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11 Nov 2010 : Column WA101
11 Nov 2010 : Column WA101
11 Nov 2010 : Column WA101
Thursday 11 November 2010
Afghanistan
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 27 October (Official Report, col. 1218), which are the 14 provinces under the authority of the Government of Afghanistan.[HL3364]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): I wish to clarify my Answer of 27 October 2010 (Official Report, col. 1218) on the provinces under the authority of the Government of Afghanistan. I can confirm the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has full sovereign authority, including for security, over all 34 Afghan Provinces. Endorsed by United Nations Security Resolution 1386 and subsequent resolutions, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) assists the Afghan National Security Forces in the maintenance of security throughout Afghanistan. Work is now under way to set up a conditions-based process, overseen by a joint Afghan-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation board, to assess the readiness of provinces to start the process of transition from an ISAF to an Afghan security lead. We are confident that a number of provinces will be assessed as ready to begin transition in the first half of 2011, but we should not pre-empt the recommendations of the board.
Agriculture: Census
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to minimise paperwork affecting farms, in particular twice-yearly censuses, saved seed declarations and re-mapping for various schemes. [HL3453]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): Defra does not carry out twice-yearly censuses. The only census we run is the June Census of Agriculture, which is required to be carried out only once every 10 years under EU Regulation 1166/2008. We introduced a threshold into the 2010 census so the smallest farms (of which there are around 100,000 in England) were not surveyed, and we only collected the minimum information possible to meet legal requirements. In non-census years we run a smaller sample survey to capture information on the structures of farms in terms of crop areas, livestock populations and farm employee numbers. A project is currently under way to substantially reduce the sample size and volume of information required from 2011 onwards.
11 Nov 2010 : Column WA102
The second largest agricultural survey run by Defra, known to many as the December Census of Agriculture, has not been a census since the mid 1950s. This survey captures information on winter sown crop areas and cattle, pig and sheep populations under EU Regulations 543/2009 (crops) and 1165/2008 (livestock). The sampling size for this survey, which was 15,000 in 2009 (a sampling rate of 7 per cent), has been reduced to 5,000 for 2010 by using administrative sources such as the cattle tracing system (for cattle populations) and the sheep and goat inventory (for sheep populations).
The data obtained by the June and December surveys has many uses. For example, crop areas are used heavily by industry as estimates of the potential size of the cereals harvest and livestock data are collected to monitor long term trends in livestock populations and to estimate the effects of common agricultural policy reform on livestock sectors. The data are also used heavily in calculations for the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
Declarations of the use of farm saved seed are the responsibility of the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB), which acts on behalf of its members who hold the plant breeders' rights. The Food and Environment Research Agency, which has overall responsibility for the plant breeders' rights legislation, understands that the BSPB works efficiently to collect this information from farmers and makes the declarations as simple as possible.
In relation to re-mapping, we will look to see that lessons are learnt from the recent Rural Payments Agency's mapping update exercise so that, going forward, the burden on farmers is minimised. During the next round of common agricultural policy reform we will be placing a particular emphasis on simplification, including reviewing the necessity of requiring the sometimes very small changes to maps that are currently demanded.
Finally, the Task Force on Farming Regulation was set up in July 2010 to identify ways of reducing regulatory burdens on farmers and to advise on how best to achieve a risk-based system of regulation. The task force is consulting widely and will report to Government in April 2011. A full list of members and terms of reference can be found on the Defra website at http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/2010/07/09/_farm-review/.
Armed Forces: A400M
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they estimate they will be free to disclose the acquisition costs of the A400M aircraft.[HL3343]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The Major Projects Report 2010 published a forecast figure for the UK A400M programme of £3,231 million. However, a detailed breakdown providing specifically the cost of the A400M design and production phase contract requires the consent of all the partner nations, Organisation Conjointe de Co-operation en matiere d'ARmement (OCCAR) and Airbus Military. It is for this reason we do not expect to disclose the information.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they received any representations from British industry before 25 October about publication of the acquisition costs of the A400M aircraft.[HL3378]
Lord Astor of Hever: No such representations have been received.
