bases concerned and their constituency hon. Members, which is part of the normal relationship Heads of Establishment are encouraged to maintain with their local elected representatives. Ministers
28 Feb 2011 : Column 71W
have also addressed the review on numerous occasions in the House, in correspondence, and through responses to written questions, and remain available to discuss these important matters with hon. Members should they wish to.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2011, Official Report, column 25W, on Air Force: military bases, at which RAF bases work classified as redevelopment was scheduled in his Department's annual planning round in 2010. [42882]
Mr Robathan: The RAF bases at which work classified as redevelopment was scheduled in the Ministry of Defence's annual planning round in 2010 are:
RAF Benson;
RAF Boulmer;
RAF Brampton/Wyton/Henlow;
RAF Brize Norton;
RAF Conningsby;
RAF Cottesmore;
RAF Cosford;
RAF Cranwell;
RAF Fylingdales;
RAF Halton;
RAF High Wycombe;
RAF Honington;
RAF Kinloss;
RAF Leeming;
RAF Leuchars;
RAF Linton on Ouse;
RAF Lossiemouth;
RAF Lyneham;
RAF Marham;
RAF Northolt;
RAF Odiham;
RAF Shawbury;
RAF Spadeadam;
RAF St Mawgan;
RAF Valley;
RAF Waddington; and
RAF Wittering.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2011, Official Report, column 382W, on the Air Force: military bases, to whom the annual land cost is payable in each case it is incurred. [42886]
Mr Robathan: With the exception of the payment of £175,000 at RAF Lossiemouth for a ground lease for a combined medical centre to Primary Health Investment Properties, and payments at RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars to the Crown Estate, all other payments are to private landowners or businesses.
Air Force: Redundancies
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used to select the Royal Air Force trainee pilots to be made redundant. [42900]
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Dr Fox: No decisions have been taken regarding redundancy for RAF trainee pilots. A decision has been taken to remove up to 170 RAF student pilots from the flying training pipeline. The criteria being used to select those trainee pilots to be removed from flying training will be a combination of the service need, officer qualities, ground based pilot aptitude testing, and flying performance to date.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 815-22W, on armed forces: redundancies, what proportion of the trainee Royal Air Force pilots to be made redundant have completed (a) 0 to 10%, (b) 10 to 20%, (c) 20 to 30%, (d) 30 to 40%, (e) 40 to 50%, (f) 50 to 60%, (g) 60 to 70%, (h) 70 to 80%, (i) 80 to 90% and (j) more than 90% of the flying hours required to complete their training. [42901]
Dr Fox: The selection process for re-streaming trainee pilots is not due to finish until mid-March. However, it is evident that the information that would be required to answer this question is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people living in (a) Glasgow South West constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK are in receipt of a (i) war pension and (ii) payment from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. [41472]
Mr Robathan: The War Pension Scheme (WPS) provides no fault compensation to former service personnel and their dependants for illness, injury or death as a result of service from the start of the first world war in 1914 up until 5 April 2005.
As at 30 September 2010, 320 individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glasgow South West, 16,960 individuals in Scotland and 162,575 individuals in the UK were receiving a pension under the WPS.
The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) was introduced on 6 April 2005 to provide compensation to service personnel and their dependants for illness, injury or death as a result of service from this date.
As at 30 September 2010, no individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glasgow South West, 50 individuals in Scotland and 485 individuals in the UK were receiving either Guaranteed Income Payments (GIP) or Survivor’s Guaranteed Income Payments (SGIP) under the AFCS.
As at 30 September 2010, less than five individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glasgow South West, 440 individuals in Scotland and 6,980 individuals in the UK had received a lump sum payment to compensate for injury under the AFCS.
Notes:
1. Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP)—regular payment to a service person that provides a continuous income stream.
2. Survivor’s Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP)—regular payment to surviving dependant(s) that provides continuous financial support.
3. In accordance with DASA’s rounding policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest five and figures fewer than five have been suppressed.
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Blue Force
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence Police on Blue Force Property and Blue Force Services. [41814]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence Police are aware that the Blue Force property management company, based in Colchester, Essex, has ceased trading. They are considering whether a formal investigation is warranted. Ministers have not been involved.
Bomber Command: War Memorials
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of the lapse of the value added tax exemption for memorials on the proposed bomber command memorial; and if he will make a statement. [42045]
John Penrose: I have been asked to reply.
