Youth Justice Board
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff were employed at the Youth Justice Board on 1 November (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012. [130970]
Mrs Grant: The number of staff employed at the Youth Justice Board on 1 November for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 is set out in the following table: These figures include temporary staff, those on secondment to the Youth Justice Board and contractors.
| Number of staff (headcount) | |
Energy and Climate Change
Boilers: Repairs and Maintenance
Gloria De Piero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average waiting time was for the Warm Front scheme to deal with boiler breakdowns in (a) November, December,
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January, February and March 2010,
(b)
November, December, January, February and March 2011 and
(c)
January, February, March and November 2012. [131026]
Gregory Barker: The average waiting times for breakdowns serviced through WarmSure, the aftercare provider for the Warm Front scheme, for the months requested is set out in the following table. The average response times presented are for all categories of breakdowns reported by customers and not those solely associated with a boiler breakdown. Data are not yet available for November 2012.
| Month | Average response (days) |
Green Deal Scheme
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that homeowners receive assistance to insulate their homes from the Green Deal launch date on 28 January 2013. [130919]
Gregory Barker: Up to and from 28 January 2013, homeowners are being supported to insulate their homes in a number of ways:
Energy Company Obligation CECO)
The new ECO will come into force on 1 January 2013 and is expected to provide about £1.3 billion of support each year for energy saving home improvements targeted at low income and vulnerable households and harder to treat properties, such as those requiring solid wall insulation.
A cashback scheme worth £125 million, will reward households in England and Wales taking early action to improve the energy efficiency of their homes under the Green Deal with direct cash payments from Government. Amounts could be £1,000 or more per household depending on the improvements they install. The Green Deal Cashback Scheme will support the transition to a new energy efficiency market framework by raising awareness of and demand for improvements installed under the Green Deal. We will open the Cashback Scheme in the second week of January to help consumers and businesses get ready to take fullest advantage of the Cashback offer as we build to the full launch of the Green Deal on 28 January 2013 , when the first Green Deal finance plans may be signed.
We are giving £12 million of funding to seven major cities. The money will support demonstrator projects to trial key aspects of the Green Deal and support
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future activity in these areas. Activity includes Green Deal assessments, loan arrangements to fund work and show homes to provide local examples of what can be achieved. Building on this we have offered local authorities in England the opportunity to bid for £10 million to support early delivery and promote future demand for the Green Deal.
The Green Deal will be market driven, with Green Deal Participants leading consumer engagement using their brands and their customer knowledge. However, Government have an important role to play providing impartial advice online at:
www.gov.uk/greendeal
and via the Energy Saving Advice Service helpline (0300 123 1234). A £2.9 million Government communications campaign will help raise awareness and build trust in the Green Deal.
Pay
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2012, Official Report, column 452W, on pay, whether the number given for employees of his Department earning in excess of £80,000 per year is inclusive or exclusive of the number earning in excess of £100,000 per year. [130514]
Gregory Barker [holding answer 27 November 2012]: Pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2012, Official Report, column 452W, to written parliamentary question 128558, the number 21 given for employees of the Department earning in excess of £80,000 per year, as of 30 September 2012, was exclusive of the 13 given for employees of the Department earning in excess of £100,000 per year.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change had 34 employees paid in excess of £80,000 as of 30 September 2012. Of those 34 employees, 21 employees were paid between £80,000 and £100,000 and 13 employees were paid in excess of £100,000.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Burma
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Four-point Plan proposed by the President of Burma as a means of alleviating ethnic conflict in that country. [130433]
Mr Swire: We are cautiously hopeful about the progress the Burmese Government has made in trying to rebuild trust with ethnic groups. We recognise that the reconciliation process, led by President Thein Sein, remains fragile, and we continue to urge all parties to work towards a peaceful future for all of Burma's people.
We are actively supporting the reconciliation process. On 7 November, the Department for International Development announced that the UK Government would contribute a total of £27.17 million for humanitarian support of refugees and internally displaced persons and peace-building activities in Burma.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had on the need for international observers to be deployed in Rakhine state. [130471]
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Mr Swire: We continue to raise our concerns about the recent violence in Rakhine state, and the need for improved security and unrestricted humanitarian access there, with the Burmese Government. The Burmese authorities have, to date, allowed independent observers from foreign governments and international organisations to visit the areas affected by the violence. Officials from our embassy have visited Rakhine state on numerous occasions, including the British ambassador, who led the first independent diplomatic mission to the state in early October and visited again in early November. I will visit Rakhine state during my forthcoming visit to Burma.
