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Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon (Local Government)

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon (Local Government)

Lead member

Keith Simpson

Answering member

Barbara Follett

Department

Department for Communities and Local Government

Type

Adjournment debates

Date

2 March 2010

Reference

506 c205-29WH

House

House of Commons

Local Government: Standards

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2009, Official Report, column 877W, on corporate improvement boards, what Audit Commission Use of Resources score each local authority received in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008; which local authorities have...

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Communities and Local Government

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

5 May 2009

Reference

492 c138-9W; 272356

House

House of Commons

Corporate Improvement Boards

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities in England are in receipt of support from Corporate Improvement Boards; and how many such Boards include members employed by (a) the Audit Commission, (b) the regional government office, (c) the improvement and development agency and...

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Communities and Local Government

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 April 2009

Reference

491 c877W; 270548

House

House of Commons

Museums and Galleries: Public Libraries

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the impact on the standards and accessibility of museums and libraries of changes to local government structure.

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

11 July 2007

Reference

462 c1517W; 146461

House

House of Commons

Local Government: Standards

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many shire counties moved to a rating for excellent in the comprehensive performance assessment by the Audit Commission in the last 12 months; and if she will list them.

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Communities and Local Government

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

25 June 2007

For answer on

27 June 2007

Answered on

27 June 2007

This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 27 June 2007:"Your parliamentary question on how many shire counties moved to a rating for excellent in the comprehensive performance assessment by the Audit Commission in the last 12 months and your request to list them has been passed to me for reply.""Under section 99 of the Local Government Act 2003 the Audit Commission has a duty, from time to time, to report on its findings and categorise English local authorities according to their performance in exercising their functions. CPA is the tool that the Commission uses to fulfil this duty.""In 2005 the Audit Commission revised the CPA framework in response to changes in the operational and regulatory environment, rising public expectations, and the performance of local government itself. Because the framework from 2005 is both a harder and a different test the CPA categories were renamed to reflect this change. As a result single tier and county councils are no longer categorised as excellent, good, fair, weak or poor. The five new categories introduced from 2005 were 4 stars (reflecting the highest category of performance), 3 stars, 2 stars, 1 star and 0 stars.""National CPA reporting for single tier and county councils last took place in February 2007. At the time of reporting there were eight county councils that improved their overall CPA category to 4 star. These councils were:""(a) Cheshire""(b) Dorset""(c) Norfolk""(d) North Yorkshire""(e) Oxfordshire""(f) Suffolk""(g) West Sussex""(h) Wiltshire""Following national reporting in February 2007, Somerset County Council was re-categorised as 4 star as part of the Audit Commission’s quarterly reporting arrangements in March 2007 following a corporate assessment.""Further information about the CPA framework and scores is available at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/cpa.""A copy of this letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library."

Date

27 June 2007

Reference

146150; 462 c815-6W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the radios of 12 Mechanised Brigade. (Further information on 08.03.2005 at 431 c1670W)

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 March 2005

Reference

431 c1670W;431 c1666W; 219526

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library copies of quarterly progress reports provided to the Treasury against Spending Review 2002 Public Service Agreement Targets for (a) 2003-04 and (b) the first three quarters of 2004-05. - Inc ref to 22 February 2005,...

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

2 March 2005

Reference

431 c1230W; 217993

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library the Defence Management Board balanced scorecard reports for each quarter since April 2000; what the Defence Management Board's (a) strategic objectives and (b) associated performance measures were for financial years 2001-01 to 2003-04; and what...

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

31 January 2005

For answer on

22 February 2005

Answered on

22 February 2005

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library the Defence Management Board balanced scorecard reports for each quarter since April 2000; [213586] (2) what the Defence Management Board's (a) strategic objectives and (b) associated performance measures were for financial years 2001-01 to 2003-04; and what they are for financial year 2004-05. [213585] Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's strategic objectives, together with the associated targets and performance measures, are set out in the Department's Public Service Agreements (PSA) for 1999-2002, 2001-04 and 2003-06. These targets are at the core of the Defence Balanced Scorecard. The PSAs are available at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. Performance against PSA targets is reported formally to Parliament in Departmental Spring and Autumn Performance Reports. For the MOD the Spring Performance Report has usually been incorporated within "The Government's Expenditure Plans", and since 2002-03 the Autumn Performance Report has been incorporated within the Ministry of Defence "Annual Report and Accounts", The Autumn Performance Reports also include detailed reporting against the full range of Defence Balanced Scorecard objectives. All these reports for financial years 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 should be in the Library of the House, and are also available at www.mod.uk. The MOD's "Government Expenditure Plans for 2005-06 to 2007-08" will be published in the spring. "The Annual Report and Accounts for 2004-05" will be published in the autumn. In addition, in accordance with Treasury requirements, information on PSA performance since the first quarter of 2003-04 has been published quarterly on the Treasury website.

