Establishment funding s ettlements 2012-13 and 2013-14
Budget allocations for financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14 are not yet allocated.
Prisons: Private Sector
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reason staff in the contracted out prison estate are not able to participate in national control and restraint teams; and if he will make a statement. [75219]
Mr Blunt: There are no restrictions on the participation of staff from contracted-out prisons in national control and restraint teams. The contracted-out prisons are trained by public sector staff and are deployed alongside Her Majesty’s Prison Service staff.
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent progress he has made in reducing delays in the transfer of assets between the prison public and contracted out estate; and if he will make a statement. [75220]
Mr Blunt: HMP Birmingham is the only prison which was required to transfer to the contracted out estate following a recent competition. The transfer occurred on 1 October 2011 to schedule and with no delays.
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Squatting: Crime
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to help protect property owners from squatters. [74235]
Mr Blunt: We have been consulting publicly on options for dealing with squatting, including the possibility of criminalisation. The consultation exercise ended on 5 October 2011. We will consider the consultation responses carefully before deciding which option to pursue.
Culture, Media and Sport
Brighton
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to Brighton Pavilion constituency, the effects of his Department's policies on that constituency from 11 October 2010 to date. [74929]
John Penrose: The impact of the Department's policies on the Brighton, Pavilion constituency—including those delivered by our arm’s length bodies—from 11 October 2010 to date, include:
Digital switchover is due to take place in the Brighton, Pavilion constituency in February 2012. By the time switchover is complete at the end of 2012, 98.5% of households nationwide will be able to receive digital TV—the same number that can currently receive analogue.
The Arts Council has supported projects in Brighton, Pavilion with a total of £2,541,634.
Heritage Lottery Fund has provided grants of £183,200 to the constituency.
174 National Lottery grants totalling £4,728,057 were awarded to the Brighton and Hove area in 2010 and 125 grants with a total value of £5,563,838 have been awarded in 2011. Full details of the grants awarded for this year, including a breakdown of the amount and recipient project, can be found on the Department's website, using the link:
http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk/SearchResults.aspx?Year=2011&LA=Brighton%20and%20Hove
The Department has implemented a number of new policies which are impacting upon, and will continue to affect the Brighton Pavilion constituency. These include:
The establishment and launch of the school games in September 2011, which will give every child the opportunity to take part and compete in sport, and create a legacy from London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
The launch of the local TV action plan, with the goal for 10 to 20 local TV services to be in operation by 2015.
Supporting English local authorities and the devolved Administrations in rolling out broadband in remote areas, with the target of delivering the best superfast broadband in Europe by 2015.
The publication of a long-term strategy for tourism to create a legacy from London 2012 and the Queen's diamond jubilee, with the aim of attracting an extra four million overseas
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visitors over the next four years, bringing in an extra £2 billion of spending and creating thousands of jobs.
The Brighton, Pavilion constituency has also benefited from other policies and spending whose impact cannot be broken down by constituency, such as:
Over £4 billion of Exchequer funding spent on culture.
Between 2005-06 and 2010-11, the proportion of people visiting a museum, gallery or archive in the last year increased (from 42.3% to 47.5%). There was a record 43.8 million visitors to museums in 2010-11—with many museums recording their highest visitor figures ever.
Broadband: Scotland
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the number of households in each income decile in Scotland which have access to broadband internet. [73258]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not record information on households with broadband by income decile. Where appropriate the Department for Culture, Media and Sport refers to data in Ofcom's Communications Market reports and other publicly available data.
Page 29 figure 4.2 of Ofcom's latest Communications Market report: Scotland, published in August 2011, includes data on broadband take up in Scotland by social group and household income.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/cmr/cmr11/CMR_2011_Scotland.pdf
Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to third sector organisations in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [75122]
John Penrose: This Department has awarded four contracts directly to third sector organisations, since May 2010. The value of a contract awarded in July 2010 was £464.65, and in April 2011, three contracts totalling £114,131.66 were awarded.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to (a) small, (b) medium-sized and (c) large businesses in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [75123]
John Penrose: The number of contracts this Department has awarded to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large businesses since May 2010, with their value, are in the following table:
| Date | SME contracts | Value (£) | Large company contracts | Value (£) |
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18 Oct 2011 : Column 858W
The Department does not separate SMEs.
Cyber-Security
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to improve cyber-security in relation to his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement. [75124]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has a yearly IT security compliance review that includes an independent penetration test against its firewalls and associated policies. Assurance obtained through conducting such tests is used as evidence to demonstrate compliance when renewing the Government secure internet (GSI) code of connection. This is a yearly requirement that incorporates new measures regarding cyber security detailed in the Government's Communication Electronics Security Group (CESG) Good Practice Guides which must be satisfied in order for the Department to conduct business up to and including Impact Level 3 (Restricted). DCMS currently has full accreditation certified by CESG. In addition to the yearly audit, the Department receives regular threat assessments from the technical authority GovCertUK that are addressed immediately by Atos, the Department's IT service provider.
