Radiotherapy
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 311W, on radiotherapy, how many of the members of the Specialised Service Transitional Oversight Group have a (a) medical and (b) financial background. [77643]
Mr Simon Burns: Four members of Specialised Services Transitional Oversight Group have a medical background. Two members have been selected specifically for their clinical role namely David Black and Kathy McLean.
No member of the Group has a direct financial background but a separate financial advisory group feeds into the deliberations of the Specialised Services Transitional Oversight Group.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 310W, on radiotherapy, (1) and with reference to the first annual report of the radiotherapy dataset, if he will take steps to increase the allocation of resources for radiotherapy treatment to Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire; [77644]
(2) and with reference to the National Radiotherapy Implementation Group report, Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Treatment (SBRT) Guidelines for Commissioners, Providers and Clinicians in England 2011, for what reasons his Department considers there are insufficient patients with early stage inoperable lung cancer each year to introduce a national SBRT lung cancer tariff; [77645]
(3) what guidance he has provided to commissioners on spending the additional funding for the expansion of radiotherapy capacity; [77951]
(4) for what reasons the additional funding is not ring-fenced for the purpose of expanding radiotherapy treatment. [77952]
Paul Burstow:
“Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, published in January 2011, set out our commitment to expand radiotherapy capacity by investing
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over £150 million of additional funding until 2014-15. This funding, as well as existing funding for radiotherapy, is included in overall primary care trust (PCT) baseline allocations which amount to around £85 billion nationally.
The Secretary of State for Health does not mandate how much PCTs are to spend on particular services within, these overall allocations. PCTs including those which commission services for Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire, have local discretion to decide how to use their overall allocation to commission services, including radiotherapy services, to meet the health care needs of their local populations.
Work is under way nationally to develop radiotherapy tariffs and this will include consideration of a tariff for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Treatment. The development and implementation of national tariffs for services such as radiotherapy is dependent on the existence and use of 'currencies' which describe the service being provided and which enable cost data to be collected, which is then used to underpin tariff prices. For some services with low activity volumes, setting a tariff on the basis of limited cost data may not be appropriate, in which case there would continue to be local agreement on price.
The “NHS Operating Framework 2011-12” states that the national health service is expected to implement the new Cancer Strategy and that commissioners should develop plans to ensure that local populations have appropriate access to radiotherapy treatment.
Stem Cells: Medical Treatments
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stem cell transplants were approved in each specialised commissioning group under (a) standard, (b) clinical option and (c) developmental category in each of the last five years. [77779]
Anne Milton: The Department does not hold a record of the number of stem cell transplants approved by each specialised commissioning group in the national health service.
Wales
Departmental Assets
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assets with a value of £250,000 or more her Department has bought since May 2010; for what purpose; and if she will make a statement. [77385]
Mr David Jones: No such assets have been purchased.
Lost Property
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether her Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [77384]
Mr David Jones: No such equipment has been lost.
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Departmental Official Hospitality
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department has spent on hospitality for staff since May 2010. [67527]
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations Ministers and senior officials in her Department have given speeches in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [77327]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, and I, regularly speak at a variety of events hosted by a variety of organisations. Presenting the information in the format requested would incur disproportionate cost. Meetings with external organisations are listed on the Wales Office's website.
Home Department
Animal Experiments: EU Law
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether draft regulations on the use of animals in scientific procedures transposing EU Directive 2010/63/EU into UK law will be open for public consultation during the process of implementation. [77426]
Lynne Featherstone: Preliminary work on the preparation of draft legislation to transpose European Directive 2010/63/EU has begun. We will seek input from individuals and groups with an interest at appropriate points in the detailed drafting process.
Asylum
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed Tamil asylum seekers have been returned to Sri Lanka in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [77341]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not record specific data regarding an individual's ethnicity.
The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual search of individual case files.
The UK Border Agency can identify that between 1 May 2010 and 30 September 2011, 573 failed asylum seekers have been returned to Sri Lanka.
Mr Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her assessment is of the extent of progress by the Greek government in implementing its National Action Plan for Managed Migration and
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Asylum Reform; and when she expects to be able to resume Dublin regulation returns of asylum seekers from the UK to Greece. [77846]
Damian Green [holding answer 1 November 2011]: Since publication of the Greek Action Plan on Managed Migration and Asylum Reform last year there have been some notable improvements to the overall asylum system. These include an increase in the recognition of refugee status from less than 1% to 12% and improvements in training for decision makers, qualifications for interpreters and developments to reception facilities for unaccompanied minors. The Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection has also appointed directors for the newly established Asylum Service and First Reception Service which are due to be up and running next year.
However, there is still much more progress needed and the Government remain concerned about the lack of improvements to the poor detention conditions, particularly at the Greek-Turkish border. We will continue to apply pressure on Greece to treat this area as a matter of urgency.
Successful delivery of the Greek Action Plan will ensure that Greece meets its international obligations towards asylum seekers. We will monitor the situation and progress made. When it is clear to us that Greece is meeting its obligations in practice, and that as a result the criticisms detailed in the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights on 21 January 2011 in the case of MSS v. Belgium and Greece have been addressed, we will seek to resume Dublin Regulation returns.
Crimes of Violence: Young Offenders
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent offences where the victim and perpetrator were under 18 years old were categorised as (a) detected, (b) undetected, (c) live and (d) victim declined to prosecute in each (i) London borough and (ii) police force area in each of the last five years. [78025]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 1 November 2011]:The requested data on violent offences where the victim and the alleged perpetrator were under 18 years old are not available centrally, and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in her Department; and if she will make a statement. [77493]
Damian Green: The Home Office commercial objectives require consultancy services to be commissioned in terms of defined output, not in terms of individuals assigned by the firms to deliver that output. Therefore, the Department does not employ individuals under contracts for consultancy services or keep records of how many individuals are working on each consultancy engagement. Carrying out an exercise to obtain these numbers would incur disproportionate cost.
