Welcome to this section of my website which is regularly updated with a selection of written and oral Parliamentary Questions which I have tabled on local and national issues during the 2007/2008 and 2006/2007 Parliamentary sessions.

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For Parliamentary Questions relating to the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust please visit the Support the Princess Royal Hospital website at: Support the Princess Royal Hospital

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Topic: Transport; West Sussex

Written Question:

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what spending her Department has provided to improve the transport infrastructure of West Sussex in the last 10 years. [219966]

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State

Answer: Since the introduction of local transport plans in 2000, West Sussex has received around £120 million for local transport improvements and maintenance schemes on local roads, as well as approximately £23 million for local major transport schemes and supplementary funding. 

Investment by the Highways Agency in smaller scale trunk road improvements has been in the order of £7 million, while further major scheme investment is currently being developed as part of the regional funding allocation, for the A27 at Chichester and the A23 at Handcross and Warninglid.

West Sussex has also benefited from new trains and associated, power supply and depot upgrades delivered as part of the Mark 1 "slam door" stock replacement programme—the total value of the investment (benefiting West Sussex and other parts of London and the south-east) is in the region of £2 billion.

21st July 2008

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Topic: Transport; West Sussex

Written Question:

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to reduce traffic congestion in (a) West Sussex and (b) Mid Sussex. [219967]

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State

Answer: The regional element of Towards a Sustainable Transport System (DfT's Response to Eddington) is still at the stage of identifying key challenges to be delivered post 2014. This will need to include mechanisms for, inter alia, barriers to productivity including addressing congestion and climate change.

Steps currently being taken in West Sussex to reduce traffic congestion on trunk roads include:

Operational Management

About £4.7 million Local Network Management Schemes.

The HA's Traffic Officer service on the M23 dedicated to managing traffic and provide rapid response to clear debris, carry out immediate repairs and implement traffic management.

Carrying out routine maintenance outside of peak travel times.

Infrastructure improvement (in current regional funding allocation)

A23 Handcross to Warninglid (in Mid Sussex) (programmed for 2012).

A27 Chichester bypass improvements (programmed for 2015).

Local Transport Improvements

Local roads are the responsibility of West Sussex county council.

Local Transport Plan funding to West Sussex over the last 10 years amounts to about £143 million. We do not have the data to identify a figure separately for local transport investment in Mid Sussex.

Funding is allocated within the local authority according to local priorities. In its Local Transport Plan, West Sussex has identified congestion in the major centres and strategic roads as one of their top priorities.

Traffic Management

The Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Local Transport Bill (currently before Parliament) shall give enhanced powers to local authorities in their quest to reduce traffic congestion.

21st July 2008

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Topic: Warships

Written Question:

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many frigates and destroyers were identified in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review as being required by the Royal Navy to fulfil their tasks; how many are in service; and how many are expected to be in service in 2012. [214172]

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP, Minister of State (Armed Forces) [holding answer 26 June 2008]:

Answer: The 1998 Strategic Defence Review identified a requirement for 32 destroyers and frigates. This was changed to 25 in the 2004 White Paper “Delivering Security in a Changing World, Future Capabilities (Cm 6269)”, and this remains the number presently in service. On current plans, the number of destroyers and frigates in service in 2012 will fluctuate as the Type 42 destroyers are replaced by the new Type 45s, though we would expect there to be between 21 and 23 ships in service during the course of that year.

30 June 2008

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Topic: Statement on Afghanistan

Oral Question:

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): The Secretary of State knows that the whole country should be extremely proud of the performance of British armed forces in Afghanistan. However, even after this welcome, if very small, addition, there are still critical gaps in the military structure which, unless filled, will prevent us from completing the mission successfully. Will the Secretary of State, together with the Prime Minister, urge the Germans, who have remarkable and substantial engineering assets in the north, to realise that their business is south and that we and the Americans will provide them with force protection so that we can get on with the absolutely essential, almost untouched part of the vital reconstruction, without which the mission will not be able to proceed?

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon Des Browne MP, The Secretary of State for Defence

Answer: The hon. Gentleman makes a very good point. At the NATO ministerial meeting last week, I encouraged all those countries with assets to make a contribution by deploying them in the south. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will forgive me for reminding the House that large parts of Afghanistan have improved immeasurably, but that we have to be very careful not to abandon and leave those areas as the soft underbelly of country, because if we do that is where the Taliban will go. The German Defence Minister reminded me—he was right to do so—that Germany had suffered some casualties where they are and that retaining the north and west and the area around Kabul, which we may be able to see handed over to the Afghans themselves, is quite important. The Taliban have a habit of going where the weakest spot is and I certainly do not want them to see success in places where we have already seen significant improvement.

16 June 2008

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Topic: Afghanistan

Written Question:

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of co-operation between his Department and British armed forces in Afghanistan. [210006]

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development

Answer: Since UK expansion into Helmand province in June 2006, the effectiveness of co-operation between UK armed forces, the Department for International Development (DFID) and other UK civilian departments has been regularly assessed by officials and Ministers from DFID, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Co-operation has improved over the last two years, as the UK-led, joint civilian-military provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Helmand has developed. Military and civilian are located in the PRT, working closely with the local Afghan government, undertaking joint planning, and making joint decisions on funding reconstruction projects. DFID's development advisor in the PRT has helped to ensure that development in Helmand is co-ordinated with the UK military's work and with DFID's nationwide development programmes.

An example of effective co-operation is the joint planning for the military operation in Musa Qala in December 2007, which resulted in more immediate and effective stabilisation after the military operation had concluded. Discussions are also underway on using military resources to make roads to market more secure, which will support the Department for International Development's (DFID) livelihoods and development programmes in the province.

The recently agreed Helmand Road Map is an operational guide for UK engagement in Helmand over the next two years and provides the key measures for assessing the future effectiveness of civil/military co-operation.

11 June 2008

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Topic: Afghanistan

Oral Question:

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): Does the Foreign Secretary agree that it is important that the Department for International Development works more closely with British military forces on the ground? It is a widely held view by all those who have served in Afghanistan that the Department for International Development, although it does a good job, could do much more if it would swallow the nonsense about not working with people in uniform.

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:

Answer: I have talked in Helmand to soldiers and representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. I do not want to associate myself with the hon. Gentleman’s allegations but I want to take collective responsibility for the activities of FCO and DFID staff. There is no question but that we need to ensure better civilian-military co-operation. I hope that he agrees that the appointment of a civilian head—as it happens, from the FCO—of the Helmand provincial reconstruction team, who takes office next month, will be the symbol of the proper, high quality civilian-military co-operation that he and I agree is essential.