There are no VAT zero-rate or exemption reliefs for the construction of memorials, but the Memorials Grant Scheme exists to make grants equivalent to the VAT incurred by registered charities on eligible works to establish or maintain memorials. The scheme was slightly narrowed in scope from 4 January 2011, to exclude the value of VAT on professional fees, but was otherwise preserved and has not lapsed as the question implies. Accordingly, no representations about lapse have been made to HM Treasury.
Bowman Combat Radio System
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the Bowman programme; and what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that programme. [41784]
Peter Luff: Bowman has proved its worth on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is significantly more capable than predecessor systems, providing secure communications, increasingly capable situational awareness and battle management capability. Reports from theatre and from pre- and post-operational visits to units indicate that Bowman equipment has been well received and is highly effective.
The Ministry of Defence continues to upgrade the Bowman capability to reflect the advance of technology and the evolving needs of our people on operations. The current capability upgrade and obsolescence update will be used on operations in Afghanistan from spring 2011 and will be fully fielded by spring 2012.
Defence: Satellite Communications
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to increase the UK’s unilateral access to satellite imagery for defence purposes.[41420]
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Peter Luff: The current requirement for satellite imagery is met by a combination of commercial satellite imagery and interchange arrangements with allies. The Ministry of Defence currently has no plans for unilateral access to satellite imagery.
Departmental Pay
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to his Department was of staff on fixed-term (a) appointments and (b) contracts in (i) April 2010 and (ii) each subsequent month. [31561]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The total cost of employment of the Ministry of Defence's fixed-term appointees, including part-timers, has been as follows:
|
|
Total cost of employment (£ million) |
The figures include salary, taxable allowances paid with salary, performance awards (paid in August) and employer pension and national insurance costs.
Information on staff employed under contract from agencies is not currently held centrally, but we are currently improving its accessibility in the interests of transparency. The most significant numbers of fixed-term appointees are employed in engineering and science and in training and education.
The restrictions on external recruitment announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 May 2010 have constrained the employment of new fixed-term appointees and staff employed under contract from agencies, although we remain committed to the employment of apprentices to help grow the engineering skills we need for the future.
I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual salary was of people on fixed-term contracts in his Department in (a) April 2010 and (b) each subsequent month. [31562]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 20 December 2010]: The average annual salary of the Ministry of Defence's fixed-term appointees, including those working part time, has been as follows:
|
|
Average annual salary (£) |
28 Feb 2011 : Column 75W
The figures include gross salary, any taxable allowances payable and the payment, in August, of annual performance awards. The most significant numbers of fixed-term appointees are employed in engineering and science and in training and education.
I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has provided Barnett consequential funding to any of the devolved administrations in (a) 2010-11 to date and (b) each of the last three years. [41325]
Mr Robathan: Defence is reserved to Her Majesty’s Government for the benefit of the whole of the United Kingdom. There are not, and have never been, any Barnett consequentials to changes in the Defence budget.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010. [37369]
Mr Robathan: Since 6 May 2010, the Ministry of Defence has not revoked any regulatory measures. However, we are currently reviewing our secondary legislation in two areas. Firstly, regulations governing the Service Pensions Order (war pensions) and the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) are reviewed annually and updated where necessary. Additionally the AFCS will be re-made with amendments following the Review by Admiral the Lord Boyce. The statutory instrument giving effect to this will be laid on 28 February. Also being reviewed are existing Defence byelaws and other local instruments in relation to land occupied for Defence purposes.
Although regulations made by the MOD rarely impact on business, our reviews are being conducted with a view to rationalise the regulatory burden within these policy areas.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations his Department introduced between 19 November 2010 and 8 February 2011. [42082]
Mr Robathan:
Between 19 November 2010 and 8 February 2011, the Ministry of Defence made one new statutory instrument, namely the Armed Forces Redundancy Etc. Schemes 2010 (Amendment) Order 2010 (SI 2011/208). The order serves mainly to update the two redundancy compensation schemes for the regular armed forces, and formed part of our current review of
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the legislation governing the Service Pensions and Compensation Schemes. Additionally three new prerogative instruments were made on 15 December 2010 in which the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 1975) was updated for each of the services. The amendments covered matters such as providing that death benefits in respect of service personnel who die while holding acting rank are based upon that rank, regardless of how long the acting rank was held. AFPS 1975 is set out in an Order in Council for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, a Royal Warrant for the Army and a Queen's Order for the RAF.