Date

22 February 2005

Reference

431 c599-600W;431 c595-6W; 213586;213585

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Territorial Army soldiers deployed to Iraq were required to achieve a skilled grade in their weapon test; how many Territorial Army soldiers deployed in Iraq since March 2003 have accidentally discharged weapons; whether his Department has received notifications of concern from...

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 November 2004

For answer on

17 November 2004

Answered on

17 November 2004

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether Territorial Army soldiers deployed to Iraq were required to achieve a skilled grade in their weapon test; [196885] (2) how many Territorial Army soldiers deployed in Iraq since March 2003 have accidentally discharged weapons; [196880] (3) whether his Department has received notifications of concern from military units deployed in Iraq about inadequate training in personal weapons by members of the Territorial Army who had been passed as average by the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre; [196881] (4) how many Territorial Army soldiers deployed to Iraq since March 2003 arrived with notes cautioning the receiving unit that they were a high safety risk due to having been passed as average by the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre; [196882] (5) whether his Department has been notified of concerns by the staff at the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre about the deployment of reservists to Iraq since March 2003 who had been graded average in their weapons test; [196884] (6) what measures his Department is taking to rectify the failures in training for reservists identified at the court martial of Lance Corporal Ian Blaymire; [197194] (7) who within his Department was responsible for the failures identified at the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre in the trial of Lance Corporal Ian Blaymire; [197195] (8) if he will make a statement on the allegation by Mr. Paul Camp, Assistant Judge Advocate, that the Army had lied in an attempt to prevent the exposure of the very poor training and very poor leadership to which reservists who had been sent to Iraq received. [197198] Mr. Ingram: [holding answer 8 November 2004]: A clear policy on the standards required of reservists before deployment on operations was and is in place. This policy directs that all Territorial Army (TA) soldiers deployed on operations to Iraq are required to achieve an overall skilled pass in their Individual Training Directive (ITD1(A))--weapons handling test (WHT) for their personal weapon prior to their deployment. ITD1(A) comprises seven components. Component 1 is the safety assessment and is marked at pass or fail. The other components relate primarily to skill at arms and can be assessed as skilled, average or fail. Analysis of our records has so far established that three individuals who have failed the safety test have deployed to Iraq, but none was equipped with a weapon. All three were employed in a field hospital: one a surgeon; one a chef; and one a medical technician. Evidence given at the recent court martial of Lance Corporal Blaymire suggests that during the mobilisation for earlier deployments to Iraq a decision was taken at the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre (RTMC) that for two elements of the ITD(A) (loading a magazine and wind tables--neither of which is related to safety) performance at average would be sufficient for the then operational requirement. While this did not accord strictly with the stated standards required, this decision reflected professional military judgment at the time. Since 4 October 2004 RTMC has directed that stated policy be followed. We are identifying those deployed in Iraq who passed the two modules at average and will judge the need, if any, for additional in-theatre training. I am assured that, at no time, has safety been compromised. This is borne out by our Operation Telic "Lessons Identified" records which contain no comments from operational commanders about safety deficiency with regard to personal weapon handling among deployed TA personnel. The media have reported a number of allegations in relation to the evidence given at the court martial. We take all these allegations seriously and when we have received the transcript of the court's proceedings we will examine the evidence in detail. In the meantime, we have set up a Learning Account and an Army Board of Inquiry has been convened. We shall be as open as possible in making the findings of both public. Information on the number of TA soldiers who have negligently discharged their weapon is not held centrally. Neither are we able to differentiate between regular and reservist personnel once deployed on operations. I shall in due course provide details of the number of cases where disciplinary action has been taken as a result of a Royal Military Police investigation into such incidents. Since the start of operations in Iraq we have mobilised over 9,000 Army Reservists who have performed with distinction and great professionalism. As reported by the House of Commons Defence Committee, the vast majority of demobilising reservists who responded to a questionnaire in September 2003 believed that they had been either "very well" or "well" prepared for their deployment.

Date

17 November 2004

Reference

426 c1538-9W;426 c1541-2W; 196885;196880;196881;196882;196884;197194;197195;197198

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library copies of the service delivery agreements between his Department's top level budget holders and Head Office for financial years 1999-2000 to 2003-04. - Will write.