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Deportation: North Africa
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were returned to (a) Libya, (b) Algeria and (c) Tunisia under the provisions of memoranda of understanding in each of the last five years. [77050]
Damian Green: The following table shows the total number of removals and voluntary departures of Libyan, Algerian and Tunisian nationals from the UK to their respective countries of origin in each year from 2006 to 2010.
| Removals and voluntary departures (1,2) of Algerian, Libyan and Tunisian nationals to their country of origin (3) —January 2006 to December 2010 | |||||
| Number of departures | |||||
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 (4) |
| (1) Includes enforced removals, persons departing voluntarily after notifying the UK Border Agency of their intention to leave prior to their departure, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and persons who it has been established left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (2) Removals and voluntary departures recorded on the system as at the dates on which the data extracts were taken. (3) Destination as recorded on source database. (4) Provisional figures. Figures may under record due to data cleansing and data matching exercises that take place after the extracts are taken. | |||||
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within ‘Immigration Statistics’. The data on removals and voluntary departures are available in tables rv.01 to rv.08 from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
Entry Clearances
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier Four visa holders had left the UK on completion of their studies as of 1 September (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011. [77800]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is not able to provide the information requested. The e-Borders system enables checks to be made on individuals arriving or exiting the country at a majority of the points of entry to the UK but will not be fully rolled out until 2015.
Fireworks
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on amending legislation in respect of the sale of fireworks to limit their purchase to one week before 5 November. [77144]
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Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply as I have responsibility for fireworks legislation.
I have received no representations on amending legislation in respect of the sale of fireworks to limit their purchase to one week before 5 November.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) she or (b) officials of her Department have met representatives of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to discuss their proposals in respect of the sale of fireworks. [77143]
Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply as I have responsibility for fireworks legislation.
Neither I, nor officials within this Department, have met representatives of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to discuss their proposals in respect of the sale of fireworks.
Gangs
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many gangs have been identified in (a) each London borough and (b) each police force area in each of the last five years. [78031]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 1 November 2011]:Data on gangs have not been systematically captured in the UK. However evidence suggests that gang membership is relatively rare though it can be a serious problem in specific areas. The Association of Chief Police Officers is undertaking an exercise to map gang activity in some forces in England, and will report by the end of the year.
Hillsborough Disaster
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, column 45W, on Hillsborough Stadium, whether papers submitted by South Yorkshire Police to the Government concerning the Hillsborough disaster will be treated as Government papers. [77568]
Mrs May [holding answer 31 October 2011]:All papers held by Government in relation to the Hillsborough disaster, including papers submitted to Government by outside organisations, have been made available, in full and uncensored, to the Hillsborough Independent Panel.
Migration
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date she expects to reduce net migration to tens of thousands. [74514]
Mrs May: We expect the Government's policies to reduce net migration to Britain to the tens of thousands by the end of the Parliament.
Prisoners' Release: Foreign Nationals
Chris Bryant:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners had not been removed at the end of their custodial
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sentence and were not being detained for immigration purposes in
(a)
May 2009 and
(b)
May 2010. [78032]
Damian Green [holding answer 1 November 2011]:In May 2009 there were 2,483 foreign national offenders who had not been removed at the end of their sentence and were not being detained for Immigration purposes. In May 2010, there were 3,808.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions: EU Law
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether it is his policy that the UK should exceed the minimum requirements for EU carbon dioxide reductions. [77815]
Gregory Barker: The UK's 2020 target of a reduction in greenhouse gases of at least 34%, as laid down under the Climate Change Act 2008 is consistent with the UK's share of the overall EU targets under the Climate and Energy package agreed on 12 December 2008, which sets the EU policy framework for the period 2013 to 2020.
The Government set the level for the fourth carbon budget (2023-27) at 1,950 MtCO2e, which is equivalent to an average reduction of 50% over the period, from the 1990 baseline. Meeting the fourth carbon budget depends on progress on the EU 2020 target up to 2020, the 2050 roadmap beyond and the UK share of the EU ETS. Whether or not we manage to reduce emissions by the amount required to meet carbon budgets will depend on the level of the UK's share of the EU ETS cap. The UK is pushing for the EU to show more ambition by moving to a tighter 2020 emissions target, which in turn will drive a more stringent EU ETS cap.
If by 2014 our UK commitments place us on a different emissions trajectory than the EU ETS trajectory agreed by the EU, we will, as appropriate, revise up our budget to align it with the actual EU trajectory.
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [77490]
Gregory Barker: DECC employed one consultant as of 30 September 2011. Full details of DECC staffing information can be found on the DECC website by following this link:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/about_decc/about_decc.aspx
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2011, Official Report, columns 185-86W, on departmental procurement, how many of the contracts referred to were for consultancy services; and if he will make a statement. [77507]
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Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has advertised 40 contracts on the Contracts Finder website since May 2010. Twelve of these contracts were for consultancy services.
Energy
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has to mark the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All in 2012. [78104]
Gregory Barker: The Department for Energy and Climate Change is working with the Department for International Development to develop plans for UK engagement, including through the UN Secretary General's Sustainable Energy For All initiative, which aims to achieve universal access to energy, improved energy efficiency and enhanced deployment of renewable energy. DECC will support this through their work with DFID to develop programmes on energy access and sustainable energy under the International Climate Fund.