Film Industry
Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much money his Department allocated to support the British film industry through (a) the National Lottery, (b) grant-in-aid to the UK Film Council, British Film Institute, the National Film and Television School, (c) national and regional development schemes, (d) BBC and Channel 4 Films and (e) EU funding for each year from 2008 to 2013; and how much of the allocated funding was spent in each year from 2008 to 2011. [73934]
Mr Vaizey: Grant in Aid (GIA) and Lottery allocation (before Olympic reduction) and spend for film through the UK Film Council (UKFC) and British Film Institute (BFI) as of 1 April 2011 are as follows:
| £ million | |||||
|
|
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
| (1) Year to date. | |||||
The Department does not direct the BBC to spend any specific sum on films. Within the framework of its Charter and Agreement and the licence fee settlement, it is for the BBC to decide how to allocate its funding in the fulfilment of its objectives.
The Department does not provide any funding to Channel 4, which is commercially funded. Funding for regional programmes is allocated through the UK Film Council/BFI, Regional Development Agencies and European funds and not directly by the Department.
The Department does not allocate EU funding for film.
Details of funding through the MEDIA programme and other EU funding for film as well as details of national and regional funding and funding allocated by the BBC and Film4 can be seen in the BFI Statistical Yearbook:
http://statisticalyearbook11.ry.com/?id=83050
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Local Broadcasting: Radio
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for what reasons community radio organisations in Liverpool are excluded from making applications for community radio licences in 2012-13. [75343]
Mr Vaizey: Community radio organisations in Liverpool are not excluded from applying for community radio licences in 2012-13. Applications for licences from the north-west will be invited in the first half of 2013. While there are some areas of the north-west where Ofcom will be unable to invite applications for FM licences, due to a lack of available frequencies, Ofcom will consider at the time applications are invited, whether capacity on medium wave might be available.
Mobile Phones
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential economic value to the UK of the deployment of long-term evolution mobile technology. [75480]
Mr Vaizey: Any assessment of the economic value of LTE services to the UK would normally fall to Ofcom to produce. The Department has not made any such assessment.
Attorney-General
Consultants
David Simpson: To ask the Attorney-General what procedures the Law Officers' Departments use when engaging external consultants. [73094]
The Attorney-General: The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) adheres to Cabinet Office guidance which requires consultancy contracts of £20,000 and above to receive appropriate departmental approval, and Cabinet Office and HM Treasury approval where:
Contracts are expected to last longer than nine months
Pre-existing contracts are extended to take the total life of the contract beyond nine months, or:
In the case of procurement-related consultancy, the cost is over £20,000.
Internally, all funding applications are submitted to the finance director for preliminary checks to ensure that the requirement is of operational necessity; it cannot be met by in-house resources; and the commercial proposal represents value for money with a demonstrable return on investment and does not exceed advice on prices and rates provided by the Efficiency Reform Group. Subject to these criteria being met a request for approval is put to TSol's Performance & Investment Committee.
In the event that the use of consultants is approved, the procurement will be undertaken using, preferably, an existing framework arrangement or through an open competition advertised on the approved Contracts Finder site. TSol is also mindful that, should tendered prices exceed approved rate card maxima, it may be necessary to re-submit the business case for appropriate approvals.
If the Department were to require consultancy services above the threshold of £20,000, the Department would formally reconsider the need for the services every
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three months and, should the need appear likely to continue beyond a nine month period, seek Cabinet Office approval to prolong the contract.
In parallel with its formal procedures, TSol seeks to secure value for money and knowledge transfer from consultants as part of its ongoing management of resources.
The Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate are covered by the same arrangements used by TSol.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) follows the same central Government procurement guidelines for engaging external consultants as with any other procurement process. Guidance is provided to SFO staff.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) defines consultancy services in line with the Office of Government Commerce's Consultancy Value programme.
In May 2010, the CPS adopted a new approval process for all consultancy engagements. The process involves the preparation of a business case which contains as a minimum: a description of the requirement; the anticipated length of engagement; and confirmation that the required skills are not available in-house.
All business cases are referred to the finance director and chief executive officer (CEO) for approval. Those expected to exceed £20,000 in value are referred for ministerial level approval. Any extensions to approved engagements must follow the same process.
Contracts for approved engagements are let via collaborative government framework agreements for consultancy services. Only in exceptional circumstances, where the required skills are not available via such agreements, would consideration be given to contracting with a firm or individual outside of a collaborative government framework agreement.
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Attorney-General how many consultants were employed in each of the Law Officers' Departments in each of the last three years; and from which companies. [74583]
The Attorney-General: Details on the consulting firms used by the Law Officers' Departments during the last three financial years are contained in the following tables. Where data are available the number of consultants engaged from each firm has been provided.
| Serious Fraud Office | |
|
|
Number |
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| Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) (1) (, 2) | |
|
|
Number |
| (1) The TSol data also cover the Attorney General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. (2 )TSol do not retain information on the number of individual consultants employed. | |
| Crown Prosecution Service (l) | |
|
|
Number |
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| (1 )The table includes consultants who were appointed via employment agencies and other third parties, as well as those supplied via consultancy firms. Excluded are freelance consultants who were appointed directly and engagements with consultancy firms where a named individual was not appointed to work on the assignment. The CPS is a devolved organisation and it is possible that consultancy engagements between April 2008 and March 2011 have been entered into locally and not included in central records. To verify the details of any such engagements would incur disproportionate cost. | |
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Attorney-General how much expenditure each of the Law Officers' Departments incurred on consultancy in each of the last three years. [74584]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table.
| Consultancy expenditure 2008-09 to 2010-11 | |||
| £ | |||
| Department | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) The TSol data also cover the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. | |||
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Law Officers' Departments spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines in 2010-11. [74993]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table.
