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Iraq: Language Training for Troops
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What training
programmes in native Iraqi languages are currently available to troops
prior to deployment in Iraq; what levels of proficiency are taught; and
how many personnel have taken each of the courses available in the
years 2003, 2004 and
2005.[HL6691]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): There are three courses specialising in Iraqi language training available for troops prior to deployment to Iraq, each with a different proficiency level. The numbers undertaking this training over the past three training years are shown in the table below.
In addition to these three courses Cascade Training takes place at unit level during pre-deployment training over anything up to six months. The training is undertaken by those who have completed the Basic Patrol Arabic Course augmented by specially appointed and trained Operational Unit Education Officers. Once deployed, training is continued by the same staff augmented by the Theatre Education Centre. Every soldier is also issued with a language card which is taught during pre-deployment training and is practised regularly by all in theatre. Other courses are available but not routinely undertaken by those deploying to Iraq.
Muslim Community
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What
steps they are taking to reassure the Muslim community in the United
Kingdom regarding its future security, following recent terrorist
incidents in the Middle East and
elsewhere.[HL6628]
The
Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of
Asthal): The Government brought forward measures
in the Crime and Disorder Act
6 July 2006 : Column WA71
In addition, the Government are continuing the process of engagement with Muslim communities and are working with them on issues such as security, protecting the communities from radicalisation, and combating Islamophobia. One of the recommendations from the “Preventing Extremism Together” working groups’ report was the creation of local forums. These forums will allow for a diverse range of members of the British Muslim community, local law enforcement agencies and public service agencies to come together to discuss issues relating to tackling Islamophobia and extremism. They will also provide a safe space for discussion and sharing views, and allow for the channelling of ideas and new thinking in dealing with extremism. Three of these have now taken place.
The new Commission on Integration and Cohesion, which was announced on 28 June 2006, will examine how different communities can live together, respecting differences but with a shared sense of belonging and purpose. It will also examine the issues that raise tensions between different groups in different areas and which lead to segregation and conflict. Lastly, the Government are supporting a number of projects addressing Islamophobia and providing opportunities for Muslims to share their concerns.
Nepal: Women
Baroness Northover asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What
representations they propose to make to the Government of Nepal with
regard to compliance with Security Council Resolution 1325 by inviting
women to participate at the peace negotiations; by ensuring that they
have representation on the draft constitution committee; and by
developing their own national plan on implementation of 1325, in line
with the United Nations action
plan.[HL6579]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): While the peace negotiations and the interim constitution drafting committee are matters for the Nepalis, we support and encourage representation of all groups in the current peace process and the future constituent assembly.
My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, met the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 20 June. We will continue our dialogue with the Government of Nepal on human rights and other issues, including women's inclusion in the democratic process.
6 July 2006 : Column WA72
Parole Board
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the
Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 6 June (WA
184), when was the last occasion when the chair of the Parole Board
was a full-time appointment; and why they decided to make it a
part-time
appointment.[HL6260]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The chair of the Parole Board was a full-time position until 2000. The change to three days a week reflected the assessment of the requirements of this post at that time. We currently see no reason for changing that assessment, although it will be reviewed again when we make a new appointment.
Peace Funding: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much Peace
II funding has been available for allocation in Northern Ireland; and
how much has been
allocated.[HL6536]
Lord Rooker: The table below details the amount of funding available and the amount allocated under Peace II (2000-2004) and the Peace II extension (2005-06) in Northern Ireland. These figures exclude priority 6, which provides technical assistance for Peace II management, monitoring, evaluation, research and publicity. An exchange rate of £1=€1.55 has been used for 2000-2004 and £1=€1.45 for 2005-06.
| Total Available £ | Total Allocated £ | |
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many
applications West Tyrone Voice has made for Peace II funding; whether
any of these applications were unsuccessful; if so, for what reasons;
and whether they will place in the Library of the House all
documentation relating to the
applications.[HL6554]
Lord Rooker: West Tyrone Voice has made 18 applications for Peace II funding. Ten of these applications have been successful, three have been withdrawn and three other applications are currently awaiting a final decision. Two applications were unsuccessful, as they failed to meet the minimum threshold score in the reconciliation criteria. All relevant documentation on applications will be placed in Library as requested.
6 July 2006 : Column WA73
Pensions: Adult Dependency Allowance
Baroness Hollis of Heigham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What would be
the cost, both gross and net, in 2015 and 2020 of retaining the adult
dependency allowance for partners aged 60 to
65.[HL6731]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The information requested is set out in the table below. The Government's proposal in the White Paper Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system, published in May 2006, to abolish the adult dependency increase would not affect those entitled to it prior to the change; they would remain entitled to it until 2020. We are reinvesting the savings to provide better state pensions, particularly for women.
| Year | 2015 (£ billion) | 2020 (£ billion) |
| Expenditure is in 2006-07 price terms and all figures are for UK and overseas cases. | ||
| Estimates of expenditure changes are consistent with the policy detail set out in the White Paper. | ||
| The net cost includes income-related benefits costs but not the reduction in income tax revenue. |
Police: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the new
policing college near Cookstown, County Tyrone, will be completed; and
at what
cost.[HL6236]
Lord Rooker: The original outline business case for the new police college estimated a cost of £74.6 million for construction. With professional fees and land costs, this gave a total projected cost in the 2002 outline business case of £102.9 million. A revised outline business case has since been submitted to the department, which estimates the cost, on the basis of prices at the fourth quarter of 2006, at £134.15 million.