Energy: Meters
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take in respect of his smart meter rollout to ensure that the system is secure against hacking by third parties. [77847]
Charles Hendry: The Government are putting robust arrangements in place for the security of the smart metering system, which have been informed by a rigorous risk assessment. DECC has a dedicated team of security experts within the Smart Metering Implementation Programme, who perform ongoing risk assessments in order to identify the nature of possible threats, including hacking by third parties.
Security requirements are being developed to minimise: (i) the likelihood of such an event taking place, and (ii) the impact should it occur. The development of these requirements has involved extensive consultation with other Government Departments and relevant agencies, as well as with industry.
We have a comprehensive risk assessment and we are developing a plan for implementation, which will specify the enduring security governance roles and responsibilities to ensure risks are appropriately managed.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) policy and (b) legislative proposals he plans to bring forward in respect of the regulation of shale gas exploration. [77971]
Charles Hendry: Shale gas exploration is relatively new to the UK and in its early stages and my Department and other key regulatory bodies, including the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, are working closely together to ensure effective monitoring and appropriate control of these activities.
As is already the case, applicants for licences have to demonstrate that they have the technical and economic means to conduct operations properly. In future onshore
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licensing rounds, applicants wishing to explore for shale gas will have to demonstrate that they have the appropriate competences and management systems, including systems to ensure protection of the environment. In addition we will be ensuring that the area and quality of the acreage awarded will not exceed the capacity of the industry, both the oil companies and their supply chain, to deliver their proposed work programmes both in a timely manner and to the highest of standards.
Overall, we consider that the regulatory system governing UK onshore oil and gas developments, including shale gas, is robust, and that the key regulatory bodies have appropriate powers to regulate these activities. I have accordingly no present plans for new legislation.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people (a) nationally and (b) in Milton Keynes unitary authority area have participated in the warm home discount scheme. [78247]
Gregory Barker: The warm home discount scheme launched on 1 April 2011 and covers Great Britain. It will run for four years until end March 2015. The total number of people who have been supported in 2011-12 is not yet known, but an estimated 2 million people are expected to be helped and the scheme will be worth up to £250 million this year.
Help will be provided in four ways, through:
The Core Group—this will provide energy supplier funded rebates (worth £120 in winter 2011-12) on electricity bills for people who receive pension credit guarantee credit only and meet some other eligibility criteria. Over 600,000 rebates are expected to be provided this winter.
The Broader Group—this will provide energy supplier funded rebates (worth £120 in winter 2011-12) on electricity bills for a Broader Group of low income and vulnerable people determined by each energy supplier and agreed with Ofgem.
Continued help via existing social or discounted fuel tariffs. This will decrease over each year of the scheme as the number of people receiving a rebate in the Broader Group grows.
Support through industry initiatives carried out by the energy suppliers to provide support to tackle fuel poverty other than direct discounts on energy bills e.g. debt help lines or the provision of energy advice for low income and vulnerable consumers. These will be approved by Ofgem in line with the scheme requirements.
Regional or unitary breakdowns are not available.
Transport
Procurement
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account her Department takes of (a) socio-economic factors and (b) potential revenues for the Exchequer in the awarding of contracts. [76553]
Norman Baker: Public sector procurers are required to assess value for money from the perspective of the contracting authority using criteria linked to the subject matter of the contract, including compliance with the published specification.
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Wider socio-economic benefits that do not accrue to the contracting authority cannot be taken into account at tender evaluation stage as they do not relate to the subject matter of a contract from the point of view of the contracting authority.
An assessment of public procurement tendering is being undertaken as part of the growth review. It is intended that the outcome of this assessment will be announced at the end of November.
Large Goods Vehicles
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the status is of her Department's proposed increase in maximum trailer size for articulated heavy goods vehicles; and what assessment she has made of the potential effects of the increase on (a) levels of cyclists' safety and (b) the environment. [74179]
Mike Penning: The Government have just published their response to the consultation on the use of longer semi-trailers, including a revised impact assessment which takes account of additional information provided in the course of the consultation. This is available on:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-06
The impact assessment covers both environmental impact and safety, but does not disaggregate the safety risk between different categories of road user.
Railway Stations: Greater London
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) the Association of Train Operating Companies and (b) Transport for London on the re-zoning of overground train stations in Kingston and Surbiton. [77792]
Mrs Villiers: No recent discussions on this subject have been held either with the Association of Train Operating Companies or with Transport for London.
Railways: Concessions
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse was of travel concessions issued to former employees of British Rail in each year since 1997. [61365]
Norman Baker: The information is not held by the Department for Transport as the costs of providing concessionary travel to retired former employees of British Rail is met by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
Rescue Services
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what locations the coastguard has used emergency towing vessels in operations off the Scottish coast in the last five years. [74120]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has tasked an emergency towing vessel to the following locations in Scottish waters in the years 2007 to 2011.
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One incident—East of Lerwick
Three incidents—north of Strathy Point (between Cape Wrath and Dunnet Head); north of Cape Wrath; and west of Skye, Little Minch
One incident—Lerwick, Shetland
Five incidents—north of Cape Wrath; east of Copinsay, Orkney; west of Skye Bridge: south of Rhum; and Glendanda
Two incidents—north-east of Berwick—later berthed Dundee; and north north-east Lerwick
Shipping: Safety
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to ensure that emergency towing vessels are available for spot-purchasing at the time of a reported emergency. [74165]
Mike Penning [holding answer 13 October 2011]: Because the Government consider ship salvage to be a commercial matter there are no plans to ensure the provision of emergency towing vessels for spot purchase.
