Forensic Science
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forensic laboratories were in operation in the last period for which figures are available; and how many such laboratories were professionally accredited. [48157]
James Brokenshire: There are 41 fingerprint enhancement labs (FEL) in England and Wales, and there are currently two shared labs (Cleveland and Durham, and Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire). The Association of Chief Police Officers Forensic Science Portfolio Lead, chief constable Chris Sims, has set a requirement for all English and Welsh police FELs to be accredited to ISO 17025 by November 2015, in line with the mandatory EU framework decision. The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) is currently undertaking work with forces to support them in achieving this.
In addition to fingerprint analysis, which has traditionally been conducted by forces, a number of forces also have facilities for other forensic functions. Complete data on non FEL forensics activity in forces are not currently held centrally, but the NPIA will shortly be undertaking a survey of English and Welsh forces to establish their ISO 17025 implementation plans. The Metropolitan police service has a laboratory accredited to ISO 17025 for trace evidence recovery and is working towards accreditation to the same standard for the examination of firearms and ammunition. A number of forces, including Derbyshire, Cheshire, west midlands, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, are also working through the accreditation process for ISO 17025 for a range of forensics capabilities.
Human Trafficking: Northern Ireland
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) confirmed and (b) suspected cases of trafficking of children of each (i) gender and (ii) age group in or through each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [48599]
Damian Green: The National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which is the UK's Government-led, multi-agency framework to help identify and support victims, started operating on 1 April 2009. Comparable estimates are not available prior to this date.
Since 1 April 2009 eight children have been referred to the NRM by First Responders in Northern Ireland. The breakdown of NRM decisions is as follows:
28 Mar 2011 : Column 84W
| Outcome | |
|
|
Number |
“Missing” cases are where the child has either absconded or is missing prior to the trafficking decision being made.
“Withdrawn” cases are where the child exits the system prior to the trafficking decision being made for example where they leave the UK.
The gender and age groups of the eight children are as follows:
| Gender | |
|
|
Number |
| Age | |
|
|
Number |
We do not hold a breakdown of NRM referrals by parliamentary constituency.
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many national referral mechanism reports have been made on children in Northern Ireland; and how many people have been recognised as victims of trafficking as a result of such reports. [48600]
Damian Green: UK-wide national referral mechanism (NRM) statistical reports are published quarterly and can be found on the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) website at:
www.soca.gov.uk/about-soca/about-the-ukhtc/statistical-data
Since 1 April 2009 eight children have been referred to the NRM by First Responders in Northern Ireland. One child has been conclusively identified as a victim of trafficking for the purposes of the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings, four children have been found not to be victims of trafficking, in one case the child has gone missing, in another case the decision is pending and the remaining case was withdrawn.
Immigrants: Crimes against Humanity
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people identified as having been actively engaged in the activities at the Trawniki concentration camp in Poland between 1939 and 1944 and now reside in the UK are known to her Department. [49263]
Damian Green: For reasons of confidentiality, the Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.
28 Mar 2011 : Column 85W
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will use her powers under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981 to ensure early deprivation of British citizenship in cases where it is beyond reasonable doubt that individuals have previously engaged in crimes against humanity. [49264]
Damian Green: Wherever it is considered conducive to the public good to do so, or where it is in accord with the policy for depriving individuals of their British citizenship on the basis that the individuals obtained British citizenship as a result of fraud, false representation or concealment of material fact, action will be taken to remove the British citizenship of individuals who have engaged in crimes against humanity.
Immigration: Married People
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to extend the probationary period of settlement for spouses beyond two years. [49101]
Damian Green: The Government will be looking at the issue of the probationary period of settlement for spouses in the context of a wider consultation on family migration later this year. This will include proposals to tackle sham marriages and other abuse, promote integration and reduce burdens on the UK taxpayer.
Knives
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal knives each police force seized or otherwise received in each year since 2007. [49159]
James Brokenshire: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office.
Police: Forensic Science
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police force budgets on average was spent on obtaining forensic science services from external providers in each of the last three years; and whether she plans to issue guidance to police authorities on the proportion of police force budgets to be allocated to such services from external providers under the future system for procurement of forensic science services. [48849]
James Brokenshire: Information collected from forces by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) shows that police force forensic spend as a percentage of budget requirement was 1.24% and 1.20% for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively. The CIPFA data for 2007-08 do not provide figures for forensic spend.
National Police Improvement Agency advise that the CIPFA spend categorisation is likely to slightly under-report the total expenditure, and market analysis has suggested a higher percentage for 2009-10 equivalent to around 1.45%.
Decisions are still to be taken as to the future of police procurement of forensic science services; the Home Office is working closely with the Association of
28 Mar 2011 : Column 86W
Chief Police Officers and forces to ensure continuity of service to the CJS throughout the transition process.
UK Border Agency
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which Government Departments the UK Border Agency has a memorandum of understanding for the sharing of information. [49296]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has formal data sharing memorandums of understanding with the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Customs and Revenue and the Ministry of Defence.
Transport
Commission for Integrated Transport: Finance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the budget for Commission for Integrated Transport (a) was in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 and (b) will be for (A) 2011-12, (B) 2012-13, (C) 2013-14 and (D) 2014-15. [46653]
Norman Baker: The budget for the Commission for Integrated Transport (a) was:
(i) £994,000 in 2009-10; and,
(ii) £321,000 in 2010-11.
(b) There will be no budget for the Commission from 2011-12, due to its abolition announced on 14 October 2010.
Cycling England
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) costs will be incurred and (b) savings will be made from abolishing Cycling England in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15. [46484]
Norman Baker: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report , column 1099W, which answers her point as to the cost of abolishing Cycling England at the end of March 2011.
Regarding savings to be made, the costs of Cycling England as a body have been approximately £385,000 per annum, taking into account staff salaries, an honorarium for the chairman, travel and subsistence and the Cycling England press office/media support unit. Some of these costs (staffing and promotion activity) will be absorbed into Department for Transport running costs.
Financial reasons were not the primary factor in the decision to abolish Cycling England.
