This is a regular round up of Parliamentary questions and answers from ministers relevant to defence issues In addition to oral questions, MPs and Peers can ask government ministers questions for written answer. These are often used to obtain detailed information about policies and statistics on the activities of government departments. In the House of Commons ‘ordinary’ questions do not have to be answered on a specific date. An MP will date a written question for two days after they have tabled it (ie, submitted it for answer via the Table Office). The convention is that the MP can expect it to be answered within seven days of the question being tabled.
Contents
- Question
- Answer
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- Answer
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- Answer
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- Answer
- Question
- Answer
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- Answer
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- Answer
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- Answer
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- Question
- Answer
- Question
- Answer
- Statement
Question
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether WE.177 munitions have been stored at (a) RAF Kinloss, (b) RAF Lossiemouth, (c) RAF Leuchars and (d) RAF Machrihanish.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
Due to the length of time that WE.177 munitions have been out of service, a search of archived records is required. I will write to the hon. Member when this search is complete.
Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Angus Robertson:
I undertook to write to you on 10 January 2012(Official Report, column 6W) in answer to your question about WE177 munitions.
WE177 munitions were brought into service in 1966 and were in continual service with the RAF for 32 years before being withdrawn in March 1998. My officials have completed a search of archived records and I can confirm that WE177 munitions were never permanently stored at RAF Kinloss, RAF Leuchars or RAF Lossiemouth. Relevant records are no longer held for RAF Machrihanish although aircraft specified to deploy WE177 were not permanently based at that station and therefore it is highly unlikely that the munitions would ever have been stored there.
Question
Richard Drax (South Dorset, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the F35 Joint Strike Fighter Concurrency Quick Look Review has concluded that the arrestor hook used to stop the F35 overshooting a carrier’s landing deck once it has touched down is too close to the plane’s wheels.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
holding answer23 January 2012
The joint strike fighter quick look review commissioned by the US Department of Defence highlighted deficiencies in the F-35C arrestor hook that had already been identified during testing in 2011. Such discoveries are common during a development programme and work is well advanced to develop the required modifications to correct this deficiency.
Question
Julian Lewis (New Forest East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment his Department has made of the suitability of the Joint Combat Aircraft to operate from aircraft carriers; what assessment has been made of the prospects of rectifying any design deficiencies in that aircraft for carrier operations; what contingency plans his Department is preparing in the event of the non-availability of Joint Combat Aircraft for the Future Aircraft Carriers; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
The UK’s commitment to the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter to meet its Joint Combat Aircraft requirement was confirmed in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.
As a Level one partner in the Joint Strike Fighter development programme, the UK has constant access to data from the development and test programme. We are confident that the F-35C aircraft will be able to operate successfully from aircraft carriers and that any design deficiencies discovered during development will be resolved.
Question
Richard Drax (South Dorset, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the top speed will be of the aircraft carriers currently being manufactured for his Department; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the speed of such aircraft carriers for F35 striker jets taking off in still conditions; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
holding answer23 January 2012
The Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier will be capable of a top speed in excess of 25 knots, which is considered more than sufficient to be able to launch the F-35C and other fixed-wing aircraft regardless of wind speed conditions.
Question
Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of personnel in each armed service have been in breach of their harmony guidelines since March 2011; what assessment he has made of the effect of Operation Ellamy on the number of such people; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
It should be noted that Harmony is defined differently by each service, so direct comparisons can be misleading. Accordingly, the information requested is shown in the following three tables, along with each service’s harmony definition. Where available, figures for 2010 have been included for comparison with Operation Ellamy dates (19 Marchto31 October 2011).
UK Regular Naval Service Separated Service
Personnel on the trained strength are considered to be in breach of harmony guidelines on a particular date if they have spent more than 660 days away from home during the preceding 36-month period.
| Percentage of personnel in breach of Harmony guidelines | |
| Percentage | |
| 2010 | |
| 1 April | 1.4 |
| 1 July | 1.1 |
| 1 October | 1.0 |
| 2011 | |
| 1 January | 0.9 |
| 1 April | 0.8 |
| 1 July | 0.6% |
| 1 October | 0.7% |
UK Regular Army Separated Service
Personnel on the trained strength are considered to be in breach of harmony in the final month of the specified reporting period if they have spent more than 415days in a 30-month period.