We welcomed the formation of the independent Investigative Commission to probe the causes of the violence, but made clear that for the commission to be credible, it needed to involve a consultative process with all the affected communities, including the Rohingya. We are awaiting the initial findings of this commission.
It will be important for any investigations into alleged atrocities to be transparent and thorough, ensuring that those who have committed crimes are held to account for their actions.
Egypt
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the declaration issued by President Mohammed Mursi of Egypt on 22 November 2012. [130967]
Alistair Burt: The UK remains committed to supporting Egypt's political transition and strengthening democracy in Egypt, including through progress on a new constitution which protects the rights of all Egyptians and which is based on broad consensus.
We are aware of concerns about the president's constitutional declaration issued on 22 November and are closely monitoring developments. We note that President Mursi has stated his commitment to completing the transition, including a referendum on the constitution and parliamentary elections.
I have sought assurances from the Egyptian Foreign Minister that a way forward will be found. He has assured me that President Mursi is in dialogue with the Egyptian judiciary and civil society, and hoped this would be settled soon. We will continue to maintain close contact with the Egyptian authorities and the opposition on this issue.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Egypt on the declaration issued by President Mohammed Mursi of Egypt on 22 November 2012. [130968]
Alistair Burt: I discussed the situation in Egypt with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mohamed Kamal Amr, on 27 November and sought reassurances that a way forward would be found. The Foreign Minister assured me that President Mursi was in dialogue with the Egyptian judiciary and civil society and hoped this would be settled soon. We will continue to maintain close contact with the Egyptian authorities and the opposition and monitor developments.
Ian Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the declaration
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issued by President Mohammed Mursi of Egypt on 22 November 2012. [130969]
Alistair Burt: To date our close contact with the European External Action Service and EU member states has been through UK officials. We are also discussing the declaration and its wider implications issue with EU partners in Cairo through our embassy.
Pakistan
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent trends in the number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan. [130434]
Alistair Burt: Pakistan faces a high rate of terrorist attacks directed against the state, religious and ethnic groups and foreign interests. We are seriously concerned by the multiple suicide attacks in Pakistan over the last week, during the Islamic holy month of Muhurram. These horrendous acts of sectarian violence show an appalling contempt for religion and for human life. The British Government are working closely with the Pakistani Government to combat the menace of terrorism and extremism which threatens the people of both our countries.
Staff
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff work for his Department in each location. [130435]
Alistair Burt: In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has 2,524 staff based in London and 282 staff based in Milton Keynes. Overseas, there are 1,878 staff located in 217 of our posts globally, with a further 50 posts covered by remote working or locally engaged staff.
These figures include all FCO civil servants based in the UK and overseas, but do not include staff from FCO services trading fund or the UK Border Agency. Neither do they include locally engaged staff employed overseas.
Deputy Prime Minister
Lord Lieutenants
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the procedure is for the appointment of a Lord Lieutenant; [131046]
(2) in the selection procedure for the appointment of a Lord Lieutenant, which individuals and organisations are formally consulted. [131047]
Miss Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 25 October 2012, Official Report, column 1032W.
Home Department
Antisocial Behaviour
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of calls to the police were concerned with antisocial behaviour in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012 to date. [131022]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: The requested information is not available centrally.
The Home Office collates figures on the number of antisocial behaviour incidents recorded by the police forces of England and Wales but does not collect data on the total number of calls that the police receive or what proportion relate to antisocial behaviour.
Domestic Violence
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of domestic violence occurred in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years. [130686]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The requested information is not available. It is not possible to identify domestic violence cases from the recorded crime figures returned to the Home Office by police forces as these figures are based on counts of crime under the appropriate offence classification (e.g. GBH, ABH) and there are no details on the offender-victim relationship.
