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21 Feb 2007 : Column WA241
Written Answers
Wednesday 21 February 2007
Ambulance Service: Northern Ireland
Lord Rana asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many first and co-responder training schemes were introduced by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in 2005-06; and how many are planned for 2006-07. [HL1917]
Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) did not provide any formal training schemes for first and co-responder projects during 2005-06 nor are there any planned for 2006-07. NIAS has, however, facilitated and supported four schemes that have been established by local communities and organisations; namely, Lifesavers West, Public Access Defibrillation Scheme (North West Belfast, South Antrim), Island Magee and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (not yet live).
Lord Rana asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: Currently 46 per cent of front-line accident and emergency personnel are qualified as paramedics.
Ambulance Service: Single-manned Paramedic Vehicles
Lord Rana asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: There are nine single-manned paramedic vehicles (known as rapid response vehicles) currently operating in Northern Ireland.
Lord Rana asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: Three of the rapid response vehicles are located in the western division and based at Altnagelvin, Omagh, and Enniskillen ambulance stations. One vehicle is located in the southern division, based at Armagh. Two vehicles are located in the northern division, based at Coleraine and Antrim. The remaining three vehicles are located in the eastern division, based at Lisburn, Bangor, and Ardoyne.
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Although based at these locations the rapid response vehicles are deployed throughout the day as and when required.
Armed Forces: Defence Logistics
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current position on the progress of the defence logistics transformation programme; and when this process is expected to be complete. [HL1957]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The defence logistics transformation programme continues to deliver significant benefits to the UK's Armed Forces. It is not only driving improvements in the effectiveness of the logistics support provided to the front-line commands, but also reducing the costs associated with providing that support.
Against the Defence Logistics Organisation's (DLO’s) strategic goal of reducing output costs by 20 per cent, the programme had delivered audited savings of £755 million by the end of 2005-06. This enabled the DLO to exceed its strategic goal target by £100 million. In 2005-06, the programme also contributed a further £660 million of audited savings against an in-year efficiency target of £538 million.
The principles of logistics transformation instigated by the programme are becoming increasingly embedded throughout the MoD including the front-line commands. They will also be at the heart of Defence Equipment and Support, the new integrated procurement and support organisation that forms in April 2007.
Armed Forces: Joint Deployed Inventory System
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What improvements have been made to the visibility in transit asset logging system in advance of the introduction of the management of the joint deployed inventory (MJDI) system; and whether the chief of defence logistics still expects the MJDI system to reach (a) initial operating capacity by February 2007, and (b) full operating capacity by October 2007. [HL1956]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The visibility in transit asset logging (VITAL) system has been improved by enabling it to link with other systems (such as the GLOBAL stock control system and the unit supply and accounting system), through software updates, data cleansing, by making it more user friendly and by improving training. CONVIS stage 1 has just been rolled out across defence and ensures the supportability of VITAL beyond 2007, bringing increased practical benefits to users with a more
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The expectation is that management of the joint deployed inventory (MJDI) initial pilot operating capability will be rolled out in March 2007, with contract award in late 2007, followed by system development and roll-out. MJDI full operating capability is currently planned for 2010, but this is dependent on approval and implementation of the suppliers' proposals, which are currently being developed.
Armed Forces: Steven Roberts Inquiry
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to the published findings of the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in March 2003, whether the content of Royal Armoured Corps crew courses includes training on the risks of employing weapons systems below the computed minimum range; whether such training is now supplemented with written procedures or caveats on the use of all armoured fighting vehicle weapons systems at very close range engagements; and what proportion of relevant personnel have now undertaken such training. [HL1954]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) delivers gun crew courses for Challenger 2 and the combat vehicle reconnaissance (tracked) SCIMITAR.
Following the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Roberts, changes have been made to all Challenger 2 crew courses to include training on the risks of employing weapons systems below the computed minimum range. All Challenger 2 crewmen are now conversant with the implications of firing weapons systems below the computed minimum range.
RAC crews expecting to deploy on operations are instructed by gunnery staff on these matters and individuals likely to conduct short-range shooting receive a formal machine gun shooting lecture as part of their pre-deployment training.
The other arms and services that use armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) are being directed to make the necessary changes to all courses (including pre-deployment training), wherever this is required, to ensure that personnel, at all appropriate levels, understand the implications of using AFV weapons systems at short range.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to the published findings of the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in March 2003, what changes in procedures and practices have been made to improve the working of the supply chain and to ensure the correct and efficient use by all concerned of logistic information systems. [HL1955]
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Lord Drayson: Significant improvements have been made since 2003 to the joint supply chain. The core tracking system, VITAL (visibility in transit asset logging), has been integrated with deployed inventory systems, and VITAL terminals have been located alongside the unit quartermasters in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Improvements to training, policy and process have made it easier for troops to operate the system. Further improvements to VITAL are planned to enable a simpler, more streamlined method of tracking consignments. These changes will also improve the quality and coverage of the data held by VITAL.