| Percentage of personnel in breach of Harmony guidelines | |
| Percentage | |
| 2010 | |
| 1 April | 5.6 |
| 1 July | 5.4 |
| 1 October | 5.4 |
| 2011 | |
| 1 January | 5.0 |
| 1 April | 5.2 |
| 1 July | 5.0 |
| 1 October | 5.2 |
UK Regular Royal Air Force Separated Service
Personnel on the trained strength are considered to have breached harmony guidelines if they have spent more than 280 days away from home in a 24-month period.
| Percentage of personnel in breach of Harmony guidelines | |
| Percentage | |
| 2010 | |
| 1 April | 3.0 |
| 1 July | 2.8 |
| 1 October | 2.7 |
| 2011 | |
| 1 January | 2.6 |
| 1 April | 2.7 |
| 1 July | 2.8 |
| 1 October | 3.0 |
The armed forces contribution to Operation Ellamy did not place such a burden on our manpower that individual harmony breaches were widespread. Unfortunately at a time of high operational commitment, breaches of harmony guidelines do occur but initiatives and regulators are used to help ameliorate the situation. These include flexible appointing between ranks, mobilisation of Reservists, use of contractors, and regular review of the numbers of posts required for each operation.
Question
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dogs owned by his Department were working in the Falkland Islands in the most recent period for which figures are available; how many were euthanized in 2011; and for what reasons.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
holding answer23 January 2012
During 2011, there were 13 military working dogs and one mascot dog employed by the Ministry of Defence based in the Falkland Islands. During the same period three military working dogs were euthanized for veterinary medical reasons although the exact reasons are unknown.
Decisions to euthanise dogs are only taken as a last resort and in reaching these decisions both the welfare of the dog and public safety are carefully considered.
Question
Hazel Blears (Salford and Eccles, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the maximum annual contribution made to service personnel towards learning activities through (a) the Standard Learning Credits scheme and (b) the Advanced Learning Credits scheme.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The Standard Learning Credits scheme is valued at £175 per year. The Enhanced Learning Credits scheme offers three separate payments of £1,000 or £2,000 per year (depending on length of service accumulated) for a maximum of three years. As an incentive to complete a course of study, we require a minimum of 20% personal contribution. Given the difficult fiscal position the Government inherited, there are no plans to increase the value of either scheme.
Service leavers entering full-time higher education utilising Enhanced Learning Credits are not required to contribute towards tuition fees. Where the tuition fees exceed the sums mentioned above, the balance is met by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. In cases, therefore, where educational institutions are increasing their tuition fees, the value of the Government contribution will rise accordingly.
Question
Hazel Blears (Salford and Eccles, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which training providers his Department contracts to provide the Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence is not in a contractual relationship with approved providers for training. However, our commercial partner G4S, which administers the scheme on our behalf, maintains a list of approved providers. As this contains the details of approximately 900 providers the document will be placed in the Library of the House.
Question
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence is not in a contractual relationship with approved providers for training. However, our commercial partner G4S, which administers the scheme on our behalf, maintains a list of approved providers. As this contains the details of approximately 900 providers the document will be placed in the Library of the House.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
Lord Hutton’s independent Public Service Pensions Commission published its report on pensions reform in March 2011. It set out recommendations for future pension arrangements that are sustainable and affordable in the long term, fair to both the public service work force and the taxpayer and consistent with the fiscal challenges ahead, while protecting accrued rights. The Government accepted Lord Hutton’s report as a basis for consultation on the various schemes it covered. Work on a new armed forces pension scheme is going forward with a view to producing outline proposals in the next few months. The armed forces (and other interested parties) will be fully consulted before a decision is made.
Question
Hazel Blears (Salford and Eccles, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings if any Ministers in his Department have had with PTSD Resolution since May 2010.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
Defence Ministers regularly meet representatives of charities which raise money for, and represent the interests of, current and former members of our armed forces and their families, either on a one to one basis or as part of wider events organised by organisations such as Confederation of Service Charities or the Ministry of Defence’s Welfare Conference.
Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on the Ministry of Defence website at the following address:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/Expenses/MinistersHospitalityReceived.htm
The information currently published covers May 2010 to June 2011 arid is being updated on a quarterly basis in accordance with the Government’s transparency programme.
Ministers from the Ministry of Defence have had no meetings with representatives from PTSD Resolution.
Question
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were seconded to the armed forces of each foreign government in 2011; and what the cost to his Department was of such secondments.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The MOD seconded 13 service personnel to the armed forces of foreign governments in 2011. 11 were seconded to the Saudi Arabian National Guard and two to the Bermudan Defence Force; although this reduced to one in July 2011.
There is no cost to the Department against personnel seconded to the armed forces of other governments. Their full manpower costs including salary, allowances, national insurance and pension contributions, are met by the host nation.
