| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Gunner Tom Ford
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the reference to the case of Gunner Tom Ford of the 2nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery in the debate on Gulf War illnesses on 2 February (H.L. Deb., col. 480), whether there has been any progress in his application for a war pension; and how many other applications for war pensions by Gulf War veterans remain unresolved.[HL713]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): One of our key aims is that delivery of service should be simpler and more efficient. Queries on operational matters concerning the War Pensions Agency are for its Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Steve Johnson. I have asked him to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Morris of Manchester from the Acting Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. S. Johnson, dated 13 March 1998.
Baroness Hollis of Heigham has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the progress of Mr. Thomas Ford's application for a war pension and also how many other applications for war pensions by Gulf War veterans remain unresolved.
May I first explain that claims from Gulf War veterans are often complex and can take some time because extensive medical and service evidence may be needed in order to determine a claim. A number of medical conditions are often claimed, and we need to obtain a variety of reports from different consultants in
order to accurately assess the level and type of disablement.Mr. Ford was notified on 11 February 1998 that two of his claimed conditions had been accepted for war pension purposes and he has received payment accordingly. There are further claimed conditions still under consideration and these are being dealt with urgently. A decision will be notified to Mr. Ford as soon as possible.
As at 23 February 1998, of 1,977 claims made by Gulf War veterans, 519 first claims remain outstanding. The agency has devoted extra skilled resources to the processing of Gulf cases and has improved the average time taken to process cases for Gulf War veterans from 304 days to 197 days since April 1997.
I hope you find my reply helpful.
Benefits Agency: Press Officers
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many press officers are employed by the Benefits Agency; and at what cost to the public funds.[HL877]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The employment and funding of Benefits Agency press officers is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. I have asked him to write to the noble Earl.
Letter to Earl Russell from the Acting Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Mr. D. Riggs, dated 13 March 1998.
Peter Mathison has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Question asking how many press officers are employed by the Benefits Agency (BA) and at what cost to the public funds. As Mr. Mathison is away from the office on leave, I am replying.
The BA employs four press officers at the National Press Office in Quarry House, Leeds and a further eight in major regional centres in England, Scotland and Wales, making a total of 12. The salary costs incurred are currently £321,305 per annum.
I hope you find this reply useful.
Bahrain: Arms Export Licences
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any licences have been issued for exports of arms or other military equipment to Bahrain.[HL731]
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Clinton-Davis): The Export Control Organisation's databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows.
Between 2 May 1997 and 12 January 1998, 13 Standard Individual Export Licences and 1 Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) were issued to export goods controlled under entries Part III of Schedule I to the Export of Goods (Control) Order (the so-called "Military List") to Bahrain.
The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. Individual export licences can cover a range of goods, controlled under several entries in the legislation. Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total shown against each of the relevant ratings.
| Ratings | Number of licences covering goods with this rating |
| ML1 | 6 |
| ML3 | 1 |
| ML4 | 1 |
| ML5 | 1 |
| ML6 | 1 |
| ML11 | 2 |
| ML13 | 1 |
One Media OIEL was issued during the period. Media OIELs are Open Individual Export Licences that authorise the export to any destination of protective clothing for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists working in areas of conflict.
This information should be considered in the light of my Answer of 30 October 1997 to my noble friend Lord Gallacher (Official Report, cols. WA256-WA258).
The Earl of Courtown asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Clinton-Davis: There is no outstanding public inquiry on the Anglo-Scottish interconnector. The only overhead line public inquiry reports that my department is currently considering are the 1992 and 1995 public inquiries into reinforcement of the English transmission system in Cleveland and North Yorkshire and a 1997 public inquiry into an overhead line at Mardy, Abergavenny. The Government will reach their decision on all these reports as soon as they properly and practically can.
Lord Taylor of Gryfe asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Clinton-Davis: From information readily available, the value of new defence-related business covered in these years was:
Lord Clinton-Davis: From information readily available, the current level of debt owing in respect of defence related business covered by ECGD guarantees issued in these years is:
Lord Clinton-Davis: It is the Government's policy to support the sale of British defence equipment
However, recognising the debt burden of some of the poorest countries and following discussion at the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting in Mauritius last September, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out a five-point plan to help resolve the debt problems of the so called Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs). The main thrust of the plan was to enable the HIPCs to exit debt rescheduling by the year 2000. Consistent with this initiative, ECGD have from September 1997 for two years provided official support to such countries only for exports which may be regarded as "productive expenditure"--i.e., expenditure which supports the economic and social recovery and development of the country. By its very nature this condition excludes most defence exports. There may be a few limited exceptions--for example, naval patrol vessels to protect fishing grounds.
Lord Taylor of Gryfe asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Clinton-Davis: From information readily available, the current level of debt owing by developing countries in respect of defence related business covered by ECGD guarantees is £3.4 billion.
Viscount Simon asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman): Yes. The local authorities involved in the pilot scheme will provide the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions with details of prosecutions and the results.
When the conclusions of the public inquiry into the Electricity Interconnector from Scotland to England and Wales were made known to Ministers, and when they intend to announce their decision thereon.[HL951]
What was the level of Export Credits Guarantee Department covering for arms sales to overseas government during the years 1994-95, and 1996-97.[HL800]
1994-95: £727 million
Lord Taylor of Gryfe asked Her Majesty's Government:
1995-96: £1,015 million
1996-97: £385 million
What is the current level of debt owing to the United Kingdom by overseas governments as a result of arms sales for the years 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97.[HL801]
1994-95: £232 million
Lord Taylor of Gryfe asked Her Majesty's Government:
1995-96: £609 million
1996-97: £376 million
What consideration the Minister for Trade and Industry has given to a moratorium on granting of Export Credits Guarantee Department credits for arms sales to all developing countries.[HL802]
What is the current level of debt owed by developing countries to the Export Credits Guarantee Department of the Department of Trade and Industry as a result of United Kingdom defence related sales.[HL803]
Whether they intend to monitor how magistrates' courts deal with motorists who are prosecuted following roadside emissions tests.[HL987]
Next Section
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page