Departmental Assets
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of his Department for (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [47410]
Norman Baker:
The Department for Transport does not provide funding to the regional development agencies, and would not be due any receipts from the sale of their
28 Mar 2011 : Column 87W
assets. Therefore no receipts of this kind have been reflected in the Department's spending plans in any year.
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects his Department to meet the Government’s commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production. [43311]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport expects to meet the Government’s commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production as follows:
28 Mar 2011 : Column 88W
No other Department for Transport agencies have contracts for the procurement of food.
Departmental Manpower
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in the numbers of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15. [46489]
Norman Baker: Estimates for the change in full time equivalent staff numbers (FTEs) in the Department through to 2014-15 is as follows:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
|
|
Decrease by: | ||||
| Note: All numbers are estimates. | |||||
Estimates for the changes in numbers of staff FTEs in the Department’s non-departmental public bodies are as follows:
|
|
2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|
Staff numbers will be determined once reform plans have been agreed |
|||||
| Note: All numbers are estimates. | |||||
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on (a) salaries and (b) pension entitlements for special advisers in the financial year 2010-11 to date. [46570]
Norman Baker: There are two special advisers at the Department for Transport. The estimated pay bill for the period 12 May 2010 to 31 March 2011 is £4.9 million for all Government special advisers. This includes salaries and pension costs.
Details of the pension arrangements are set out in the model contract for special advisers.
Departmental Procurement
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than (a) £10 million, (b) £50 million and (c) £100 million (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible was engaged in the latest period for which figures are available. [45686]
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Norman Baker: The Department for Transport response is as follows:
| DFT(c) | ||
| Value | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) DFT(c) continued to engage on seven of these projects in 2010-11. (2) DFT(c) continued to engage on this project in 2010-11. (3) DFT(c) continued to engage on 6 of these projects in 2010-11. | ||
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DCLA)
The following is a record of the contracts the DVLA was engaged in during the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 financial years:
(a) £10 million plus—4 contracts
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(b) £50 million plus—4 contracts
(c) £100 million plus—3 contracts
This information is representative of both years, as the DVLA did not enter into any additional contracts during the 2010-11 financial year.
Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has not engaged upon any procurement projects with a monetary value greater than £10 million in 2009-10.
During 2010-11, DSA is facilitating the tender exercise for a total facilities management contract principally for DSA, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. The estimated value is £3 million per annum over a maximum of six years (£18 million in total).
Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA)
Nil
| Highways Agency (HA) | |||
| Awarded | |||
| Value (excluding VAT) | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | Currently in preparation |
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Nil
Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
Nil
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
Nil
(ii) Non-departmental public bodies
British Transport Police Authority
2010-11: (a)1 over £10 million
Nil
Nil
Nil
The Northern Lighthouse Board has not been engaged upon any procurement projects with a monetary value greater than (a) £10 million, (b) £50 million and (c) £100 million for the financial years 2009-10 or 2010-11.
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations his Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011. [47050]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport introduced four regulations which came into force between 9 and 28 February 2011 and these are listed in the following table.
28 Mar 2011 : Column 91W
28 Mar 2011 : Column 92W
Squatting
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many buildings on his Department's estate were occupied by squatters in each year between 2006 and 2010; and on how many occasions his Department sought interim possession orders to remove squatters from such buildings in each of those years. [47612]
Norman Baker: There were no reported instances of Department for Transport buildings being occupied by squatters in this period.
Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) costs will be incurred and (b) savings will be made from abolishing the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15. [46476]
Norman Baker: We will be taking forward a consultative process on successor arrangements in the coming months and as such it is not possible to determine likely costs or savings until successor arrangements have been finalised. For the purposes of the Cabinet Office-led process to assess the financial impacts of public bodies reform (the results of which were set out in the related written ministerial statement of 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 9-10WS), we assumed administrative savings of around one-third by 2014-15, against the 2010-11 baseline of £496,000, for the successor arrangements to the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC).
Financial reasons were not the primary factor in the decision to abolish DPTAC.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what residual functions will remain following the abolition of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; which organisations will carry out each such function; what the estimated costs of each such function are; and what transfer of funds will be made to each organisation to carry out each such function. [46477]
Norman Baker: No decision on successor arrangements has yet been taken. We will be taking forward a consultative process on successor arrangements in the coming months. It is not possible to determine likely costs or savings until successor arrangements have been finalised. For the purposes of the Cabinet Office-led process to assess the financial impacts of public bodies reform (the results of which were set out in the related written ministerial statement of 16 March 2001, Official Report, columns 9-10WS), we assumed administrative savings of around one-third by 2014-15, against the 2010-11 baseline of £496,000, for the successor arrangements to the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC).
Financial reasons were not the primary factor in the decision to abolish DPTAC.
Driving Instruction: Qualifications
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of introducing quotas for part 3 of the Approved Driving Instructors test. [49489]
Mike Penning: The Driving Standards Agency does not operate a quota system in relation to any of the tests it delivers—it would not be appropriate to do so. All candidates, including those seeking to qualify as an approved driving instructor, are successful or unsuccessful based upon their performance during the test against the set assessment criteria, which are publicly available.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct an investigation into the causes of recent trends in pass rates over the course of a year for part 3 of the Approved Driving Instructors test. [49490]
Mike Penning: We have no plans to conduct an investigation on this specific point—there has been no discernible trend in recent months.
The Driving Standards Agency, which is responsible for regulating professional driving instructors, has been holding discussions with interested parties about possible improvements to the initial approved driving instructors (ADI) qualification and standards maintenance arrangements for the occupation.
The following table sets out the national pass rate over the course of 2010.
| 2010 | Number of ADI part 3 tests | Pass rate for the ADI part 3 (Percentage) |
28 Mar 2011 : Column 93W
The annual national pass rate for the part 3, ADI test of instructional ability, in 2009-10 was 34%. The annual national pass rate for 2010-11 will be published in due course.
Driving Tests: Scotland
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which driving test centres in Scotland have been nominated for closure by the Driving Standards Agency. [41996]
Mike Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) estate is continually being reviewed to maximise the service provision while maintaining efficiency.
