here - United Kingdom Parliament

819W
Written Answers
1 DECEMBER 2010
Written Answers
820W
Dr Fox: Details of the cost of long lead items for the
Vanguard class are not held centrally and could be
provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence what estimate he has made of the proportion
of the cost of replacing Trident likely to be incurred
prior to a decision of the House at Main Gate Stage on
submarine replacement in 2016. [26416]
Dr Fox: The likely expenditure will be dependent on
the Initial Gate decision which we expect to finalise
shortly. I do, however, propose to update Parliament on
progress, including costs, after the Initial Gate decision
through the publication of a report.
USA: Nuclear Weapons
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for
Defence with reference to his plans to co-operate on
nuclear warhead testing with France, whether the UK
will continue to (a) participate in or (b) receive the
results of US sub-critical nuclear tests undertaken at
the Nevada nuclear test site. [27415]
Dr Fox: The recently signed treaty with France on
proposed nuclear co-operation does not address “nuclear
warhead testing” but delivers hydrodynamic experiments
that provide a key element of assurance for the safety
and reliability of the UK’s nuclear stockpile.
I am satisfied that the treaty is complimentary to our
nuclear co-operation with the US under the 1958 Mutual
Defence Agreement and the nuclear exchanges made
possible through that agreement.
Warships: Decommissioning
Mr Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
whether HMS Ark Royal will be offered for sale to
foreign navies following her decommissioning. [27188]
Peter Luff: HMS Ark Royal is due to formally leave
service with the Royal Navy in early 2011. It is too early
to determine the future plans for HMS Ark Royal.
Any decision will be in line with the Ministry of
Defence’s policy for handling surplus assets.
SCOTLAND
Elections
13. Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for
Scotland when he last met the Electoral Commission to
discuss the management of elections in Scotland.
[26720]
David Mundell: My right hon. Friend and the Advocate-
General for Scotland met the Electoral Commission on
13 October.
I will be meeting the new Convener of the Electoral
Management Board later this month to discuss preparations
for next year’s elections and referendum on the UK
parliamentary voting system.
VAT
14. Fiona O’Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State
for Scotland what discussions he has had with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer on the likely effect on
families in Scotland of the proposed increase in value
added tax. [26721]
David Mundell: The VAT rise is part of the Government’s
credible plan to tackle the largest deficit in peacetime
history. Difficult decisions are necessary but, as a
consequence, we will get ourselves back on a sustainable
economic footing.
Departmental Sponsorship
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland
what expenditure his Department incurred on sponsorship
in each year since 1997 for which figures are available.
[27521]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office was established
on 1 July 1999. The only expenditure it has incurred
since then by sponsoring others outside Government to
promote a cause or provide a service was £3,296 in
2002-03.
Devolution
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for
Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the
Advocate-General on devolution issues. [26717]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State and I discuss
devolution issues with the Advocate-General on a regular
basis, and we have all worked together on preparations
for the new Scotland Bill which will deliver the
Government’s commitment to strengthening the devolution
settlement for Scotland.
JUSTICE
Arrest Warrants
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for
Justice what timetable he has set for the implementation
of his proposals to amend the law on universal jurisdiction.
[27240]
Mr Blunt: The Police Reform and Social Responsibility
Bill, which was introduced into this House yesterday,
contains a provision requiring the consent of the Director
of Public Prosecutions to be given before an arrest
warrant can be issued in a private prosecution for an
offence of universal jurisdiction alleged to have been
committed outside the United Kingdom. This requirement
would ensure that, whilst private individuals could still
apply for an arrest warrant, a warrant could be issued
only where there was a prospect of successful prosecution.
Departmental Grants
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice
what grants have been awarded by his Department in
2010-11 to date; what grants he plans to award in each
of the next two years; what the monetary value is of
each such grant; and to which organisations such grants
are made. [27214]