| Department | Recorded expenditure on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines 2010-11 (£) |
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| (1) The TSol data also cover the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. (2) Expenditure on periodicals and trade magazines is not recorded separately from that on law reports (which would not be classed as magazines). It is not possible to separately identify subscriptions to periodicals and trade profession magazines without incurring a disproportionate cost. | |
Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Attorney-General for how many days on average staff of the Law Officers' Departments in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in 2010-11. [75007]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table.
| Average working days lost per year through ill health | |||
| Grade | Treasury Solicitor's Department (1) | Crown Prosecution Service | Serious Fraud Office |
| (1) The TSol data also cover the Attorney-General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. | |||
Defence
Defence Business Services
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to appoint a new partner for Defence Business Services. [73180]
Mr Robathan: The competitive dialogue process is expected to conclude by Christmas at which point we will make a decision whether or not to award the contract to a commercial partner or retain the current in-house management. This decision will be taken on value for money grounds.
AlixPartners
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the Cabinet Office's Efficiency and Reform Group in connection with the appointment of AlixPartners. [73329]
Peter Luff: Discussions took place on a number of different occasions between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Cabinet Office's Efficiency and Reform Group on the MOD's need for external support to deliver the Department's strategic defence and security review renegotiation programme in connection with the appointment of AlixPartners.
Armed Forces: Charities
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of trends in the number of charities supporting the armed forces since 2003. [74028]
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Mr Robathan: We are very grateful for the vital role played by the voluntary sector in support of the armed forces community. COBSEO, the Confederation of Service Charities, plays an important role in co-ordinating the work of charities in this sector.
However, charities are independent bodies which the Ministry of Defence has no remit to oversee and therefore we hold no data on the number of new charities being created to support the armed forces community.
Armed Forces: Females
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of armed forces personnel were women in each (a) service and (b) rank in the latest period for which figures are available. [73178]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is given in the following table:
| Percentage | ||||
| 1 April 2011 | All services | Naval service | Army | RAF |
Armed Forces: Finance
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial support is available for armed forces personnel returning to civilian life who began serving before 2005 but who have fewer than 20 years service. [74609]
Mr Robathan: There is a resettlement training grant of £534 that is available to service leavers who have served six or more years to assist them in paying for resettlement training. The grant is also available to all service personnel who are medically discharged, regardless of their length of service. Resettlement support for the majority of service leavers is provided by the Career Transition Partnership (CTP).
Further support is available to eligible personnel, through various training courses (which are free from tuition fees); career transition workshops; employment
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and future career advice; assistance with CV writing and job preparation; vocational training; and a job-search/recruitment facility.
Furthermore, dependent on their pension scheme, rank and length of service, those who leave the armed forces and have no immediate terminal benefit may be eligible for a resettlement grant.
Armed Forces: Health Services
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the outcome of his Department's basing review on the Defence Medical Services in Scotland. [73367]
Mr Robathan: It is too early to say at this time what the future of the Defence Medical Services in Scotland may be. A full assessment of the potential effects will be undertaken once the current basing review work is completed.
Armed Forces: Housing
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on rent for private sector accommodation for use by armed forces personnel in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010. [73318]
Mr Robathan: Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) and Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) properties may be rented to accommodate service families and single serving personnel respectively when no suitable Ministry of Defence accommodation is available to entitlement at or close to the duty station. Substitute accommodation is only used as a last resort and often more than one service person may occupy an SSSA property.
The amount spent on SSFA and SSSA per financial year is shown in the following tables:
| SSFA properties | ||
| Financial year | Number of SSFA properties (as at 31 March) | Cost (£ million) |
| SSSA properties | ||
| Financial year | Number of SSSA properties (as at 31 March) | Cost (£ million) |
These figures do not include properties rented from Annington Homes Ltd, bulk hire or those subject to private finance initiative arrangements.
Mike Crockart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) length of contract and (b) other
18 Oct 2011 : Column 866W
terms are of the private finance initiative with Bannockburn Homes Ltd in respect of service family accommodation for Redford and Dreghorn Barracks. [73351]
Mr Robathan: The private finance initiative (PFI) with Bannockburn Homes Ltd for service family accommodation (SFA) in central Scotland is for a period of 20 years, which expires on 30 June 2019.
The terms of the PFI relate to the provision of 165 SFA homes across central Scotland, of which 103 are in the Edinburgh area.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason there will be a three-year pause in the upgrade of service family accommodation properties from 2013. [73534]
Mr Robathan: There will be a pause in the upgrade programme while the Ministry of Defence (MOD) works to reduce its funding gap, and to balance defence priorities and the budget whilst protecting front-line operations.
The MOD will continue to fund routine and response maintenance on accommodation, together with minor new works, including special needs adaptations; carpet replacement; and improvements delivered through the asset replacement programme, during the three year upgrade pause.
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department received in income from charging armed forces personnel for use of accommodation rented from the private sector in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010. [73317]
Mr Robathan: The requested information is not held in the format requested.
Occupancy charges for service accommodation are the same whether it is rented from the private sector or owned by the Department. The level of charges is set by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and charges are deducted from salary at source.
