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IKEA’s 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.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Costs of Conflicts

Lord Hamilton of Epsom asked Her Majesty's Government:



5 Feb 2007 : Column WA95

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 operation—training exercises, for example—are 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

Operations in Iraq

£629 million

Expenditure on capital equipment

£218 million

Total

£874 million

2003-04

Operations in Iraq

£1,051 million

Expenditure on capital equipment

£260 million

Total

£1,311 million

2004-05

Operations in Iraq

£747 million

Expenditure on capital equipment

£163 million

Total

£910 million

2005-06

Operations in Iraq

£798 million

Expenditure on Capital, equipment

£160 million

Total

£958 million

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

Operations in Afghanistan.

£187 million

Expenditure on capital equipment.

£34 million

Total

£221 million

2002-03

Operations in Afghanistan.

£236 million

Expenditure on capital equipment.

£75 million

Total

£311 million

2003-04

Operations in Afghanistan.

£36 million

Expenditure on capital equipment.

£10 million

Total

£46 million

2004-05

Operations in Afghanistan.

£58 million

Expenditure on capital equipment.

£9 million

Total

£67 million

2005-06

Operations in Afghanistan.

£148 million

Expenditure on capital equipment.

£51 million

Total

£199 million



5 Feb 2007 : Column WA96

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.

Iraq: Policy

Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:

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.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Forum

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

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.

Passports

Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:



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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).

People Trafficking

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

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:

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are currently developing the UK Action Plan on Trafficking and aim to publish it in the next few months.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:

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:

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:



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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:

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:

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:


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