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what average time she expects to elapse between the time of an emergency call-out of a training vessel to (a) the spot purchase of an emergency towing vessel and (b) the arrival of such a vessel on the scene of the incident. [74166]
Mike Penning [holding answer 13 October 2011]: It is not possible to be specific about the timetable that would be associated with the provision of salvage in emergency towing.
Among other things the time to scene will depend on market conditions within the towing and salvage industries, the geographic disposition of vessels and their suitability to the task.
Since 1 October 2011 the Scotland Office has been responsible for leading efforts to secure a long-term replacement for the emergency towing vessel (ETV) service in waters around Scotland surrounding the Northern and Western Isles.
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of emergency towing vessels that can be spot-purchased. [74176]
Mike Penning [holding answer 13 October 2011]: It is not possible to estimate or accurately forecast the number of emergency towing vessels available at either a suitable time or place to service a spot-purchase when needed.
The principal towage and salvage brokers monitor the towage market continually and track the availability of tugs.
The brokers provide the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) with real-time information that they can use when coordinating a response to drifting and disabled ships.
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Since 1 October 2011 the Scotland Office has been responsible for leading efforts to secure a long-term replacement for the emergency towing vessel (ETV) service in waters around Scotland surrounding the Northern and Western Isles.
Shipping: Scotland
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with the private maritime sector in Scotland on proposed changes to the maritime safety, emergency salvage and rescue operations in Scotland. [73646]
Mike Penning [holding answer 13 October 2011]: The proposals for the modernisation of Her Majesty's Coastguard have been subject to two UK wide consultations since December 2010. These consultations have included the private maritime sector.
Meetings were convened to discuss and consider the arrangements for emergency towage and salvage, following the end of the contract for the provision of emergency towing vessels (ETVs). These included a wide range of participants from a broad spectrum of maritime interests, including tug operators, commercial and Ministry of Defence salvors, and shipping industry representatives, in addition to port authorities, lighthouse authorities, local government authorities and officials for the Scottish Government.
Since 1 October 2011 the Scotland Office has been responsible for leading efforts to secure a long-term replacement for the emergency towing vessel (ETV) service in waters around Scotland surrounding the Northern and Western Isles.
Treasury
Banks: Finance
Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the optimal leverage ratio for UK banks. [77430]
Mr Hoban: The optimal level of leverage will depend on the risk profile of the assets and exposures which vary from bank to bank and over time. Given a lack of consistent time series data and the presence of varying bank business models, it is not possible to determine with a high level of confidence an optimal leverage ratio for a wide range of banks and over an extended period of time. However there is evidence that banks can be excessively leveraged and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) has published relevant analysis, indicating that banks which had particularly high levels of leverage prior to the financial crisis were more likely to experience stress during that period. Further details of the BCBS's analysis can be found at:
http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs180.pdf
As part of the Basel III agreement, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision agreed to introduce a non-risked based leverage ratio to constrain the build-up of leverage in the banking sector and provide a backstop to risk weight based capital requirements. This will help reduce the leverage ratio for banks to a more sustainable level. In the EU, Basel III will be implemented through legislation
2 Nov 2011 : Column 650W
on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms, which the Commission adopted proposals for on 20 July 2011.
Civil Servants: Pensions
Dr Phillip Lee: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many retired civil servants received pre-tax pensions of over (a) £50,000 and (b) £100,000 per year in the last year for which figures are available. [77429]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply.
As at 31 October 2011 there were 484,500 former civil servants in receipt of a pension from the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Of these, 969 were receiving pre-tax pensions over £50,000 per annum including 12 who were in receipt of pre-tax pensions over £100,000 per annum.
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [77484]
Miss Chloe Smith: HM Treasury does not capture and/or record the quantity of resource deployed by suppliers, who are responsible for managing their resources to deliver the outcomes as agreed in these contracts. This information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Equitable Life Assurance Society
Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the findings of the investigation by the Equitable Members Action Group Ltd and David Forfar in respect of pre-1992 with profits annuitants; and if he will make a statement. [77617]
Mr Hoban: I am aware of Mr Forfar's work, but the exclusion of pre-September 1992 with profits annuitants is determined not by their investment performance but by the application of the ombudsman's report.
Monetary Policy
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made about whether quantitative easing is a necessary condition for his Department's plans for credit easing. [77781]
Mr Hoban: The purpose of quantitative easing (QE) is to provide the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) with an additional policy tool to low interest rates, which can be used to support nominal demand in the economy in order to meet the inflation target in the medium term.
The Government are considering options on credit easing. Such interventions should complement the MPC's QE. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), will provide more details on credit easing at the Autumn Statement on 29 November.
2 Nov 2011 : Column 651W
National Insurance Contributions: Gedling
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in Gedling constituency have participated in the National Insurance contribution holiday scheme since its introduction. [67300]
Mr Gauke: As of 25 October 2011, HMRC has received 8,761 successful applications for the NICs holiday. A breakdown by constituency, information on the amounts claimed and jobs supported will be published in the NICs holiday factsheet in the House of Commons Library in the autumn.
Research and Development Tax Credit
Julian Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small and medium-sized enterprises claimed research and development tax relief in the last year for which figures are available. [77672]
Mr Gauke: Numbers of companies claiming R and D tax credits each year under the scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises are published on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/randdtcmenu.htm
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he has received representations concerning (a) the Big Society Bank, (b) the Work Programme and (c) volunteering since June 2011; and if he will make a statement; [75069]
(2) what discussions he has had about promoting social enterprises within his Department's area of responsibility in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77019]
Miss Chloe Smith [holding reply sent 27 October 2011]: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with the previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions. Details of meetings between Treasury Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the HMT website.