13th May 2008

Hansard vol 475, No 93

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Topic: Children's Health

Oral Question:

Mr. Nicholas Soames: Does the hon. Lady agree that children’s health starts with a happy and successful birth, and that it therefore makes no sense at all for the Government to press primary care trusts all over country, including those in West Sussex, to close and diminish the number of maternity services, particularly at Princess Royal hospital in Haywards Heath—an area of exceptional growth with an enormous new population expected? It makes no sense whatever to downgrade valued and cherished maternity services at an excellent hospital.

Member Answering Question: Ann Keen MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health:

Answer:The hon. Gentleman has raised this issue with me before in Adjournment debates in Westminster Hall, and he has campaigned strongly for his area. However, what is happening is not to downgrade but to improve. The Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists would agree that we want children to have the best possible start in life, and the first few minutes are critical, for obvious reasons. As we know, this is happening with the consent of clinicians and the local community. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will continue to engage with his constituents on this important issue.

6th May 2008

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Topic: Building Schools for the Future Programme: West Sussex

Written Question:

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when West Sussex will have access to the Building Schools for the Future funding stream?

Member Answering Question: Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Children, Schools and Families

Answer:[holding answer 3 April 2008]: Building Schools for the Future aims to renew all secondary school in England where there is need in 15 waves of investment which started in 2005-06. In early 2005, we announced the national programme for Building Schools for the Future, based on the expressions of interest for inclusion in the programme which authorities proposed. Expressions of interest include how authorities group their schools into geographically coherent projects. These projects were prioritised on the average social and educational need of the schools in them. Information on the national programme is available in the Parliamentary libraries. West Sussex proposed three projects, which are prioritised in waves 10 to 15. Later this year, when we have consulted on management of the later waves of the programme, we will invite authorities to revise their expressions of interest if they wish.

9th April 2008

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Intervention During Statement on Iraq

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that the statement about the possible withdrawal of numbers of troops from Iraq was made, extremely unwisely and rashly, by the Prime Minister when he was in Iraq? Some of us believe that to have been a cynical pre-election stunt. Will the Secretary of State define for the House the overwatch obligations and commitments to which he refers but which he never enumerates?

Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence: I have spelt out the detail of overwatch in the body of the statement that I gave to the House on what we have been doing, in practical terms, in support of the Iraqi security forces in the past week. Beyond that work, of which there are many practical examples, we are also training the Iraqi security forces and working on the border to train the Iraqi border police.

1st April 2008

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Topic: Israel: Borders

Written Question:

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the Government of Israel to open the border passes to the Gaza Strip. [196520]

Member Answering Question: Jim Murphy, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer: [holding answer 25 March 2008]: The UK believes that the Gaza border crossings should be opened for both humanitarian and commercial activity. On 28 January 2008 my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, with his EU colleagues, announced that the EU would be willing to redeploy the EU border assistance mission at Rafah when conditions allow. Our embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises this issue with the Israeli Government.

31st March 2008

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Topic: Armed Forces: Military Decorations

Written Question:

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will institute the practice of wearing a wound stripe or other honour award for soldiers wounded in action. [188631]

Member Answering Question: Derek Twigg, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence

Answer: We currently have no plans to introduce the practice of wearing a wound stripe or other honour for soldiers wounded in action.

Today all servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan receive a medal once they have met the qualifying criteria, which reflects the risk to life and limb of the servicemen and women and the rigour of the operations upon which they are deployed. The medals are issued automatically in the event of death or injury that leads to evacuation from theatre, regardless of how long individuals have served on the operation.

In addition, a number of those wounded on operations have also received gallantry awards.

Our primary aim must be to provide the injured with the medical care that they require and to support them where appropriate via the War Pensions Scheme and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

This is a complex issue which is kept under constant review by the Military Chiefs of Staff and they are the best placed to make the appropriate recommendations.

Monday 25th February 2008

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Topic: Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Tidal Power

Written Question:

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what tidal power schemes are under consideration in Government. [181853]

Member Answering Question: Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister of State (Energy)

Answer: [holding answer 24 January 2008]: The Government have in place a number of initiatives that encourage the development of tidal power.

The Government’s main mechanism for supporting renewable energy is the Renewables Obligation (RO). We recently announced our final plans to reform the RO so that it maximises contributions from both established and emerging technologies. These include providing greater support to tidal barrages and lagoons up to 1 Giga Watt and to tidal-stream technologies. Further details can be found at this external link.

Support for the research and development of tidal power technology development is given by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) which is a joint Government and industry initiative. Details on the ETI’s first call for projects, launched on 17 December 2007 include tidal power and can be seen at this external link.

In addition, the £50 million ‘Marine Renewables Deployment Fund’ provides a package of measures to support the first grid connected multi-device tidal-stream pre-commercial demonstrations. Further details can be found at this external link.

On 22 January we announced the detailed terms of reference for a new feasibility study that will look into the potential for tidal power in the Severn Estuary. Further details of the study can be found at this external link.

My Department is currently considering an application for consent for a tidal energy device in the Humber Estuary.

4th February 2008

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Topic: Prime Minister's Questions

Oral Question: Post Office Closures

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): The Prime Minister may be aware that the Post Office earmarked four post offices for closure in the Mid-Sussex constituency. It invited a detailed consultation for six weeks, to which there were more than 6,500 replies—all unreservedly in favour of retaining those post offices. On Tuesday, however, the Post Office announced that they are all to be closed. Why does the Prime Minister allow his Government to be party to such a rotten deceit of the public in respect of that consultation?

The Prime Minister:

Answer:

We have made £1.7 billion to help post offices in this country and we will continue to make money available for Post Office services. There is a process of consultation and an appeals system, although I do not know whether it was taken up. I urge the hon. Gentleman to meet the Minister in charge of the Post Office. We are listening to what people say, but the fact of the matter is that many post offices are not used in any great detail. We will continue to put the money in to help the Post Office service.

30th January 2008

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Topic: Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform - Energy: Carbon Emissions

Written Question:

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding his Department has allocated for green energy technologies in each of the next five years; to which programmes; and for what purpose in each year. [181852]

Member Answering Question: Malcolm Wicks, Minister of State (Energy)

Answer: [holding answer 24 January 2008]: The following funding programmes announced by my Department are expected to continue spending over part or all of the next five years:

Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme

Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, and Carbon Abatement Technologies Demonstration Programme

Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1

Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2

Offshore Wind Capital Grants Scheme

Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study

Marine Renewables Deployment Fund

The Department has also announced its intention to fund a Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration project.