There are two driving test centres (DTC) in Scotland planned for closure during the rest of 2011. These are:
Kilmarnock
Saltcoats.
The testing provision at both DTCs will be absorbed by the new test centre at Irvine which is about eight miles from each.
The Agency is also being required to vacate Dumbarton DTC, as its Memorandum of Terms of Occupation was cancelled by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Testing will continue in the town from a new location, which has been identified and terms are currently being negotiated.
If closure of a test centre is required for any reason, such as in Dunbarton, the Agency will seek to ensure the continuation of test provision where appropriate.
Falmouth Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the re-instatement costs of closing the Falmouth Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre if it is not transformed into a sub-centre under the proposed operating model. [48059]
Mike Penning: The current proposals for the modernisation of HM Coastguard do not involve disposing of the building in Falmouth where the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre is located.
When the Maritime and Coastguard Agency disposes of properties which are Crown buildings on leased land it undertakes negotiations with the landowner about their requirements. Until any such discussions are concluded, the cost of re-instatement, if applicable, cannot be estimated.
Galileo System: Expenditure
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of providing funding to the Galileo project from its inception to its projected completion date. [41421]
28 Mar 2011 : Column 94W
Mrs Villiers: The Galileo programmes development stage took place between 2000 and 2007, and was funded through contributions by member states of the European Space Agency (ESA). The UK’s contribution to the approximately €1.5 billion (£1.29 billion at February 2011 prices) budget funded this way was €240.3 million (£206.2 million).
In 2007, member states and the European Commission agreed a budget of €3.4 billion (£2.93 billion) of EU funds to complete the programme. As a rough indication, the UK’s pre-abatement contribution to the 2010 EU budget is currently estimated at 14%.
On 18 January 2011, the Commission published its mid-term review of the Galileo programme, which stated that the programme could not be completed within the €3.4 billion budget.
The Commission estimate that completing the programme as it was originally envisaged would require a further €1.9 billion (£1.64 billion) in the next financial perspective. The mid-term review is not a formal legal proposal for this funding.
The UK believes that rather than increasing the budget, the Commission should look at ways of reducing the scope of the programme to a level that can be achieved within the current budget.
The Commission is currently undertaking a cost analysis of the system which will investigate the options for reducing costs on the system. A formal proposal for further funding to complete Galileo will not be made before the cost analysis is complete. It is not possible to estimate the final cost of completing the system until a formal proposal is made.
The mid term review also indicated that the operational costs of the full system would be €800 million (£668.7 million) per annum. The operational costs will need to be met from 2014, but these are expected to be less than €800 million estimate to reflect the size of the constellation available at that time.
UK companies have been successful in competing for contracts to build parts of the Galileo system. Since the programme’s inception, contracts worth at least €556 million (£478.7 million) have been won by UK companies. This figure is expected to rise as the full Galileo budget is yet to be committed.
Great Western Railway
Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on the time taken to make stops at intermediary stations on the Great Western Main Line of the introduction of the Intercity Express Programme fleet. [48189]
Mrs Villiers: Because of the superior acceleration of Intercity Express trains, along with the fitment of fast-operating automatic doors, the time taken to insert a station call will fall from around six minutes to four minutes, by comparison with a non-stop train. The exact acceleration depends on the prevailing line speed and typical passenger demand at any specific station.
28 Mar 2011 : Column 95W
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the net number of jobs that will created by the High Speed 2 project; over what time period such jobs will be created; and where such jobs will be located. [48374]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 22 March 2011]: Information on the numbers, locations and timing of jobs supported by the initial London to west midlands phase of the Government's proposed high speed rail network have been published as part of the current consultation on high speed rail. In particular I refer the hon. Member to the main consultation document and to Appendix 3 to the Appraisal of Sustainability, available at:
http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/library/documents/consultation-document
http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/library/documents/appraisal-sustainability
Large Goods Vehicles: Accidents
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured as a result of an accident involving a foreign registered heavy goods vehicle in each of the last five years; and in how many such accidents a blind spot in the off-side mirror of the vehicle was found to be a causal factor. [47749]
Mike Penning [holding answer 18 March 2011]:The number of reported casualties in accidents involving foreign registered heavy goods vehicles in each of last five years for which data are available is given in the following table:
| Reported casualties in accidents involving foreign registered heavy goods vehicles: GB 2005 to 2009 | ||
| Casualties | ||
|
|
Killed | Injured |
It is not possible to identify accidents where a blind spot in the off-side mirror of the vehicle was found to be a causal factor.
However, the number of accidents involving foreign registered heavy goods vehicles where the contributory factor “vehicle blind spot” was assigned to the foreign HGV by police officer attending the scene of the accident is given in the following table:
| Reported accidents (1) involving a foreign heavy goods vehicles where contributory factor “vehicle blind spot” was assigned to the foreign HGV : GB 2005 to 2009 | ||
| Accidents | ||
|
|
Fatal | Injury |
| (1 )1ncludes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported. | ||
28 Mar 2011 : Column 96W
Data for 2010 will be published in summer 2011.
London Midland: Finance
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what budget headings the subsidy for London Midland train operating company was spent in the latest period for which figures are available. [48268]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 24 March 2011]:The budget for London Midland is part of programme spend under departmental expenditure limits (DEL).
The specific heading is titled Support for Passenger Rail Service (SPRS) and includes network grant paid through the train operating companies (TOCs)
TOC periodic subsidy payments are not published as some elements are paid on account to reflect estimated value of work/services discharged to date.
Annual spend is published after year end and all outstanding issues concluded to ensure accurate values are provided to the public.
London Midland: Tickets
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has had discussions with London Midland on its plans to close ticket offices. [48266]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 24 March 2011]: No specific discussions have occurred with London Midland about the plans to close ticket offices.
London Midland has served notice to stakeholders, including the Department of Transport, on the proposed changes to ticket office hours.
