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I can confirm that we are in the process of reviewing what our future requirements for rehabilitation are likely to be. This involves not only the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court, but also our regional rehabilitation units (RRUs). We expect the review to be completed shortly.
The Government are currently considering the House of Commons Defence Select Committee's report and intend to publish their formal response to the Committee within two months.
Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 March (WA 157-8) concerning the costs of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum, how the travel costs of £71,000 are broken down. [HL2324]
Lord Rooker: In the forecast budget for the Bill of Rights Forum, travel costs were budgeted at £71,000 and were broken down into a transport budget of £45,000 and travel subsistence budget of £26,000. The forecast transport costs included motor mileage, air fares, car hire, taxis, trains, official cars and other transport costs. The forecast travel subsistence costs included personal allowances and overnight hotel costs.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 March (WA 158) concerning the post of chair of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum, whether they received any curriculum vitae from Chris Sidoti; and, if not, on what basis he was appointed.[HL2325]
Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer given to him on 3 March 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 158); and also the Written Answer given to him on 19 February 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 46).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 March (WA 159-60) concerning the membership of the Bill of Rights Forum, stating that he did not know the opinions of the members of the forum, whether that answer is consistent with his Written Answer on 19 February (WA 45), stating that the members reflect a diverse range of opinions. [HL2326]
Lord Rooker: I believe that it is. The fact that the membership of the forum was drawn from each of the five main parties and a variety of sectors within civic society ensured that a diverse range of opinion was present.
18 Mar 2008 : Column WA30
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 March (WA 159) concerning the assessment of candidates for the chairmanship of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum, what knowledge of human rights the officials in the Northern Ireland Office who were involved had. [HL2327]
Lord Rooker: All staff within the Northern Ireland Office must fulfil the appropriate competence requirements. The officials who were responsible for assessing potential candidates for the chairmanship of the Bill of Rights Forum against the stipulated criteria had the skills and experience relevant to their posts.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 March (WA 156-7) concerning the cost of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum, what is the existing budget of the sponsoring division within the Northern Ireland Office; and how it was reorganised to provide extra funding for the forum. [HL2384]
Lord Rooker: The Bill of Rights Forum is funded from the programme budget of the sponsoring division, which for the financial year 2007-08 is £962,000. It was not necessary to reorganise these funds as they were adequate to cover the costs of the Bill of Rights Forum and all other calls on that budget during the current financial year.
Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the remit of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is still as outlined in the Belfast Agreement of 1998 (Cm 4705) under the sections marked Human Rights in paragraph four. [HL2294]
Lord Rooker: Flowing from commitments made in the 1998 Belfast Agreement, the Northern Ireland Act 1998 established the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Section 69 of the Act sets out the functions of the commission, including subsection (7): “The Secretary of State shall request the Commission to provide advice of the kind referred to in paragraph 4 of the Human Rights Section of the Belfast Agreement”.
Northern Ireland: Senior Public Posts
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 March (WA 160) concerning competition for senior public sector posts in Northern Ireland, who decided that it was not proportionate to have a public appointment process for the three bodies mentioned; and how they reached that decision. [HL2385]
18 Mar 2008 : Column WA31
Lord Rooker: Ministers reached that view, having considered the relevant circumstances including the nature of the bodies and the timescale within which they were being established.
Northern Rock
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Davies of Oldham: Northern Rock operates on an arm's-length basis from government as a commercial entity. It publishes its audited reports and accounts on a regular basis in accordance with statutory reporting requirements.
Ron Sandler, Northern Rock's executive chair, expects to publish audited reports and accounts for last year shortly.
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What value of mortgages Northern Rock transferred to Granite between 1 January and 29 February. [HL2249]
Lord Davies of Oldham: No new mortgage assets have been transferred to Granite since the Bank of England started providing ongoing financial support to Northern Rock in September 2007.
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received advice on the value at which Northern Rock was brought into public ownership; and if so, what that advice was. [HL2299]
Lord Davies of Oldham: All the shares of Northern Rock were transferred to the Treasury Solicitor acting as nominee of HM Treasury on 22 February. The valuation principles, on which compensation arrangements for shareholders whose shares were transferred and certain others affected by the transfer are based, reflect the Government's assessment that, without public support, Northern Rock would not have been a going concern and would be in administration. It is for an independent valuer to assess the value to be placed on the company on the basis of those principles for the purpose of determining the amount of any compensation.