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to have to start training air crew for the A400M aircraft.[HL3379]
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to have to start training ground crew for the A400M aircraft.[HL3380]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they anticipate will be the average cost of training a member of the ground crew of the A400M aircraft. [HL3381]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how long they estimate it will take on average to train a member of the air crew of the A400M aircraft. [HL3382]
Lord Astor of Hever: We expect to start training UK aircrew and ground crew for the A400M aircraft in 2014.
The Ministry of Defence is currently in the invitation to negotiate stage prior to placing a contract to meet the training requirements for ground staff and aircrew to use the A400M. Costs are therefore not yet available and provision of our estimates would prejudice commercial interests.
We estimate that the initial training course for UK A400M pilots will last approximately 15 weeks and that for air loadmasters approximately 11 weeks.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (a) civilian staff, and (b) uniformed staff, are currently engaged in the assessment of options for the in-service support of the A400M aircraft.[HL3491]
Lord Astor of Hever: There are 11 military and three civilian personnel dedicated to developing in-service support options. They are supported by up to another five civilian personnel who also provide functional support to the rest of the A400M project team.
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the assessment phase to consider options for the in-service support of the A400M aircraft began.[HL3492]
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the assessment phase to consider options for the in-service support of the A400M aircraft will conclude. [HL3493]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the result of the assessment of options for the in-service support costs of the A400M aircraft. [HL3494]
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Lord Astor of Hever: Initial gate approval, which marks the start of an assessment phase in such a project, was given on 24 May 2006. We expect the assessment phase to conclude by the end of 2011. The results of our assessment of options can not be published as they are commercially sensitive. I can, however, confirm that the process will include a full value-for-money assessment, as well as ensuring that the chosen solution is suitably robust while also providing the necessary levels of operational flexibility.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the analysis of options for the in-service support costs of the A400M aircraft will cost.[HL3495]
Lord Astor of Hever: Funding for the in-service support assessment phase was set as part of the initial gate approval in May 2006 and is estimated at £913,000.
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what duties (a) the civilian staff, and (b) the uniformed staff, currently engaged in the assessment of the in-service costs of the A400M aircraft were employed before they were transferred to their present duties. [HL3496]
Lord Astor of Hever: Of the 14 dedicated in-service support personnel, 13 are either currently serving or ex-military and were selected for their specific skills and experience. The other civilian team member has also been selected for specific logistic skills.
Armed Forces: Aircraft
Questions
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the comparative war load of weapons that Tornadoes and Harriers carry when the temperature in Afghanistan exceeds 25 degrees Celsius.[HL3337]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): There is no impact on the standard operational load of weapons on the Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR9 when the temperature in Afghanistan exceeds 25 degrees Celsius. Comparatively, the Tornado is more capable. Its standard load carries more weapons enabling greater flexibility whilst on missions. Specifically:
the Tornado GR4 when fitted with the LITENING III advanced targeting pod can carry three Paveway IV weapons, three Brimstone guided missiles and one cannon loaded with 135 rounds of 27 millimetre ammunition. Alternatively, when fitted with the RAPTOR reconnaissance pod the Tornado GR4 can carry two Paveway IV weapons and one cannon loaded with 135 rounds of 27 millimetre ammunition; andthe Harrier GR9 when previously on duty in Afghanistan and fitted with the Sniper advanced targeting pod could carry two Paveway IV weapons, two CRV-7 unguided rocket pods (38 rockets total) and one Digital Joint Recce Pod (DJRP). The two11 Nov 2010 : Column WA105
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the average annual running costs, including personnel and materiel costs, of a squadron of Tornado GR4 aircraft.[HL3480]
Lord Astor of Hever: A broad estimation is in the order of around £20 million per annum. This figure includes the direct variable costs of fuel, servicing and squadron personnel, but does not include fixed costs such as basing, platform support costs, or depreciation.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what weapons systems are qualified to be carried on each of Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4 aircraft.[HL3483]
Lord Astor of Hever: The following table gives the targeting and reconnaissance pods, air to ground weapons and air to air weapons that have been cleared to be carried by Tornado GR4 or Harrier GR9. Currently, not all of these systems are in the inventory for these aircraft.
| Tornado GR4 | Harrier GR9 | |
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average cost of a flying hour for a Tornado GR4 and a Harrier GR9.[HL3484]
Lord Astor of Hever: The average cost per flying hour of Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR9 are around £35,000 per hour and £37,000 per hour respectively.