Human Trafficking
Mrs Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what members of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking did to raise awareness of human trafficking on or around Anti-Slavery Day. [130380]
Mr Harper: Members of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking (IDMG) participated in a range of events on or around Anti-Slavery Day including:
visiting a support provider; meeting with a trafficking victim; visiting a local school; holding a seminar with a university group; witnessing frontline border operations; attending the Women Against Violence Europe Conference; hosting an event for foreign embassy staff at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to engage with them on victim support issues; and participating in a human trafficking summit organised by the Scottish Government. I met with NGO staff involved in the GIFTbox project and spoke to the BBC as well as chairing a round table event for the private sector, to raise awareness in the hotel industry
The first report of the IDMG was also published on Anti-Slavery Day.
Human Trafficking: Females
Mrs Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will set up an inquiry into the number of women working in nightclubs who have been trafficked into the UK from within the EU and from other parts of the world. [130381]
Mr Harper: The UK Human Trafficking Centre has not identified this as an area of greater trafficking concern than other high profile areas and there are no plans for an inquiry.
Defence
Afghanistan
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of (a) male and (b) female UK military personnel reporting (i) rapes and (ii) sexual assaults in Afghanistan in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [122618]
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Mr Francois: There have been no reported rapes of UK military personnel in Afghanistan. A total of 16 UK military personnel reported sexual assaults in Afghanistan since 2002. Two of those personnel were male and 14 were female.
Since Op Herrick began in 2006, around 123,000 personnel have served in Afghanistan.
Armed Forces: Housing
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2012, Official Report, column 454W, on armed forces: housing, if he will estimate the number of hard-to-treat service family accommodation properties that will benefit from the Energy Company Obligation and the Green Deal. [129223]
Mr Francois: Currently 317 hard-to-treat service family accommodation properties will benefit from the Energy Company Obligation and the Green Deal.
However, as stated in my answer of 19 October, a further 10,000 properties will benefit from improved insulation work as well.
Armed Forces: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many current service personnel were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in England in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011. [130475]
Mr Francois: The following table shows the number of UK service personnel who attended a Ministry of Defence (MOD) Department for Community Mental Health (DCMH) in England, with an assessment of PTSD(1).
(1) All figures are provisional as at 1 October 2012.
| DCMH | Number |
The following table shows the number of UK service personnel assessed with PTSD by the MOD's in-patient provider. In-patient facilities are based in the UK. However, it is not possible to ascertain referral location, and therefore identify those referrals made in England only.
| In-patient provider | Number |
Individuals may have received more than one episode of care from 2009 to 2011 and could therefore be counted in more than one year.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of armed forces personnel were recruited from Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available. [130006]
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Mr Francois: The following table indicates the number of regular recruits, officers and other ranks who joined their respective service through Scottish careers offices.
Contribution to total recruiting from Scottish armed forces career offices (AFCOs) is the best information available. However, while broadly indicative, it should be noted that recruits can join the services at any careers office in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
| Percentage of total regular recruits starting phase 1 training from Scottish AFCOs | |||
| Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force | |
Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2012, Official Report, column 1074W, on armed forces: sexual offences, how many sex offenders are serving with the armed forces overseas by category of offender; and if he will make a statement. [127980]
Mr Francois: As at 12 November 2012, there were three service personnel registered as sex offenders who are serving overseas. All three are Category 1 (Level 1 offenders, the least serious level).
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2012, Official Report, column 704W, on armed forces: sexual offences, in which year the convictions were recorded; in which country the individuals are currently serving; and whether risk assessments were carried out prior to the convicted individuals returning to duty in respect of contact with (a) the public, (b) male and (c) female members of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [128566]
Mr Francois: The details we can release in relation to these cases are restricted by our obligations under the Data Protection Act. I can confirm that the individuals referred to are currently serving in the UK. I can also confirm that their convictions were recorded in 2006 and 2009 respectively.
Primary responsibility for the management of these offenders rests with the civilian police, in accordance with Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), which are designed to reduce the risk of re-offending in order to protect the public. This includes ensuring that a risk management plan is developed. As part of these arrangements, a civilian police offender manager will visit the offenders at least once every 12 months and the offenders will also be monitored during routine MAPPA meetings.
