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2 July 2008 : Column WA37
Written Answers
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Afghanistan: Objectives
Viscount Waverley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the specific objectives of the United Kingdom armed presence in Afghanistan; and how these differ from other NATO members' objectives. [HL4296]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): UK forces are in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, comprising 40 nations. NATO announced its strategic vision statement at the Bucharest summit in April. This explains that the ISAF is there to help the Government of Afghanistan to build security, and to extend the reach of good governance, reconstruction, and development throughout the country.
Agriculture: Pesticides
Lord Plumb asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they have taken to secure support for revisions to the proposed European Union regulation on placing plant protection products on the market, in light of advice from the Pesticides Safety Directorate on the effect of the regulation, if implemented, on conventional commercial agriculture in the United Kingdom. [HL4474]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Government have circulated the report of the Pesticides Safety Directorate to all member states and the Commission, stressed the need to consider the impacts for the Community as a whole, and pressed for changes. The Government have also written to Commissioner Vassiliou seeking to clarify which substances would be withdrawn under these proposals.
The presidency put a compromise proposal to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in June for political agreement which made some concessions to our concerns. We concluded, however, that the potential impacts were not justified and did not support the compromise.
Armed Forces: Black and Minority Ethnic Personnel
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many and what percentages of black and minority ethnic recruits were employed in the Army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy in each of the years 2001 to 2007. [HL4391]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Information on the number and percentage of recruits from ethnic minority backgrounds by service is recorded in table 5 “Intake to the Untrained Strength of UK Regular Forces by sex and ethnic origin” of Tri-Service Publication 4, UK Armed Forces Quarterly Manning Report. A copy of this publication can be found at: www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=66&;pubType=l.
The latest available published data is for the financial year 2007-08.
Due to ongoing validation of data following the introduction of the joint personnel administration system information on the number of ethnic minorities entering the untrained strength is unavailable for the Navy for financial year 2007-08.
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many and what percentages of black and minority ethnic personnel are in the Armed Forces; and at what levels. [HL4392]
Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Information on the strength and percentage of ethnic minority personnel in the Armed Forces is published in table 2.11 of United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2007, “Strength of UK Regular Forces by ethnic origin and rank, at 1 April each year”. A copy of this table can be found at: www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/apps/publications/pubViewFile.php?content=10.211&;date=2007-09-26&type=html.
Armed Forces: Nimrod
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they have taken to ensure that shortcomings in RAF Nimrod aircraft in operation have been remedied; and whether there are other measures they can take in this regard. [HL3887]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): With respect to the airworthiness of the aircraft today, we have suspended air-to-air refuelling and ceased the use of the very hot air systems in flight. These measures, together with the enhanced aircraft maintenance and inspection procedures introduced since the Nimrod XV230 crash, ensure the aircraft, as it is today, is safe to fly.
In addition, to ensure we can continue to operate the aircraft safely until its planned retirement from service, we have in place a programme of work which includes replacing, where necessary, fuel seals and hot air ducts on the aircraft. This work is being progressed as quickly as practicable.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the replacement Nimrod aircraft under development will include design features to remedy shortcomings identified in those in operation. [HL3888]
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Baroness Taylor of Bolton: The Nimrod MRA4 is a new aircraft which has been mostly designed from first principles with modern design features and safety standards for all the main systems and components. The MRA4 includes some 94 per cent new design and new parts compared to the Nimrod MR2 but, where MR2 design has been retained, the components have been completely refurbished and re-lifed to meet the expected life of the MRA4.
Army: Racism
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action the Army propose to tackle racism following the case of Private Kerry Hylton, who was compensated for an 11-month campaign of bullying; and [HL4388]
In the light of the case of Private Kerry Hylton, what action they will take to eliminate racism in the Army. [HL4390]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The Army is an equal opportunities employer: it treats all instances of inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously, and the Ministry of Defence works closely with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the development of its policies. The Chief of the General Staff's equality and diversity directive for the Army provides firm guidance to officers and soldiers and provides a statement of commitment from the highest level within the Army. The Army's equality and diversity action plan provides details of specific initiatives such as increased equality and diversity training for commanding officers, and more equality and diversity advisers being placed in units.