One other Order-in-Council relating to Defence matters was also made during this period. This was the Visiting Forces (Designation) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2970), which added Algeria to the existing list of those countries deemed to be Visiting Forces under the terms of the Visiting Forces Act 1952. This was required following the conclusion of a defence co-operation accord between the United Kingdom and Algeria in October 2009.
Departmental Security
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of the reduction in size of his Department’s Police Divisional Support Groups on his Department’s ability to provide (a) security and (b) operational flexibility to its estate; whether any decisions have been taken on such reductions; and if he will make a statement. [41773]
Mr Robathan: A range of options for the Ministry of Defence’s future requirement for civil policing services is currently under consideration. No final decisions have yet been taken.
Ex-servicemen
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number and proportion of veterans resident in each region. [42116]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held.
Ex-servicemen: Prison Sentences
Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces veterans have served a prison sentence in a civilian prison in each of the last five years. [41837]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the joint statement I made with the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt) on 15 September 2010, Official Report, column 40WS, on the findings of a study by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) which estimated that 2,820 prisoners in prison in England and Wales had previously served in the armed forces. This equates to 3.5% of the prison population.
With regard to how many veterans have served a prison sentence in each of the last five years, this information is not held in the format requested.
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France: Military Alliances
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress he has made on bilateral defence co-operation with France; and if he will make a statement. [42795]
Dr Fox: We have taken a number of steps to implement the Defence and Security Co-operation treaty agreed with France on 2 November 2010.
There have been regular bilateral discussions including between Defence Ministers, the National Security Advisor, Chief of Defence Staff and Vice Chief of Defence Staff and their counterparts. We have discussed co-operation in the areas of operations, equipment and capabilities and have agreed a set of common objectives for this calendar year.
We will build on the existing close links between our armed forces in the coming months with a number of bilateral exercises with France aimed at increasing the levels of interoperability between our armed forces.
We have also made progress on the second treaty relating to collaboration on hydro-dynamics. The planned Teutates Technology Development Centre, to be built at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, and the Teutates Epure facility, to be built in Valduc, France, are now in the project concept phase. We expect they will be operational from 2015.
HMS Ark Royal
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any disposal arrangements for HMS Ark Royal have yet been made. [41503]
Peter Luff: No decisions have yet been made about the disposal arrangements for HMS Ark Royal. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces on 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 127W, to the hon. Member for Lewisham West and Penge (Jim Dowd).
Low Flying: Compensation
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many payments of compensation in respect of low flying have been made to recipients in (a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland in each of the last three years; and what the monetary value of each such payment was. [39950]
Nick Harvey: The number of payments of compensation (including legal costs) made in respect of military low flying aircraft to claimants in Wales, England and Scotland in each of the last three financial years is shown in the following table, together with the total amount of compensation paid. I will write to the hon. Member shortly giving details of the monetary value of each payment.
28 Feb 2011 : Column 78W
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | ||||
|
|
Number of claims | Amount paid (£) | Number of claims | Amount paid (£) | Number of claims | Amount paid (£) |
Substantive answer from Mr Robathan to Hywel Williams:
The Minister for the Armed Forces, Nick Harvey undertook to write to you in his reply to your question on 11 February 2011 (Official Report, columns 455-6W) about the number and value of compensation payments in regard to military low flying in Wales, England and Scotland in each of the last three years.
Please find attached lists containing the detailed monetary values of each payment. I should clarify that the amounts given cover not just compensation but, where appropriate, associated legal, veterinary and other expert costs.
| Claims expenditure in respect of low flying claims in Wales (including costs where appropriate) | |||
| £ | |||
| Financial year | |||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Claims expenditure in respect of low flying claims in England (including costs where appropriate) | |||
| Financial year | |||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
28 Feb 2011 : Column 79W
28 Feb 2011 : Column 80W
| Claims expenditure in respect of low flying claims in Scotland (including costs where appropriate) | |||
| £ | |||
| Financial year | |||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
Programmes of Engagement
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what formal engagement his Department and the armed forces have with their counterparts in (a) Egypt, (b) Bahrain and (c) Indonesia. [42193]
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Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence has programmes of engagement with Egypt, Bahrain and Indonesia that aim to enhance bilateral relationships and support the UK Government’s wider foreign policy goals. They consist of a wide range of activities including, but not limited to:
providing places on defence education and training courses in the UK (such as the Army, RAF and Navy junior officer training and the joint services advanced command and staff course);
the deployment of UK personnel in support of joint exercises and military advisory teams;
the deployment of short term training teams to deliver subject specific training in country;
advisory visits, defence staff talks and senior leadership engagement either in the UK or in country.