I can also confirm that where an individual is retained in the armed forces, an additional risk assessment is undertaken by their chain of command at the point of their retention, a process which is repeated whenever the individual is posted, or there are significant changes in their place of residence or employment. The chain of command will also consider the severity of the offence when deciding to retain an individual or not.
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Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault were reported by members of the armed forces in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [129266]
Mr Francois: For the number of rape and sexual assault cases reported between 2010 and mid 2012, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, the Minister for the Armed Forces, the right hon. Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), on 25 June 2012, Official Report, column 3W. The additional information now requested is not held centrally, and to provide figures of each reported allegation of rape and sexual assault for each year since 2000 would result in disproportionate cost.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rape allegations were made by (a) female and (b) male members of the armed forces in each year since 2000; in how many of those cases (i) charges were directed for trial and (ii) trials were held; and if he will make a statement. [129421]
Mr Francois: The information requested on the number of rape allegations made by female and male members of the armed forces in each year since 2000 is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The number of cases of rape reported by members of the armed forces to the service police and referred to either the Single Service Prosecuting Authorities (up to 31 December 2008) or the Service Prosecuting Authority (from 1 January 2009) since 2005 and the number of those which resulted in direction for trial and trials held are shown in the following tables:
| Female | |||
| Rape referrals | Directed for trial | Trials held | |
| Male | |||
| Rape referrals | Directed for trial | Trials held | |
We do not hold details of cases investigated by the civilian police.
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Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are serving sentences in military prisons following convictions for (a) sexual assault and (b) rape; what the average length of such sentences is in each category; and if he will make a statement. [129431]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence does not have any military prisons. However, there is a Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester, which is a tri-service detention facility for armed forces personnel and, occasionally, civilians who are subject to service law.
There are currently three armed forces personnel in detention at the Military Corrective Training Centre following a conviction for sexual assault. There is also one member of the armed forces who is detained at Colchester, while awaiting sentencing, having been found guilty of rape.
Those found guilty of a sexual offence are normally discharged on completion of their sentences, and only retained in service in exceptional circumstances.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault reported by members of the armed forces in each year since 2000 resulted in (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction; and if he will make a statement. [129432]
Mr Francois: The information requested on the number of cases of rape and sexual assault reported by members of the armed forces in each year since 2000 is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The number of cases of rape and sexual assault reported by members of the armed forces which resulted in trial and conviction by either the Single Service Prosecuting Authorities (up to 31 December 2008) or the Service Prosecuting Authority (from 1 January 2009) since 2005 is shown in the following tables:
| Rape referrals | Directed for trial | Conviction | |
| (1) One yet to be decided. (2 )Three awaiting trial. | |||
| Sexual assaults | Directed for trial | Conviction | |
| (1 )Four yet to be decided. (2 )Six awaiting trial. | |||
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Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people serving in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Army have a conviction from civil courts for offences of (i) rape and (ii) sexual assaults; how many cases of (A) rape and (B) sexual assault were reported to the civilian police by members of the armed forces in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [129438]
Mr Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 November 2012, Official Report, column 704W. As of 21 November 2012, we were not aware of any further additional convictions from civil courts for offences of rape and sexual assault.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving armed forces personnel in each service have contacted the Royal Military Police to report allegations of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [129445]
Mr Francois: The information requested is not held in the format requested. Figures for each allegation of rape and sexual assault for each year since 2000 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prosecutions for (a) rape and (b) sexual assault there have been of members of the armed forces in Germany since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [129838]
Mr Francois: The information is only held in the format requested for 2005 onwards. Earlier figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Number of armed forces personnel who have been prosecuted(1) for rape in Germany | Number of armed forces personnel who have been prosecuted(1) for sexual assault in Germany | |
| (1) The figures refer to the date of referral to the Service Prosecution Authority. Some of the cases referred may be directed, disposed and/or tried in the following year. | ||
Details of cases investigated by the civilian police are not held by the Ministry of Defence.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Royal Military Police have received specialist training in the investigation of allegations of rape and sexual assault; and if he will make a statement. [129839]
Mr Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 November 2012, Official Report, column 705W.
Since 1 April 2012, a further five personnel have been trained in Home Office accredited training specific to dealing with offences of a sexual nature.