Culture, Media and Sport
Consultants Procurement
Mr Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of
2 Nov 2011 : Column 652W
18 October 2011,
Official Report,
columns 856-58W, on departmental procurement, whether any of the contracts are for providing consulting services with full-time equivalent staff working for his Department; and if he will make a statement. [77510]
John Penrose: None of the contracts is for providing consulting services with full-time equivalent staff working for this Department.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 856-58W, on departmental procurement, whether any of the contracts were not put out to tender; and for what reasons. [77511]
John Penrose: In accordance with departmental policy, some low value contracts (under £1,000) were not put out to tender as it would not have been cost-effective for either the Department or the potential supplier. In a small number of other cases there was only one suitable supplier with the expertise and capability of delivering the very specific service the contract demanded, however, again, these examples only affected contracts of low monetary value.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he receives any external funding for (a) his ministerial office and (b) his advisers; and what the (i) source and (ii) amount is of any such funding. [78014]
John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport receives no external funding for his ministerial office or special advisers.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has provided in grant in aid to each arm's length body for which he is responsible in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much he expects to allocate to each body in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15. [77721]
John Penrose: The grant in aid shown in the following table has been, or is planned to be, made available to the Department’s arm's length bodies for the period 2010-11 to 2014-15:
| Grant in aid | |||||
| £ million | |||||
| Body | 2010-11 (1) | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
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| (1 )2010-11 figures represent final outturn data. (2) Denotes bodies which are being abolished. (3) From 2013-14, S4C will receive additional funding from the BBC. (4) Net capital receipts assumed in spending review during 2014-15. | |||||
World War I: Anniversaries
Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. [76064]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 21 October 2011]: Traditionally, we mark the anniversary of the conclusion of a conflict rather than its beginning. So the main commemorations will be on the centenary of the end of the First World War in 1918. However, given the importance of the centenary of world war one, a number of anniversaries of key events from 2014 to 2018, including the beginning of the war, will be marked in an appropriate way. The Prime Minister has asked my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) to act as his special representative and coordinator for world war one commemorations. My hon. Friend will work with international partners to ensure that the UK plays a full and active role; and will coordinate the cross-Whitehall effort in respect of the commemorations.
Communities and Local Government
Civil Servants: Procurement
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost of employing civil servants to undertake procurement for his Department in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the cost of (i) employing civil servants and (ii) engaging consultants to undertake procurement for his Department in 2011-12. [73193]
Robert Neill: The total pay costs (including employer's contributions) of employing permanent civil servants to undertake procurement are given in the following table (which also includes the cost of Agency staff during this period):
| £ | ||||
|
|
2008-9 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
In 2009-10 the overall number of procurement staff was increased to address a number of performance
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related issues raised after a review of the Department's procurement capability. During this period agency staff were used as a temporary measure.
The Department’s business plan estimates expenditure of £1.3 million on employing civil servants to undertake procurement in the current year, 2011-12. The Department has no plans to engage consultants to undertake procurement and has made no estimates of the cost of engaging such consultants.
The Department’s procurement team managed £222 million of expenditure in 2010-11. The work involved contract management of existing contractual arrangements and tendering new requirements.
Advertising
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010. [75649]
Robert Neill: My Department has not spent any money directly on job advertising since May 2010.
It did spend £1,614 on a fee to an executive search agency for a senior post; this was initially commissioned in April 2010 under the last Administration.
To place such spending in context, the Department spent £601,605 on advertising (of all types) in 2009-10.
Procurement
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts of a monetary value of (a) between £100,000 and £500,000, (b) between £500,000 and £1 million, (c) between £1 million and £5 million, (d) between £5 million and £10 million, (e) between £10 million and £50 million, (f) between £50 million and £100 million, (g) between £100 million and £500 million, (h) between £500 million and £1 billion, (i) between £1 billion and £5 billion and (j) over £5 billion his Department and its predecessors have entered into with private suppliers in each year since 1990. [74209]
Robert Neill: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
In accordance with the Government's transparency agenda the Department is publishing all contract awards from January 2011 on the Contracts Finder website:
http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what company or Government service is used to undertake security vetting at (a) counter terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level in his Department. [77868]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government uses Defence Business Services National Security Vetting to undertake security vetting at (a) counter terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level.
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Departmental Travel
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on first class travel by (a) air, (b) boat and (c) train since May 2010. [75524]
Robert Neill: The following table details the Department’s expenditure on first class travel from the last financial year and the current financial year:
| Financial year | |||
| 1st Class Travel | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 (1) |
| (1) To 14 September 2011 | |||
These figures are taken from management information supplied by the Department’s travel management company.
These figures show how this Government are making significant savings in the running of the Department compared to the waste and excess that was a hallmark of the last Administration.
EU Grants and Loans
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to allocate funds received from the European Regional Development Fund to projects in the English regions. [77808]
Grant Shapps: The English European Regional Development Fund programmes are currently allocating funds and have until the end of 2015 to complete spending.
Local Government: Consultants
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which private sector companies are providing free consultancy services to each local authority; and what the nature of the services provided is in each case. [36436]
Robert Neill: Information on which private sector companies are providing free consultancy to local authorities is not collected centrally by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Tenants
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to housing tenure reform as part of the big society initiative. [77755]
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Andrew Stunell: The Government have embarked on a radical programme to shift power from Whitehall to the local level—to councils, housing associations and communities. Through the Localism Bill we are reforming the social housing system to make it fairer, striking a proper balance between the needs of new and existing tenants.