Expenditure is demand-led and the Department does not make specific allocations for each year. These programmes have different expected lifespans: some will complete spending within five years and some will continue beyond that period. My Department’s budget for low-carbon energy technologies over the comprehensive spending review period (the three years from April 2008-March 2011) is £200 million, through the new Environmental Transformation Fund. Spend under the programmes listed will be met from this budget, as will the estimated £9 million cost for the Severn Tidal Power feasibility study whose terms of reference I announced on 22 January. My Department’s budget beyond March 2011 depends on the next central Government spending review.

29th January 2008

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Topic: Justice Questions - Electoral Systems - Voting Reform

Oral Question:

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): Does the hon. Gentleman agree that whatever changes may be made to the voting system—this paper is clearly an important one—it also matters how the system of voting works? Does he also agree that the changes that his Government have initiated in the past have not been an outstanding success, and that one of the things that dignified our democracy in the past was the absolute integrity and assurance of our voting system? Will he please put it back to what it was?

Member Answering Question: Michael Wills, Minister of State

Answer: I certainly agree with the hon. Gentleman on the first part of his question, because of course such matters are fundamentally important. However, I do not agree with the second part. We have always taken the integrity of the voting system seriously. The legislation that we have passed has had that absolutely at its heart, but we have a problem—as I hope the hon. Gentleman will recognise—with the disengagement of significant parts of the electorate from the political system. All of us owe it to our electorate to do whatever we can to increase participation. That is what has driven our reforms, and it will continue to drive our approach, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the integrity of the system remains fundamental.

29th January 2008

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Topic: Defence Questions - Defence Review

Written Question:

Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, under what circumstances he would consider undertaking a Defence Review. 

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon Des Browne MP, Secretary of State for Defence

Answer:  The 1998 Strategic Defence Review (Cm 3999) and 2002 New Chapter (Cm 5566) White Papers identified the major challenges to UK security as the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, the spread of international terrorism and the threat posed by weak and failing states.  In response to these challenges, they set the requirement for the UK to maintain expeditionary, balanced and flexible Armed Forces.  These assumptions were validated in the 2003 White Paper “Delivering security in a Changing World” (Cm 6041-I) and were endorsed again in work leading to the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm 7227).  The recent CSR settlement of 1.5 per cent real terms growth means an additional £7.7 billion for Defence by 2011, continuing the longest period of sustained real growth in planned defence spending since the 1980s. Our priority is to continue to modernise the armed forces to deliver the capabilities needed to meet these challenges.

28th January 2008

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Topic: Defence Questions - New Aircraft Carriers

Oral Question:

Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex) (Con): As the Minister knows, however heroically the Navy tries—it does try heroically—its capabilities have been degraded because of the number of its ships and its inevitable inability to carry out the declared tasks that it handled when it had many more ships. How many escorts does the Minister anticipate one of the new carriers will require when it goes to sea?

Member Answering Question: Bob Ainsworth MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces

Answer: There will be sufficient escorts for the carrier task fleets and that will be in line with the defence strategy as laid out to the House. We will make sure that the task fleets are fully capable in every aspect of the work that they need to do in order to give the Royal Navy the kind of power projection it must continue to have in future generations.

21st January 2008

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Topic: Defence Questions

Oral Question: Does the Minister realise that the most devout hope of the families of any serviceman on operations is that he or she should have the right equipment to undertake their jobs? Although much of the personal equipment is very good on operations, what steps are the Government and all their Departments taking to ensure that more helicopters are got to our forces on operations as soon as possible?

Member Answering Question: Bob Ainsworth MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces

Answer: I think the hon. Gentleman knows that we have six new Merlins coming into service and that the first will arrive in spring next year. We are also converting eight Chinooks. Together, those will considerably increase our helicopter capability. We have also done some modifications on Sea Kings to enable them to be capable in the Afghan theatre and they will provide us with greater flexibility. Yes, we understand the need for helicopter capability and we are taking steps to improve it.

3rd December 2007

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Topic: Affordable Housing in the South East

Written Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to increase the availability of affordable housing in the South East.

Member Answering Question: Yvette Cooper MP, Minister of State

Answer: We have published a Housing Green Paper which sets out the Government’s plans for the level of affordable housing to be delivered in the years covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Regional Assemblies will be asked for their advice on housing spending priorities in their areas.  This will include levels of spend on different elements of the National Affordable Housing Programme and spatial distribution.  This advice will be provided in the context of work which has already been done by the Regional Assemblies as part of the preparation of Regional Spatial Strategies in their role as regional planning bodies.

31st July 2007

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Topic: Housing – Low Incomes
Written Question:  To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in West Sussex in each year since 1997?
Member Answering Question: Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Answer: The numbers of affordable homes built in West Sussex in each financial year since 1997-98 are presented in the following table. West Sussex has been taken to include the local authority areas of Adur, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Worthing. Affordable housing includes both social rent and intermediate housing (e.g. low cost home ownership).

Not all affordable housing supply is through new build completions, supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. Between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2006 an additional 1,500 affordable homes were supplied through acquisitions which are not shown in the following table. Figures for 2006-07 are not yet available.

24 July 2007

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Topic: NHS Manpower
Written Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed in the NHS in (a) England and (b) West Sussex; and what percentage of each is employed in (i) management, (ii) administrative, (iii) scientific, (iv) research, (v) clinical medical, nursing and midwifery and (vi) other roles.
Member Answering Question: Ben Bradshaw MP, Minister of State for Health
Answer: The information requested is shown in the following table.

23 July 2007

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Topic: Police – Finance
Written Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been allocated to the police per head of population in (a) Sussex and (b) the South East of England for 2007-08.

Member Answering Question: Tony McNulty MP, Minister of State
Answer: The information requested is set out in the following table. The Government do not distribute grant to police authorities purely on the basis of population. The police funding formula uses a range of data relating to demographic and social characteristics to reflect the relative needs of each authority. Grant allocations also take into account the relative tax base of each authority. Grant allocations are stabilised by damping to limit year-on-year variations.

23 July 2007

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Topic: Wounded Service Personnel

Oral Question: Would the Secretary of State accept that it is a great failing of the Ministry of Defence that more is not known about the great triumph, success and heroism of British soldiers, particularly those who have been seriously wounded? Will he note the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) about the need for the wider community to recognise the astonishing achievements and heroism of the wounded? Does not he agree that they should be invited to race meetings, motor racing, boxing fights, and so on, so that people can see them, welcome them and give them appropriate recognition for their astonishing achievements?