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions were held between Ministers or officials and Northern Rock or its advisers on the status of Granite and Dolerite before the decision to nationalise Northern Rock plc. [HL2300]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Discussions with Northern Rock or its advisers concerning their commercial relationships with other companies are commercially confidential.
18 Mar 2008 : Column WA32
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions were held between Ministers or officials and bondholders, directors or other controllers of Granite and Dolerite before the decision to nationalise Northern Rock plc. [HL2301]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Northern Rock has a commercial relationship with Granite. No contact was made with any of Northern Rock's commercial partners prior to the announcement that Northern Rock would be taken into temporary public ownership. The bonds issued by Dolerite were fully redeemed in August 2007.
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions were held between Ministers or officials and Sir Richard Branson about the ownership of Granite or Northern Rock's contingent liabilities and obligations to Granite. [HL2302]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Discussions with the bidders are commercially confidential.
Olympic Games 2012: Chauffeured Cars
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much has been provided in the budget for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to cover the cost of transporting International Olympic Committee officials during the games in chauffeured cars. [HL2429]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The £9.325 billion budget for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games does not include specific provision for transporting International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials.
Staging of the Games, including the transportation of IOC officials during the Games, is a matter for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG). LOCOG is largely privately funded, with the majority of its funds being raised through sponsorship; sale of tickets; merchandising and from the IOC itself.
Police: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether policing and justice could be devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly before the IRA ruling council has (a) become inactive; and (b) disbanded. [HL2409]
Lord Rooker: It is for the Assembly to request the devolution of policing and criminal justice powers.
18 Mar 2008 : Column WA33
Police: Pay
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will implement the recommendation of the independent arbitration panel to increase police salaries by 2.5 per cent with effect from 1 September 2007. [HL1842]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): My right honourable friend the Home Secretary considered the award of the Police Arbitration Tribunal very carefully. In doing so she took account of the tribunal's findings and reasoning, the need to ensure value for money and the best use of resources, affordability and government policy on public sector pay.
My right honourable friend the Home Secretary accepted the recommendation of the tribunal for an award of 2.5 per cent. However she decided that, in the interests of affordability, and government policy, including the maintenance of low inflation, the award should be implemented with effect from 1 December 2007 rather than 1 September.
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they will resolve their pay dispute with the police to a mutually satisfactory outcome prior to pay discussions for 2008; and what the expected timeframe is for that resolution. [HL1843]
Lord West of Spithead: Discussion of the 2008 police officer pay award is a matter for the Police Negotiating Board (PNB). My right honourable friend the Home Secretary wrote to the PNB on 8 January asking it to consider in its discussions a multi-year deal for police officers starting in September 2008, based on the index recommended by the Police Arbitration Tribunal for the 2007 police officer pay award. She has also held meetings with the police staff associations in order to give them an opportunity to convey their members' views, and to discuss how the PNB could reach a multi-year deal for the future.
Railways: Class 142 Units
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 11 March (HL2268), where are the alternative spare trains which are available on the market which may be used to replace the Class 142 or similar units used in the Exeter area. [HL2479]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Deployment and utilisation of trains in the Exeter area is a matter for First Great Western to manage.
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will underwrite the hire of units additional to those proposed in the rolling stock plan in order to replace outdated stock in the Exeter area. [HL2480]
18 Mar 2008 : Column WA34
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The rolling stock plan is about providing additional capacity and not about replacement of existing units which are in operation and are not life-expired.
Railways: North Wales
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much of the subsidy to be paid to Virgin Trains for services operating under the west coast main line franchise in 2007-08 and 2008-09 relates to trains operating on the Crewe, Chester and Holyhead section of the line. [HL2329]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Subsidy is determined for the whole of the west coast trains franchise and is not route specific.
Railways: West Coast Main Line
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much subsidy Virgin Trains will be paid for train services operating under the west coast main line franchise in 2007-08 and 2008-09. [HL2328]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The subsidy at franchise award was set at £274.5 million in 2007-08 and £294.6 million in 2008-09.
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