Armed Forces: Private Education
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the outcome of the basing review on levels of continuing educational allowance claimed in Scotland. [73356]
Mr Robathan: In the longer term, concentration on fewer bases and the likelihood that many personnel will have more settled careers allowing greater stability of home life should reduce the requirement for Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA). CEA remains available to all service personnel who meet the eligibility criteria.
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have applied to be considered for redundancy since May 2010; and what assessment he has made of the effect of redundancy notices issued to service personnel on active duty. [73637]
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Mr Robathan [holding answer 12 October 2011]:There have been some 2,300 applications from members of the armed forces to be considered for compulsory redundancy in tranche one, of which 1,770 were accepted.
Service personnel in receipt of the operational allowance were exempt from redundancy unless they were volunteers. Those applicants who volunteered and were selected for redundancy while serving on operations are receiving the same level of support and advice as any others.
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will allow families of members of the armed forces facing redundancy to remain in their current location until the decisions on such redundancies have been made. [74000]
Mr Robathan: We have recently notified those service personnel selected for redundancy in tranche one, and where possible we will allow their families to remain in their current locations until the discharge date.
Details regarding the redundancy fields for future tranches are currently being considered by individual service manning authorities. Until a service man or woman has been selected for redundancy he or she remains deployable both in the United Kingdom and overseas. If the assignment is for accompanied service, entitlement to service families accommodation is limited to the new duty station.
Armed Forces: Scotland
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he plans to put in place to ensure that military personnel in all parts of Scotland have access to similar facilities to those provided by the (a) Army Education Centre, (b) Army Learning Centre and (c) Edinburgh HIVE following the closure of Redford and Dreghorn Barracks. [74518]
Mr Robathan: The announcement made by the previous Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45, set out our strategic long-term direction on the structure of the Army and its basing requirements across the United Kingdom. Comprehensive planning work is now under way to draw up plans for the timing and sequencing of these changes within the Army and to consider the infrastructure and services necessary to support those units and personnel who will be based in Scotland.
Until this work is complete and further detail is known about the size and type of units that will be required to support the future Army lay down in Scotland, it is too soon to confirm how this will affect individual units or indeed to confirm where they will reside in the future. This will in turn affect the provision of services to service personnel and their families. Therefore, no decisions have currently been made on the future provision of Army Education Centre, Army Learning Centre or the Edinburgh HIVE facilities.
Armed Forces: Training
Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for personnel using the Maritime Composite Training System to conduct live
18 Oct 2011 : Column 868W
training with service personnel from foreign nations using the Joint Multinational Interoperability Assurance Network. [74130]
Nick Harvey: The Royal Navy plans to commence Maritime Composite Training System inter-operability trials with two of its NATO partners in April 2012.
Armed Forces: Young People
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces under the age of 18 years saw active service in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [72819]
Mr Robathan: In accordance with the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (the Optional Protocol), Ministry of Defence policy is not to deploy personnel aged under 18 on operations.
The United Kingdom ratified the Optional Protocol on 24 June 2003 and remains firmly committed to it. Every feasible step is taken, in accordance with our obligations, to prevent the involvement in hostilities of service personnel under the age of 18.
We have protective measures, including single-service administrative guidelines and procedures and a system for tracking personnel, to reduce as far as possible the risk of unintentional deployments. We have also revised and re-issued the “Policy on the Care of Service Personnel under the Age of 18”. Our processes are, however, not infallible and the pressures on units prior to deployment have meant that there have been a small number of instances where service personnel have been inadvertently deployed to an operational theatre before their 18th birthday.
There were four members of the armed forces who were under the age of 18 years and deployed to operational theatres between April 2008 and March 2010. As a result of tighter controls in units and at RAF Brize Norton no service personnel under the age of 18 years has deployed since January 2010.
It is important to note that more than 60,000 service personnel have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 1 April 2008. On the rare occasions when service personnel under the age of 18 years deploy in error, it is our policy to remove them from an operational theatre as soon as possible.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Piranha 10x10 armoured vehicles his Department has acquired under urgent operational requirements; from which countries such vehicles were required; and what their operational role was. [75247]
BAE Systems
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in his Department's expenditure on the level of its contracts with BAE Systems; and if he will make a statement. [73167]
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Peter Luff: As part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) implementation process, we have engaged with BAE Systems on a programme of commercial negotiations for contracts impacted directly by SDSR decisions. These negotiations continue, and cover all aspects of the Department's future requirements with the company and the company's capabilities. I am withholding the details of these discussions as their disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Civil Society Department: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many letters he has received on funding for civil society organisations within his Department's area of responsibility in each month since 1 June 2010; and if he will make a statement. [73979]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held in a format that would allow for the identification of the number of letters about funding for the civil sector without incurring disproportionate cost.
Departmental Buildings
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the maintenance backlog on his Department's estate in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the time required to complete such maintenance. [74260]
Mr Robathan: Although no formal estimate exists in respect of backlog maintenance for the Ministry of Defence estate as a whole, based on information available for the estate based in Great Britain it is estimated that the cost of bringing the estate up to a consistent, desired standard is likely to be in excess of £1 billion.
Fines
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many transport-related fines his Department has settled on behalf of its staff in each year since 2007; and at what cost. [74325]
Mr Robathan: Individual staff are personally liable for payment of any financial penalties for driving offences incurred while on official duty.