There will be no change to the security and rights of existing social tenants.
Defence
Armed Forces: Military Aircraft
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many (a) maintenance crew and (b) airframes there are in the (i) RAF, (ii) Fleet Air Arm and (iii) Army Air Corps; [R] [77535]
(2) how many aircraft per squadron there are in the (a) RAF, (b) Fleet Air Arm and (c) Army Air Corps; [R] [77536]
Peter Luff: Aircraft maintenance is carried out by service personnel, Ministry of Defence civilians and as part of contractual agreements with industry across all three services. Relevant data are not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the number of aircraft per squadron is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The number of aircraft assigned to front line squadrons will vary on a daily basis according to normal fleet management activities, including requirements for mandated maintenance and upgrade programmes.
The number of aircraft in-service with the RAF, Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps is provided in the following table.
| Aircraft type | In-service fleet (number) |
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Armed Forces: Recruitment
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 2011 intake at joint services command and staff college are from the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy. [R] [77537]
Peter Luff: As at 31 October 2011 the Joint Services Command and Staff College had the following UK military students on courses:
| Course | Royal Navy/Royal Marines/Royal Fleet Auxiliary | Army | Royal Air Force |
Armed Forces: Young People
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to review its policy on minimum age recruitment to the armed services since the UK's ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict in 2003. [78043]
Peter Luff: We remain fully committed to meeting our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, and have taken steps to bestow special safeguards on young people under the age of 18, including the introduction of administrative guidelines to ensure that they are withdrawn from units which are deploying on operations. We believe that our policies on under 18s in service are robust and comply with national and international law. The minimum age at which individuals may join the armed forces remains at 16 years, which broadly reflects the minimum statutory school leaving age. There are no plans to change this.
We take pride in the fact that our armed forces provide challenging and constructive education, training and employment opportunities for young people equipping them with valuable and transferable skills.
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Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the value of the work for each of the sub-contractors in the Lockheed Martin UK Warrior Transformation Team. [77646]
Peter Luff: This is a matter for Lockheed Martin UK who has responsibility for these sub-contracts.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate what proportion of the monetary value of the work on the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme will be undertaken in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) overseas over the course of that contract. [77647]
Peter Luff: The Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme will create and sustain approximately 600 British jobs within prime contractor, Lockheed Martin UK and its supply chain, representing 90% UK content, as the programme moves through the demonstration and manufacture phases. As a percentage of total contract value, approximately 83% of the work will be carried out in England, 7% in Scotland and 10% overseas.
The monetary value of sub-contracts that contribute to the overall programme is a matter for Lockheed Martin UK.
AWE Aldermaston
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected cost is of the Technology Development Centre to be built at Aldermaston. [77578]
Peter Luff: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests and impact on the formulation or development of Government policy.
British Army Training Unit Suffield
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on the British Army Training Unit Suffield in each of the last 10 years. [77242]
Peter Luff: Records of the amount the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has spent on the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) only exist for the last five years and are provided in the following table:
| Financial year | £ million |
These figures exclude manpower costs for military and MOD civil servants, and also for stock consumption, since these costs would be incurred wherever the Army is training.
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The costs do include the impact of foreign exchange variations which accounts for an element of the increase between years 2008-09 and 2009-10, along with an increase in training activity at BATUS across the same period.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the cost of army training facilities of transferring such facilities from Germany to the British Army Training Unit Suffield. [77282]
Peter Luff: The training that currently takes place in Germany is unit-level training and similar training also takes place in the UK. This training is conducted close to where individual units are based and we do not anticipate this changing in the future. The training that takes place in the British Army Training Unit, Suffield (BATUS) is higher level collective training, where a number of units join together to form battle groups for large scale exercises in preparation for deployment. For this reason, no assessment has been made of the costs of transferring Germany-based training facilities to the BATUS.
Clyde Submarine Base
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost of the refurbishment of the explosives handling jetty at RNAD Coulport. [77648]
Mr Robathan: The latest estimated total cost (including VAT) of the refurbishment of the explosives handling jetty at RNAD Coulport is £31.70 million.
The project is on budget and on target to reach completion in December this year, approximately six months ahead of the original programme.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications from employees to run services for which his Department is directly responsible he has received since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77609]
Mr Robathan: There have been no formal applications to date. However, the Ministry of Defence continues to provide support to employees from two business areas as they consider whether to make an application.
IRG Ltd
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has awarded any contracts to IRG Ltd. [77160]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence's contracts database has no record of contracts placed with Iraq Research Group Ltd in recent years.
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Italy: Unmanned Air Vehicles
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of discussions between his Department and the Italian Government on medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles. [77283]
Peter Luff: Recent engagements between the UK Ministry of Defence and Italian Government have provided both nations the opportunity to share their views on medium altitude long endurance, unmanned aerial vehicles. The UK has undertaken to work bilaterally with France on this capability, as stated at the 2010 UK-France Summit and our first priority is therefore to ensure the success of this agreement.
Nuclear Power Stations: Safety
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is conducting nuclear stress tests as required by the European Commission for defence nuclear establishments and reactors. [77649]
Peter Luff: All duty holders in the defence nuclear programme are undertaking work to consider the application of lessons to be learnt from the Fukushima event. Although outside the scope of the European Commission's remit, this work is being informed by the stress tests developed by the European Nuclear Safety Regulatory Group adapted to be appropriate to the activity concerned.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a redacted copy of his review of the safety of the defence nuclear programme in the light of the Fukushima nuclear accident. [77650]
Peter Luff: Redacted copies of the preliminary report, and supporting initial statement by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as reasonably possible. It is intended that the final report will also be placed in the public domain in due course.
Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on (a) training Ugandan and Burundian soldiers to serve in the Amisom force and (b) funding Amisom operations in Somalia in each of the last three years. [76764]
Peter Luff: The British Government often train alongside or assist in the training of other nations' troops. The United Kingdom's support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is funded through the Conflict Pool, not the Defence budget.
The Conflict Pool, which is constructed from joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence (MOD) funding, has provided funding for MOD support to the training of the armed forces of Uganda and Burundi serving in AMISOM as follows:
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| £ | ||
|
|
Uganda | Burundi |
Technical support to AMISOM operations is also funded through the Conflict Pool and paid for by both the FCO and the MOD. It has amounted to:
|
|
£ |
These figures exclude the UK's assessed contributions to the United Nations and European Union support to AMISOM. These are paid by the FCO.
Warships
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many warships are available for active service in the Navy. [78010] [Official Report, 15 December 2011, Vol. 537, c. 2MC.]
Peter Luff: Details of the number of Royal Navy warships available, in various states of readiness, for active service are provided in the following table:
|
|
Number |
| (1) HMS Illustrious is now operating in the Landing Platform Helicopter role, as well as HMS Ocean. | |
Yemen
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) material and (b) technical support his Department provided to the Yemeni Government in each of the last five years. [77551]
Peter Luff:
Given the serious threat al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) poses to UK national security, Her Majesty’s Government have been working with the Yemeni Government for a number of years supporting them in disrupting AQAP. This support has included training, delivered both in Yemen and in UK, and the provision of a limited amount of non-lethal equipment. At the centre of our all training and support is a
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commitment to promoting human rights. The UK Government seek assurances that the forces we are involved with will not be deployed on operations outside of their mandate or in breach of human rights.
The UK has provided professional development training for officers of the Yemeni security forces as follows:
|
|
Number of students |
This training includes elements which enhance an individual’s understanding of the control and employment of security forces in accordance with the rule of law.
At the request of the Yemeni Government the UK provided training for the Yemeni Central Security Force Public Order Battalion in October 2010 and February 2011. The aim of this training was to reduce the use of lethal force in public order situations and address a source of grievance among Yemeni citizens by developing the capability of the Yemeni Central Security Forces to be able to deal with public order situations in an accountable and professional manner. The training, which was conducted in Yemen, included human rights and law of armed conflict training at the request of the Yemenis; escalation and de-escalation drills were included as were the principles of use of minimum force. As part of this training package a small amount of non-hazardous and non-lethal public order equipment, to the value of £90,000, was gifted to Yemen from surplus UK stocks in order to cover Yemeni capability gaps and to ensure that UK techniques could be taught and applied correctly. This equipment was delivered to the Yemeni Central Security Force in February 2011.
The UK has also worked with the Yemeni Counter Terrorism Unit, in concert with other donors, to increase Yemen's capability to tackle AQAP, including training and advice over the past five years and the provision of equipment and infrastructure in financial year 2010-11. The UK has also delivered training, advice and the provision of rigid inflatable boats to the Yemeni coastguard, based in both Sana'a and Aden, since 2005, as part of our wider counterterrorism and regional security efforts.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s counterterrorism programme is the principal funding stream for the Government’s counterterrorism work overseas, overseen by a cross-government programme board. A decision to fund a particular project is taken only after an assessment of possible impacts and human rights implications has been completed.
The political and security situation in Sana'a has deteriorated significantly this year; consequently this training was suspended in May 2011.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Consultants
Mr Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff working for his Department in (a) France and (b) the US were
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employed as consultants in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [77575]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold a central record of consultants working in overseas missions. Procurement activities are devolved to directorates in the UK and a network of nearly 270 posts overseas. The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Any use of consultants would be subject to rigorous scrutiny and the acceptance of a business case.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he receives any external funding for (a) his ministerial office and (b) his advisers; and what the (i) source and (ii) amount is of any such funding. [77594]
Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs receives no external funding for either (a) his ministerial office or (b) his advisers.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations Ministers and senior officials in his Department have given speeches in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77356]
Mr Lidington: This information is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications from employees to run services for which his Department is directly responsible he has received since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77606]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has no record of any applications from employees to run services. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 20 October 2011, Official Report, column 1108W.
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of security vetting is required for the post of (a) head of communications, (b) deputy head of communications and (c) head of press office in his Department; and if he will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010. [77900]
Mr Lidington: The booklet “HMG Personnel Security Controls”, describes the circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks and is publicly available on the Cabinet Office website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
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Since May 2010, the posts mentioned have been held by: (a) Ian Hargreaves and then Andrew Whyte (director of communications); (b) no post with this title exists; (c) Carl Newns.
Government Communications Headquarters: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the budget was for GCHQ in each of the last two years; what the planned budget is in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [77354]
Mr Lidington: The budgets for the Security Service, SIS and GCHQ form the Single Intelligence Account (SIA) which is voted by Parliament as a consolidated allocation. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal details of the individual Agency budgets beyond what is already published. Most recently the overall SIA budget details can be found at paragraphs 39 and 41 of the Intelligence and Security Committee's (ISC) 2010-11 Annual Report which was published on 13 July 2011 (Cm 8114).
IRG Ltd
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had meetings with representatives of IRG Ltd. [77162]
Mr Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers in this Government have no record or recollection of having held a meeting with representatives of IRG Ltd. In July 2010, Mr Stephen Crouch approached the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham), at Juba airport and they spoke briefly.
