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17 May 2004 : Column WA53
Written Answers
Monday, 17 May 2004.
Electoral Roll
Lord Rogan asked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of the population in Northern Ireland have been excluded from the electoral register on the grounds of being incapable of voting; and how this compares with England, Scotland and Wales. [HL2630]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): This issue is an operational matter and is the responsibility of the Chief Electoral Officer. He will reply to the noble Lord direct. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
North/South Implementation Bodies
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the procedure for appointing a replacement chairman for a cross-border implementation body following the resignation of the chairman. [HL2633]
Baroness Amos: Under the Implementation Bodies Agreement of 8 March 1999 made between the British and Irish Governments, it is for the North/South Ministerial Council to make the appointment to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the chairperson of a North/South implementation body.
During suspension, such decisions are taken by the British and Irish Governments under the agreement made between the two governments on 19 November 2002.
Cross-Border Issues
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Who are the political advisers to whom all cross-border issues are referred currently by the North/South Ministerial Council. [HL2634]
Baroness Amos: Cross-border issues are not referred to political advisers by the North/South Ministerial Council.
North/South Ministerial Council: Official Languages Act 2003
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice the North/South Ministerial Council gave to the Eire Government about the Official Languages Act 2003; whether it obtained legal advice; and if so what that advice was. [HL2635]
Baroness Amos: The North/South Ministerial Council did not give any advice to the Irish Government about the Official Languages Act 2003. Information on whether legal advice was sought and, if it was, on its content, is exempt from disclosure under paragraphs 2 and 3 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the role of the Director of Culture at the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure; and how the department defines culture. [HL2637]
Baroness Amos: The "Director of Culture" is the title given to the Grade 5 manager in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure who has responsibility for the following divisions: linguistic diversity; arts; libraries.
No specific definition of culture was used in the titling of this post.
Northern Ireland: Childcare Strategy Review
Baroness Blood asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they intend to carry out a formal review of the Northern Ireland childcare strategy "Children First". [HL2697]
Baroness Amos: As responsibility for childcare in Northern Ireland is currently shared by the Departments of Education, Health, Social Services and Public Safety and Employment and Learning, a small inter-departmental working group has been established to draw up proposals for carrying out a review of Children First.
Once the proposals have been agreed, it would then be the intention to carry out a formal review of the Children First strategy.
Student Support: Postgraduate Students
Lord Freyberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much it would cost to extend the student loans scheme to (a) full time postgraduate students; (b) part-time postgraduate students; and (c) both full and part-time postgraduate students. [HL2705]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): We have not estimated the cost of extending student support to postgraduate students. The costs would depend on the level of support to be made available but would be substantial.
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Harrier GR7/9
Lord Elton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer by the Lord Bach on 6 April (HL Deb, col. 1722) that "the GR7/9 Harrier that will be on the aircraft carriers will be sufficient, as far as air cover is concerned, until the Joint Strike Fighter comes along", how this is compatible with the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 5 April (WA 198), which stated that the principal roles of this aircraft are ground attack and reconnaissance, not air defence, and that the missiles it carried were for self-defence. [HL2448]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): As I stated in my Answer to Lord Lyell, during the debate on 6 April, "the GR7/9 is not an air defence aircraft" (Official Report, col. 1722) and therefore would not provide air defence to the fleet.
Air defence of the fleet is structured in a series of layers. These layers are currently provided by platforms such as Type 42 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers armed with Sea Dart missiles. This
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capability will be gradually replaced by the new Type 45 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers, equipped with the Principal Anti-Air Missile System, the first of which is already under construction. These systems will provide an appropriate level of air defence prior to Joint Combat Aircraft entering service (currently planned for 2012).
Fast Jet Flying Hours
Lord Craig of Radley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many monthly flying hours are being programmed for aircrew in operational fast jet formations in this financial year; and what were the monthly flying hours achieved in these formations in the previous two financial years. [HL2551]
Lord Bach: The tables below show the total monthly operational fast jet flying hours, by aircraft type, for financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Programmed hours for this financial year have not yet been announced as the Ministry of Defence has yet to complete its annual budgetary cycle.
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Percentage of flown hours against the programmed plan was approximately 98 per cent.
Percentage of flown hours against the programmed plan was approximately 99.6 per cent.
Please note: These figures do not include Tornado F3 flying hours in the Falkland Islands.
17 May 2004 : Column WA55
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