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Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many victim liaison officers are deployed in each service; where such victim liaison officers are deployed; how long on average such victim liaison officers serve; what training they receive; and if he will make a statement. [129840]
Mr Francois: Service victim liaison officers (VLOs) are not a permanent feature in any of the three services. They are appointed by commanding officers as and when the need arises for the period such cover is required. The lowest rank that can carry out the function is petty officer in the Royal Navy or sergeant in the Army and Royal Air Force.
There is no formal requirement for training in this role. Experience preferably in welfare, good oral communication skills and sensitivity are the qualities sought in the individuals selected. Each VLO is appointed on a case by case basis so there is no average length of service that any individual spends in the role.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 616W, on armed forces: sexual offences, how many individuals have left the armed forces following a conviction for (a) sexual assault and (b) rape since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [129920]
Mr Francois: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Danny Nightingale
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Sergeant Danny Nightingale. [128938]
Mr Francois [holding answer 19 November 2012]:There was an Adjournment debate on this issue on 20 November 2012, Official Report, columns 553-60.
The appeal hearing was held on 29 November 2012.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with representatives or family members of Sergeant Danny Nightingale. [130867]
Mr Francois: We are not aware of any requests to meet with representatives or family members of Sergeant Danny Nightingale. Both the Secretary of State for Defence and I retain an interest in this matter. However, while the case has been sub judice no such meetings have taken place.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps Ministers in his Department took regarding the timing of the appeal hearing of Sergeant Danny Nightingale. [130868]
Mr Francois: The timing of the bringing of an appeal was a matter for Sgt Nightingale, as the appellant. This had to be brought within the standard time limits for any appeal to be lodged after a conviction.
30 Nov 2012 : Column 558W
It was then for the Court Martial Appeal Court to set dates for the appeals, and it set a hearing for 29 November 2012 soon after the appeal was lodged.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget is for the (a) Defence Business Services and (b) Defence Infrastructure Organisation in each of the next five years. [130436]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence does not publish details of future budgets for individual parts of the Department. These are adjusted by the Defence Board both in-year, and in each annual budgeting cycle, to ensure that resources remain aligned with outputs.
As announced in the spring, we expect to make savings of around £71 million in the running costs of the services provided by Defence Business Services as a result of the four-year contract awarded to Serco to transform corporate services.
Work is proceeding to determine the future operating model and most appropriate corporate structure for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to deliver the support our armed forces need at the best value for money while delivering savings in operating costs.
Exhumation
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what system of DNA matching his Department uses in seeking to identify human remains prior to burial. [130054]
Mr Francois [holding answer 27 November 2012]: The Ministry of Defence uses external contractors to conduct DNA matching and they use mitochondrial sequencing and Single Tandem Repeats on the Y-chromosome.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been identified as deceased UK armed forces personnel following the discovery of human remains in each year since 2005. [130055]
Mr Francois [holding answer 27 November 2012]:The number of people identified as deceased UK armed forces personnel following the discovery of human remains in each year since 2005 is shown in the following table:
| Year(1) | Identified | Multiple(2) |
| (1) Confirmation as UK personnel did not necessarily happen in the same year as the remains were found. (2) Multiple covers remains recovered from aircraft crash sites where there were several casualties and additional fragmentary remains have been buried together in an existing grave without being linked to a named crew member. | ||
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France
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the identification of the human remains found at Beauchamps-Ligny in France in November 2009. [130052]
Mr Francois [holding answer 27 November 2012]:Since May 2010, the Ministry of Defence has received 34 representations from Members of Parliament, members of the public and one request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 about the identification of the human remains found at Beauchamps-Ligny in France in November 2009.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efforts his Department has made to identify the human remains found at Beauchamps-Ligny in France in November 2009. [130053]
Mr Francois [holding answer 27 November 2012]: The remains of the soldiers found at Beauchamps-Ligny in Northern France are with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in France, and Ministry of Defence officials in the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre are working with the CWGC and Regimental Associations to identify them.
Identification is currently focusing on documentary and forensic analysis, but DNA testing will be used if the remains recovered can be linked to suitable candidates from whom DNA can be obtained.