London Transport: Finance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to reduce the London transport grant revenue budget; how much each action he plans to take will save; and how much will be saved by each such action in each financial year of the comprehensive spending review period; [46334]
(2) what steps he is taking to reduce the general Transport for London revenue budget; how much each action he plans to take will save; and how much will be saved by each such action in each financial year of the comprehensive spending review period; [46335]
(3) how much funding he has allocated to the capital budget for London transport grants in 2014-15; [46646]
(4) what steps he is taking to reduce the London transport grants capital budget; how much each action he plans to take will save; and how much will be saved by each such action in each financial year of the comprehensive spending review period. [46647]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport has published details of the amount of revenue and capital grant the Government intend to pay Transport for London over the period 2011-12 to 2014-15 in his letter to the Mayor of London dated 20 October 2010. This letter is available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/letters/tflfunding/pdf/sosletter.pdf
28 Mar 2011 : Column 97W
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the vehicle excise duty collection and enforcement revenue budget; how much each action he plans to take will save; and how much will be saved by each such action in each financial year of the comprehensive spending review period. [46651]
Mike Penning: The core Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) proposals over the comprehensive spending review period revolve around restructuring of services: further channel shift to e-transactions; policy changes; streamlining and automating transaction handling; and incentivising suppliers to achieve procurement savings.
The final make up of the proposals is still being discussed but we envisage that they will provide £100 million savings annually by the end of 2014-15 compared to the 2010-11 baseline.
As part of these savings, the planned vehicle excise duty collection and enforcement revenue budget will increase by £1.1 million in 2011-12 and then reduce by £5 million in 2012-13, by £4.2 million in 2013-14 and by £8.2 million in 2014-15.
DVLA continues to look at further savings which could be achieved while maintaining the current, very high compliance rate of 99.1% of VED collected. Each further action proposed will be evaluated against the risk of greater VED evasion.
Motor Vehicles: Licensing
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to ensure that vehicles entering the UK comply with the legal requirement to register with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency within six months. [45976]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport operates a strategy of education, warning and then direct enforcement action to help tackle non-compliant unlicensed foreign vehicles. This approach includes presentations to community leaders, articles in the media, the issue of information leaflets and warning notices placed on vehicles’ windscreens. If there is evidence that a foreign vehicle is in breach of the rules, it can be clamped and impounded.
Network Rail: Electrification
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment (a) his Department and (b) Network Rail undertakes of the local economic benefits of rail electrification projects. [48107]
Mrs Villiers: The assessment made by the Department for Transport and Network Rail is done in accordance with the standards laid down by Treasury guidance in “The Green Book—Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government”.
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department received from Network Rail on electrification of the Ebbw Valley Line. [48109]
28 Mar 2011 : Column 98W
Mrs Villiers: The Network Route Utilisation Strategy on Electrification, published by Network Rail in October 2009, advises the Department on the strategy for electrification of the railway. The Ebbw Valley Line was considered in this context.
Olympic Games 2012: Transport
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of traffic orders needed to assist in regulating traffic to implement the Olympic Transport Plan in each London borough; and if he will make a statement. [48527]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 23 March 2011]: Transport for London is leading on delivery of transport operations in the capital during the 2012 Games. It is working closely with borough local traffic authorities and other stakeholders on the development and implementation through traffic regulation orders of a co-ordinated programme of temporary measures to meet the needs of those working, competing at and attending events during this period, while keeping London moving. Informal consultation with local businesses and residents on the detail of those measures, including public exhibitions, began in February.
Ports
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the rate of return on the Government's capital in each trust port. [48066]
Mike Penning: Each trust port in England and Wales is an independent statutory body controlled by its own board. The Government do not own any trust port nor does it hold capital in any trust port.
Railways: Advertising
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of (a) potential opportunities for income generation from advertising on passenger rail services and (b) mechanisms available under franchises to enable income from such advertising to be used to reduce rail fares charged by train operating companies. [46321]
Mrs Villiers: Advertising revenue, like other revenues, is reflected in the premium or subsidy that franchisees bid and pay to Government. The Government place significant controls on the level of fares that are charged for a large proportion of journeys through fares regulation, including most commuter journeys. Other fares are set at the commercial level by the train operator. There are no plans to change this regulatory approach by introducing a direct or indirect link to advertising revenue.
Railways: Birmingham
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is considering proposals for the connection of Birmingham, Curzon Street station with (a) Birmingham, New Street, (b) Birmingham, Snow Hill and (c) Birmingham, Moor Hill station by passenger rail services. [43440]
28 Mar 2011 : Column 99W
Mrs Villiers: The proposed re-use of Birmingham Curzon street station is currently included in the High Speed 2 public consultation. Any decisions about future services connecting Curzon street to other Birmingham stations will be for Birmingham city council and Centra and will be made at an appropriate point after the consultation has closed and when service plans are more advanced.
Railways: Construction
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to his Department's estimate of the cost of High Speed 2 over a 60 year period, what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of High Speed 2 over that period. [47121]
Mr Philip Hammond: HS2 Ltd's assessment of the costs to Government of the proposed Y-shaped high speed rail network, as well as of the initial London-West Midlands phase, are set out in the “Economic Case for HS2”, available on the HS2 consultation website at:
http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/library/documents/economic-case
In both cases, this assessment shows that annual operating costs would be more than offset by estimated revenues.
A broad estimate of the profile of expenditure during the construction period for an initial London-West Midlands high speed line was provided in HS2 Ltd's original report to Government, “High Speed Rail: London to the West Midlands and Beyond”, which can be accessed at:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/hs2report/
Railways: Franchises
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid to the London Midland franchise in subsidy in each year since 2007; and what premium payment his Department received in each such year. [48239]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport (DfT) published the payment profile for London Midland Railway at the time of awarding the west midlands franchise towards the end of 2007. This profile can be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/wm/wmfranchise
DfT provides a supplemental input of subsidy payment and premium received from train operating companies (TOCs) to the ‘National Rail Trends Yearbook’, published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). The information requested is contained in ‘Table 6.2c: Subsidy per passenger kilometre by TOC’ and is available on the ORR website at:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.2026
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt_ch6_miscella_tables.pdf
28 Mar 2011 : Column 100W
Railways: Safety
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanism his Department has put in place to ensure passenger safety at unstaffed train stations. [48265]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 24 March 2011]: It is the responsibility of relevant rail industry duty holders to ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, that an appropriate level of passenger safety is maintained at stations. The Office of Rail Regulation, as the independent health and safety regulator of Britain's railways, monitors compliance with those responsibilities.