It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the details of individual programmes as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice relations between the UK and other states.
MRSA: Screening
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he is taking to allow the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's product BacLite, for screening against the MRSA bacterium, to be marketed in the UK; [43010]
(2) what assessment he has made of the merits of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's product BacLite for the detection of the MRSA bacterium; and if he will make a statement. [43011]
Peter Luff: Due to legal proceedings, I am limited in what I can say.
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) originally developed a technology for the rapid detection of bacteria, which was then made available to Acolyte under licence. Acolyte, with external venture capital, looked to exploit this technology for the detection of the MRSA bacterium in the civilian sector via the BacLite product. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made any assessment of the BacLite product with respect to its MRSA detection capability.
Following the liquidation of Acolyte in October 2009, the original intellectual property rights underpinning the failed BacLite product reverted to the ownership of Dstl. As the development of a product to detect MRSA is not part of the Department’s core business, we have no intention to resurrect the BacLite product for such purposes.
Nuclear Weapons
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which (a) locations and (b) facilities the planned deferral of £1 billion from future spending on infrastructure for the Trident replacement programme announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review will be made. [40532]
Dr Fox:
The £1 billion deferral of expenditure on infrastructure, including the Command and Control elements in the nuclear firing chain, refers principally to previously expected spend on facilities at HMNB Clyde
28 Feb 2011 : Column 82W
and HMNB Devonport. However, planning is not yet at the stage when more details could be provided.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department budgeted for the Trident replacement concept phase at its outset, including on submarine design, propulsion and the common missile compartment; and how much has been spent on that phase to date. [40541]
Dr Fox: The 2006 White Paper “The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent” (cmd 6994) gave a broad estimate of between £11 billion and £14 billion at 2006-07 prices for a four boat fleet.
The forecast cost and relevant approval dates of the elements of the concept phase are shown in the following table.
|
|
Date | Value (£ million) |
Figures in the table are given to the nearest million.
Of this forecast total, £687 million had been spent to the end of January 2011.
The Strategic Defence and Security Review identified a total of £1.2 billion of savings and £2 billion of deferrals within the nuclear programme over the next 10 years. These savings are attributable to submarine production, the nuclear warhead, supporting infrastructure and improved efficiency at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much his Department has allocated to spend on the Trident replacement programme in the assessment phase prior to main gate; [40544]
(2) what the projected cost to the public purse is of long-lead items for purchase ahead of the Trident replacement main gate decision. [40548]
Dr Fox: The programme to replace the Vanguard class has still to enter the assessment phase. The initial gate business case for the assessment phase of the programme is currently being reviewed. It is not possible to confirm the value of long-lead items or assessment phase provision before the assessment phase programme has been approved. Moreover, we do not routinely publish figures for anticipated project expenditure, as to do so would prejudice commercial interests.
RAF Welford
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse is of the security enhancement to the US base at RAF Welford; and from which budget such expenditure was drawn. [42434]
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Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 December 2010, Official Report, columns 225-26W.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unmanned aerial vehicles comply with the Rules of the Air (R307) in non-segregated airspace. [41892]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence does not operate unmanned aerial vehicles in non-segregated airspace.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what procedures are in place for aborting the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles in (a) UK non-segregated airspace, (b) UK segregated airspace and (c) UK Danger Areas; [41893]
(2) how many flights by an unmanned aerial vehicle have taken place in (a) UK non-segregated airspace, (b) UK segregated airspace and (c) UK Danger Areas in each of the last three years; [41894]
(3) which unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with (a) an approved Sense and Avoid capability and (b) a Secondary Surveillance Radar Mode S transponder; [41954]
(4) which types of unmanned aerial vehicles can fly in each classification of UK airspace; [41955]
(5) what procedures are in place to deal with loss of control of an unmanned aerial vehicle in (a) UK non-segregated airspace, (b) UK segregated airspace and (c) UK Danger Areas. [41956]
Peter Luff: Within the UK, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) procured by the Ministry of Defence operate only in segregated airspace, specifically restricted airspace (temporary), and in danger areas.