HMS Victory
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to the loss of immunity from salvage of HMS Victory prior to the ship's gifting to the Maritime Heritage Foundation; what assessment was made of the Maritime Heritage Foundation's ability to fund the legal proceedings to protect the wreck site against unauthorised disturbance; and if he will make a statement. [129684]
Mr Francois: The decision to transfer responsibility for the management of the wreck of HMS Victory that sank in 1744 to a charitable trust was reached following an extensive consultative exercise during which a number of issues were considered including the implications for sovereign immunity of a transfer of ownership, how risks to the site might best be managed and also the practical options for funding to take work forward on the site.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he plans to answer the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 1 October 2012 with regard to Ms R K Hughes; [128540]
(2) when he intends to answer the letter sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 1 October 2012 with regard to Ms R K Hughes. [130478]
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Mr Robathan: I responded to the right hon. Member on 11 October 2012. A further copy of my letter was emailed to the right hon. Member's office on 13 November.
Navy
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what change there will be in the number of military or civilian personnel employed across the Royal Navy due to the transfer of hunter-killer submarines from HM Naval Base Devonport to HM Naval Base Clyde; [128976]
(2) what change there will be in the number of military and civilian personnel employed at HM Naval Base Devonport due to the transfer of hunter-killer submarines to HM Naval Base Clyde; [128977]
(3) how many of the jobs which will be moved to Faslane with the transfer of Astute and Trafalgar class submarines are for (a) service personnel and (b) civilian staff. [128978]
Mr Francois: The number of jobs at Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde is forecast to increase from around 6,700 now to around 8,200 by 2022.
This change is primarily due to an increase of around 1,500 in the number of Royal Navy jobs at the site, of which around 630 will transfer from HMNB Devonport due to the move of the base-port for the Trafalgar class submarines to HMNB Clyde. There are no plans to transfer any Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian jobs from HMNB Devonport.
It is not possible to determine the impact on civilian jobs at HMNB Devonport caused solely by the move of the base-port for the Trafalgar class submarines. It is anticipated, however, that it will not lead to any significant changes in either HMNB Devonport civilian numbers, or in the total number of civilians employed by the MOD. It is also anticipated that it will not lead to an increase in the overall size of the Royal Navy.
The decision to base-port the entire Astute class at HMNB Clyde was taken before any of the submarines in the class entered service. As a result, no transfers of jobs from HMNB Devonport are planned.
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Royal Navy takes to protect offshore wind turbines; and what (a) ships and (b) personnel are used to provide such security. [129903]
Mr Francois: The Royal Navy has not been tasked to provide protection to offshore wind turbines and no assets have been allocated.
Any security or protection arrangements would be the responsibility of the developer.
Pay
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees in his Department are paid in excess of (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000. [128560]
Mr Francois
[holding answer 20 November 2012]: All of those who are employed by the Ministry of Defence need to be paid at a level which, on the one hand, reflects the requirement for financial restraint and value
30 Nov 2012 : Column 561W
for money and, on the other hand, allows us to attract and retain high calibre individuals to undertake challenging roles.
There are some 1,410 employees, of whom 1,340 are military, in the Ministry of Defence who are paid between £80,000 and £100,000 and some 958, of whom 930 are military, who are paid in excess of £100,000. These figures include both military and civilian personnel and represent less than 1% of the workforce.
Public Appointments
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many appointments made to the boards of public bodies overseen by his Department have been (a) male and (b) female since May 2010. [126171]
Mr Francois: Since May 2010, the following appointments have been made to the boards of Ministry of Defence's Trading Fund agencies and non-departmental public bodies:
96 male new appointments plus 168 male reappointments; and
22 female new appointments plus 44 female reappointments.
Radioactive Materials: Transport
Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether it is his policy that replacement vehicles for the current high security vehicles will display radioactive material hazard signs when transporting special nuclear materials; [129452]
(2) what the reasons are for the time taken to withdraw high security vehicles from service; and what arrangements his Department has made to ensure the safety of the vehicles during their extended period of service; [129453]
(3) when the high security vehicles used for the transport of special nuclear materials will be withdrawn from service. [129454]
Mr Dunne: In accordance with current Ministry of Defence policy it is not intended to display radioactive material hazard signs on the truck cargo heavy duty Mk3 when transporting special nuclear materials. Adequate safety arrangements, as required by legislation, are in place to ensure the necessary information is available to emergency services.
