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Iraq: Language Training for Troops

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

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.

Standard Language Profile Level (SLP)Proficiency DescriptorDescription of CompetenceNumbers Trained Training Year 2003-04Numbers Trained Training Year 2004-05Numbers Trained Training Year 2005-06

1

Survival (one soldier per sub-unit)

Copes with routine, social and practical demands and the most limited work demands. Cannot write in the language

36

60

60

1

Basic Patrol Arabic (Junior Commanders and soldiers)

Copes with routine, social and practical demands and the most limited work demands. Cannot write in the language

N/A

250

250

4

Operational Linguist

Copes with routine social and practical demands using spoken and written skills. Copes with some of the more sophisticated and demanding situations encountered when listening to and reading in the language

N/A

12

24

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:

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Government brought forward measures in the Crime and Disorder Act

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1998 (as amended by the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001) and the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 to provide protection to people who are victimised because of their religious beliefs.

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:

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.



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Parole Board

Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

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:

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 £

Peace II

412, 609, 516

430, 474, 279

Peace II extension

69,241,379

21,137,454

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

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.



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Pensions: Adult Dependency Allowance

Baroness Hollis of Heigham asked Her Majesty's Government:

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.

Year2015 (£ billion)2020 (£ billion)

Gross costs

0.6

1.5

Net costs

0.5

1.2

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:

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:

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:

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:

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

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complete an application form to open a bank account and obtaining the required documents to prove their identity.

Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:

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:

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

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prisoners committed by the courts. We continue to actively investigate options for providing further increases in capacity.

Public Bodies: Chairmen

Lord Lee of Trafford asked Her Majesty's Government:

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 BodyRemuneration per annumTime commitment

Commission for Integrated Transport

£5,4311

5 days a month

Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Council

Unpaid

2 days a month

Civil Aviation Authority

£120,550

3.5 days per week

Rail Passenger Council (operates as Passenger Focus)

£25,000

8 days a month

Railway Heritage Committee

Unpaid

None specified

Northern Lighthouse Board

£17,028

40 days per annum

Trinity House Lighthouse Service

£102,235

Full time (chair and chief executive)

British Transport Police Authority

£25,800

60 days per annum

Senior Traffic Commissioner

Traffic Commissioners

£93,4832

£84,135

Full time

Full time

Strategic Rail Authority

£20,731

4 days per month

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:

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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