Member Answering Question: Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence

Answer: I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. I am pleased to advise the House, and those who might have missed this, that a significant number of those who have been injured in combat were recently guests of, I think, the British Motor Racing Club—I shall almost certainly get this wrong, and I do not want to—at the recent Formula 1 race. Whoever it was—and I should know exactly who invited them—is to be commended for their generosity and for their reasons for choosing to honour those people.  May I say to the hon. Gentleman and to the House that I regret the change made some time ago—there were reasons for it—whereby soldiers, airmen and sailors who are off duty do not appear in uniform on our streets? If more of our armed services were able to appear in uniform, people would have a better chance of relating to them. If I can increase the numbers who are able to do that, it will go a long way to address the hon. Gentleman’s point.

16 July 2007

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Topic: Statement on Constitutional Reform

Oral Question: The Prime Minister will of course be aware that there is much to welcome in his statement on both sides of the House. However, other issues will need to be looked at with great care and caution. If he is really serious about improving the opportunities of citizenship, especially for our young people, will he acknowledge that this is the only country in Europe, other than Iceland, that stops teaching history compulsorily before the age of 16? Does he understand that the teaching of history is extremely important for people to have an idea about the citizenship of the country to which they belong?

Member Answering Question: The Prime Minister

Answer: I think that the hon. Gentleman knows my views about the importance of teaching history, both in citizenship courses in the curriculum and in history itself—and I have the Children, Schools and Families Secretary sitting next to me.

3 July 2007

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Topic: Statement on Iran (Detention of Naval Personnel)

Oral Question: The Secretary of State must agree that this incident was a very serious operational failure indeed. If the captain of one of Her Majesty’s ships were to run it aground on a sand bank, he would be arraigned before a court martial. It seems astonishing to me that the right hon. Gentleman can come to the House with a report by General Fulton—which clearly has been staffed to death by the Royal Navy—and say that the affair is over and that we should draw a line under it. Does he accept that that shows a woeful and shameful lack of leadership and grip on his part and on the part of his Department? Will he tell the CDS that he has better things to do than take part in ill judged public relations stunts that involved welcoming back from the disaster a crew who should have spent two days at home and then been sent straight back to their ships

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon Des Browne MP, Secretary of State for Defence

Answer: I have no doubt that the hon. Gentleman’s words will be heard by the CDS and others, and no doubt either that his plan is that they should be. I have complete faith in General Fulton’s integrity—

Mr. Soames: So do we.

Des Browne: With respect to the hon. Gentleman, it did not sound like it. I have complete faith in General Fulton’s integrity. He prepared and owns the report, and no one else sought to influence or shape it. It comes to the honest conclusion that a combination of factors led to the unfortunate and terrible circumstances of an event that I accept ought to have been avoided. We should look forward to make sure that it never happens again, but the House must accept that, for decades and generations, we have been asking young people to do very dangerous things in very dangerous and difficult circumstances, and that sometimes things go wrong.

19 June 2007

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Topic: Productivity of farming (Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs)

Written Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve the productivity of farming.  

Answering Department: DEFRA

Member Answering Question: Barry Gardiner MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Answer: Total Factor Productivity for UK farming, which shows the volume of output leaving the industry per unit of all inputs including fixed capital and labour, rose by 2.1 per cent in 2006.  More information about the productivity levels of UK farming can be found in the Defra publication ‘Agriculture in the United Kingdom’.

Defra continues to conduct research, at both the farm level and through aggregate comparisons with other countries, into what influences the productivity of UK farming.

Improving productivity is a key element for our vision for farming, which identifies an industry that is profitable in the market place, makes a positive net environmental contribution and manages the landscape and the natural assets that underlie it. 

We are undertaking a range of actions to improve the competitive position of farming in England. These include:

• The use of Axis 1 funding of the new Rural Development Programme for England, which will be used to promote greater awareness of market opportunities, including for diversified enterprises, the benefits of collaboration and co-operation, and the acquisition of skills needed to exploit new opportunities. 
• Restructuring the five statutory horticulture and agriculture levy boards into one overarching levy board with subsidiary, sectoral companies, thus allowing for efficiencies and commonalities to be identified, in order to help the sectors involved.  For example, the new structure will facilitate exchange of information across the sectors on issues of common interest such as water and waste.
• In addition to that available under the Agriculture Development Scheme, the Government has provided a significant amount of dedicated funding to the Food Chain Centre and the Red Meat and Cereals Industry Forums, and English Farming and Food Partnerships, as a transitional measure to help the industry adapt to a more market-orientated future. 
• Implementation of the Non- Food Crops Strategy, which aims to drive forward the bio-based economy through research, dissemination of technology and knowledge, and building supply chains from agriculture to industry.
• Supporting the quality regional food sector through a five year £5 million programme (which began in 2003/04) with the specific objective of creating a flourishing high quality regional food sector.
• Working with stakeholders to progress the Action Plan to develop organic food and farming in England which aims to create a sustainable and competitive organic farming and food sector.
• Support for farmers to take advantage of financial risk management products to enable them to be more resilient to increased price volatility, and to increase uptake of the business benchmarking software that is available under through the Whole Farm Approach.
• Helping farmers and growers under the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) to develop the capabilities and capacity necessary to meet the public sector’s requirements for food. 
• Establishment of the Biomass action plan with the objective of addressing barriers to the production of biomass energy, and stimulating the development of the sector. 
• Improving the regulation of farming, by making it more effective, and efficient for farmers, thus helping them to reduce costs and increase competitiveness.
• The Whole Farm Approach (WFA) helps farmers to identify where there is a regulatory requirement and the actions necessary to fulfil that requirement, supported by targeted help and guidance. 
• Developing a business competence framework for the environmental and land-based sectors to provide a clear understanding of what skills an individual will require to work in particular industries and in particular jobs within those industries.
• Supporting the Fresh Start initiative which aims to encourage new people into the farming industry with the appropriate skills to succeed in a market-driven environment. 
  
  

9 May 2007

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Topic: Regulatory Burden (Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs)

Written Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to decrease the level of regulatory burden for which his Department is responsible.

Answering Department: DEFRA

Member Answering Question: Barry Gardiner MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Answer: Defra is committed to a comprehensive programme of regulating better.  Our December 2006 Simplification Plan, Maximising Outcomes, Minimising Burdens, explains the action that is being taken across Defra and its agencies to reduce administrative burdens and to improve regulations.  That includes removing redundant legislation, without compromising environmental standards, seeking alternatives to traditional regulation and taking a risk-based approach to enforcement and inspection.