A wide range of best practice industry measures for dealing with passenger safety is available, such as the use of closed circuit television cameras. There is also a high level of industry participation in the Secure Stations Scheme, which encourages duty holder use of safety measures such as help points and improved lighting at stations.
Rescue Services
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has assessed potential trends in the impact rate of systemic risks under the future operating model for HM Coastguard; and what plans his Department has to mitigate any increased impact from the systemic risks of mission failure caused by (a) inadequate monitoring and (b) delayed or missed intervention resulting from (i) insufficient staff, (ii) insufficient qualified personnel and (iii) skills fade. [48060]
Mike Penning: On 11 February 2011 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency published a suite of documents concerning the assessment of risk in respect of the proposals to modernise HM Coastguard. These documents are available on the MCA website:
www.mcga.gov.uk
The documents provide a broad outline of the systemic risks and impacts presented by the existing coastguard structure and how those are controlled or mitigated by the modernisation proposals.
These documents include assessments of the impact from the systemic risks of mission failure caused by inadequate monitoring and delayed or missed intervention resulting from insufficient staff, insufficient qualified personnel and skills fade.
The continual monitoring and assessment of risk will be an integral part of the future operating model of HM Coastguard.
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with (a) trade unions and (b) HM Coastguard staff on the consultation on proposals for modernisation of HM Coastguard. [49699]
Mike Penning: I have visited a number of coastguard maritime rescue co-ordination centres across the country to discuss the proposals for the modernisation of the service with staff. A number of staff trade union representatives have been present at meetings during these visits.
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Rescue Services: Fife Ness
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to visit Fife Ness coastguard station. [49700]
Mike Penning: It will not be possible for me to visit every maritime rescue co-ordination centre during the consultation period but I have been to a number around the country to ensure that I hear a wide cross-section of views from the staff on the proposals on the modernisation of the HM Coastguard.
Rescue Services: Swansea
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many calls Swansea coastguard station received during hours of (a) daylight and (b) darkness in each month of 2010. [48177]
Mike Penning: It is not possible to provide data in respect of emergency 999 calls and radio calls in the format requested as the data cannot be easily related to the times of sunrise and sunset by season. However the Maritime and Coastguard Agency can confirm that the number of events (all entries in Command and Control system, excluding training, exercises and faults) Swansea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received during 2010 is as follows:
| Swansea 2010 | |||
|
|
Events between 09.00 and 19.00 | Events between 19.00 and 09.00 | Total |
Shipping: Oil
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the principal causes of unintentional deposits of oil into the sea by oil tankers in (a) UK and (b) East Anglian coastal waters. [49210]
Mike Penning: The Government monitor national trends in accidental oil pollution from ships including tankers through the annual report of the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) report. This report incorporates information on the cause of each incident where known and allocates incidents to broad geographic areas. The reports are available on the following website:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/emergencyresponse/mcga-pollutionresponse/mcga-dops_cp_environmental-counter-pollution.htm
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and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Speed Limits: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2011, Official Report, column 59W, on transport: Scotland, whether the implications of the provisions of the Scotland Bill for road speed limits were discussed during discussions with the Minister for Transport in the Scottish Government on road safety. [42040]
Work-based Stress
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are in place in his Department to (a) reduce levels of work-based stress and (b) provide assistance to staff diagnosed with such stress. [48195]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport (DfT) is committed to taking reasonable and practical steps to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of its employees, including reducing the risk of stress occurring in the workplace.
We are proactive in our approach and have a range of arrangements in place.
In all cases where the Department has been informed that work-related stress is a reason for an absence, managers must arrange medical advice through the Occupational Health Advisor, to assist recovery. DfT also provides various sources of confidential help and support through a confidential Employee Assistance Programme.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department provided to each charity it funds in each of the last five years; and how much he has allocated for funding to each such charity in each of the next five years. [48283]
Norman Baker: The Department's general ledger does not identify whether bodies that receive funds from the Department hold charitable status. This question could therefore be answered only at disproportionate cost.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Religious Freedom
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on levels of respect for religious freedom in Afghanistan. [45326]
Mr Hague:
Our embassy in Kabul regularly reports back on developments regarding respect for religious freedom. Freedom of religion suffered setbacks in 2010, with Afghan parliamentarians' public calls for the execution of Christian converts and the subsequent imprisonment of several Afghans on charges of converting to Christianity.
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The most recent reports have focused on the case of Mr Said Musa, one of the Christian converts who had been arrested but has since been released.
We monitor reports carefully and, together with our international partners, continue to remind the Afghan Government of their duty to abide by Afghanistan's national and international commitments on freedom of religion and belief.
Bahrain: Aviation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of British nationals who have left Bahrain since the start of recent political developments on flights organised by other Governments. [48933]
Alistair Burt: No British nationals left Bahrain on flights organised by other Governments.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs his Department has incurred in chartering aircraft to Bahrain following recent political events. [48938]
Alistair Burt: The Department incurred £175,764 in costs for chartering aircraft to Bahrain, not including passenger taxes, catering and additional war risk insurance, for which the Department is still awaiting the final cost.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals have used flights organised by his Department from Bahrain in 2011. [48955]
Alistair Burt: 16 British nationals and two EU dual nationals used the flights chartered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department’s policy is on charging (a) British and (b) non-British nationals who used recent flights chartered by his Department from Bahrain. [48964]
Alistair Burt: The flights chartered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were supplementary flights to support the commercial flight capacity provided by airlines. This was not an evacuation. Our policy remains to recover costs from all those who were supported in this way.
BBC World Service
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence (a) he received and (b) the BBC World Service has received on proposals to close the BBC Hindi radio service. [47789]
Mr Hague:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has replied to a number of items of correspondence about the proposed cessation of the BBC Hindi short-wave
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service. It is not normal practice to publish letters from members of the public or other organisations without their permission.
