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IKEAs planned opening of a new store in East Belfast also represents a major investment proposal for this part of the city, bringing significant social and economic benefits to the area, with up to 500 new jobs expected to be created.
Lord Hamilton of Epsom asked Her Majesty's Government:
What additional costs they have incurred through fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in each year since those conflicts began; and whether those costs have been fully met by HM Treasury. [HL1711]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The Ministry of Defence identifies the costs of operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred. The costs that the department would have incurred regardless of the operation taking place, such as wages and salaries, are not included. Savings on activities that have not occurred because of the operationtraining exercises, for exampleare taken into account in arriving at the net figures. All of these costs are met, by convention, from the Treasury's reserves.
The annual audited figures for the cost of operations in Iraq for the years 2002-03 to 2005-06 were:
2002-03 | |
This gives a grand total of £4,026 million.
The current estimated cost of operations in Iraq for 2006-07 is in the region of £860 million. This was published in the winter supplementary estimates on 21 November.
The annual audited figures for the costs of operations in Afghanistan for the years 2001-02 to 2005-06 were:
2001-02 | |
This gives a grand total of £844 million.
The cost of operations in Afghanistan for 2006-07 is estimated to be in the region of £540 million. This was published in the winter supplementary estimates on 21 November.
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
On which occasions the United States authorities have followed advice from United Kingdom military and civilian officials in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.[HL1675]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): UK and US military and civilian officials work together closely on Iraq. We have military officers embedded at all levels in the coalition who contribute to planning and policy making. We also have close and excellent relationships with all parts of the wider US civilian administration and regularly discuss and agree on our strategy in Iraq.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Who appointed the human rights forum which met in Northern Ireland on 18 December 2006; how it was funded; who selected the members; and for what purpose. [HL1222]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Minister of State for Northern Ireland has agreed all the matters raised.
In the light of the general consensus that emerged following public consultation, the Government concluded that the Bill of Rights Forum should comprise an independent chair, 14 political representatives and 14 representatives of civic society. Political parties and representative groups from civic society were invited to nominate individuals to sit on the forum. Arrangements are being taken forward to select the independent chair.
The forum has to date incurred a small amount of expenditure for which the Northern Ireland Office has made provision.
The purpose of the forum is to produce agreed recommendations to inform the work that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is undertaking to fulfil its statutory duty to provide advice to Government on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the passport details of United Kingdom citizens who are detainees overseas, which are entered on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular assistance database, Compass, are passed to the United Kingdom Identity and Passport Service. [HL1740]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave him on 23 January (Official Report, col. WA 228).
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What additional resources have been provided in Scotland and Northern Ireland for identifying, rescuing and rehabilitating trafficked women in each of the current and two previous financial years. [HL1238]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The information is not held by the central Home Department and needs to be referred to the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland departments respectively.
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will indicate the date when the United Kingdom Action Plan on Trafficking will be published. [HL1284]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are currently developing the UK Action Plan on Trafficking and aim to publish it in the next few months.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is required to operate on the principle of confidentiality. [HL1315]
Lord Rooker: The Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is required to operate on the principle of confidentiality.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many former Royal Ulster Constabulary GC officers have died prematurely since the setting up of the Office of Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; and how many of those ex-officers had been interviewed by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. [HL1316]
Lord Rooker: The information requested is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many investigating officers currently work for the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; and how many of them have previously investigated a terrorist incident. [HL1317]
Lord Rooker: Some 76 investigating officers work for the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, of which there are 44 investigators (over half have had previous police experience), 13 seconded police officers, 11 contract retired police officers and eight trainee investigators. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is not required to disclose the previous employment details of staff in her office. However, senior investigators in her office have headed covert policing branches, anti-terrorist branches and anti-corruption branches and have the necessary competences to conduct the investigations required of them.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many investigating officers currently in the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland have managed a counter-terrorist operation in a hostile environment; and [HL1318]
How many investigating officers currently in the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland have been involved in handling an informer in a hostile terrorist environment; and [HL1319]
How many investigating officers currently in the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland have previously worked operationally on matters of United Kingdom national security.[HL1320]
Lord Rooker: The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is not required to disclose the previous employment details of staff in her office. However, senior investigators in her office have headed covert policing branches, anti-terrorist branches and anti-corruption branches and have the necessary competences to conduct the investigations required of them.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 17 January (WA 162) concerning the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), whether they will request that the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland considers adding Opus Dei to the notifiable membership list for the PSNI. [HL1483]
Lord Rooker: The Government have no plans to request that the list be changed to either add or remove any organisations.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the mechanism for members of the public or serving police officers to make formal complaints about the conduct of investigations carried out by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. [HL1488]
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