Additionally, the joint demand tracking system has been successfully rolled out to the three services, which allows any unit with access to the intranet to retrieve data relating to a demand and its location.
The management of the joint deployed inventory project is developing the current RAF inventory control system so that it can be deployed with all three services to deliver visibility of all stocks held within an operational theatre and provide common processes across defence.
Separately, it should be noted that following the board of inquiry report into Sergeant Roberts, those on operations are now issued with their own set of enhanced combat body armour before deploying.
Autism: Middletown Initiative
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to the proposed Middletown Autism initiative in Northern Ireland, how the proposed building complex was acquired; when it was acquired; from whom it was acquired; by whom; what is the physical extent of the property; and what are the total capital and estimated revenue costs to date. [HL1750]
Lord Rooker: The Middletown Centre for Autism building complex was acquired through a legal conveyancing agreement on 30 June 2004. The site was purchased from the St Louis Order by the Middletown Centre for Autism (Holdings) Limited, a company limited by guarantee, set up with funding from the Department of Education Northern Ireland and the Department of Education and Science, Ireland.
The Middletown Centre for Autism is located in grounds of circa 20 acres, including the former St Joseph's Adolescent Centre, St Louis Primary School, residential accommodation, convent buildings and other ancillary buildings.
The capital costs to date have been £3 million for the purchase of the site, of which DE paid £1.5 million. The estimated capital cost of the refurbishment project is £3.6 million, of which DE will pay half. The project costs for DE from 2002 to
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Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the proposed Middletown Autism initiative; what feasibility study has been undertaken and by whom; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the findings and recommendations of the feasibility study. [HL1751]
Lord Rooker: The proposed Middletown Autism initiative is to develop a centre of excellence in Middletown, Co. Armagh for the education of children and young people with autism. The development of the centre is being taken forward by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and the Department of Education and Science, Ireland. The centre will offer the following services: an educational assessment service, a learning support service, a training and advisory service and a research, dissemination and information service.
The following feasibility studies have been undertaken: an initial economic appraisal for the Department of Education's joint purchase of the site through executive programme funds in 2001, completed by the Department of Education's economic advisory unit; a building masterplan for the site completed in 2006 on behalf of the Department of Education and the Department of Education and Science by Anthony Reddy Associates; and a review of the original economic appraisal completed by the Department of Education's special education branch in conjunction with the economic advisory unit. This review examined the feasibility of the Middletown site taking account of the recommendations in the building masterplan; and examined the ownership and management of the centre. A copy of the 2001 economic appraisal had previously been placed in the Library and a copy of the 2006 economic appraisal has been placed in the Library.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposed Middletown Autism initiative relates directly to the physical extent of the Middletown base. [HL1752]
Lord Rooker: The centre of excellence for the education of children and young people with autism in Middletown will provide services to schools, teachers and parents throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland. Its services will not be restricted to the Middletown area. Parents and children will be able to access the educational assessment and learning support services, irrespective of their home location. Similarly schools, teachers and others working in the education of children and young people with autism
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Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many children, living within a 10-mile radius of the proposed Middletown Autism Centre, have been assessed as having autistic syndrome disorder. [HL1754]
Lord Rooker: There are 33 children within a 10-mile radius of the proposed Middletown Centre for Autism who have had a health assessment of autism. There are 67 children with an educational assessment of autism attending schools which are within a 10-mile radius of the centre and three pre-school children with an educational assessment of autism living within a 10-mile radius of the centre. It is not possible to provide the actual number of all school age children with an educational assessment of autism who live within a 10-mile radius of the centre. I should like to reiterate the response to PQ/07/296 that the centre will provide services to children throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Autism: Northern Ireland
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why it has not been possible to identify the person responsible for planning and directing the government programme to deal with the increasing incidence of autistic syndrome disorder (ASD) in Northern Ireland. [HL1755]
Lord Rooker: Policy in relation to autistic spectrum disorders is not the responsibility of one government department or one individual. Responsibility lies with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and the Department of Education (DE).
Within DHSSPS, Mr Leslie Frew is responsible for policies for health service provision for learning disability services including those for children with autism.
Within DE, Ms Dorothy Angus is responsible for policies for educational services for children with autism.
Benefits
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total distribution of all forms of income support and other financial benefits in each county in England in the past financial year. [HL1725]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The available information is in the table.
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