The Simplification Plan, which is available from the Library of the House, identifies over 130 separate initiatives that will contribute to meeting our target of reducing the administrative burden we impose on business by 25% by 2010.  Those initiatives are scheduled to deliver an annual administrative burden reduction of around £159 million.  They include:

Movements of hazardous waste  - simplifying paperwork for monitoring movements will deliver savings of £2.1m.

Whole Farm Approach – the administrative saving for farmers is estimated at £2.9 million by 2009/10 (based on current uptake).

Replacement of the Over Thirty Month Scheme with the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme – will deliver administrative savings of £3.49m by the end of 2008.

Fruit and vegetable marketing standards (introduction of electronic certificates of conformity with EU marketing standards) – will achieve administrative savings of £3.22m in 2007.

The Game licensing review - realises administrative savings of £0.6 million per annum – starting in mid-2007.                                                                 

9 May 2007  

___________________________________________

Topic: Food Security (Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs)

Written Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve food security in Great Britain.

Answering Department: DEFRA

Member Answering Question: Barry Gardiner MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Answer: My Department published Food Security and the UK: An Evidence and Analysis Paper, a wide-ranging study on Food Security, in December 2006. Defra is improving food security by promoting continuity and contingency planning in the food chain.  By strengthening trading relationships, based on more open international markets and reductions in trade distorting subsidies, we increase UK food security by unlocking access to a diversity of supply sources. In a modern economy, the production, availability and distribution of all our food is dependent upon a secure energy and fuel supply, as well as upon other transport infrastructure. It is clear that our food chain – whatever the degree of agricultural self-sufficiency - relies on various forms of energy and that energy security is a primary concern.  The Government’s Energy Review, published in July 2006, specifically considered how our energy security can be maintained and enhanced in an uncertain world. The food retailers have robust and resilient business continuity plans to deal with any threat of disruption. Defra works closely with all parts of the industry to ensure that appropriate support is provided.

9 May 2007

 ________________________________________

Topic: Bullying (Armed Forces)

Oral Question: Does the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that while of course there is no place for bullying and discrimination, it is nevertheless a fact that those young men and women, who are covering themselves in immense distinction under circumstances of great difficulty in Iraq and Afghanistan, can do so because they go through avery tough and robust training programme, which is designed to prepare them for what they are likely to meet if they have to go on active service? Will he therefore be very careful, and not be seduced in any way by the siren voice of the hon. Member for Solihull (Lorely Burt), whose talk is of a kind unknown to the armed forces, which want to get on with it and do the job that they know they need to do, and be trained to do it.

Answering Department: Defence

Member Answering Question: Derek Twigg MP; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence

Answer:The hon. Gentleman makes a very important point. Clearly, we have to have robust and challenging training, because of the nature of operations and service that our armed forces have to undertake. Again, I have visited a number of training establishments in the six months I have been in this job. I have been impressed both by the robustness and the challenges of the training for recruits, and by welfare support and support generally, given the issues that recruits may encounter. I completely accept the point made by the hon. Gentleman—we need robust and challenging training, but we must put procedures in place to make sure any complaints can be dealt with and that people are comfortable, if they suffer any difficulties, with the system for making a complaint.

26th March 2007

_________________________________________

Topic: Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Oral Question: The hon. Gentleman sent me a helpful letter after I wrote to him about temporary admission. Does he agree that far too many people are not reporting back after they have been granted temporary admission and that, in fact, the rules relating to people who are granted temporary admission need to be tightened up considerably? Does he think that if there is any doubt at all in the minds of immigration officers, these people should be detained?
Answering Department: Home Office
Member Answering Question: Liam Byrne
Answer: Mr. Byrne: I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s contribution. As he knows, I tried to write as detailed and thorough a response to him as possible, and I apologise for the slight injection of a delay that resulted. It is important that we keep those who apply for leave in this country under the closest possible review. Part of that involves ensuring that we have the systems to count people in and count people out of the country. We said something else last July: when there are people seeking asylum in this country, we should ensure that they are subject to electronic monitoring, or, when necessary, tagging. I hope that we will be able to hit that target, as we promised, in April.

19th March 2007

___________________________________________

Topic: Arms Training
Question: (2) how many battle group and above formation training exercises were cancelled in each of the last four years; and where each was due to take place.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: [holding answers 25 January 2007]: All arms training continues to be maintained at a level sufficient to ensure that our troops are fully equipped to deal with the exigencies of life in theatre. The Army plans its training activities and exercises many years in advance. Changes in circumstances, including those arising from operational commitments, will always mean that a few exercises have to be postponed or cancelled. All units deploying on operations receive the training necessary to complete the tasks required of them, including combined arms training at Battlegroup and Brigade level.The number of Battlegroup and above formation exercises cancelled in each of the last four years and where each was due to take place are shown in the following tables.
2003-04
Number of exercises Level of exercise Location of exercise
2 Battlegroup Canada
2 Battlegroup United Kingdom
2 Battlegroup Kenya
1 Formation Poland
2004-05
Number of exercises Level of exercise Location of exercise
2 Battlegroup Canada
1 Battlegroup Kenya
1 Battlegroup United Kingdom
2005-06
Number of exercises Level of exercise Location of exercise
3 Battlegroup Canada
1 Battlegroup Kenya
2006-07
Number of exercises Level of exercise Location of exercise
2 Battlegroup Canada
2 Battlegroup Kenya
1 Formation Canada

________________________________________

Topic: Arms Training
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what his assessment is of the impact on arms training of the current operational tempo;
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: [holding answers 25 January 2007]: All arms training continues to be maintained at a level sufficient to ensure that our troops are fully equipped to deal with the exigencies of life in theatre. The Army plans its training activities and exercises many years in advance. Changes in circumstances, including those arising from operational commitments, will always mean that a few exercises have to be postponed or cancelled. All units deploying on operations receive the training necessary to complete the tasks required of them, including combined arms training at Battlegroup and Brigade level.The number of Battlegroup and above formation exercises cancelled in each of the last four years and where each was due to take place are shown in the following tables.
2003-04
Number of exercises Level of exercise Location of exercise
2 Battlegroup Canada
2 Battlegroup United Kingdom
2 Battlegroup Kenya
1 Formation Poland
2004-05
Number of exercises Level of exercise Location of exercise
2 Battlegroup Canada
1 Battlegroup Kenya
1 Battlegroup United Kingdom
2005-06
Number of exercises Level of exercise Location of exercise
3 Battlegroup Canada
1 Battlegroup Kenya
2006-07
Number of exercises Level of exercise Location of exercise
2 Battlegroup Canada
2 Battlegroup Kenya
1 Formation Canada

________________________________________

Topic: Temporary Admission
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were granted temporary admission to the UK in each of the last five years.
Answering Department: Home Office
Member Answering Question: Byrne, Liam
Answer: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as a full search of individual files and records over the last five years would have to be conducted.