Departmental Manpower
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian employees, including civil servants, his Department has employed on average in each year since 2005. [74158]
Mr Robathan: The first table shows the average strength of the Ministry of Defence civilian work force by financial year from 2004-05 to 2010-11. The average figure for financial year 2011-12 is not yet available. Therefore the second table shows strength in April and July 2011.
| Financial year | Full-time equivalent (FTE) |
18 Oct 2011 : Column 870W
|
|
Full-time equivalent (FTE) |
| (1) Average strength based on a weighted 13 month average, summing half of first and last month, plus all of remaining 11 months and dividing by 12. (2) Totals include core top-level budget staff, trading fund personnel, Royal Fleet Auxiliary staff, and locally engaged civilians. (3) Denotes estimate—April 2011 locally engaged civilian figures are ‘estimates' due to non-availability of data. Notes: 1. All numbers rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 2. All numbers are listed in full-time equivalent terms. Source: DASA (Quad-Service) | |
Procurement
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in eliminating pre-qualification questionnaires for procurements with a value of under £100,000. [73840]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s policy changed in April 2011 to recognise that use of pre-qualification questionnaires is generally unnecessary for low risk procurement valued below £100,000. For small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, this has provided easier access to Government contracts. Nevertheless, there will still be a small number of exceptional cases where the specific risks make pre-qualification questionnaires necessary, for instance where there is a need to ensure a minimum capability to protect highly classified information.
Training
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many external training courses staff of his Department attended in the last 12 months; and what the cost to the public purse was of each course. [74324]
Mr Robathan: Expenditure on external training for civilian staff was £23.490 million in financial year 2010-11.
External training suppliers are used to delivering specialist and functional training required to enable personnel to fulfil their professional role, where such training cannot be delivered internally or through common arrangements with other Departments. Such areas include medical, legal, engineering and technical.
The number and cost of individual training courses undertaken is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Depleted Uranium
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the provision of funding for research and development on the potential health implications for the general population arising from the use of depleted uranium. [74967]
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Nick Harvey: There is already an extensive body of both Government and independent scientific research on the potential health and environmental risks of using depleted uranium in munitions. The Ministry of Defence has no plans to commission any further work in this area beyond maintaining a watching brief on related worldwide research activities.
European Fighter Aircraft
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 84W, on European Fighter Aircraft, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of transferring the Typhoon force from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth by 2014. [74970]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 17 October 2011]: Detailed plans for the implementation of this transfer are still being developed and consequently the information is not available.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 84W, on European Fighter Aircraft, whether his Department obtained a pre-sale valuation of the high value estate located in Edinburgh. [74971]
18 Oct 2011 : Column 872W
Mr Robathan [holding answer 17 October 2011]: The Ministry of Defence does not routinely assess the current market value of all its estate because the estimated receipts will depend on market conditions and other factors at the time of sale. Where pre-sale valuations have been obtained, these are regarded as commercially confidential and are thus not released ahead of the sale in case they influence the market.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the flying time is of Typhoon aircraft stationed at RAF Leuchars to each of the training ranges currently used; and what estimate he has made of the flying time of Typhoon aircraft to training ranges when that aircraft is stationed at RAF Lossiemouth. [75207]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 17 October 2011]: The table provides the distance and flying time from RAF Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth to the most commonly used air-to-air, air-to-ground and electronic warfare ranges for the Scottish-based Typhoon fleet. Air-to-air range complexes can be very large, therefore the distance and flying time provided is to the approximate geographic centre of each range complex.
The majority of Typhoon routine training sorties are currently conducted in D613 and D323 training areas. The distance from an operating base to a range area does not determine the overall training value of the sortie as other training objectives can be achieved while in transit.
| Range complex | Straight line distance from Leuchars (nautical miles) | Flying time from Leuchars (Mach 0.7) (minutes) | Straight line distance from Lossiemouth (nautical miles) | Flying time from Lossiemouth (Mach 0.7) (minutes) |
European Union
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the creation of an EU permanent operational headquarters. [74625]
Mr Gerald Howarth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 53W, to my hon. Friends the Members for Redditch (Karen Lumley) and for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison).
Ex-servicemen: Falkland Islands
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department is providing to veterans of the Falklands conflict. [74496]
Mr Robathan: Ex-service personnel, including veterans from the Falklands conflict, have access to a wide range of support, including support from the Veterans' Welfare Service which is available to both veterans and their families.
In addition, from 1 September 2008, the concessionary use of indulgence passages to the Falkland Islands on RAF or Ministry of Defence chartered aircraft has
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been available to veterans of the 1982 South Atlantic Conflict who have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.
In line with the Armed Forces Covenant, we will continue to develop the support available to all personnel during service and beyond working across Government and in partnership with the voluntary and community sectors.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to (a) commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict and (b) support veterans of the conflict wishing to return to the Islands to mark the occasion. [74642]
Mr Robathan: Following consultation with the relevant veterans groups, plans for the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s involvement in commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Falkland Islands conflict are well advanced. The MOD will provide assistance and support to organised events marking the 30th anniversary. For example, there will be armed forces participation in an event to dedicate a new Falklands memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.
From 1 September 2008, the concessionary use of indulgence passages to the Falkland Islands via the airbridge on Royal Air Force or MOD chartered aircraft has been available to veterans (service and civilian) of the 1982 South Atlantic conflict who have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.