Question
Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the military will have in the provision of security for Olympic events taking place in Dorset.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
The Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Hammond, announced to the House on 15 December 2011, Hansard, columns 116-17WS, that the Ministry of Defence has been working closely with Dorset police to scope the provision of specialist support for maritime security operations in Weymouth Bay. It is currently planned for HMS Bulwark to be based there during the games, providing maritime surveillance and a temporary maritime command, control, communications and co-ordination centre. Defence will also be providing support to the police for above and below-water venue search, the capability to interdict vessels and assets for maritime logistic support.
Question
Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources his Department will provide for bomb detection during the period of the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
The Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Hammond, announced to the House on 15 December 2011, Hansard, columns 116-17WS, that the Ministry of Defence will increase the normal capacity of the armed forces in several specialist areas which are routinely provided to civil authorities in order to enhance their security capabilities. This includes the provision of Explosive Ordnance Disposal, military working dogs and specialist military search capability for, vehicles and buildings at Olympic venues across the UK.
Question
Gareth Thomas (Harrow West, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on (a) Christmas trees and (b) other Christmas decorations in 2011; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
We do not permit public expenditure on Christmas trees and decorations, with the exception of expenditure which is covered by the Family Welfare Grant. This supports activities that enhance the morale of families of service personnel who are separated from their loved ones serving in operational theatres.
We have identified expenditure of £172 on Christmas trees and £428 on decorations in 2011 from this grant.
Question
Paul Flynn (Newport West, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the asset value of the Royal Armaments Depot at Coulport.
Answer
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
The most recent estimate of the asset value of the Royal Armaments Depot at Coulport is £133.6 million.
Question
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department’s brief for the Assistant Director of Information dated October 1998 D/DAO/14/3/5.
Answer
Liam Fox (Secretary of State, Defence; North Somerset, Conservative)
I will write to the hon. Member.
Substantive answer from Philip Hammond to Angus Robertson:
My predecessor undertook to write to you in answer to your parliamentary question answered on 11 October 2011(Official Report, column 334W) requesting a copy of the brief for the Assistant Director of Information dated October 1998 D/DAO/14/3/5 to be placed in the Library of the House.
Officials have carried out an extensive search for the document you requested, totalling around 125 man-hours. This far exceeds the Parliamentary guidelines on cost limits for complying with Parliamentary Questions.
As you are aware the requested document was referenced in the Haddon-Cave inquiry report and was provided to the Inquiry in 2008. The Haddon-Cave Inquiry was, with the XV230 Board of Inquiry and Coroner’s Inquest, the third major review of Nimrod Safety. MOD officials supported the Haddon-Cave Inquiry for over one year, collating and submitting documents from a large number of sources and archive sites. All safety lessons that could be identified from the documents were recorded. As you know the Department accepted responsibility for the loss of XV230 and again recorded safety critical observations and recommendations from these reviews. However, the individual documents were returned to their archive sites.
The Nimrod is now out of service and the dedicated teams of Nimrod staffs have been dispersed. Safety critical lessons from the Nimrod review which have relevance for our in-service aircraft fleets have been fully captured and are available to Departmental personnel in safety related posts. However, to relocate the individual documents from archive that supported those lessons would place a significant additional burden on departmental staff.
Consequently, while I realise this will come as a disappointment to you, the requested document could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Question
Lyn Brown (West Ham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of training armed services personnel to provide security for the London 1012 Olympic Games.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
Security training costs incurred for training armed forces personnel to provide security for the London 2012 Olympic games will be contained within the core (Defence Capability) training budget. The Ministry of Defence is also undertaking some specific security assistance to the Home Office, and any training costs incurred there will be recovered from them as necessary.
Question
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are attached to the British Embassy in Buenos Aires; what the rank of such personnel is; and what duties they perform.
Answer
Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
The Ministry of Defence has two military personnel attached to the British embassy in Buenos Aires. The Defence Attache is a Colonel, currently from the Royal Marines, and his deputy is a Major, currently from the Army. They are accredited to Argentina and have non-resident accreditation to Uruguay.
The Defence section is attached to the ambassador’s staff as representatives of chief of the Defence staff; as such they represent the MOD and UK armed forces. They pursue security co-operation policies and priorities to enhance Defence Diplomacy and provide bespoke military support to the embassy.
Question
Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department are solely responsible for Overseas Territory affairs; and what the (a) job title and (b) specific responsibilities are of each such official.