The Government have advised the Northern Ireland Policing Board and PSNI that it will make up to £90 million available for the new college and work is ongoing to explore a number of options to take this project forward. Construction of the college will begin as soon as that work is complete, but it is too early to say at this stage when the college will be completed.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether progress
has been made towards the implementation of Patten recommendation 131
relating to the proposed Police Service of Northern Ireland
training college at Desertcreat
6 July 2006 : Column WA74
Lord Rooker: The Government have advised the Northern Ireland Policing Board and PSNI that it will make up to £90 million available for the new college and work is ongoing to explore a number of options to take this project forward. Construction of the college will begin as soon as that work is complete, but it is too early to say at this stage when the college will be completed.
Police: Reorganisation
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why figures on
the estimated set-up costs relating to each police force merger in
England and Wales were published in the Written Answer by the Baroness
Scotland of Asthal on 25 April (WA 16) when a further Written
Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 17 May (WA 47)
indicated that such information was still under review by
Ministers.[HL5879]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The estimated cost of restructuring set out in my written reply of 25 April (WA 16) was an accurate current assessment of costs and savings. These are being refined as part of a process of negotiation currently taking place and will be taken into account as part of the process referred to in my reply of 17 May (WA 47).
Post Office Card Account
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the
Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 19 June (WA
64), how the Department for Work and Pensions will provide help and
support for customers unable to open a bank account because of
disability, old age or illness and who are ineligible for assistance of
the sort provided by sub-postmasters and mistresses in opening a Post
Office card
account.[HL6668]
The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and
Pensions (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): This will
depend on the needs and circumstances of the customers concerned and
the range of account options that are available as customers move from
Post Office card accounts to having their benefit or pension paid into
a bank account or a new Post Office product. Our priority will be to
ensure that this is a straightforward process for the customer.
Customers who have managed to open and operate a Post Office card
account should be able to do the same with at least a basic bank
account. As we have done in the past, supportcould, where
appropriate, include helping customers
6 July 2006 : Column WA75
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the
evaluation report on the pilot schemes for the migration of Post Office
card account holders to banking facilities has been
published.[HL6670]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: My honourable friend James Plaskitt will make a Written Ministerial Statement and place a summary report of our findings in the Library in due course.
Prisoners: Housing after Release
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much they
have spent in each of the last five years on grants to voluntary
organisations for the provision of housing, aftercare and training for
ex-prisoners; and what sums they propose to spend for these purposes in
each of the next five
years.[HL6246]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): It is not possible to identify grants made specifically to support ex-prisoners, as in many cases the organisations funded are working across several purposes and with ex-prisoners, prisoners and those on community sentences. Grants made centrally by the Home Office to voluntary sector organisations working in this area in the past two years were: in 2004-05, £7.6 million; and, in 2005-06, £8.7 million. In 2006-07, they are planned to be £8.9 million. In addition, grants of £7.5 million, £8.0 million, and £8.1 million respectively were made/are planned for the provision of voluntary sector approved premises that house people under supervision in the community. For future years, spending plans have not been finalised to this level of detail. These figures do not include grants made by local probation boards, as these figures are not held centrally.
Prisons: Population
Lord Ramsbotham asked Her Majesty's Government:
The
Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of
Asthal): We have developed long-term strategic
plans and, in support of this, we are reviewing contingency plans,
which include a range of options to deal with short-term population
pressures. We will ensure that places are available for those
6 July 2006 : Column WA76
Public Bodies: Chairmen
Lord Lee of Trafford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the
salary and time requirements for the chairmen of public bodies
appointed by the Secretary of State for
Transport.[HL6591]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The remuneration and time commitment for the chairs of the Department for Transport's non-departmental public bodies are set out in the table below. The information is correct as at 31 March 2006, except for the current chair of the Strategic Rail Authority, who was appointed on1 April 2006.
| Public Body | Remuneration per annum | Time commitment |
| 1The current chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport chooses to receive a reduced level of remuneration for this post. | ||
| 2 The traffic commissioners are classed as a tribunal NDPB but they are appointed by the Secretary of State separately and in their own right. |
Railways: Late Arrivals
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in
future train operating franchises, inter-city train operating companies
will be prevented from adding substantial amounts of recovery time
between the last intermediate station and the final destination in
order that trains which have been consistently late at intermediate
stops may arrive at the final station on time, or
within
6 July 2006 : Column WA77
Lord Davies of Oldham: Responsibility for producing the national rail timetable lies with Network Rail. New passenger franchises which are let by the department include provisions for maximum journey times. Timetable changes should ensure the best balance between what time is actually required for sections of a journey, and the need to offer the shortest reliable end-to-end journey times.
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