| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions she has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to her Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April. [127673]
Mr. Foulkes: Between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 papers have been deposited in the Library on 16 occasions in response to parliamentary questions.
Burmese Refugees
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures the Government are taking to support Burmese refugees who have fled to (a) Thailand, (b) China, (c) India and (d) Bangladesh. [127802]
Mr. Foulkes: Over the last two years, DFID has given the Burma Border Consortium (a grouping of NGOs) a total of £537,500 for the provision of humanitarian assistance to around 110,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand. In Bangladesh, we have given UNHCR £250,000 for its programme to repatriate Burmese refugees. We understand that over 90 per cent. of these refugees have now returned to Burma, leaving some 22,500 in Bangladesh. In India and China, we understand that the number of registered Burmese refugees is very small (around 1,000 in total), and we have not targeted any assistance on these groups.
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 489W
Development Policy Forum
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement regarding the Development Policy Forum held recently in Glasgow. [127720]
Mr. Foulkes: The Forum in Glasgow was one of a series of 11 being held across the UK between January and July this year. The Development Policy Forum process is designed to share thinking and ideas on development issues with groups and individuals from across society both to raise awareness of key issues and to deepen participants' understanding. This year's Forums have addressed three themes: achieving benefits for developing countries from the next round of World Trade negotiations, tackling corruption and aid untying.
All three themes were addressed at the Glasgow Forum on 23 May, with useful and lively discussions taking place. The Government team was led by myself.
Empowerment of Women
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to support the efforts of international aid agencies to facilitate the empowerment of women. [127803]
Mr. Foulkes: The Department for International Development is working extensively to encourage international agencies to actively support the empowerment
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 490W
of women in all their programmes. This includes key agencies in the UN, the European Commission, the international financial institutions, and international organisations in civil society. More specifically, we have recently significantly increased our support to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). Details of this support are published in our annual Departmental Report.
Departmental Cars
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the (a) make, (b) model and (c) total number of each make and model of car (i) owned and (ii) leased by his Department; and what is the (1) purchase price and (2) annual cost of the lease of each car. [127395]
Mr. Foulkes: The Department for International Development makes use of three official cars, namely a Vauxhall Omega, a Vauxhall Vectra and a Ford Mondeo. All cars are used on a lease basis from the Government Car Service costing a total of £142,476.36 per annum.
Sudan
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid projects are currently financed by her Department in the Sudan. [127156]
Mr. Foulkes: Projects in the Sudan currently financed by the Department for International Development are listed.
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 489W
| Agency | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CARE | South Kordofan emergency water | 195,439 |
| IGAD | Sudan Peace Secretariat, Nairobi | 18,777 |
| MSF | Hyper Endemic Kala Azar treatment, Gadaref State | 346,075 |
| MSF | Health assistance for local and displaced population of north Bahr El Ghazal | 400,000 |
| MSF | Kalar Azar treatment/prevention, south Sudan | 207,272 |
| OCHA | Operation Lifeline Sudan Security Project | 882,000 |
| OCHA | Operation Lifeline Sudan: humanitarian co-ordination in Khartoum and Nairobi | 200,000 |
| SCF | Support to the World Food Economy Analysis Unit | 57,154 |
| SCF | Emergency distribution of seeds and tools, south Sudan | 258,333 |
| Tear Fund | Nutrition Programme, Omdurman, Khartoum State | 73,610 |
Notes:
CARE = Cooperation for Assistance and Relief Everywhere
IGAD = Inter-Government Authority on Development
MSF = Medecins sans Frontieres
OCHA = United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
SCF = Save the Children Fund
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 489W
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Bailiffs
36. Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the powers of bailiffs. [126372]
Mr. Lock: Professor Beatson of Cambridge University is conducting a review of bailiff law on our behalf, and will report to us this month. The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux has published a report, entitled "Undue Distress", on bailiff powers and regulation. The Government have substantial concerns about the way some bailiffs operate and are regulated. We will look closely at the powers and role of bailiffs in the light of both these reports.
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 490W
Shrewsbury County Court
37. Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress in refurbishing the Shrewsbury county court and the expected completion date thereof. [126373]
Jane Kennedy: The arrangement for payment of the agreed contribution of £40,000 to the Court Service from the local authority has now been resolved. There has been particular difficulty in reaching agreement with the Landlord; consequently it is anticipated that the new lease will not be signed before September 2000. Once the lease has been signed there will be a programme of works, approximately six months in duration, to be completed
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 491W
by the Landlord/Court Service. The completion date is dependent upon agreement of the lease and the Landlord disclosing the timetable for the works.
Domestic Violence
38. Ms Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to implement section 60 of the Family Law Act 1996 relating to domestic violence cases. [126374]
Jane Kennedy: Section 60 will allow third parties to apply for civil remedies in domestic violence cases on behalf of survivors of domestic violence. Those remedies are occupation orders and non-molestation orders. The implementation raises a number of questions which we are currently looking into. We will consider issuing a public consultation paper on this issue later this year.
Magistrates Courts (South Staffordshire)
39. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the administration of the magistrates courts in South Staffordshire. [126375]
Jane Kennedy: Decisions on the administration of magistrates courts in South Staffordshire are for the Staffordshire Magistrates Courts Committee to determine, in consultation with its local paying authorities.
Public Trust Office
40. Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the failure of the Public Trust Office Executive Agency to meet two of its key performance indicators for the 1999-2000 financial year. [126376]
Jane Kennedy: The Public Trust Office failed its Unit Cost and Charter Standard key performance indicators for 1999-2000 (these results are still subject to National Audit Office approval). The Unit Cost target for the 1999-2000 financial year was to generate an efficiency saving of 3 per cent. This target was failed because the Public Trust Office's cost base was increased during the year to take account of a revaluation of its building. This unexpectedly added £500,000 to annual costs. Although the Public Trust Office missed its target of achieving 98 per cent. of Charter Standards, actual performance was 96.6 per cent., a creditable result against a very demanding target.
Legal Services Ombudsman
41. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the performance of the Legal Services Ombudsman. [126377]
Mr. Lock: The Lord Chancellor published the first full review of the Office for the Legal Services Ombudsman on 29 March. The independent review, conducted by Miss Ann Chant, found that the Office is carrying out its responsibilities effectively, notwithstanding that its work load had doubled since its creation in 1990. The Office is described as professional, strongly committed to good client service and experienced in handling high volume
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 492W
cases economically and to a good standard. The Ombudsman's 1999-2000 annual report is to be published next month.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |