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3 Feb 2010 : Column WA43
3 Feb 2010 : Column WA43
3 Feb 2010 : Column WA43
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Afghanistan
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the operational impact of 5,000 infantry personnel being determined unfit for operations in Afghanistan. [HL1475]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): As at 1 October 2009, just under 89 per cent of infantry strength was classified as deployable. This figure includes those personnel who have some limitations placed on the roles they can perform on operations.
This means approximately 2,650 personnel who are unable to deploy, but the vast majority of whom are contributing to military capability in supporting roles in home locations. A little under half of these service men and women are unable to deploy for non-medical reasons, such as compassionate or disciplinary circumstances, or because they are under the age of 18.
We continue to monitor the situation closely and have arrangements in place to support all our personnel suffering injury or illness to ensure, wherever possible, their return to full duty.
It should be noted that all infantry units deploy on operations at the required strength for the tasks they are asked to undertake. Units are given tasks that reflect their actual manning levels, or are reinforced from regular or reserve units in order to meet specific tasks.
Airports: Heathrow
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence they have received about the economic benefits of permitting flights to Heathrow Airport between 11.30 pm and 6 am. [HL1533]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): Consistent with the Government's aim to bear down on night noise (as set out in the 2003 White Paper-The Future of Air Transport), there have been restrictions on night flights at Heathrow for many years. The current restrictions (which cover the period October 2006 until October 2012) seek to strike a fair balance between the protection of local communities from excessive aircraft noise levels at night and the provision of air services at night where they are of benefit of the national, regional or local economy.
Details about the economic benefits of permitting night flights formed part of the regulatory impact assessment which accompanied the June 2006 decision document setting the noise restrictions for the 2006-12
3 Feb 2010 : Column WA44
Anguilla
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Government of Anguilla have not received their European Development Fund tranche 3 payment, due by 31 December 2009; and what steps they are taking to ensure it is paid. [HL1659]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The European Commission has authorised the disbursement of funds for Anguilla's third tranche of budget support under European Development Fund (EDF) 9 for €2.31 million. Anguilla should receive the funds shortly. There is no set timetable for the disbursement of EDF. Overseas territories can request disbursement of each tranche of funding once they have implemented the conditions set out in the financing agreement between the European Commission and the territory. Although Anguilla's original request was sent in April 2009, the Commission did not receive all the associated paperwork from Anguilla until early January 2010.
The Minister for the Overseas Territories wrote to the Commission in July 2009 noting the delays in the disbursement of funds under EDF and urging the Commission to expedite their assessment of funding requests. Officials remain in regular touch with the Commission about the disbursement of funds.
Armed Forces: Compensation Scheme
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking regarding the relative levels of claims made by injured service personnel through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and claims made against the Ministry of Defence through civil litigation. [HL1477]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), introduced in 2005, consists of a lump sum payment and is based on a tariff of injuries to take account of the pain and suffering associated with an injury, in recognition of service personnel's sacrifice on the nation's behalf. For the more seriously injured, it also provides an income stream payable on discharge, a guaranteed income payment, that is tax free and index linked for life.
The changes made to the lump sum payment in 2008 make the top awards more generous than the equivalent general damages available from the courts.
3 Feb 2010 : Column WA45
Injured personnel who receive compensation from the no-fault AFCS are also able to bring common law claims where negligence occurs.
The provisions of the AFCS, including how it compares with civilian schemes, are being reviewed as part of the review of the AFCS, 22 October 2009, (Official Report, col. WS 69-70) which is currently under way.
Armed Forces: Funding
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans exist for the funding of (a) the Army Cadet Force, (b) University Officer Training Corps, and (c) University Air Squadrons. [HL1507]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The Government remain committed to the Army Cadet Force and the University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadrons. However, difficult choices have to be made to focus resources on areas contributing directly to our mission in Afghanistan. Whilst the level of funding for the Army Cadet Force has been reduced until April 2010, it is anticipated that funding will be reinstated in the next financial year. Funding for the University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadrons, in line with all defence spending, is currently being reviewed, but no decisions in respect of these organisations have been finalised.
Aviation: Air Crew
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many service air crew with current or recent flying practice have been retired from flying duties on medical grounds during the past 12 months. [HL1428]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The number of service aircrew who were medically discharged from the Armed Forces during 2008 (the latest available data) are as follows:
| Service | Number of personnel medically discharged (rounded to the nearest 5) |
3 Feb 2010 : Column WA46
It is not currently possible to give figures for service personnel who have been medically downgraded from flying duties but remain in service.
British Citizenship
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether arrangements have been made by the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong to confirm with Chinese authorities in Hong Kong whether ethnic minority applicants for British citizenship are citizens of China; and whether British Nationals (Overseas) applying for British citizenship are required to produce their own letter from Chinese authorities confirming non-acquisition of Chinese citizenship. [HL1602]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The British Consulate-General in Hong Kong has reached an agreement whereby it will liaise directly with the Hong Kong immigration department (HKID) to verify whether applicants applying under Section 4B of the British Nationality Act had registered or naturalised, or whether they had an automatic claim to Chinese citizenship. The details of any applicant who does not have a clear automatic entitlement will be sent to HKID for a full check.
Chiefs of Staff
Question
Asked by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
To ask Her Majesty's Government what lump sum payments have been made to each Chief of the General Staff and to each Chief of the Defence Staff on their retirement since 1997; and, in each case, whether the payment was enhanced for any reason. [HL1312]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Former Chiefs of the General Staff and Chiefs of the Defence Staff were awarded terminal grants and pensions commensurate with their rank and length of service in accordance with the rules of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. The amounts in payment and the exact amount of the lump sum awarded are considered personal data and are therefore protected from disclosure under the Data Protection Act 1998.
From financial year 2001-02 the Ministry of Defence, has, in line with Her Majesty's Treasury financial reporting instructions, disclosed pension forecast information, in bands of £5,000, for the Chief of the General Staff and the Chief of the Defence Staff in the departmental resource accounts section of the annual report and accounts. This information has been extracted and tabulated below:
| Name | Post | Financial Year1 | TAP2 £ thousands | Lump Sum3 £ thousands |
- 4 Figures for Lord Michael Boyce, CDS 2001-03 present, are taken from the most recent publication of forecasts.
- 5 Disclosure of the lump sum was not part of the Treasury reporting requirement before financial year 2003-04.
- 6 Figures for Sir Jock Stirrup, CDS 2006-present, are taken from the most recent publication of forecasts.
- 7 Figures for Sir Richard Dannatt, CGS 2006-09, are taken from the most recent publication of forecasts.
Figures based on the actual pensions in payment have not been provided, as this would require further consent to disclose from the individuals concerned.
China
Question
Asked by The Archbishop of York
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of China over the 15-year sentence given to Uighur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti in Xinjiang in December 2009, having been convicted of "instigating separatism and revealing state secrets", following reports about inconsistencies in the court case, and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's conclusions that he had originally been detained "solely for his religious faith and his religious activities". [HL1490]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The case of Alimujiang Yimiti was last raised at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in January 2009 as part of an individual case list. At that time we urged the Chinese to consider freeing Alimujiang, and to ensure he had access to a defence lawyer. The Chinese replied then that Alimujiang was being detained in Kashgar Detention Centre, that his physical conditions were normal and that he enjoyed the rights to family visits and to hire a defence lawyer. We will continue to monitor his case and raise it wherever appropriate.
Climate Change: Academic Papers
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of how many peer-reviewed academic papers have been published in recognised scientific journals in the past 10 years which deny the existence of anthropogenic climate change. [HL1361]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): DECC has made no such estimate.
Cycling
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis railway stations were chosen to be cycle points; which organisations were consulted about the choices; and whether the Department for Transport's cycle rail integration team is taking forward the implementation of those projects. [HL1668]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): The Department for Transport consulted with Network Rail on the cycle point concept and asked them to identify 10 suitable locations for building a cycle point. Stations were selected as candidates for cycle points based on various criteria including cycle demand, footfall, how it would complement other cycle initiatives and to ensure a fair geographical spread. Network Rail, along with the relevant train operator, is continuing to work on the implementation of these schemes.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the capital cost of each of the proposed cycle points; what is the expected customer usage; and what are the planned opening dates. [HL1669]
Lord Adonis: We have not yet reached planning stage of all 10 cycle points announced on 28 September and so do not know the capital cost of each proposed scheme or the projected customer usage. Leeds cycle point, which is the first scheme to go ahead, will be built at a cost of £660,000. This will open in May 2010. It is envisaged that all 10 cycle points will be open within the next two years.
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