We do not have copies of any correspondence that the BBC World Service may have received about this topic.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Human Rights
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the human rights of individuals in that country. [49232]
Mr Bellingham: I met the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Foreign Minister three times in the second half of 2010. On each occasion I raised our concerns about the human rights situation and stressed the responsibility of the Government of the DRC to protect civilians and bring human rights abusers to justice.
Our ambassador to the DRC recently met Government figures including the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and stressed the need for the Government to protect freedom of expression for the Opposition, civil society, and journalists.
Departmental Plants
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since his appointment. [48422]
Alistair Burt: Since 11 May 2010 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has spent £2,720 on additional indoor and outdoor plants and trees in the UK, purchased via the Facilities Management contract with Interserve FM. These plants are for public areas and once in situ are maintained and replaced at no additional cost to the FCO.
Maintaining existing indoor and outdoor plants and trees in the FCO in the UK is covered by the Grounds Maintenance element of the Facilities Management contract with Interserve FM. To disaggregate this data and to provide information for the FCO's overseas network would incur disproportionate cost.
In addition, £3,795 was spent on plants and plant stands for high profile international events at Lancaster House.
Egypt: Aviation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many seats were (a) available and (b) occupied on each of the flights recently chartered by his Department for passenger transport from Bahrain. [48917]
Alistair Burt: Of the 409 seats offered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on chartered flights, 18 were occupied.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals have used flights organised by his Department from Egypt. [48952]
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Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to my response to him of 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 713W.
Egypt: Elections
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the likely timing of elections in Egypt. [45321]
Mr Hague: The Government welcome the Egyptian interim Government’s commitment to safeguard the legitimate demands of the Egyptian people and oversee a transition to democracy by holding free and fair elections. However, we understand that the Egyptian authorities have not yet determined the sequence and timing of the presidential and parliamentary elections. We continue to stress to the authorities the importance of a fully inclusive process leading to credible elections, and of holding parliamentary elections after presidential ones.
Iran: Detainees
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the conditions of those detained in Iran following the demonstrations in that country in early March 2011; and if he will make a statement. [49099]
Alistair Burt: There are worryingly few details available about those detained following demonstrations in Iran over the past weeks. The Iranian authorities have stated that they do not consider themselves obliged to give any details of those arrested or detained, which adds to existing and serious concerns about the integrity of the Iranian legal system. The situation regarding Mr Karroubi and Mr Mousavi is a case in point. I am also deeply disturbed at reports that those arrested are being forced to sign declarations stating that they will not protest again as a precondition to being released. We reiterate our call to the Iranian authorities to release immediately and unconditionally all those detained for exercising their right to peaceful protest.
Iraq
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had (a) with the US administration and (b) at international fora on conditions at Camp Ashraf. [49098]
Alistair Burt: Our embassy officials continue to discuss the situation at the Camp with the EU, US, UN and the Iraqi Government’s Ashraf Committee. Our Deputy Head of Mission recently raised the issue of Camp Ashraf with the Iraqi Human Rights Minister. We receive regular updates from the UN who visit the camp weekly and are in telephone contact with representatives of camp residents. Ultimately Camp Ashraf is in a sovereign Iraq and responsibility for the residents lies with the Iraqi Government. We will continue to encourage the Iraqi Government to treat the residents in line with international humanitarian standards and raise concerns where appropriate.
28 Mar 2011 : Column 106W
Japan: Aviation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many seats were (a) available and (b) occupied on each of the flights on aircraft recently chartered by his Department for passenger transport from Egypt. [48916]
Alistair Burt: There were approximately 220 seats available on each of the two Government-funded charter flights. On the first flight, there were 161 passengers and on the second, there were 76 passengers.
Libya: Aviation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals have used flights organised by his Department from Libya in 2011. [48954]
Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to my response of 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 67W.
Libya: British Nationals Abroad
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to assist spouses of UK nationals seeking to leave Libya who have not yet received entry clearance to enter the UK. [48021]
Alistair Burt [holding answer 22 March 2011]:If any British national seeking to leave Libya as the result of this current crisis is travelling with a spouse or dependent children, and can prove their relationship, then the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will offer the same level of consular assistance as given to the British national. Where dependents of British citizens are receiving FCO consular assistance, the UK Border Agency will fast track entry clearance applications. Each case will be treated on its merits and on a case by case basis.
Libya: Mustard Gas
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the amount of mustard gas held in Libya; and if he will make a statement. [R] [48573]
Alistair Burt: The Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) gave a briefing to states’ parties on 10 March 2011. They confirmed that over half of Libya’s declared stockpile of 24 tonnes of sulphur mustard had been destroyed under verification by the OPCW’s Technical Secretariat. Libya’s remaining 11 tonnes of sulphur mustard is not weaponised and is awaiting destruction.
Libya: Politics and Government
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice on the situation in Libya his Department has provided to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the last 12 months. [45379]
28 Mar 2011 : Column 107W
Mr Hague: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) works closely with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), a joint FCO/ BIS department, to support UK trade around the globe and provide advice on all export licensing decisions. UKTI staff in London and our embassy staff in Libya gave detailed briefings and advice to visiting businessmen and trade mission participants up until February 2011 to keep them informed of political and economic developments and business opportunities in Libya. In the light of the rapidly changing events in Libya, the Government took the decision to revoke all export licences for equipment that could be used in internal repression and will refuse all future applications for military and security related goods and technology for the Gaddafi regime. This policy has now been reinforced by the UN and EU arms embargo.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to support rebel forces in Libya. [46414]
Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials are in close touch with the Interim Transitional National Council (ITNC) based in Benghazi and other anti-regime figures. This engagement has been vital in gaining a better understanding of the political, military and humanitarian situation in the country, in order to underpin our response to the crisis. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs spoke by telephone to Mahmoud Jabril, Special Envoy of the Interim Transitional National Council, most recently on 22 March 2011, to discuss the situation on the ground and to invite him to visit London. We are calling on all those, including the ITNC, who believe that Colonel Gaddafi has lost legitimacy and led the people of Libya into an impasse, to begin to organise a transition process.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work the Government has conducted through the Commonwealth to relieve the humanitarian situation on the borders of Libya. [47761]
Mr Hague: The UK has worked closely with Commonwealth partners to relieve the humanitarian crisis taking place in Libya.