The scheme is sponsored and administered by the South Atlantic Medal Association 1982 (SAMA 82) to whom all applications for, and inquiries about, travel under this concessionary scheme should be submitted. Applicants do not have to be members of the association in order to participate.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to discuss the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict with veterans of the conflict. [74495]
Mr Robathan: Falklands conflict veteran groups have been widely consulted during the development of plans to mark the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict.
Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the production of a medal for veterans of the Arctic convoys. [74157]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Government Spokesperson, my noble Friend, Lord De Mauley to my noble Friend, Lord Ashcroft, on 3 October 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA96.
Ex-servicemen: Teachers
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to encourage former service personnel to become teachers. [74068]
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Mr Robathan [holding answer 13 October 2011]: The Schools White Paper 2010, The Importance of Teaching, outlined the coalition Government's commitment to encouraging armed forces leavers to become teachers and to work in schools as mentors. We are working closely with the Department for Education, the lead Government Department, to develop and implement this initiative.
Currently, service leavers are encouraged to attend resettlement careers fairs, organised for the armed forces as part of their resettlement programme. The Training Development Agency for Schools are regular attendees who provide specialist advice on routes into teaching.
Guided Weapons: Military Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Talon Laser Guided Rocket for use on the Apache helicopter. [74114]
Peter Luff: The Apache helicopter is armed with a range of weapon systems which fulfil all the capability requirements of the platform for Operations HERRICK and ELLAMY. Therefore, there is no current requirement for a Laser Guided Rocket system such as Talon. However, regular assessments of potential weapon systems are conducted to inform future capability requirements.
Gulf War Syndrome
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department plans to commission on Gulf War illnesses up to 2015. [74889]
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to conduct further epidemiological studies on the health of those involved in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. [75056]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 17 October 2011]: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no plans to conduct further, specific studies into the health of those involved in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm although we will continue to monitor any other Gulf research that is published round the world.
The UK and the USA have undertaken a substantial amount of research into Gulf veterans' illness. The research has indicated that there is no illness which is specific to Gulf veterans.
Mortality statistics will continue to be published by the MOD's Defence Analytical Services and Advice organisation and copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The latest report shows there are no statistically significant differences in the total number of deaths between Gulf veterans and a comparison group or for any of the main groups of cause of death.
The MOD has funded work by Cardiff university which identified a range of potential interventions to help rehabilitate ill Gulf veterans. The MOD is facilitating discussions between Cardiff university and the voluntary and charitable sector to see if this work can be developed further.
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Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Trust
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future (a) funding provision and (b) staffing structure he has set for the Medical Assessment Centre at St Thomas’ hospital in London. [74888]
Mr Robathan: The Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) is currently being staffed by a consultant psychiatrist with administrative support. An additional £65,000 has been allocated for costs such as rent, patient travel and subsistence costs, office equipment and consumables.
The Department of Health is currently rolling out improved mental health services for veterans. These changes will allow veterans better access to more local services. We will continue to monitor future demand for the MAP in the light of these changes and to provide appropriate resources as long as they are needed. There are no plans to discontinue the MAP service.
Joint Supply Chain Services Group
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans any future sale of the components of the Joint Supply Chain Services group. [74129]
Peter Luff: Defence Equipment and Support's Logistic Commodities and Services group is currently developing a transformation programme which will consider a number of options. These may include the sale or outsourcing of some of its component parts but no decisions have yet been made.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) Paveway II bombs, (b) Paveway IV bombs, (c) Dual Mode Brimstone missiles, (d) Hellfire missiles, (e) 30mm cannon rounds, (f) CRV7 rockets and (h) Tomahawk land attack missiles have been used in Operation Ellamy to date; [74109]
(2) how many 4.5 inch shells of each munitions type have been fired from Royal Navy vessels in Operation Ellamy to date. [74111]
Nick Harvey: From the start of current operations in Libya to 6 October 2011, UK forces have employed some 1,470 precision guided munitions, 110 direct fire weapons, 4,100 rounds of direct fire 30 mm cannon rounds and around 240 high explosive or illumination rounds from 4.5 inch naval guns. We carefully select the type of weapon in every engagement to ensure the most appropriate munition is used to deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk of civilian casualties.
The precision guided munitions used include Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone, Enhanced Paveway II, Paveway IV, Storm Shadow missiles and Tomahawk Land Attack missiles. Direct fire munitions include Hellfire missiles and CRV-7 rockets.
I am withholding the detailed breakdown of individual weapons types expended as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
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Military Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much he expects to be saved in (a) Resource departmental expenditure limit, (b) Capital DEL, (c) annually-managed expenditure and (d) in total by (i) withdrawing Sentinel R.1 from service between 2015 and 2020, (ii) not taking Shadow R.1 into permanent RAF service between 2015 and 2020, (iii) not taking Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle into permanent RAF service between 2012 and 2020, (iv) delaying the entry into service of the F-35 until 2020, (v) changing the joint combat aircraft variant from F-35B to F-35C and (vi) capping the number of Typhoon aircraft in service at 107 between 2015 and 2020. [74277]
Peter Luff: Following the strategic defence and security review (SDSR), we announced the decision to withdraw Sentinel R.1 from service once it is no longer required for operations in Afghanistan. This decision is assumed for planning purposes to save approximately £320 million in cash resource DEL and £190 million in capital DEL over the next 10 years.
The Department has no current plans to take Shadow R1 or Reaper into permanent RAF service, and therefore no savings would result.