Answer
Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department are solely responsible for Overseas Territory affairs; and what the (a) job title and (b) specific responsibilities are of each such official.
Question
Angus Robertson (Moray, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
Alistair Burt (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Afghanistan/South Asia, counter terrorism/proliferation, North America, Middle East and North Africa), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)
As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend Mr Hammond, said on5 January:
“It is in the interests of all nations that the arteries of global trade are kept free, opening and running. Disruption to the flow of oil through Strait of Hormuz would threaten regional and global economic growth. Any attempt by Iran to do this would be illegal and unsuccessful.”
Given that 95% of Iran’s oil exports transit the Strait of Hormuz, it is against Iran’s own interests to seek to close the Strait.
Iran’s threats will not distract our attention from the real issue, which is the nature of its nuclear programme. We call on Iran to respond constructively to the international community’s concerns and engage seriously with the UK, United States of America, France, Germany, Russia and China—the so-called E3+3.
Question
Michael Ellis (Northampton North, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has a contingency plan to deal with a blockade of oil and gas shipments in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.
Answer
Alistair Burt (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Afghanistan/South Asia, counter terrorism/proliferation, North America, Middle East and North Africa), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)
As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend Mr Hammond, said on5 January:
“It is in the interests of all nations that the arteries of global trade are kept free, opening and running. Disruption to the flow of oil through Strait of Hormuz would threaten regional and global economic growth. Any attempt by Iran to do this would be illegal and unsuccessful.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with other Government Departments and international partners on contingency arrangements for threats posed by Iran to UK interests.
Question
Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department
(1) what her most recent estimate is of the number of sniffer dogs which will be available for security purposes during the London 2012 Olympic Games; and if she will make a statement;
(2) how many sniffer dogs she expects to be operating in London on an average day during the London 2012 Olympic Games; and how many hours she expects each dog to work each day.
Answer
James Brokenshire (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office; Old Bexley and Sidcup, Conservative)
The daily number of explosive dog detection teams working across the Olympic theatre of operations will vary day to day based on operational demand and scheduling but it is anticipated that up to 55 teams will be scheduled per day working in support of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) on venue security. The explosive dog detection teams schedule will allow for days off and the capacity to “surge” during peak demand days.
This is in addition to the deployment of sniffer dogs from the police service and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The Minister for the Armed Forces, Nick Harvey, has said that no military working dogs will be withdrawn from Afghanistan in order to support this commitment. The police expect to deploy one hundred explosive detection dogs on a peak day during the Games.
A LOCOG explosive dog detection team (one handler and up to two dogs) will be typically scheduled on shift between eight and 12 hours. The operational task/rest rotation cycle is generally 20 minutes on 20 minutes off. Police sniffer dogs and their handlers will typically work an eight hour shift, which will include rests during searches.
Question
Jim Cunningham (Coventry South, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on whether it is its intention that an independent Scotland would negotiate a mutual defence treaty with the rest of the UK.
Answer
David Mundell (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Scotland; Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, Conservative)
The Scottish Government have not offered formal proposals on their plans for defence if Scotland were to become independent. The Government are confident the people of Scotland will choose to remain part of the UK if a fair, legal and decisive referendum is held.
Question
Hugh Bayley (York Central, Labour)
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross national income is spent on defence; and what he estimates the proportion will be (a) at the conclusion of Tranche 2 of the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme and (b) in May 2015.
Answer
Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary, HM Treasury; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Liberal Democrat)
I intend to answer this question by giving the proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) spent on Defence, rather than gross national income, as this is the international measure used.
As a member of NATO, we have a target to spend at least 2% of GDP on Defence. The most recent 2010-11 NATO figures show the UK currently spends 2.7% of GDP on Defence.
It is impossible to state exactly what percentage of GDP or gross national income will be spent in future years as the total figure includes the costs of operations, pensions and payments made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. However, I expect the percentage to remain above the 2% NATO target.
Statement
William Hague (Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Richmond (Yorks), Conservative)
I wish to update the House on my first official visit to Latin America and the Caribbean as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
In November 2010 I set out in my Canning House lecture the Government’s commitment to reinvigorating important relationships in Latin America. I am pleased to confirm that the Government are turning this vision into concrete results. Last year, 27 Ministers visited Latin America of which 14 visited Brazil. We have reopened our embassy in El Salvador and a new consulate in Recife and we are sending additional diplomats to the region to staff these new missions. As a major emerging political and economic power, Brazil’s role in the world is set to grow. We also want to develop a better understanding between Britain and Brazil in foreign policy. Brazil’s role in international affairs is set to grow significantly this century. This flows naturally from their growing economic weight and the shifting international landscape.
