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Investment
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
What the budget for UK Trade and Investment has been for each of the past five financial years. [HL1971]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Truscott): The net budget for programme resources for UK Trade and Investment for each of the past five financial years was:
Administration budgets for running UKTI's operation form part of the Department of Trade and Industry's and the Foreign and Commonweath Office's main estimates.
Iraq: Bulldog Armoured Vehicles
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): I am withholding the number of Bulldog armoured vehicles that are currently deployed to Iraq as this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our Armed Forces.
It is intended that delivery of the full buy—more than 100 vehicles—should be completed by the summer.
Iraq: Operation Sinbad
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What multinational forces are contributing to Operation Sinbad in Iraq; and how many United Kingdom military forces currently contribute to Operation Sinbad; and [HL1902]
What further investments they expect to make to reconstruction projects under Operation Sinbad; and [HL1903]
What reconstruction projects remain to be completed under Operation Sinbad; what is the expected timescale for the completion of these reconstruction projects; and whether any further such projects are planned. [HL1904]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): Operation Sinbad is a joint multinational force (MNF)/Iraqi operation to improve security in Basra City. When the operation began in September 2006, Iraqi forces were employed in a supporting role but, as Op Sinbad has progressed, they have gained valuable experience and expertise, which has seen them taking on the lead role. As a consequence, the number of UK troops involved reduced from approximately 650 in the early phases of the operation to fewer than 150 troops in the latter phases of the operation.
Over the course of Op Sinbad, more than $70 million is being invested in a host of reconstruction activities including water and electricity infrastructure projects, hospital and school refurbishments and resupply and road network improvements. In order to achieve this, security forces “pulse” into a particular focus area for 36 hours to allow civilian and military engineers, and Iraqi civilian workers to carry out a variety of immediate impact reconstruction activities and to initiate a number of medium and longer-term projects. Following the initial pulses the medium and long-term projects are carried forward by Iraqis. There are currently more than 100 Op Sinbad medium/long-term projects, worth tens of millions of dollars, still ongoing and it is estimated that the majority of the medium-term projects will be completed in the next two months while the longer-term projects are likely to remain ongoing for three to six months. In addition to the reconstruction work, a MNF police training team visits local police stations during Op Sinbad to assess the abilities of the police services and provide training and mentoring.
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Op Sinbad will continue to be conducted in other parts of Basra province, including more rural and provincial areas, with Iraqi forces taking the lead for delivering the operation in these areas. The projects for these focus areas are still being developed and it is not possible to say accurately at this stage what further investment will be made in these areas. However, outwith Op Sinbad, five major projects are planned to improve roads, water and sewage treatment in the multinational division (south-east) area. It is estimated that the total cost of this investment will be some $23 million.
Light Pollution
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 16 January (WA141—2), by which month in summer 2007 they intend to consult on draft guidance concerning light pollution; and whether they will specify which recommendations in the Barker review they will be taking into account in the preparation of the draft guidance. [HL1660]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is fully committed to producing guidance on light pollution and will do so as soon as possible in conjunction with Communities and Local Government.
In developing this guidance, the Government will take into account recommendation 14 in the Barker review that there should be a substantial streamlining of national policy.
Ministry of Defence: EU Nationals
Baroness Park of Monmouth asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many (a) executive, and (b) administrative posts are held by non-British European Union nationals in the Ministry of Defence; how they were selected; and when the first non-British European Union national was recruited by the department. [HL1826]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): Data on how many executive and administrative posts are held by non-British European Union nationals in the department and when the first non-British European Union national was recruited are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate effort.
Any non-British European nationals employed permanently by the MoD would have been recruited on the basis of fair and open competition in accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Code, which can be found at www.civilservicecommissioners.gov.uk.
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Money
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take steps to ensure that businesses do not penalise customers who pay their bills in notes and coins. [HL1994]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Truscott): We are not aware of this as a major issue. In general, companies are free to use whatever contractual terms and conditions they consider reasonable. If prospective customers are unhappy with these they can attempt to re-negotiate the terms in question or go elsewhere. However, we keep issues such as this under review, and if we see any evidence of this being a major problem then we will consider what steps we might take when necessary.
North/South Implementation Bodies
Lord Glentoran asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will reach the necessary agreement with the Government of the Republic of Ireland in order that Section 55 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 can be used to remove the words, “Irish Lights Commission” from the title of the North-South aquaculture body. [HL1913]
Lord Rooker: The noble Lord will be aware of paragraph 19 of Annexe A of the St Andrews agreement, which provides for a restored North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) to appoint a review group to examine the efficiency and value for money of existing implementation bodies; and the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the NSMC where mutual benefit would be derived.
That group would also input into the work commissioned by the NSMC, prior to suspension in 2002, on the identification of a suitable substitute for the proposed Lights Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. When such a substitute is identified and agreed by NSMC, the name of the implementation body as defined in the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 could be amended, though I would have to stress that any such amendment to the body's functions or title would require the specific endorsement of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Oireachtas.