The process of withdrawal of the high security vehicles (HSVs) has been delayed as work to complete the rigorous set of safety studies, procedural trials and approvals has been re-prioritised. This is to enable higher priority work within part of the wider nuclear weapons programme to be completed. This type of adjustment is routinely made on a wide-ranging programme such as this. The current HSVs are maintained to a high standard and are subject to an independent Vehicle and Operator Services Agency MOT.
On current plans, the HSVs will be withdrawn from service in late 2013.
RAF Prestwick
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service and (b) civilian personnel have been employed at RAF Prestwick in each of the last five years. [129585]
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Mr Francois: The following table sets out the number of service and civilian personnel employed at RAF Prestwick as at 31 March in each financial year since 2007-08.
| Service personnel | Civilian personnel | |
Security
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has been issued with a pass for the Ministry of Defence main building; and on what date that pass was issued. [130372]
Mr Francois [holding answer 27 November 2012]: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), has not been issued with a permanent pass to the Ministry of Defence main building.
He has had visitor or VIP passes prepared for him on six occasions. The dates were 26 May 2010, 18 January 2011, 27 April 2011, 25 May 2011, 22 June 2011 and 23 February 2012.
Staff
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of people who normally reside in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency who are employed by his Department. [130159]
Mr Francois: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Ministry of Defence does not collate management information which would allow us to analyse residential addresses by parliamentary constituency.
Theft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what thefts there were from his Department's establishments in (a) April, (b) May, (c) June and (d) July 2012; what the value was of the items taken; and if he will make a statement; [119002]
(2) what thefts there were from his Department's establishments in (a) July, (b) August and (c) September 2012; what the value was of the items taken; and if he will make a statement. [122508]
Mr Francois: Items that have been reported as stolen from April 2012-September 2012 are shown in the following tables:
| April 2012 | |
| Items reported as stolen | Estimated value (£) |
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| May 2012 | |
| Items reported as stolen | Estimated value (£) |
| (1) Value not recorded | |
| June 2012 | |
| Items reported as stolen | Estimated value (£) |
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| (1) Value not recorded | |
| July 2012 | |
| Items reported as stolen | Estimated value (£) |
| (1 )Value not recorded | |
| August 2012 | |
| Items reported as stolen | Estimated value (£) |
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30 Nov 2012 : Column 566W
30 Nov 2012 : Column 567W
|
Helmet, Rifle cleaning kit, Water Bottle, Magazines; Ear defence, Jacket | |
| (1 )Value not recorded | |
These data do not include ongoing investigations as disclosing this information may jeopardise these investigations. The months listed refer to the month in which the case was closed.
The loss of the Bowman equipment poses a minimal threat to security as the equipment cannot be used without additional user information.
The Ministry of Defence takes the theft of equipment very seriously and works hard to detect and deter theft. There are robust processes in place to raise awareness of the need for vigilance in all aspects of security and we actively encourage individuals to report theft. This work has resulted in a rise in the number of reports over the last year.
The military environment and supply chain represents a population of hundreds of thousands of people and many of the thefts identified will have taken place from areas open to the wider public. Reported theft represents only about 0.0015% of overall Defence assets.
Trade Unions
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times he and other Ministers in his Department have met representatives of (a) Unite, (b) PCS, (c) Prospect, (d) GMB, (e) UCATT, (f) FDA, (g) RMT, (h) NUMAST and (i) BMA since May 2010; and on what dates those meetings took place. [125825]
Mr Francois [holding answer 30 October 2012]:The Ministry of Defence takes its responsibilities as an employer very seriously. Ministers and senior officials regularly meet the Department's recognised trade unions.
However, comprehensive details of all meetings between Defence Ministers and trade union representatives are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Cabinet Office
Alcoholic Drinks: East of England
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths in which alcohol was the primary cause there were in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk and (c) Cambridgeshire in each of the last three years. [131326]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths in which alcohol was the primary cause occurred in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk and (c) Cambridgeshire, in each of the last three years. (131326)
The table provides the number of deaths with an alcohol related underlying cause in the counties of (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk and (c) Cambridgeshire, in each year from 2009 to 2011 (the latest available year).