Kosovo: Borders
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the border dispute in Kosovo. [77803]
Mr Lidington: I am following the situation in northern Kosovo very closely and receive frequent detailed reporting from officials. I discussed this issue with Serbian leaders during my visit to Belgrade on 31 October to 1 November. The issue was also discussed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he met the Kosovo Foreign Minister on 20 October.
The situation in northern Kosovo remains tense but calm. The border points are open and under EULEX control, with NATO’s peacekeeping force, KFOR, providing security. There has been no repeat of the 27 September attack on KFOR troops. Kosovo Serb barricades remain across northern Kosovo. KFOR has started to remove the barriers in conformity with its mandate to guarantee security and freedom of movement.
The EU-facilitated Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia offers the best opportunity for Pristina and Belgrade to resolve their differences in a way that improves the lives of their people and helps both countries progress in a more stable manner towards EU accession. We urge the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to reengage in
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the Dialogue as soon as possible and to implement those agreements already reached.
UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the adoption in its present form of the draft protocol on cluster munitions in the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on universalisation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and promotion of its norms as required under Article 21. [77164]
Alistair Burt: We believe that engaging in negotiations for a protocol on cluster munitions in the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) is consistent with paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 21. These are negotiations within the framework of an International Humanitarian Law treaty. They are aiming to establish restrictions on a significant number of cluster munitions, which would have a notable humanitarian effect. A protocol could serve as a first step towards wider prohibitions for those states not in a position to accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the near future. Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations at the CCW we will continue to encourage non-party states to accede to the Oslo Convention with the goal of universalising the Convention.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice his Department has received on the Government's interpretative declaration on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. [78044]
Mr Jeremy Browne: It is not Government practice to disclose whether they have sought legal advice or the content of any advice obtained. The UK played a full and active role in negotiations leading to the drafting of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. The UK signed the Optional Protocol in September 2000 and ratified on 24 June 2003. The Government's understanding of their obligations is clarified by the interpretive declaration they made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification. This made clear that the armed forces would continue to recruit from age 16 but included a clear commitment to take all feasible measures to ensure those who had not yet reached the age of 18 years old did not take a direct part in hostilities. The Government remain fully committed to meeting their obligations under the Protocol and welcomes the steps that have been taken to bestow special safeguards on young people under 18. We believe that our policies on under 18s are robust and compliant with national and international law. We will continue to keep them under review.
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World War I: Anniversaries
Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to mark the 100(th) anniversary of the start of the First World War. [76066]
Mr Lidington [holding answer 21 October 2011]: Traditionally, we mark the anniversary of the conclusion of a conflict rather than its beginning. So the main commemorations will be on the centenary of the end of the First World War in 1918. However, given the importance of the centenary of World War 1, a number of anniversaries of key events from 2014 to 2018, including the beginning of the war, will be marked in an appropriate way. The Prime Minister has asked my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), to act as his Special Representative and Co-ordinator for World War 1 Commemorations. My hon. Friend will work with international partners to ensure that the UK plays a full and active role; and will co-ordinate the cross-Whitehall effort in respect of the commemorations.
Yemen
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) material and (b) technical support his Department provided to the Yemeni Government in each of the last five years. [77549]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK has provided material and technical support to the Yemeni Government over the last five years as part of our counter terrorism assistance to reduce the risk from international terrorism to the UK and UK interests overseas. We have been working with the Yemeni Government to increase Yemen’s capability to tackle Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, including through the provision of training and advice, for example to the Yemeni Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and Yemeni Coastguard. Since the escalation in violence both projects have now been suspended. All our capacity building is delivered in accordance with UK values and human rights standards. Before providing any military support or training to Yemeni forces, the UK Government seek assurances that these forces will not be deployed on operations outside of their mandate or in breach of human rights. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Counter Terrorism Programme is the principal funding stream underpinning Her Majesty's Government’s Counter Terrorism projects overseas. The FCO’s total worldwide Counter Terrorism Programme budget: for financial year (FY) 2011-12— £38 million, FY 2010-11—£38 million, FY 2009-10— £37 million, FY 2008-09—£35 million, FY 2007-08— £16.3 million. In each financial year a proportion of these annual allocations are committed to programmes in Yemen. The majority of our funding in Yemen is delivered through Ministry of Defence projects. Since the attempted aviation attack in Detroit in December 2009, we have also committed funds to assist the Yemeni authorities to improve security at the international airport in Sana'a. Funding has been allocated to provide x-ray machines and electronic trace detection equipment at a cost of £427,000. We have also provided training for Yemeni airport personnel in Dubai and Amman.
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The FCO, together with the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence, contributes to and administers the conflict pool. In the period in question several projects were agreed which have benefited the Government of Yemen in terms of technical expertise. No money was committed directly to the Government of Yemen. Projects involved technical funding to support the work of the Yemeni authorities in addition to training and guidance. These are as follows: 2006-07 border security costing £25,267; 2008-09 Ministry of the Interior CTU and coastguard development costing £93,844; 2009-10 Yemeni Coastguard development costing £50,563; 2010-11 officer training in the UK costing £145,200 and public order training, scaled down to the gifting of non-lethal surplus equipment. In the current financial year funding has been allocated to provide further officer training, but none has yet been spent.
A small bilateral programmes budget is administered by the embassy in Sana'a. While most of the work funded does not involve the Government of Yemen, one recent project was resourced to provide support to the Ministry of the Interior, specifically setting up the first Regional Maritime Security Conference.