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14 May 2009 : Column WS101
14 May 2009 : Column WS101
14 May 2009 : Column WS101
Thursday 14 May 2009
Armed Forces: Deepcut Review
Statement
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): My right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Bob Ainsworth) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
I am announcing today the findings of the Boards of Inquiry (BOIs) into the tragic deaths at Deepcut of Privates Gray and Collinson.
The impact of their untimely deaths was felt, not just across the MoD, but across the nation. Our thoughts are with all their families and friends at this difficult time.
The BOIs were delayed due to the other investigations and reviews into the deaths at Deepcut, which had to be completed first. Having convened, they were subsequently reconvened to clarify evidence. We deeply regret the additional distress that the delay to the BOIs has caused to the families of Privates Gray and Collinson.
The next of kin were present at the BOI proceedings and have been presented with copies of the reports.
The board agrees with the coroner’s open verdict in both cases. In the case of Private Collinson, the board concludes that there were no indications in his general behaviour during his time in the Army to suggest that he was at any risk. In the case of Private Gray, the BOI concurs with Blake in concluding that there is no substantial evidence supporting third-party involvement in his death. In addition to covering the specific circumstances surrounding the deaths, each report covers the background to Deepcut from 1993 until the time of the deaths, including such issues as discipline, staff selection, welfare support and guarding arrangements. Both reports also detail the changes that have been made since the deaths to address these issues.
The BOIs make 19 identical recommendations and the Gray BOI makes one further recommendation. The recommendations are wide-ranging and there is considerable overlap with those made in earlier reviews and investigations into the deaths at Deepcut. For this reason all have been addressed and further work has been put in train to ensure that all possible related improvements are made. The recommendations focus on support to bereaved families; the service inquiry process, including tracking the implementation of recommendations; and the need to maintain momentum with continuous improvement in the training environment.
The release of these BOIs does not alter our position on the need for a public inquiry. Given the range of investigations that have now taken place, we do not believe there is any wider public or service interest in pursuing one.
I will arrange for copies of both BOI reports, redacted in accordance with guidance on the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act, to be
14 May 2009 : Column WS102
EU: General Affairs and External Relations Council
Statement
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): My right honourable friend the Minister for Europe (Caroline Flint) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will be held on 18 and 19 May in Brussels. My right honourable friends the Foreign Secretary (David Miliband), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton) and my honourable friend the Minister of State for International Development (Gareth Thomas) will represent the UK.
The agenda items are as follows:
Preparation of the 18 and 19 June European Council
EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the presidency’s agenda for the June European Council. The European Council will focus on EU institutional issues and agree Ireland’s guarantees on the Lisbon treaty. The council will also discuss the economic, financial and social situation and will take first decisions on financial regulation based on the Commission’s proposals on the De Larosiere report, as well as examining progress on the G20 London summit outcomes. There will also be a discussion on climate change funding mechanisms in order to develop an EU position ahead of the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.
The Government support these discussions at the June European Council. We welcome the continued co-ordinated EU response to the economic and financial situation and look forward to the council discussing credible options for an ambitious climate finance offer.
The council will discuss preparations for the EU-Russia summit, which is taking place in Khabarovsk on 21 and 22 May. In this context the council will also discuss EU-Russia relations, taking stock of the state of negotiations on a successor to the EU-Russia partnership and c-operation agreement, and a range of international issues of common interest to the EU and Russia.
At the summit, the EU will reaffirm its commitment to wide-ranging engagement with Russia, which the Government support as being in the UK’s and EU’s interests. We are willing to pursue active co-operation on important international issues, but also insist that Russia plays a responsible international role, keeping to international commitments it has made, including on Georgia. We will provide Parliament with a full update following the summit.
Ministers may discuss Moldova, following their discussion at the April GAERC about the post-election demonstrations and the authorities' reaction. The
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Following the April GAERC, which agreed conclusions, this discussion should be an opportunity to broaden the debate and again encourage the EU to consider how it can best support US engagement. Member states will look to the council secretariat to update them on the Iranian response to the E3+3’s invitation to recommence talks as soon as possible—Iran has so far sent no reply.
We will stress the opportunity that the E3+3 offer presents to Iran and the necessity for the EU to give its full backing to the renewed diplomatic efforts and the dual-track strategy, and encourage other member states to express their views on the most effective way forward. We will encourage further discussions on Iran over the coming months in the EU as the diplomatic situation develops.
The council will discuss the current situation in Georgia, including the EU's continued call for dialogue between the Government and the political opposition following a month of protests in Tbilisi. Ministers are likely to focus on the EU's current and future engagement with Georgia. The discussion is likely to include issues such as progress on trade agreements, visa facilitation and other elements arising from the Eastern Partnership summit on 7 May, as well as a discussion of the activities of the EU monitoring mission in Georgia.
We would support council conclusions outlining the EU’s serious concern about recent reports of mass civilian casualties in the conflict area. The Government are appalled by these reports; our position is that the fighting must stop, and that the safety and security of those civilians who remain in the conflict area is a priority. The council is likely to call on the Government of Sri Lanka to allow full and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies to IDPs wherever they are; and to underline the EU’s determination to press the Government of Sri Lanka to make urgent progress on an inclusive political solution to the conflict.
There will be a short discussion of illegal migration in the Mediterranean region, at the request of Greece. We expect Ministers to focus on increasing and strengthening co-operation in Europe to tackle the increasing flows of illegal migration. The UK supports this and recognises the particular challenges that are faced by Greece and other Mediterranean countries. We are also keen to further the UK’s bilateral relationship with Greece on migration through the provision of technical advice and assistance.
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Joint Session of EU Foreign and Defence Ministers
The council is likely to review progress made to date on the five objectives and two conditions (“5+2”) required for the closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and future prospects for achieving these. The UK will note the lack of progress made since the March meeting of the Peace Implementation Council. We will reaffirm our commitment to the “5+2” needing to be completed before transition to a solely EU special representative-led mission can occur. We also expect Ministers to discuss options for drawdown of EUFOR, the EU’s military mission.
Please refer to the EU Defence Ministers section below, which refers to the EU’s counter-piracy operation ATALANTA.
The European Defence Agency Steering Board will meet in the EU Defence Ministers formation on 18 May. Ministers will be presented with the agency’s draft three-year EDA work plan in order to support the setting of a three year financial framework at a GAERC to be held under the Swedish presidency in the second half of 2009.
Ministers will also be given an update on seven European Defence Agency capability projects. This will include the multi-national helicopter initiative (previously the UK-France helicopter initiative) which has raised €27 million towards the cost of upgrading European helicopters and training pilots to deploy to operational theatres. Defence Ministers will reflect on the EUFOR military operation in Chad and the Central African Republic which ended in March 2009. Over lunch, Defence Ministers will talk about the issue of EU co-operation with partners, with a particular focus on productive co-operation with NATO.
In both the joint session of Foreign and Defence Ministers and the separate Defence Ministers session, Ministers will discuss ongoing EU military operations including the next steps for the ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ministers will also discuss the EU’s counter-piracy operation ATALANTA, which is led by a British Rear-Admiral from the multi-national headquarters at Northwood, as it approaches the six-month review point.
The council will discuss how the EU can support developing countries in coping with the economic crisis. We expect conclusions to set out a series of measures with a particular focus on honouring our existing aid commitments and supporting progress towards the millennium development goals. The conclusions should also outline how the EU will help support the G20 London summit recommendations on development. Other items on the agenda include a discussion of potential areas for EU-US co-operation, a Commission update on the economic partnership agreements; a preliminary discussion on democratic governance, which will be more fully considered under the Swedish presidency; climate financing; and Kenya.
The UK also intends to raise Sri Lanka in the context of EU development policy.
14 May 2009 : Column WS105
Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Ministerial Targets
Statement
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Adonis): My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Jim Fitzpatrick) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
I am pleased to announce the broad objectives and specific ministerial targets for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for 2009-10. These are:
Safety Objective—Through accident prevention and effective search and rescue co-ordination and response, improve the safety of ships and people at sea and at the coast.
Performance under this objective will be measured against the following ministerial delivery targets:
Maintain the quality of maritime emergency co-ordination and response by the coastguard.
MT2aHelicopters tasked to respond to incidents will be airborne within 15 minutes during daylight hours and 45 minutes at night in at least 98 per cent of cases.
MT2bAt each MCA search and rescue helicopter base, a helicopter will be available at least 98 per cent of the contracted time to respond to incidents.
Meet the internationally required target to inspect 25 per cent of foreign vessels in UK ports under port state control arrangements, with an increasing emphasis on inspecting available ships judged to be high risk.
Maintain the quality of the UK Ship Register by reducing the level of deficiencies recorded on UK ships inspected abroad, and maintain a position on the Paris MOU White List which is comparable to registers of a similar size and reputation.
As a category 1 responder, continue to meet the provisions of the Civil Contingencies Act including increased engagement with local resilience forums (LRF).
Respond promptly to potential and actual pollution from ships around the UK coast, drawing effectively on resources including our emergency tugs, and following the procedures set out in the national contingency plan.
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Under this objective the MCA will also continue with their three-year programme of work in the following areas:
seafarer fatigue—working with the shipping industry and seafarer unions on a coherent strategy to reduce seafarer fatigue;fishing vessels—working with the fishing industry to improve the safety of small fishing vessels (under 15m); andlifejackets—working with the agency’s partner organisations (including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Royal Yachting Association), to promote the wearing of lifejackets within the leisure sector.Environment Objective—Through our monitoring of ships and response to pollution incidents protect the marine environment
Performance under this objective will be measured against the following ministerial delivery target:
Respond promptly to potential and actual pollution from ships around the UK coast, drawing effectively on resources including our emergency tugs, and following the procedures set out in the national contingency plan.
Under this objective the MCA will continue its three-year programme of work covering:
vessel traffic management—identifying the future requirements of sea space management and the role the agency may perform and continue to implement the European vessel traffic monitoring directive (VTMD) through UK law and monitoring the vessels operating in UK waters.The agency will also continue to monitor its performance through a range of service standards and measured outcomes which will be reported in its published annual report and accounts.
Police: Northern Ireland
Statement
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland (Paul Goggins) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
I have today placed copies of the framework documents for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Policing Board in the Libraries of the House.
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