________________________________________

Topic: Officer Training
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officer cadets are in training at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; what the service personnel establishment is; what the civilian establishment is; and what the annual running costs were in each of the last five years.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: [holding answer 25 January 2007]: There are currently 368 Royal Navy and overseas officer cadets in training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC). BRNC also administers a further 184 cadets who are at university which brings the total to 552.There are 173 uniformed members of staff at BRNC comprising: 61 officers, 39 Senior and Junior Ratings, 45 members of the Royal Marines Band and 28 members of the Military Provost Guard Service.There are 316 members of civilian staff at BRNC comprising: 45 MOD civil servants and 271 Contractor staff (Flagship Training Ltd. 97, Sodexho 160, Interserve 14).The annual running costs for BRNC for the last five years are as follows:
Financial year Cost (£ million)
2001-02 18.1
2002-03 18.6
2003-04 19.8
2004-05 20.1
2005-06 21.0

________________________________________


Topic: South East Asia
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government’s relations with the Association of South East Asian Nations.
Answering Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Member Answering Question: McCartney, Ian
Answer: The UK has a history of strong relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. We have no formal relations with the ASEAN organisation. We conduct our formal relations through the EU, via the EU ASEAN dialogue, the Asia-Europe meeting and the ASEAN regional forum.I had a constructive meeting with the ASEAN Secretary-General in London on 4 December 2006. I have also met with the ASEAN London committee, ASEAN ambassadors and high commissioners, most recently in September 2006. Such meetings provide an opportunity to raise a range of issues, including our relations with ASEAN, and with individual ASEAN members.

________________________________________

Topic: European Security and Defence Identity
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government’s objectives in respect of the European Security and Defence Identity.
Answering Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Member Answering Question: Hoon, Geoffrey
Answer: The European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) was created in 1996 and put in place arrangements for the EU, through the Western European Union (WEU), to access NATO assets for use in WEU led operations. ESDI was superseded by the establishment of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) in June 1999.The UK is a strong supporter of ESDP. Through its ESDP missions, the EU is contributing to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and global security. UK objectives for ESDP are for it to be ‘active, capable and coherent’, in line with the recommendations of the European Security Strategy. We want ESDP to contribute to improved civilian and military European capabilities and complement NATO. We also want to see greater co-ordination between ESDP missions and other actors.

________________________________________

Topic: Chinese Missile Tests
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to her Chinese counterpart on the recent Chinese missile tests.
Answering Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Member Answering Question: McCartney, Ian
Answer: On 18 January officials from our embassy in Beijing made representations to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the missile test, expressing concern about the lack of international consultation before the test was conducted and the possible impact of debris from the test on other objects in space.The UK also expressed concern that the development of this technology and the manner in which this test was conducted is inconsistent with the spirit of China’s statements to the UN and other bodies on the military use of space. As part of our regular dialogue on international issues, we will continue to work to encourage China to play a constructive role in the international community.

________________________________________

Topic: Officer Training
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officer cadets are in training at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell; what the service personnel establishment is; what the civilian establishment is; and what the annual costs were in each of the last five years.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Twigg, Derek
Answer: As at 23 January 2007 there were 320 officer cadets in training at the Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit (OACTU) at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. The service personnel establishment at OACTU is 100 and the civilian establishment is 20.The following table gives the annual direct costs for training at the OACTU for each of the last five financial years:
Financial year Cost (£ million)
2001-02 4.136
2002-03 5.384
2003-04 5.980
2004-05 5.892
2005-06 8.316
Notes:
1. Financial figures have been rounded to the nearest £1,000.
2. Personnel figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

