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Royal Navy Warships: Base Porting
Lord Desai asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made on the future basing of Royal Navy ships and submarines and the future requirement for three naval bases.[HL5005]
Lord Bach: A joint Royal Navy/Warship Support Agency study team has recently completed a wide-ranging review of the base porting arrangements for Royal Navy warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and the infrastructure required to support them. Their recommendations have been endorsed by Ministers and will be implemented subject to trade union consultation.
The three existing naval bases at Portsmouth, Devonport and Clyde are able to provide sufficient capacity to support the ships and submarines that are in service, on order or planned.
The future aircraft carrier, the CVF, will be based at HM Naval Base Portsmouth. While it should be possible to berth two CVFs in Portsmouth simultaneously, for military reasons this may not be desirable. Options are therefore being considered to make use of an occasional stand-by berth for the high-readiness CVF. Further work on the design, operating patterns and manning are needed before a final decision can be made, although initial indications show that Southampton could provide such a facility if required:
As announced on 1 July 2002 (WA 13), the batches one and two of Astute class submarines will be based at HM Naval Base Clyde, and the Trafalgar class will remain at Devonport.
With regard to the remainder of the fleet, the T45 destroyers will progressively replace the T42 destroyers based at Portsmouth. The two new amphibious ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, will join HMS Ocean at Devonport, creating an amphibious shipping centre of expertise. The current arrangements for the Vanguard class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines, frigates, survey ships and minor war vessels work well and will not be changed.
European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
Lord Gavron asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for July, and what will be the major European Union events for the period between 1 July 2002.[HL4976]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean):
| Date | Location | Event |
| July 2002 | ||
| 4 | Copenhagen | EU/Ukraine |
| 8 | Tokyo | EU/Japan |
| 11–12 | Brussels | Plenery Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe |
| 12–13 | Kolding | Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers (Ministerial Informal) |
| 15–16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 19 | Brussels | Budget meeting |
| 19–21 | Arhus | Meeting of Environment Ministers (Ministerial Informal) |
| 21–22 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 30–31 | Brunei | ASEAN Regional Forum (Ministerial) |
| 30–1 | Brunei | EU/South Korea (Ministerial Troika) |
| 30–1 | Brunei | EU/North Korea (Ministerial Troika) |
The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 August and December 2002. The list is based on the information available at the date of issue.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Date Location Event
August 2002 1–2 Brunei ASEAN post-Ministerial Conference (Troika)
27–29 Ilulissat Meeting of the Northern Dimension (Ministerial)
31–1 Elsinore Gymnich (Ministerial Informal)
September 2002 6 Brussels ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting
6–8 Copenhagen ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal)
8–10 Nyborg Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal)
12–13 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe
12–13 Copenhagen Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal)
22–24 Copenhagen ASEM Meeting
23–24 Brussels Agriculture Council
24 Copenhagen EU/China
24 Copenhagen EU/South Korea
26 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council
27 Tent ACP/EU Ministers Meeting
30 Brussels Research Council
30–1 Brussels General Affairs Council
October 2002 3–4 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe
3–4 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications Council
7–8 Copenhagen EU/Canada (Ministerial)
8 Brussels ECOFIN
8 Brussels Employment and Social Policy Council
10 Copenhagen EU/India
14 Brussels Fisheries Council
14–15 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council
15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council
17 Brussels Environment Council
18–19 Aalborg Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal)
21–22 Brussels General Affairs Council
24–25 Brussels European Council
28–29 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe
November 2002 1 Brussels Culture Council
2 Brussels ECOFIN—Troika meeting on Macro-Economics Dialogue
7–8 Copenhagen EU/SADC (Ministerial)
7–8 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe
11 Copenhagen EU/Russia
12 Brussels Education and Youth Council
14–15 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Youth Council
18 Brussels Fisheries Council
18–19 Brussels General Affairs Council
19–20 Brussels Agriculture Council
22 Brussels Development Council
25–26 Brussels Budget (Council)
25–26 Brussels Industry and Energy Council
28 Ouagadougou EU/Africa
28–29 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council
December 2002 2–3 Brussels ECOFIN
3 Brussels Employment and Social Policy Council
5–6 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe
5–6 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications Council
9–10 Brussels General Affairs Council
9–10 Brussels Environment Council
12–13 Copenhagen European Council
16 Copenhagen/
Washington EU/US (Ministerial)
16–17 Brussels Fisheries Council
18–19 Brussels Agriculture Council
19–20 Ottawa EU/Canada
20–21 Brussels Plenary Session of the Convention on the Future of Europe
Why the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has decided to go ahead with its
2 Jul 2002 : Column WA30
- consultations into the welfare of laying hens and the cages ban prior to the department's research project's findings being completed.[HL4944]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): It is important that we address the issue of enriched cages sooner rather than later. The industry needs to make long-term investment decisions.
Research Assessment Exercise and the NHS
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How the research assessment exercise (RAE) will be revised (i) to recognise clinical research, especially in surgery and craft specialities and (ii) to ensure that RAE objectives match the priority areas in service and teaching for the National Health Service.[HL4600]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has announced its intention to review its research assessment policy. This review will be led by Sir Gareth Roberts. At the conclusion of the review, which will cover all disciplines, decisions on the future of the research assessment exercise will be taken.
GCSE Examinations: Special Arrangements
Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will provide the figures for each year from 1993 to 2001 for the total number of candidates in England and Wales allowed special arrangements of all kinds of the GCSE examinations.[HL4763]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Figures are not available on the basis requested. The Joint Council for General Qualifications collates data on the applications for special arrangements agreed by each of the awarding bodies. Candidates frequently sit examinations with more than one awarding body. Data for applications processed therefore exceed the actual number of students receiving special considerations. The applications processed in 2001 represented 2.4 per cent of total entries at GCSE and GCE A/AS-level; the awarding bodies do not have a separate breakdown for GCSEs.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Data Collection in Schools
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When data collection relating to children with autism spectrum disorders in schools will begin.[HL4911]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Provisions now consolidated in the Education Act 1996 require schools to submit information on numbers of pupils with special educational needs. There is currently no requirement for schools to submit information in the Annual Schools Census on the nature of such pupils' disability or learning difficulty.
In June last year, the department carried out a pilot study involving a sample of 200 mainstream and special schools to assess whether it would be possible to collect data from schoools on a broad range of types of SEN. We are considering introducing a requirement for schools and LEAs to provide this information from 2004 and this is likely to include data on pupils categorised as having autistic spectrum disorder. Further work is needed, including developing appropriate data collection software and taking the views of schools and LEAs.
We expect to consult widely on an agreed definition of the various types of SEN, including the main autism bodies, before requesting schools and LEAs to provide this information.
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