A number of changes were made to the Joint Combat Aircraft programme during the SDSR and planning round 2010-11, including the change of variant from the F-35B to the F-35C and the decision to introduce it into service in time to enable the delivery of a Carrier Strike capability in around 2020. We expect savings to arise from the delayed in-service date and from the lower unit price acquisition costs and through-life support costs of the F-35C compared with the F-35B. The precise value of these savings remains subject to further work.
The Department has no plans to cap the number of Typhoon aircraft in service at 107 between 2015 and 2020.
None of these measures are expected to have a direct impact on the Department's annually managed expenditure.
Military Bases
Mr Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he plans to have with (a) City of Edinburgh Council and (b) West Lothian Council on the development of military accommodation at Kirkliston Airfield; [71983]
(2) what discussions he plans to have with the City of Edinburgh Council in relation to (a) the disposal of Dreghorn and Redford Barracks and (b) a planning brief for both sites; and if he will make a statement. [72003]
Mr Robathan
[holding answer 15 September 2011]: Work on the planned re-basing of armed forces personnel from Germany to Scotland remains at an early stage. It is too early at present to say precisely how the sites will be used. Detailed planning work will now be undertaken, led by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in conjunction with the Army and Royal Air Force. This work will involve the appropriate and necessary engagement with other Government Departments, the Devolved Administrations and local authorities. Work will involve
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a comprehensive assessment of issues such as impact on schools, health care, etc. and the broader local economy and environment.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) learning or education, (b) exercise and (c) other facilities are planned for the new base at Kirknewton. [73349]
Nick Harvey: Comprehensive planning work is now under way to draw up detailed plans for the future of Kirknewton. However it is too early at this time to say precisely what facilities, including those for learning, education, or for exercise are planned for the base.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects the Royal Military Police based at Edinburgh Castle to be moved as part of the outcome of the basing review; and where they will be based after any such move. [73350]
Nick Harvey: The announcement made by the previous Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45, set out our strategic long-term direction on the structure of the Army and its basing requirements across the United Kingdom. Comprehensive planning work is now under way to draw up plans for the timing and sequencing of these changes within the Army.
Until this work is complete and further detail is known about the size and type of units that will be required to support the future Army lay down in Scotland, it is too soon to confirm how this will affect individual units or indeed to confirm where they will reside in the future.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effects on service families of movement of service children between Scottish and English education systems following the outcome of the basing review; [73353]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the outcome of the basing review on the (a) capacity, (b) costs and (c) operation of the Queen Victoria School in Dunblane. [73355]
Mr Robathan: There has, to date, been no specific assessment of the effect of the outcome of the basing review on the capacity, costs and operation of the Queen Victoria School (QVS), or on the likely effects of movement of service children between Scottish and English education systems.
Until the more detailed work arising from the basing review is complete, it is too soon to be able to assess any such resultant effects. However, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is represented at the Scottish Service Children Stakeholders' Network (SCSN), a forum led by the Scottish Directorate for Learning and supported by local authorities, schools, the services, schools inspectorate, and the independent sector. We recognise this as a potential issue and are in a position to highlight any issues or concerns.
I can confirm that QVS is currently undergoing an internal review, working closely with Her Majesty's Commissioners at the school and the Service Children's
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Education Agency to ensure that the school remains viable and continues to play a part in providing support for the families of service personnel. The work will include looking at the infrastructure of the school, ensuring adequate provision of educational support and also reviewing the administrative function within the MOD to benefit the school. This will take into account the changes within the Defence environment in Scotland.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the amount of service family accommodation which will be required under the proposed new employment model in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scotland by 2020. [73360]
Mr Robathan: No such assessment has yet been made. Work on the new employment model (NEM) programme is under way and is examining all areas of terms and conditions of service for our personnel. Within this programme is a future accommodation project (FAP) which is addressing single and family accommodation, with the aim to balance the future needs of the service with the aspirations of service personnel for affordable and good quality housing.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work will be required to be completed at RAF Lossiemouth to enable Typhoons to be based there; and what recent estimate he has made of the date by which such work will be completed. [73361]
Mr Robathan: Initial scoping work during the strategic defence and security review identified a number of options to make RAF Lossiemouth ready to support Typhoon operations. More detailed planning is currently being undertaken and the options will be subject to an investment appraisal to ensure that the best value for money solution is identified for defence. Completion dates are dependent on the outcome of the planning process.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the future of the Castlelaw/Dreghorn training area following the outcome of the basing review. [73368]
Mr Robathan: It is too early to say at this time what the future of the Castlelaw/Dreghorn training area may be. A full assessment of the facilities needed to deliver the training requirement will be undertaken once the current basing review work is completed.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the provision of information services to military personnel from Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow and elsewhere following the sale of Dreghorn Barracks and closure of Edinburgh HIVE. [73370]
Mr Robathan:
The Secretary of State for Defence's announcement on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 643-645, set out our strategic long-term direction on the structure of the Army and its basing requirements across the United Kingdom. Comprehensive planning work is now under way to draw up plans for the timing and sequencing of these changes within the Army and
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to consider the infrastructure and services necessary to support those units and personnel who will be based in Scotland.