We are funding the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to co-ordinate repatriation flights from the Libyan border. We repatriated at least 521 Bangladeshis from the border with Tunisia as part of our efforts to prevent a logistical emergency becoming a humanitarian crisis. The IOM has been in close contact with the Government of Bangladesh, to ensure an appropriate reception for its citizens returning home on UK funded flights. In total, the UK has funded the repatriation of 12,000 people from the borders of Libya. We expect this to have included a number of Commonwealth citizens from sub-Saharan Africa.
We are in close contact with interested Commonwealth partners, regarding the situation in Libya and its borders.
Mr Douglas Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with charter flight brokers on
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arrangements for the evacuation of UK citizens from Libya on
(a)
20 February 2011 and
(b)
21 February 2011. [48336]
Mr Hague: On 19 February 2011 our embassy in Tripoli had arranged for a domestic charter flight to fly British nationals from Benghazi to Tripoli on 20 February 2011. This plane was at the airport in Benghazi on 20 February 2011 but was unable to fly due to the closure of airspace. On 21 February 2011 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office considered a range of evacuation options from Libya and were in contact with flight brokers about possible charter flights from Tripoli on 22 February 2011.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 19 January and 18 February 2011 on his constituent Mr R. Mackey. [49356]
Mr Lidington: The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton Deane (Mr Browne), replied to my hon. Friend on 24 March 2011.
Pakistan: Blasphemy
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had recent discussions with the Government of Pakistan on the blasphemy laws in that country. [49497]
Alistair Burt: I raised the blasphemy laws with Pakistan’s former Minister for Minorities Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti in January this year. My noble Friend the Lady Warsi also raised these issues with the Speaker of the Pakistan Parliament on 17 January 2011. Following Mr Bhatti’s murder, the Prime Minister wrote to express his condolences to President Zardari. I made a statement condemning his killing, alongside the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Lady Warsi. We will continue to engage with the authorities in Pakistan on this issue.
Sri Lanka: Diplomatic Relations
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will put in place diplomatic measures to improve bi-lateral relations with Sri Lanka. [49237]
Alistair Burt: We regularly engage with the Sri Lankans on a range of issues including migration, trade, human rights and political reform and reconciliation.
I visited Sri Lanka in February this year and met a number of senior Government Ministers, business leaders, opposition politicians and civil society groups.
We will continue to work with the Sri Lankan Government on the shared objective of lasting peace and prosperity including by addressing the legacy of the conflict. As I have previously set out to the House, we continue to have concerns about the human rights situation and media freedom.
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Swaziland: Politics and Government
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking with his Commonwealth counterparts to increase progress towards democracy in Swaziland. [49441]
Mr Bellingham: I refer the hon. Member to my response to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Stephen Twigg) on 21 March 2011, Official Report, column 826W.
Tunisia: Aviation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many seats were (a) available and (b) occupied on each of the flights on aircraft recently chartered by his Department for passenger transport from Tunisia; [48919]
(2) what his Department’s policy is on charging (a) British and (b) non-British nationals who used recent flights chartered by his Department from Tunisia. [48962]
Alistair Burt: No flights were chartered for consular crisis reasons by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from Tunisia in 2011.
UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to include human rights monitoring in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara's mandate when it is renewed in April. [49219]
Alistair Burt: The UK fully supports UN-led efforts to reach a mutually acceptable and long-lasting political solution which provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Before finalising our negotiating position, we will consider carefully the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General's report on Western Sahara, which is due to be presented to the Security Council shortly.
The Government continue to believe that transparency in the field of human rights is vital to building confidence between the parties. I personally raised the issue of Western Sahara during my visit to Morocco last December and stressed to the Moroccan authorities the benefits of considering a human rights monitoring presence on the ground. I also raised this matter with my Algerian counterpart when I visited Algiers in November 2010.
USA: Foreign Relations
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he has spoken directly with the US Secretary of State since his appointment. [48270]
Mr Hague: Since my appointment, I have held frequent telephone conversations with the US Secretary of State on matters of international importance, and made two bilateral visits to the United States.
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Additionally, I have attended numerous bilateral and multilateral meetings and conferences, at which the US Secretary of State was present.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will amend his Department’s guidance on the wearing of the NATO/International Security Assistance Force medal for operational service in Afghanistan by service personnel who have been awarded the Operational Service Medal for service in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [47525]
Nick Harvey: A review of the rules governing the award of medals has considered the principles underpinning the award of medals. In doing so, appropriate consideration has been given to the ‘double medal’ rule and the principles regarding the award of foreign medals, including the NATO ISAF medal.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Mr Robathan) on 3 March 2011, Official Report, column 562W, to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr Brine). The review recently reported its findings to Defence Ministers; the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minster will now evaluate these proposals before any final conclusions are reached.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of armed forces personnel to be stationed in Afghanistan in each year to 2015. [48829]
Nick Harvey: The rate at which UK armed forces draw down between now and 2015 will be based on conditions on the ground and the changing role of International Security Assistance Force as the transition process proceeds.
As yet, it is too early to estimate exactly what the size of the UK force will be for each year to 2015.
Armed Forces: Absent without Leave
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (1) armed forces personnel were subject to detention or incarceration for going absent without leave in 2010; and how many were under the age of 18 at the time of the offence; [45481]
(2) (a) trained strength and (b) in training armed forces personnel went absent without leave in 2010; and how many were under the age of 18. [45482]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 17 March 2011]: The records of the Military Corrective Training Centre show that in 2010 there were 742 detainees who were subject to detention for absent without leave (AWOL) offences. A number of these individuals may have been charged with further offences other than AWOL.
Records indicate that 10 of these detainees were under 18 at the time of the offence. However, central records do not differentiate between trained and untrained personnel recorded as AWOL, for all three services.