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

15 November 2004

Reference

426 c1054W;426 c1058W; 196579

House

House of Commons

Treasury

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the Ministry of Defence does not have an administration costs limit.

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Treasury

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

22 July 2004

Reference

181773; 424 c483W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many units within his Department's married quarters estate have been upgraded in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these were upgrades to the entire estate. - Including table.

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

16 October 2003

For answer on

29 October 2003

Answered on

29 October 2003

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units within his Department's married quarters estate have been upgraded in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these were upgrades to the entire estate. [133373] Mr. Caplin: The number of houses brought up to Standard 1 for Condition in mainland United Kingdom in each of the past five financial years was: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number 1998-99 1-- 1999-2000 1,308 2000-01 2,733 2001-02 3,340 2002-03 1,440 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Figures not collected at that time None of these years includes an instance where the entirety of any one estate was brought up to Standard 1. A number of estates are now fully at Standard 1 but these have been addressed in phases, over a number of years, to minimise disruption to both occupants and Service operational requirements. Currently, just over 50 per cent. of the core stock is at Standard 1 and over 90 per cent. of families are in properties at either Standard 1 or 2.

Date

29 October 2003

Reference

133373; 412 c228-9W;412 c236-7W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many units within the married quarters estate are in (a) standard 1 condition, (b) standard 2 condition, (c) standard 3 condition and (d) standard 4 condition; how many service personnel are housed in (a) standard 3 and (b) standard 4 properties...

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

16 October 2003

For answer on

29 October 2003

Answered on

29 October 2003

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many units within the married quarters estate are in (a) Standard 1 condition, (b) Standard 2 condition, (c) Standard 3 condition and (d) Standard 4 condition; [133371] (2) how many service personnel are housed in (a) Standard 3 and (b) Standard 4 properties within his Department's married quarters estate; and what plans he has to reduce this number. [133375] Mr. Caplin: The total number of houses in mainland United Kingdom that have been assessed for condition (more than 98 per cent. of stock) at the four standards for condition were categorised as below as at 17 October 2003. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Standard Total number 1 23,413 2 22,692 3 3,502 4 179 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Properties currently at the lower two standards will be the first to be targeted for disposals as demand falls over the next few years. Figures for the number of houses from within the Standards 3 and 4 that are currently occupied are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Date

29 October 2003

Reference

412 c227-8W;412 c235-6W; 133371;133375

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) financial and (b) operational consequences are of failure of the SOMCHEM-designed modular charge system to meet the performance specification; for what reason the SOMCHEM-designed modular charge system has not met the performance specification; whether his Department plans to purchase...

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

11 June 2003

Reference

406 c915W;406 c917-8W; 115485;115486;115959

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what efficiency measures have been achieved by her Department since its establishment.

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 April 2002

Reference

46992; 383 c294W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of subsidy payments were paid within three weeks in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001; for what reasons there have been delays in subsidy payments to farmers by the Rural Payments Agency. - Includes table. (Holding answer...

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

18 December 2001

Reference

377 c278W; 22613;22614

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers are waiting for subsidy payments from the Rural Payments Agency (a) in Norfolk and (b) in England. - The information requested is not available. (Holding answer 13 December 2001).

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

18 December 2001

Reference

22612; 377 c278W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's latest annual efficiency target is; and if it has been achieved. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 16 November 2001).

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

28 November 2001

Reference

375 c1024W; 15362

House

House of Commons

Dept for Education and Employment

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what is the annual cost of the Quality Assurance Agency Subject Review for Universities. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Education and Employment

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 February 2000

Reference

344 c85W; 109207

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the key milestones and their planned date for (a) his Department's and (b) his private office's 3 per cent. efficiency savings. - Includes figure and ref to Ministry of Defence's Public Service Agreement, in Library (as DEP 99/1535).

Asked by

Keith Simpson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

5 March 1999

Reference

74650; 326 c918-9W

House

House of Commons

	Audit commission use of resources judgment
Local authority	(a) 2006	(b) 2007	(c) 2008
Uttlesford	2	1	1
Thurrock	2	2	2
Dacorum	2	1	1
Great Yarmouth	1	1	2
Norwich City	1	1	2
Waveney	2	1	1
Wellingborough	3	2	2
Haringey	3	3	3
Liverpool	2	1	2
Mid Devon	1	1	2
Forest of Dean	2	2	1
Tewkesbury	2	2	2
Mendip	2	2	2
West Somerset	1	1	1
Stoke-on-Trent	2	2	3
Bromsgrove	2	2	2
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Authority	3	2	2

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