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Nepal

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Government of Nepal regarding the situation of indigenous groups and untouchables who are the victims of bonded labour in Nepal; and if she will make a statement. [132312]

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Mr. Foulkes: Our officials have in recent weeks been in dialogue with senior Government of Nepal officials in the Home Ministry and Prime Minister's Office in support of the campaign to make bonded labour illegal in Nepal. I am pleased to report that the Government of Nepal decided on 17 July to make this practice illegal and in so doing cancelled all related debts. The challenge now is how to ensure legislation is enforced, and to support these individuals in securing future livelihood opportunities. In addition to existing UK support to an Integrated Social Development Programme which works directly with bonded labourers and untouchables, we have informed the Government of Nepal that the UK is ready to assist further in the rehabilitation of bonded labourers. We are also working to mobilise the support of other donors.

Disabled People

Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to ensure that the 1999 annual report of her Department is made available to blind and visually impaired people. [133105]

Mr. Foulkes: Given the relatively specialist nature of many of our publications, we have not normally made them available systematically in audio, braille or large print formats. The Departmental Report falls into this category. In the case of such publications, we consider any requests for audio or braille formats case by case and in the light of the provisions of the relevant legislation. We are however looking to continue to improve the accessibility of our publications for blind and visually impaired people, particularly in the case of those publications aimed at a broader public audience. This includes reviewing the scope for making more use of large print and audio formats, as well as ensuring the availability of material in appropriate formats via the internet.

UN Consolidated Appeals

Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the contributions her Department has made to UN Consolidated Appeals over the last three years. [132485]

Mr. Foulkes: According to UN figures, in the last three years (1997-1999) the UK contributed some US$170 million (£112 million) to UN consolidated appeals. This is broken down as follows:




Further details of UK contributions can be found in the tables below. However, these figures are reliant on data received through the UN's reporting systems, and do not necessarily give a full picture of UK funding.

UK contributions to UN consolidated appeals--1997
US$

Country/regionAmount
Afghanistan8,477,420
Albania291,035
Angola514,317
Brazil168,350
Bulgaria144,355
Cambodia1,065,645
Caucasus3,013,995
Chechnya274,193
Colombia32,200
Former Yugoslavia16,364,746
Ghana300,000
Great Lakes6,728,323
Haiti146,726
Iraq3,794,996
Laos238,710
Liberia2,184,317
Madagascar68,637
Malawi209,677
North Korea798,387
Peru80,645
Tajikistan3,242,774
Sierra Leone318,460
Solomon Islands17,121
Somalia609,732
Sri Lanka1,227,703
Sudan1,589,068
West Africa12,065
Total51,913,597

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UK contributions to UN consolidated appeals--1998
US$

Country/regionAmount
Afghanistan7,693,260
Angola3,190,630
Eritrea285,000
Former Yugoslavia5,532,938
Great Lakes6,450,940
Kosovo1,680,791
Liberia725,333
Sierra Leone753,103
Sudan31,333,716
Total51,329,562

UK contributions to UN consolidated appeals--1999
US$

Country/regionAmount
Afghanistan3,459,961
Angola8,883,016
Burundi350,000
Caucasus1,450,000
Democratic Republic of Congo550,000
East Timor4,060,492
Great Lakes/Central Africa277,936,549
Sierra Leone242,925
Somalia480,000
South Eastern Europe39,024,792
Sudan7,885,481
Uganda137,150
Total66,893,817

Ministerial Duty Roster (Summer)

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the daily Ministerial Duty Roster for her Department during the summer adjournment. [133071]

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Mr. Foulkes: It is not the normal practice of the Government to publish a daily Ministerial Duty Roster. This Department will ensure that it has sufficient cover through the summer recess in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

European Convention on Human Rights

32. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment he has made of the impact of cases brought under the European Convention on Human Rights on the work load of the CPS. [131296]

The Solicitor-General: The significance of the Human Rights Act 1998 on the work of the CPS was recognised at an early stage, and a high priority has been given to ensure that preparations are well under way for implementation of the Act in October 2000.

An assessment of the impact of the Human Rights Act was carried out by the CPS in conjunction with other prosecuting agencies, the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and the Treasury.

In consultation with other prosecuting agencies and leading external human rights experts, the CPS has developed a comprehensive training course for CPS prosecutors. The training programme aims to reach over 3,000 key staff before the end of July.

This training programme and the continued guidance and advice that CPS staff will receive will ensure that cases giving rise to Human Rights issues will be dealt with in a wholly professional and effective manner. Initially, we expect that human rights problems will be raised in ordinary cases, and they will be dealt with in the ordinary way. We have anticipated additional costs, and there is no doubt that they will arise.

Crime Victims

33. Mr. Paterson: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on measurement of the satisfaction of victims of crime with the Crown Prosecution Service. [131297]

The Solicitor-General: A key objective in the criminal

justice system Strategic Plan 1999 to 2002 is


Victim satisfaction is currently measured by the British Crime Survey, conducted by the Home Office. This focuses on satisfaction with police performance. As the CPS takes on an enhanced role in relation to victim care, an inter-agency steering group will consider how best to measure victim satisfaction with CPS performance.

A witness satisfaction survey, conducted by BMRB Social Research on behalf of the Home Office, is to take place this month and next. The CPS co-operated with the planning of this survey, which will obtain a broad indication of the level of satisfaction of witnesses with their treatment by criminal justice agencies.

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Domestic Violence

34. Mr. Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the role of the CPS in ensuring the effective prosecution of incidents of domestic violence. [131298]

The Solicitor-General: Violence against women is a serious crime with serious consequences for victims, families and whole communities.

The Crown Prosecution Service regards violence in a domestic context as particularly serious. Prosecutors will therefore consider the full range of prosecution options, whether or not the victim is willing or able to attend court as a witness.

The CPS is fully committed to working with its partners in the criminal justice system to fight against domestic violence.

Treasury Solicitor

35. Ms Buck: To ask the Solicitor-General what criteria were adopted in the selection process for the recently appointed Treasury Solicitor. [131299]

The Solicitor-General: The essential criterion used in selecting the new Treasury Solicitor was whether he or she could fulfil the role. This means that the successful candidate should, among other things, be able personally to give advice to Ministers on a range of legal issues, often of a highly sensitive nature; be able to act as the Chief Executive of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, which is an executive agency; be able to act as Head of the Government Legal Service with overall responsibility for recruitment, training and career development of some 1,300 Government lawyers; and, finally, be able to implement the Modernising Government programme within the Government Legal Service. Miss Juliet Wheldon, who is the new Treasury solicitor, fully meets all of these requirements.


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