These costs are based on total fleet costs (including manpower, servicing, stock consumption, aircrew training, accommodation etc, depreciation and cost of capital charges).
To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the average availability of each of the Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR9 aircraft types during deployments to Afghanistan.[HL3499]
Lord Astor of Hever: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 4 November 2010 (Official Report, col. WA428), to the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead.
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Tornado can take off from and land on the Kandahar runway when half of it is blocked by enemy action such as Taliban indirect fire.[HL3548]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Harrier can take off from and land on the Kandahar runway when half of it is blocked by enemy action such as Taliban indirect fire.[HL3549]
Lord Astor of Hever: Operations from or to a damaged runway would have to be assessed on a case by case basis.
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the response time for the Tornado getting airborne in support of an urgent request from ground forces. [HL3550]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the response time for the Harrier getting airborne in support of an urgent request from ground forces. [HL3551]
Lord Astor of Hever: When held on ground-based close air support (GCAS) alert both Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4 are declared to operational commanders with the same required readiness state response time. I am withholding the exact GCAS required response time for these aircraft as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
11 Nov 2010 : Column WA107
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the capability of the land-based Tornado to support a British task force operation in the Falklands in the event of an invasion making Mount Pleasant airfield unavailable for British use.[HL3618]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the capability of the carrier-based Harrier to support a British task force operation in the Falklands in the event of an invasion making Mount Pleasant airfield unavailable for British use.[HL3619]
Lord Astor of Hever: The Government are unequivocally committed to the defence of the Falklands.
I refer the noble Lord to the Secretary of State's comments during the Security Defence and Security Review debate on 4 November 2010 (Official Report, col. 1072W) in the other place. I am withholding further information as its release would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. Our current defence posture in the Falklands is much stronger than that which pertained in the early 1980s. We now have aircraft deployed in defence of the Falkland Islands, currently the Typhoon. We also have a range of further capabilities to deter any aggression.
Armed Forces: Aircraft 1
Questions
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the Tornadoes in service have a precision guided ground attack capability.[HL3552]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the Harriers in service have a precision guided ground attack capability.[HL3553]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any fixed-wing aircraft in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force order of battle that can attack shipping with precision-guided weapons.[HL3616]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The majority of Typhoons, all Tornado GR4s and all Harriers have a precision-guided ground attack capability, which can also be used to attack shipping.
Armed Forces: Alcohol
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce levels of alcohol consumption among Armed Forces personnel before and after operational deployment.[HL3654]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): Individual consumption limits and the sale of alcohol are regulated, particularly, but not only, when personnel are serving operationally. These controls are supported by disciplinary measures. All three services run robust programmes designed to
11 Nov 2010 : Column WA108
Arms Trade: Global Treaty
Question
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to win support at the United Nations for a robust arms trade treaty designed to establish minimum standards on all conventional arms sales. [HL3545]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The UK is committed to securing a robust and effective arms trade treaty and played an active and constructive role at the start of negotiations in July 2010.
The Government are working with UK defence industry and non-governmental organisations to build support for the arms trade treaty, including by funding outreach and research projects, and regularly discusses the arms trade treaty with both sceptical and supportive countries. We will continue to support the UN process, in partnership with other arms trade treaty advocates, as it moves towards the Diplomatic Conference in 2012.
Benefits
Question
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much would be saved if child benefit for 16 to 19 year-olds in full-time education were withdrawn.[HL3351]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): There is estimated to be around £1.8 billion that would be saved if child benefit for 16 to 19 year-olds in full-time non-advanced education were withdrawn in 2011-12. This change would affect families at all income levels.
The Chancellor stated at the time of the Spending Review that no further changes to child benefit would be required, beyond those already announced.
Children: Care
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each local authority, how many looked-after children had (a) between five and nine, and (b) more than 10, placements in the years ending (1) March 2009, and (2) March 2010.[HL3411]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The information has been placed in the Library. The number of looked-after children with 10 placements during the year has been provided for completeness.
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