The pilots of MOD procured UAVs comply with the Military Aviation Authority's Military Aviation Regulatory Document Set. Should a flight be aborted, standard operating procedures applicable to each UAV type allow a safe recovery, either to an established airfield or to a pre-selected emergency recovery site. In the event of a loss of the control link between the ground station and the aircraft, a UAV will revert to a pre-programmed emergency flight plan and fly to an established airfield where operators will attempt to regain the control link or, failing that, continue to a pre-selected emergency recovery site where it will automatically land. The flight-paths of UAVs operating in UK segregated airspace and danger areas are designed to minimise or eliminate the overflight of populated areas, thus mitigating risk to third parties to the absolute minimum.
The following table provides details of MOD procured UAV flights in UK segregated (i.e. restricted) airspace and in danger areas, in each of the last three financial years.
| Financial year | ||||
| UAV | Type of airspace | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 (to date) |
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No MOD procured UAVs are equipped with an approved sense and avoid capability. The Watchkeeper UAV, which is not yet in-service, is fitted with a Secondary Surveillance Radar Mode S Transponder. No other MOD procured UAV has this capability.
USA: Military Bases
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for bearing the cost of each development on a US base in the UK. [42435]
Mr Robathan: The US forces use land and buildings in the UK in accordance with the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty—Agreement regarding the Status of Forces of Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty (UK ratification 13 May 1945) and the Cost Sharing Arrangement (CSA) (1973).
The US authorities are responsible for bearing the cost of any development, unless that development is a requirement of UK legislation or Ministry of Defence policy and there is no equivalent United States legal or policy requirement, in which case the costs fall to the Department.
Royal Navy Ships
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy ships are deployed on operations at sea; where each is deployed; and what the purpose is of each such deployment. [41877]
Nick Harvey: The Royal Navy ships deployed on operations, their mission and where they are deployed as at 16 February 2011 are as follows:
Maintenance of integrity and security of Iraqi Territorial Seas.
HMS Iron Duke
HMS Chiddingfold
HMS Grimsby
HMS Pembroke
HMS Middleton
RFA Lyme Bay
Replenishment of coalition units in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and North Indian Ocean.
RFA Bay leaf
Counter Piracy and counter smuggling operations within the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and North Indian Ocean.
HMS Cornwall
RFA Diligence
RFA Fort Victoria
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NATO Counter Piracy and counter smuggling operations within the Arabian sea, Gulf of Aden, and North Indian Ocean.
HMS Richmond
The Security of Gibraltar Territorial Seas.
HMS Sabre
HMS Scimitar
Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Maritime Group 1
A continuous maritime capability for mine-countermeasures integration within NATO Response Force (NRF) operations, non NRF operations and other activities in peacetime and periods of crisis and conflict.
HMS Brocklesby
Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North)
UK’s maritime contribution to the Caribbean and North Atlantic area. Protection of UK interests, humanitarian role in response to the natural disasters, especially hurricanes, which are prevalent in this region.
RFA Wave Ruler
Atlantic Patrol Tasking (South)
The standing naval commitment to the South Atlantic and West African regions. Provide a maritime presence to protect the British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and UK’s interests in the region.
HMS Gloucester
RFA Black Rover
Permanently stationed in the region, responsible for maintaining British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
HMS Clyde
Patrolling UK’s extended Fisheries Zone.
HMS Tyne
HMS Severn
HMS Mersey
Survey operations throughout the world using the latest techniques to provide information for Admiralty charts and nautical publications and in particular updating the charts covering the waters around the United Kingdom.
HMS Enterprise—Gulf
HMS Echo—Gulf
HMS Scott—Falklands/South Atlantic
Royal Navy Maritime Security units at readiness to react to any possible threat to the integrity of UK Territorial Seas and security of the UK.
HMS Westminster
HMS Campbeltown
HMS Portland
HMS Ramsey
HMS Hurworth
World War II: Military Decorations
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 661W, if he will bring forward proposals to award those who served in Bomber Command during the Second World War with a campaign medal; and if he will make a statement. [42957]
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Mr Robathan: The Coalition undertook in its programme for government to review the rules governing the award of medals for the armed forces. This review has considered campaigns by veterans and other interested parties for new awards, including the campaign to institute a medal for service in Bomber Command during world war two. The review recently reported its findings to Defence Ministers and is now with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for their consideration.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to respond to question (a) 36375 and (b) 36579, on defence equipment, tabled on 24 January for named day answer on 27 January. [42340]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 February 2011, Official Report, columns 917-18W.