________________________________________

Topic: Highly Skilled Migrant Visas
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many highly skilled migrant visas have been issued in each of the last five years; to people of which nationalities they have been issued; and in which categories they have been issued.
Answering Department: Home Office
Member Answering Question: Byrne, Liam
Answer: The following table provides detail of the numbers of approvals, by country of origin of the application, issued under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) for each calendar year since the programme was launched on 28 January 2002, including applications approved in the year to September 2006. These approvals allow individuals to apply for leave to enter or leave to remain in the United Kingdom as highly skilled migrants.These data are derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.HSMP is designed to allow highly skilled individuals with exceptional skills and experience to seek to enter or stay to work in the UK, without having a prior offer of employment, or to take up self-employment opportunities here. We are therefore unable to record which category of work they enter. The table gives numbers for each year by the country of origin on the application and does not, therefore, necessarily reflect the nationality of the applicant. Applications from European countries appear where non EU nationals are resident in those countries.
HSMP approved applications January 2002-September 2006, by country of origin of application and calendar year¹
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Total
Afghanistan 0 0 0 2 1 3
Albania 1 4 4 0 3 12
Algeria 1 4 2 7 2 16
American Samoa 0 0 0 2 0 2
Antigua and Barbuda 0 1 1 0 0 2
Argentina 17 12 11 12 8 60
Armenia 1 1 8 11 6 27
Australia 84 239 648 1,518 1,577 4,066
Azerbaijan 1 12 9 17 11 50
Bahamas 0 0 1 2 0 3
Bahrain 0 2 1 1 0 4
Bangladesh 14 46 114 245 239 658
Barbados 2 2 7 7 15 33
Belarus 2 7 11 12 7 39
Belize 0 0 1 2 1 4
Bolivia 0 1 0 0 2 3
Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 2 0 2 1 5
Botswana 0 0 1 4 0 5
Brazil 6 22 28 53 78 187
British National (Overseas)² 6 14 8 8 7 43
British Overseas Citizen³ 0 0 1 0 1 2
Brunei 0 0 1 0 1 2
Bulgaria 6 22 25 59 34 146
Cambodia 0 0 1 0 0 1
Cameroon 1 8 5 11 22 47
Canada 48 89 107 178 164 586
Chile 3 3 2 6 4 18
China, Peoples Republic of 33 152 368 650 334 1,537
Colombia 9 11 13 18 24 75
Costa Rica 1 0 0 0 0 1
Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 0 1 0 3 0 4
Croatia 0 1 0 9 9 19
Cuba 0 0 1 2 0 3
Curacao 0 0 1 0 0 1
Cyprus 2 5 1 0 0 8
Czech Republic 1 6 0 0 0 7
Dominica 0 1 1 1 2 5
Dominican Republic 0 1 0 4 2 7
Ecuador 1 2 1 2 1 7
Egypt 12 32 81 135 184 444
El Salvador 0 1 0 0 2 3
Eritrea 0 1 0 1 0 2
Estonia 2 1 1 0 0 4
Ethiopia 0 5 6 12 11 34
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) until June 2006 1 16 8 7 4 42
Gambia 0 3 J^ 1 1 6
Georgia 2 4 8j 8 4j 26
Ghana 4 23 45 70 73 215
Grenada 1 0 2 0 3 6
Guatemala 0 0 0 2 1 3
Guinea-Bissau 0 0 0 1 0 1
Guyana 2 2 4 5 6 19
Honduras 0 1 1 0 1 3
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China 3 2 9 14 6 34
Hungary 4 2 3 0 0 9
Iceland 0 0 0 1 0 1
India 180 656 1,967 6,715 7,340 16,858
Indonesia 2 5 5 15 17 44
Iran 9 31 41 91 86 258
Iraq 7 17 23 36 40 123
Ireland 0 0 0 1 0 1
Israel 9 45 52 69 44 219
Jamaica 8 16 27 20 20 91
Japan 7 23 24 38 32 124
Jordan 2 6 20 26 72 126
Kazakhstan 3 5 5 18 15 46
Kenya 15 28 37 59 61 200
Korea, North (Democratic Peoples Rep of) 0 0 0 1 2 3
Korea, South (Rep of Korea) 5 8 19 20 29 81
Kuwait 0 0 1 0 3 4
Kyrgyzstan 0 1 3 11 4 19
Latvia 0 1 0 1 0 2
Lebanon 3 7 7 16 17 50
Liberia 0 0 0 0 1 1
Libya 1 6 16 28 66 117
Lithuania 8 6 0 0 0 14
Macedonia 0 1 0 2 2 5
Malawi 0 1 10 15 10 36
Malaysia 14 33 63 174 214 498
Maldives 0 0 0 0 2 2
Mali 0 0 0 0 1 1
Malta 1 2 0 0 0 3
Mauritania 0 3 1 1 3 8
Mauritius 1 11 21 26 29 88
Mexico 5 13 21 36 17 92
Moldova (Rep of) 2 1 6 17 12 38
Mongolia 2 1 0 4 1 8
Montenegro (post June 2006) 0 0 0 0 1 1
Morocco 3 2 3 3 0 11
Mozambique 0 1 0 1 0 2
Myanmar 2 7 12 38 83 142
Namibia 0 2 6 8 2 18
Nepal 2 16 34 111 129 292
New Zealand 19 115 337 847 778 2,096
Nicaragua 0 0 0 1 1 2
Niger 0 1 1 4 2 8
Nigeria 31 186 445 1,187 1,209 3,058
Oman 0 0 1 3 1 5
Pakistan 58 268 1,001 2,080 1,569 4,976
Palestinian Authority 0 1 4 11 17 33
Panama 1 0 0 0 1 2
Papua New Guinea 0 0 0 1 0 1
Paraguay 0 1 0 0 0 1
Peru 3 15 9 21 15 63
Philippines 4 16 16 25 32 93
Poland 4 20 0 0 0 24
Qatar 0 0 1 0 0 1
Romania 7 19 27 41 37 131
Russian Federation 33 97 143 279 221 773
Rwanda 1 1 1 0 0 3
Saudi Arabia 0 2 5 11 5 23
Senegal 0 0 4 0 2 6
Serbia (post June 2006) 0 0 0 0 6 6
Seychelles 0 2 1 0 1 4
Sierra Leone 2 4 5 5 5 21
Singapore 14 26 36 48 57 181
Slovakia 2 2 1 0 0 5
Slovenia 2 0 0 0 0 2
Solomon Islands 0 0 0 0 1 1
South Africa 73 344 592 860 658 2,527
Sri Lanka 8 39 86 269 348 750
St. Kitts and Nevis 1 1 0 0 0 2
St. Lucia 1 2 2 2 3 10
St. Vincent and The Grenadines 0 0 0 0 1 1
Sudan 5 14 33 54 55 161
Suriname 0 0 1 0 0 1
Swaziland 0 1 0 1 1 3
Switzerland 1 0 0 0 0 1
Syria (Arab Rep) 0 2 23 60 2 87
Taiwan, Territory of 2 2 9 19 21 53
Tajikistan 0 0 1 1 0 2
Tanzania (United Rep of) 5 8 6 9 7 35
Thailand 2 2 6 4 7 21
Trinidad and Tobago 2 11 23 46 74 156
Tunisia 0 0 1 3 1 5
Turkey 9 56 50 85 53 253
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus 0 0 0 0 2 2
Turkmenistan 1 0 1 0 0 2
Uganda 1 4 11 21 18 55
Ukraine 8 24 57 91 88 268
United Arab Emirates 1 0 1 2 0 4
United States of America 271 559 456 619 509 2,414
Uruguay 0 2 1 3 0 6
Uzbekistan 0 2 8 15 14 39
Venezuela 4 22 10 11 15 62
Vietnam 0 1 1 4 3 9
Yemen 0 4 0 4 2 10
Zambia 9 16 19 24 19 87
Zimbabwe 29 76 88 105 101 399
Total 1,176 3,687 7,500 17,582 17,169 47,114
¹ 2002 includes data from 28 January. 2006 includes data to 30 September.
² British national (overseas) is a person who applied to the Home Secretary or his overseas representative before 1 July 1997. To qualify for registration, the person applying must have been a British Dependent Territories citizen by connection with Hong Kong.
³ British overseas citizen—a person who, immediately before 1 January 1983, was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies and did not, on that date, automatically become a British citizen or a British Dependent Territories citizen.

________________________________________

Topic: Defence Exports
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage of total employment accounted for by defence export sales;
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: Information on UK employment dependent on MOD expenditure and defence exports was published in UK Defence Statistics 2006. Table 1.9 shows that in 2004-05, the most recent year given, 65,000 jobs in the UK were supported by defence exports, 21 per cent. of the total dependent on UK defence expenditure and defence exports.The Defence Industrial Strategy, which explained the benefits to defence objectives from defence exports, referred to a study by a group of independent and MOD economists entitled “The Economic Costs and Benefits of UK Defence Exports”, published by the University of York. We have no plans to undertake further work on this subject.