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Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel aged under 18 years were serving a sentence in the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester for having gone absent without leave in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many personnel aged under 18 years have been found guilty by court martial in the last two years for having gone absent without leave. [46615]
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces aged under 18 years were detained in the Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester, for being absent without leave in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and if he will make a statement. [41588]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 14 March 2011]: The number of service personnel detained at the Military Corrective Training Centre for being absent without leave (AWOL) who were under 18 at the time of their detention, is as follows:
| Under 18s detained | |
Our records indicate that no individuals under the age of 18 were convicted at court martial for AWOL offences for the past two years.
Armed Forces: Conditions of Employment
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice he has received on the definition in law of the term covenant. [48981]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence’s legal team is fully engaged in the development of the Armed Forces Covenant.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department made to preparing the announcement made by the Prime Minister on 25 June 2010 that the Government would write into law a new military covenant. [49000]
Nick Harvey: In line with standard departmental procedures the Prime Minister is regularly briefed on matters of Defence including the Armed Forces Covenant.
Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to amend the practice of administering a secondary punishment to military personnel who come into contact with civilian judicial authorities. [47524]
Nick Harvey: No. Although service personnel cannot be prosecuted for the same offence in both military and civil courts, the armed forces reserve the right to award administrative sanctions.
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Armed Forces: Manpower
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have been issued with notifications of termination of contract in the last 12 months. [43406]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 2 March 2011]: The Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force have differing conditions of service that permit their personnel to apply to extend their service at certain points during a career to meet Service and individual needs.
In the case of the Army, a soldier can apply, or be offered, to change his terms of service to the long service list or versatile engagement long career terms. In both cases these are for limited periods of time and allow for the Army to reduce the period of extension if there is a requirement to do so. Since 1 March 2010, 51 soldiers serving on either the long service list or the versatile engagement long career have received notification to discharge, following decisions not to grant extensions to their contracts of employment.
Similarly, the Royal Air Force allows for certain ranks and trades to apply to continue their service beyond their normal engagement to meet a Service need. Short periods of continuance in service can be granted but individuals are made fully aware that this extension of service is kept under constant review and may be subject to change. Since 1 April 2010, some 242 personnel serving on continuance in service have had their service reduced and have been subsequently discharged, following requests these personnel have made to extend their contracts of employment.
There have been no members of the Royal Navy subject to a change of their terms of service for wholly Service reasons.
Armed Forces: Officers
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK serving commissioned officers are working in NATO Headquarters; and how many of these are (a) direct entry and (b) late entry commissioned officers. [48780]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 24 March 2011]: There are 528 UK commissioned officers serving in various NATO Headquarters. The numbers of these that are direct entry and late entry are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were recruited by the Careers Information Office to the (a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Navy in the (1) City of Kingston upon Hull local authority area in 2009-10; [47355]
(2) West Oxfordshire local authority area in 2009-10. [47356]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 17 March 2011]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Mr Robathan) on 23 November 2010, Official Report, column 211W, to the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South (Bridget Phillipson).
28 Mar 2011 : Column 113W
Armed Forces: Surveys
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey 2011 will be published. [48895]
Nick Harvey: The Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS) conducted in 2010 will be published on 31 March 2011. The AFCAS for 2011 is currently being conducted and we hope to publish it in the autumn.
Armed Forces: Training
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel have been trained to undertake duties within prisons as part of contingency plans to deal with any potential industrial action by prison staff; how much such training has cost to date; what training has been given to such personnel as part of such plans; and how many such personnel have been designated to support the National Offender Management Service as part of such plans. [48850]
Nick Harvey: Work is under way between the Ministries of Justice and Defence to prepare military personnel to support the National Offender Management Service in the event of widespread industrial action in prisons.
Contingency measures have been put in place by the National Offender Management Service to strengthen the security and safety of prisons in the event of industrial action within prisons. Disclosing the number of military personnel trained and the number designated to support the National Offender Management Service would undermine these measures.
As the training is still under way the costs incurred so far are not yet confirmed. However costs are being captured by the Ministry of Defence and a total cost will be available once training has been completed.
With respect to the training given to military personnel, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt), on 10 March 2011, Official Report, column 1280W.
Armed Forces: Young People
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many occasions a former member of the armed forces has taken action against his Department in respect of an alleged failure of a duty of care. [41024]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held in the format requested.
Boarding Schools
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department are eligible for assistance for boarding school fees for their children; how many officials receive such assistance; and what the (a) mean and (b) median levels of assistance provided in respect of each child were in the latest period for which figures are available. [48520]
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Nick Harvey: The number of Ministry of Defence (MOD) civil servants that received Civilian Schooling Allowance (paid to eligible MOD civil servants while working overseas) during Financial Year 2009-10 was 83. The mean figure is £9,778 per child and the median figure is £9,258.
China: Internet
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of the effects on UK defence assets of the re-routing of internet traffic by servers belonging to China Telecom on 8 April 2011; and if he will make a statement. [49103]
Nick Harvey: We do not comment on the detail of protective measures or cyber security incidents.
The Department has procedural and physical measures in place to protect against and mitigate the impact of such situations.
Defence Suppliers Forum
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he plans to announce the membership of the Defence Suppliers Forum; [48983]
(2) what the remit of the Defence Suppliers Forum will be. [48984]
Mr Gerald Howarth: The Secretary of State recently announced that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is establishing a Defence Suppliers Forum, which will include representation from the full range of the Department’s suppliers, from the UK and overseas, and which will better reflect defence-related industry as a whole, including small and medium-sized enterprises and the service sector.
The forum’s remit will cover all aspects of MOD’s relationships with its suppliers, with a focus on obtaining maximum value for money.
Having sought views from interested parties we expect to announce the composition of the new forum in the next few weeks.
Departmental Plants
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since his appointment. [48426]
Nick Harvey: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on plants and trees across the defence estate is determined by business need and must be appropriate, cost effective and a proper charge to public funds.
The MOD Defence Estates organisation and the Woodland Trust have recently joined forces in a partnership that will result in the planting of many hectares of woodland both to enable our armed forces to train more effectively for military operations and to help increase the UK’s woodland cover in the interests of mitigating the effects of climate change and providing renewable energy. The cost of this programme is not, however, borne by the MOD.