Aviation: Gliders
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions gliders have violated restricted airspace since 2005; and on how many of those occasions lack of transponder interoperability has been a contributing factor. [HL4169]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: According to the civil aviation authority’s mandatory occurrence report scheme (MORS), there have been 16 reported instances of gliders infringing restricted or controlled airspace since 1 January 2005. In two of the reported occurrences, the gliders involved were carrying and using transponders. However, no determination has been made on whether a lack of transponder interoperability was a contributing factor in any of the occurrences.
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have received from gliding clubs and individuals regarding the proposed requirement that all aircraft carry Mode-S transponders and radio equipment; and whether they have received any representations regarding the effect of the proposals on deaf and hard-of-hearing pilots. [HL4170]
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Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) consultation regarding proposals for an incremental expansion of the use of Mode S transponders in the UK concluded on 31 May 2008. The CAA advises that approximately 2,100 replies were received of which a significant proportion originated from private individuals with gliding interests or organisations associated with gliding.
The CAA is assessing the responses and, in due course, will publish a summary of responses and a response to consultees. At this stage in the assessment of responses, the CAA is not able to provide an indication of representations regarding the effects of the proposals on deaf and hard-of-hearing pilots, although none has been identified to date.
However, I have been advised by the CAA that the changes proposed will not have an effect on aircraft flying in uncontrolled airspace below 10,000 feet outside of a mandatory transponder carriage zone, which will include the majority of recreational gliders.
Elections: Crewe and Nantwich
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the electorate aged between (a) 18 and 21, and (b) 22 and 25, (1) were registered to vote, and (2) voted in the recent Crewe and Nantwich by-election. [HL4357]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): It is not possible to identify what proportion of the electorate were aged between (a) 18 and 21 and (b) 22 and 25, (1) were registered to vote, and (2) voted in recent Crewe and Nantwich by-election. Dates of birth are not collected on the annual canvass form and therefore electoral registration officers do not hold this information.
However, I have been advised that the total electorate for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election was 71,963, of which 41,856 voters exercised their right to vote.
Fees
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
How the increase of 5.4 per cent in examination fees in the Motor Vehicles (Tests) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/1402) was calculated. [HL4457]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The increases in the fee maxima for each class of test are based on two elements.
The main part is the increased cost to testing stations of undertaking the MoT test—and the increase was based on a two-year estimate of inflation.
The second small part is the amount passed on by the testing stations to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to cover its costs in quality assuring the MoT scheme. This small increase—representing 3.5 per cent of the total test fee collected—was based on the assessed revenue needed for ensuring that the quality standards of the MoT continue to be maintained.
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Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which fees uprated by statutory instruments since 1 April 2007 have exceeded the rise in the cost of living in the previous 12 months; and how any such increases are justified. [HL4458]
Lord Davies of Oldham: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The normal policy is that fees should be set at a level to cover the cost of the service. Any variations to this policy should be provided for in legislation.
Government Vehicles
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the engine capacity and average fuel consumption per mile of all vehicles provided for ministerial use by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [HL4226]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Vehicles provided for ministerial use by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have an engine capacity of 1497cc (based on a 1.5 litre hybrid engine). The average fuel consumption is 56.5 per mile per gallon (Urban).
Judicial Appointments
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many members the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission has; and how many work within the legal profession. [HL4362]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission comprises 13 members. The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is the chairman of the commission. The other members are five judicial members; two legal profession members; and five lay members. Two of the judicial member positions are currently vacant.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the religion (tradition) of each member of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission; whether this is reflective of community balance; and, if not, why not. [HL4364]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The current membership of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, in terms of community balance, comprises six members who are regarded as Catholic, three who are regarded as Protestant and two who are regarded as belonging to neither community. Two judicial member positions are currently vacant. The Lord Chancellor
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Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in appointing members of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, similar “community-reflective” criteria and principles are applied to it as to police recruitment and the distribution of offices within elected bodies in Northern Ireland; and, if not, why not. [HL4365]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There is a statutory duty on the Lord Chancellor and those responsible for making nominations to the commission to make such arrangements in connection with the exercise of their functions as will, so far as is practicable, secure that the membership of the commission is reflective of the community in Northern Ireland.
NHS: Spending
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much was spent on National Health Service services in 2006—07 in (a) the Tendring E01021988 super output area; (b) the Wirral E01007292 super output area; (c) the Doncaster E01007532 super output area; (d) the Liverpool E01006559 super output area; and (e) the Tower Hamlets E01004252 super output area. [HL4225]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): This information is not collected in this format centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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