________________________________________

Topic: Defence Exports
Question: (2) if he will publish a paper on the economic costs and benefits of UK defence exports.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: Information on UK employment dependent on MOD expenditure and defence exports was published in UK Defence Statistics 2006. Table 1.9 shows that in 2004-05, the most recent year given, 65,000 jobs in the UK were supported by defence exports, 21 per cent. of the total dependent on UK defence expenditure and defence exports.The Defence Industrial Strategy, which explained the benefits to defence objectives from defence exports, referred to a study by a group of independent and MOD economists entitled “The Economic Costs and Benefits of UK Defence Exports”, published by the University of York. We have no plans to undertake further work on this subject.

_______________________________________

Topic: Departmental Common Policy Programme
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether officials in his Department and Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff at posts abroad work to a common policy programme.
Answering Department: Home Office
Member Answering Question: Ryan, Joan
Answer: The FCO has nine strategic priorities, three of which are directly concerned with Home Office business: making the world safer from global terrorism; reducing the harm to the UK from international crime, including drug trafficking, people smuggling and money laundering; and managing migration and combating illegal immigration. In those countries of priority concern to the UK, officials from both Departments also work very closely in delivering UK justice and home affairs objectives. There are Home Office secondees in the British embassies in Washington DC and Madrid and a joint unit working on Afghan counter narcotics. The Home Office has both intensive and extensive contact with the FCO on EU business and works closely on justice and home affairs issues within the G8 Lyon-Roma group.

________________________________________

Topic: Morocco
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom.
Answering Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Member Answering Question: Howells, Kim
Answer: The UK’s relations with Morocco continue to grow stronger.The Government are committed to further broaden and deepen UK/Morocco co-operation. This includes supporting the Moroccan government’s plans for economic and social development, and developing co-operation in areas of shared interest and concern, e.g. tackling the threat from international terrorism and the challenges presented by regional migration.In order to take forward these objectives the UK and Morocco have set up an annual Ministerial Dialogue Forum between the two countries. I co-chaired the inaugural session in Rabat in June 2006 and look forward to a second round of the Forum in London later this year.

________________________________________

Topic: RAF Akrotiri
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF officers were on duty (a) in the terminal and (b) at the base at RAF Akrotiri between 1700 hours on Tuesday 26 September and 0600 hours on Wednesday 27 September; and what the normal working establishment is.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: [holding answer 18 December 2006]: On Tuesday 26 September one commissioned officer was on duty in the terminal; however, between 1730 and 2020 hours the officer was not at the terminal but on call. A total of five officers were on duty at RAF Akrotiri, with others available on call.The normal working establishment for commissioned officers at the base is in the region of 50 during an average day. Out of hours, typically there are four commissioned officers on duty and others will be on call in the event of contingencies. The normal working establishment for commissioned officers at the terminal is three during an average day, and one on call, out of hours.

________________________________________

Topic: Temporary Admissions
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people granted temporary admission to the UK have not reported back on their due date in each of the last five years.
Answering Department: Home Office
Member Answering Question: Byrne, Liam
Answer: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as a full search of individual files and records over the last five years would need to be conducted.

________________________________________


Topic: Support Helicopters
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) the US and (b) other NATO countries on leasing support helicopters from them.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Browne, Desmond
Answer: [holding answer 4 December 2006]: We are currently considering a number of options for increasing the flexibility, deployability and sustainability of our support helicopter fleet particularly for Afghanistan. These options include encouraging our NATO partners to do more, procuring or leasing more helicopters, and ensuring we deliver maximum capability from our existing fleets.I discuss regularly with my NATO colleagues the need properly to resource International Security Assistance Force operations in Afghanistan, including through the provision of sufficient support helicopters.

________________________________________

Topic: Troop Transportation
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) aircraft and (b) RAF personnel are involved in the transportation of UK forces to and from deployments.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: In support of Operation Herrick (Afghanistan) there are currently four RAF passenger-carrying aircraft and four freight-carrying aircraft per week. A further two chartered commercial freight-carrying aircraft per week are also used. During periods of surge, further passenger and freight aircraft are flown to meet planned increases in operational demand. A fleet of up to four RAF tactical aircraft are used to meet logistical requirements in-theatre; and again this number may be increased to support surge requirements.In support of Operation Telic (Iraq) there are currently four charter passenger-carrying commercial flights operating each week into Qatar, from where passengers are transferred into Theatre using RAF tactical airlift. To support freight requirements the RAF operates three military flights per week which are supplemented by a further two chartered aircraft. During periods of surge, further passenger and freight aircraft are flown to meet planned increases in operational demand. A fleet of up to four RAF tactical aircraft are used to meet logistical requirements in-theatre; again this number may be increased to support surge requirements.Information on personnel involved in the transportation of UK forces to and from deployments could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

________________________________________

Topic: HM Revenue and Customs
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to announce the new permanent chairman of HM Revenue and Customs.
Answering Department: Treasury
Member Answering Question: Primarolo, Dawn
Answer: An announcement about the appointment of a permanent chairman of HM Revenue and Customs will be made in due course.

________________________________________

Topic: Helicopters
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to establish the necessary infrastructure to recruit, train, equip and sustain (a) six new infantry battalions and (b) three additional squadrons of medium support helicopters, together with the necessary air crew and support staff.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: [holding answer 4 December 2006]: We have no plans to create an additional six infantry battalions or three helicopter squadrons. As the hon. Member will be aware, the Secretary of State announced on 16 December 2004, Official Report, column 1793, the Future Army Structure which would provide an Army better balanced to conduct short notice expeditionary operations, as well as enduring operations more efficiently, allowing us to respond appropriately to a wider range of possible contingencies, including the current and future strategic environment. This structure takes account of the requirement to integrate the full range of joint effects, including medium support helicopters.
________________________________________

Topic: Afghanistan
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests have been received at the Permanent Joint Headquarters since the beginning of the ISAF deployment in Afghanistan for (a) helicopters, (b) armoured vehicles and (c) additional forces; and what the response of (i) the commitment staff and (ii) Ministers has been.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: [holding answer 27 November 2006]: The current force deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, was announced on 26 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1529-33. Since then, as part of the routine process of evaluating our force structure, the Ministry of Defence and the Permanent Joint Headquarters have regularly received, and actioned, requests from theatre for changes to the military capabilities and equipment deployed. In addition, we conduct more substantial periodic Force Level Reviews which examine equipment and personnel levels.As a result of these well-proven processes, the Secretary of State for Defence has announced: the deployment of some 130 troops of the RAF Regiment on 15 June 2006, Official Report, column 67, a force uplift of some 870 troops on 10 July 2006, Official Report, columns 1131-35, the deployment of two extra Chinook Helicopters on 24 July 2006, Official Report, column 76, a new vehicle package (Mastiff and Vector) for operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq; and the depl