Olympic Games 2012: Construction Materials
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of construction materials and fittings for the Stratford Olympics project are planned to be delivered by rail or water; and [HL2007]
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How the Olympic Delivery Authority proposes to minimise delivery of materials by road to the Stratford Olympics site; and how this will be implemented. [HL2008]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The ODA's sustainable development strategy, published on 23 January, sets out its aim to maximise the environmental and health benefits of its transportation and logistics planning for materials during the enabling works and construction phases of the Olympic programme. It aspires for at least 50 per cent of materials, by weight, to be transported to the Olympic park by water or rail during construction, minimising the impact on the surrounding community and road networks. Where road transportation is used, the ODA will facilitate full journeys, palletised deliveries and routine road shipments during off-peak travel times.
Olympic Games 2012: Legacy
Lord Luke asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the plans for the Olympic broadcast and media centres envisage use for sporting activity in legacy mode. [HL1719]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Olympic Delivery Authority is shortly to commence a procurement process in order to identify a potential legacy user for the international broadcast centre and the media and press centre. A final decision on legacy use will therefore not be made until that process has been completed.
Lord Pendry asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will support the creation of a National Skills Academy for the active leisure and learning sector as a contribution to the legacy from the London Olympics. [HL2024]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government are fully committed to the principle of national skills academies. They aim to have the first 12 in place by 2008, with an aspiration of one in each major sector of the economy, as resources permit. To date, four national skills academies have been approved and a further four are in the business planning process. Expressions of interest for additional academies have recently been invited in the round 3 prospectus, launched in January 2007. The closing date for expressions of interest is 5 March 2007. All proposals received will be assessed by an independent, employer-led panel against criteria that include clarity of vision, strength of employer support and sustainability. The Government wish to encourage proposals from all sectors that do not yet have an academy under development. This includes those who submitted proposals in previous rounds that were not selected by the panel.
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Pensions: Expatriates
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much has been saved in each year for which figures are available as a result of the Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Regulations, which freeze the pensions of some United Kingdom pensioners living overseas. [HL1773]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The information is not available in the format requested. Current estimates are that it would cost approximately £3 billion, in 2007-08, to bring frozen rate pensions up to current levels and to pay all the arrears but would cost around £420 million if arrears are not paid, and this would be ongoing costs which will rise year on year.
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
What would be (a) the total annual cost, and (b) the average cost per head of abolishing the Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Regulations which freeze the pensions of some United Kingdom pensioners living overseas. [HL1774]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: It would cost around £420 million to bring frozen pensions up to current levels in 2007-08, which would increase year on year. The average cost per head would amount to approximately £800 per pensioner.
Pensions: Extra Payments
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average cost per United Kingdom resident pensioner for (a) healthcare; (b) pension credits; (c) winter fuel allowance; (d) age-related payments; and (e) Christmas bonus. [HL1775]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The average cost per GB resident over the age of 65 for health care in 2003-04 was £2,073. The average cost per GB resident over the age of 60 for pension credits, winter fuel allowance, age-related payments and Christmas bonus in 2005-06 are shown in the table below:
Costs are shown in terms of the prices current at the time the expenditure was made.
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Pensions
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What safeguards exist to protect company pensioners if their company is sold or broken up to ensure that any deficit in the moneys available to maintain pension levels is made up and will continue to be made up; and whether they will take action to strengthen the guarantees. [HL1998]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The Government have introduced or strengthened a number of safeguards to protect scheme members where their company is sold on or broken up.
Where a defined benefit occupational pension scheme pension continues to run on and the new sponsoring employer remains solvent, the employer would need to meet the new scheme funding requirements applicable to pension scheme valuations completed on or after 30 December 2005 which are based on an effective valuation date on or after 22 September 2005. Under the new regime trustees must develop prudent funding strategies, and the new requirements can be expected to lead to improvements in scheme funding levels generally over time.
Where such a pension scheme commences wind-up, any deficit in the scheme becomes a debt on the employer. The Government have strengthened this requirement so that the debt is calculated on the basis that the scheme should be able to meet the full costs of winding up and the full benefits that scheme members have accrued and expect to receive (the “full buy-out” level).
The law also specifies a priority order so that, where a defined benefit occupational pension scheme is wound up with insufficient assets to meet all liabilities, the assets are shared as fairly as possible among scheme members.
Where the sponsoring employer of a defined benefit occupational pension scheme becomes insolvent and the scheme cannot pay the benefits members were expecting, members may be eligible for compensation from the Pension Protection Fund, which was set up in April 2005.
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry may make payments out of the National Insurance Fund into an occupational pension scheme if he is satisfied that an employer has become insolvent and that at the time it became insolvent there remained unpaid employee or employee contributions falling to be paid to the scheme.
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