Until this work is complete and further detail is known about the size and type of units that will be required to support the future Army lay down in Scotland, it is too soon to confirm how this will affect individual units or indeed to confirm where they will reside in the future. This will in turn affect the provision of information services to service personnel and their families. No decisions have currently been made on the future of the Edinburgh HIVE.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his Department's Strategic Defence and Security Review, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) personnel capacity and (b) potential for expansion of Glencorse Barracks, Glencorse HIVE and associated facilities. [73371]
Mr Robathan: Comprehensive planning work is now under way to draw up detailed plans for the future of Glencorse Barracks, which will include an assessment of the site's personnel capacity and potential for expansion.
HIVEs provide information services for military personnel and their dependants. The information they provide includes local unit and civilian facilities, places of interest, schools and further education, housing, health care facilities, employment and training opportunities. They are also able to provide a referral service to other agencies and engage with the local authorities and communities. The HIVEs provided by the Army are part of the Army Welfare Service.
It is too early to say at this time what the future of the Glencorse HIVE and its associated facilities may be. A full assessment will only be undertaken once the current basing work is completed.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accommodation units there are for personnel serving in the (a) RAF, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Army at bases in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [73758]
Mr Robathan: Service accommodation is a tri-service asset and is not assigned to any particular branch of the armed services. There are currently 49,122 service family accommodation properties in the UK. As at 10 October 2011, there were 131,104 single living accommodation bedspaces in the UK.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the possible effect on the market values of his Department's Craigiehall, Dreghorn and Redford sites of all three sites being put up for sale at the same time. [75080]
Mr Robathan: A disposals strategy for Craigiehall, Dreghorn and Redford has not yet been agreed, but the initial assessment has assumed a phased disposal of these sites in order to optimise value.
Military Bases: Scotland
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maintenance costs were of empty service family accommodation in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scotland in each of the last five years. [73358]
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Mr Robathan: Maintenance of void properties includes both response and pre-planned maintenance, statutory inspections, grounds maintenance, communal areas, void preparation and other associated costs. These costs are shown in the following table:
| £ million | ||
| (October-September) | Scotland including Edinburgh | Edinburgh only |
Figures for the year ending September 2011 are not yet available.
Properties are void for various reasons. For example, they are awaiting routine moves of service personnel, improvement or modernisation work. The Ministry of Defence will always be required to maintain a management margin of void properties to ensure that homes are available for entitled service families when required.
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of service family accommodation is empty in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scotland. [73357]
Mr Robathan: As at 10 October 2011 the position is as follows:
|
|
Number/percentage |
|
Number of service family accommodation (SFA) in Scotland including Edinburgh |
|
Properties are void for various reasons, such as they are awaiting routine moves of service personnel, improvement or modernisation work, demolition or disposal. The Ministry of Defence will always be required to hold a number of void properties to ensure that homes for entitled service families are available when required.
Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency
Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effects of changes to the Ministry of Defence Police budget on its ability to police and secure his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement; [73601]
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Ministry of Defence Police as an armed waterborne security force at HM Dockyards; [74402]
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Mr Robathan [holding answer 12 October 2011]: Following the comprehensive spending review and the strategic defence and security review, consideration has been given to a range of options that will determine the Department's future requirement for the services and capabilities provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Police. These resources will focus on those areas where civil policing powers can best mitigate the crime and security risks faced by the MOD. These options are currently the subject of formal consultation with the relevant staff associations and trades unions, and as such it would be inappropriate to go into specific detail at this stage.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the skills (a) that the training of Ministry of Defence Police confers and (b) provided by privately trained security personnel. [74398]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) police officers are trained to national police standards and enjoy the full range of constabulary powers within their permitted jurisdiction. The requirement for MOD police services and capabilities is therefore focused on those areas of defence business where the availability of civil policing powers can best mitigate the crime and security risks faced by the MOD.
Any private sector company awarded a contract to provide unarmed guarding services at a defence establishment must have a training programme in place that ensures a mandated minimum level of training for all guards in order to deliver the level of service required. This training is augmented by local induction training and relevant site familiarisation training specific to the duties being undertaken. All commercial guards employed at defence sites must be licensed in accordance with Security Industry Association regulations. In addition, and within nine months of the award of an MOD guarding contract, at least 30% of the guards employed must possess a relevant National or Scottish Vocational Qualification.
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Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specialist roles in relation to the UK nuclear deterrent are carried out by the Ministry of Defence Police; and what plans he has for their future. [74399]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) requires the MOD police to maintain a range of specialist policing capabilities in order to ensure the secure and uninterrupted operation of the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence Police's Criminal Investigation Department in (a) preventing terrorism, (b) discovering security breaches, (c) investigating fraud and (d) gathering intelligence; and if he will make a statement. [74400]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence police (MOD) Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is subject to scrutiny by a number of statutory bodies, who also comment upon the force's effectiveness. In 2010 an inspection of the force's major crime capability, and public order (focusing on protestor activity), was conducted by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. In 2011 the Office of Surveillance Commissioners undertook a review of aspects of the force's intelligence gathering. In addition the independent MOD police committee routinely receives a summary of fraud and significant crime inquiries investigated by the CID, and subsequent financial recoveries.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the Ministry of Defence Police have been deployed overseas (a) in support of military operations by HM Forces and (b) on training missions in the last five years. [74401]
Mr Robathan: The following table shows the occasions on which Ministry of Defence police officers have been deployed overseas in the last five years, their locations and the tasks they have undertaken.