Britain has much of the expertise that Brazil needs as it continues its growth—including financial services, sustainable development, the energy sector, defence, security and sports infrastructure. During my visit I held a strategic dialogue with Foreign Minister Patriota—an upgraded mechanism for foreign policy and bilateral discussions between the two countries, reflecting the new momentum in the relationship. I also explored options for further bilateral defence and security co-operation with Defence Minister, Celso Amorim and the Head of the Brazilian Navy, Admiral Moura Neto. Britain and Brazil have a unique opportunity this decade to further bilateral relations through sport, as adjacent hosts of the Olympic and Paralympic games. My meeting with the Governor of Rio de Janeiro reinforced UK/Brazil political and commercial co-operation on the Olympics and the security issues related to these major sporting events. I also announced the launch of the Great Campaign in Brazil which will take place in March 2012 and HRH Prince Harry’s visit at that time.
In a short visit to Panama on 20 JanuaryI met the President, First Lady, Foreign Minister and other member of the Panamanian Cabinet. We discussed Falkland Island issues, co-operation on combating money laundering and the possibility of a double taxation agreement with the UK.
In the Caribbean, I attended the UK/Caribbean ministerial forum, leading the strongest delegation of UK Ministers—the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend Mr Browne, the Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend Mr Duncan and the Under-Secretary of State for the
Home Department, my hon. Friend James Brokenshire—and senior officials to visit the Caribbean in recent years. The forum brought together members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic, with the Caribbean Overseas Territories and Cuba, USA, Canada and Australia participating as observers. Together we committed to a revitalised partnership, with stronger co-operation on areas that matter to both Britain and the Caribbean: trade, counter-narcotics, climate change, and key foreign policy issues. In recognition of the private sector’s role as an engine of growth, a broad range of British and Caribbean businesses also participated in the forum. The forum underlined the value we attach to our enduring friendship with the Caribbean and our desire to re-energise the relationship, creating a more modern, dynamic and forward looking affiliation.
The forum concluded with agreement to a new strategic economic partnership, promoting prosperity and economic resilience among the countries of the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. There was also agreement to enhance collaboration and co-ordination in the fight against illegal drug trafficking between the Caribbean, Britain and the Overseas Territories. This will include a new partnership between the UK, US and the Caribbean to develop land-based intelligence sharing and interdiction capability in the region. We also agreed on the importance of working together on further criminal justice reform which provides the essential underpinning for our drugs and crime work in the region. On climate change, we agreed to work together with urgency and vigour to close the ambition gap on emissions, to mobilise climate finance on the necessary scale, and to secure agreement by 2015 on a comprehensive legally binding global framework. Together we will continue to build on the alliance that emerged at COP17 between the members of the Alliance of Small Island States, Least Developed Countries and the EU. Finally, we agreed to work together in international forums, tackling pressing security issues facing the international community and working to strengthen the Commonwealth as a focus for democracy, human rights, development and prosperity. We also agreed a text in the Caribbean action plan to support the principle and right to self-determination for the Falkland Islanders.
It is this Government’s intention to shape a distinctive foreign policy that protects and promotes our national interests, strengthens our economy, makes the most of the opportunities of the 21st century and upholds the highest values of our society. This visit is part of how we achieve that, and represents a step change in British—Latin American and Caribbean relations. I will also lay in the Library of the House a copy of my speech in Brazil and agreed text from the Caribbean forum on the Falkland Islands.
Christ. I know we should scrutinise and check Governmrnt; but how many dogs are in the Falklands?! How much on Christmas trees? Come on!!
We didn’t rack up a trillion quid of debt on baubles and tinsel; but good to see we’re beginning to get things under control… one fairy at a time.
“How much on Christmas trees? Come on!!”
Feels like an attempt to get an easy story to attack the MOD with rather than a genuine research effort.
@ jim30, maybe but I doubt it a lot of the question are pretty bizarre. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a question along the lines of;
To ask the Security of State a) What is the biscuit consumption of serviceman under 18, b) What is the calorific content of the biscuits, c) The cost to the taxpayer, d) The impact operationally on Afghanistan?
Or some other sort of nonense question.
Well in the old ration packs there were 6 biscuits brown and 6 biscuits fruit. So if a soldier was a good boy and on operations ate his entire ration of biscuit his daily consumption would be 12. I believe the calorie content to be in the region of 500 – 600 per 6. The cost, I believe about 50p a packet. Impact operationally? None. Impacted colon – quite probably.