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The latest alcohol-related death figures for the UK, England and Wales, and regions in England are available on the ONS website at the following link:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/alcohol-related-deaths-in-the-united-kingdom/index.html
| Number of alcohol-related deaths by selected counties in England; 2009-11(1,2,3,4) | |||
| Deaths (persons) | |||
| Area | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| (1) Based on boundaries as of August 2012. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (3) Figures exclude deaths of non-residents. (4) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10). The ICD-10 codes for alcohol poisoning are shown in Box 1. Source: Office for National Statistics | |||
| Box 1. National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths (ICD-10) | |
| ICD-10 code | Text |
|
Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver (Excluding K74.3-K74.5—Billiary cirrhosis) | |
Antisocial Behaviour
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of recorded crimes were offences of antisocial behaviour in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012 to date. [131023]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question.
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defined anti-social behaviour in law as ‘acting in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household'.
The police recorded crime statistics for England and Wales published by the ONS are based on notifiable offences. These include all offences that could possibly be tried by jury plus a few additional closely-related summary offences dealt with by magistrates, such as assault without injury.
Anti-social behaviour is not a separate notifiable offence and, although the nature of many of these incidents are recognisable as crimes in law (such as littering or dog fouling), an ‘ASB incident' is one where the level of severity is not deemed high enough to warrant the recording of a notifiable offence. Some anti-social behaviour will be recorded by the police as a notifiable offence if an incident is of sufficient severity, but will be included within a general offence category, such as harassment or criminal damage and cannot be separately identified.
The Home Office collates statistics on incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded by the police, which are deemed not to be notifiable offences within recorded crime, which are published by
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the ONS on a quarterly basis in Table P14 within ‘Crime statistics: Police force area data tables 2011-12—Crime in England and Wales, Quarterly First Release to March 2012' available from the link:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-265883
Pay
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will require the London living wage to be paid to cleaners working in his Department employed by contractors. [129281]
Mr Maude: It was not the practice of previous Governments to require cleaners in this Department to be paid the London living wage.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Subsidies
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much matched funding from the Rural Development Fund his Department will pay to farmers in 2012-13. [130801]
Mr Heath: We estimate that a total of £489 million will be paid to farmers under the Rural Development Programme for England in 2012-13. This consists of £118 million of DEFRA funding, matched with £371 million of EU funding. This estimate is based on the proportion of beneficiaries who are farmers and applying that to the current forecast of spend for 2012-13.
Agriculture: Young People
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that young people who wish to enter the farming industry receive necessary support. [130808]
Mr Heath [holding answer 29 November 2012]: The farming industry takes the lead in promoting itself to young people and supporting new entrants into the sector. The Government recognise that agriculture offers exciting opportunities for entrepreneurial and talented young people and are keen to support industry in encouraging people to take up careers in the agricultural industry.
DEFRA is actively working with industry to create the right conditions to enable this to happen. These include supporting the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs through a grant, which is used for a range of activities including skills development. DEFRA also sits on a cross sector ‘Agri-Skills forum’, which focuses, co-ordinates and influences skills issues.
Government are also supportive of apprenticeships and have introduced the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers, which provides payments of £1,500 to support smaller employers taking on new young apprentices aged 16-24.
DEFRA is currently determining how the future Common Agricultural Policy and in particular the design for the new Rural Development programme, can best be used to support young farmers and new entrants as they develop their businesses in the early years.
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Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Chilterns
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Natural Capital Committee has advised the Government on the protection and enhancement of the Chilterns area of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement. [130946]
Richard Benyon: The independent Natural Capital Committee has been established to provide independent expert advice on the state of English natural capital and in particular to:
(i) provide advice on when, where and how natural assets are being used unsustainably;
(ii) advise the Government on how they should prioritise action to protect and improve natural capital, so that public and private activity is focused where it will have the greatest impact on improving wellbeing in our society; and
(iii) advise the Government on research priorities to improve future advice and decisions on protecting and enhancing natural capital.
Committee members only have limited time available and therefore provide high level strategic advice rather than that relating to specific local issues.