| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Rwanda
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made on the state of refugee camps in Rwanda. [31665]
Clare Short: The conditions in the camps are not a cause for alarm and improvements are in hand. The Rwandan authorities are co-operating with the effort to improve conditions.
Prior to the eruption of Nyarigongo on 18 January, there were about 31,000 Congolese, and 500 Burundian refugees in Rwanda. Although many more Congolese came to Rwanda in the immediate aftermath, most of these quickly returned to Congo.
On 24 January the UN estimated that there were about 11,000 displaced by the eruption remaining in Nkamira and Mudende camps in Rwanda. The UK has provided £250,000 to the British Red Cross, who are responsible for basic services in the camps.
Departmental Secondments
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in her Department have been seconded to jobs in the (a) private and (b) public sector in each of the last four years. [31771]
Clare Short: The figures requested are as follows:
| Private sector | Public sector(5) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1 | 22 |
| 1998–99 | 1 | 38 |
| 1999–2000 | 1 | 41 |
| 2000–01 | 1 | 49 |
(5) Most staff in this category have been seconded overseas to international development institutions and the European Commission.
Education
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she is making to the IMF on the need to include financing free basic education in the public spending targets they set for developing countries; and if she will make a statement. [33521]
4 Feb 2002 : Column 655W
Mr. Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
The UK has been at the forefront of encouraging the IMF to reform their medium term programmes to ensure that these deliver growth and poverty reduction. A key element of the new design of IMF programmes is the undertaking to support pro-poor budgets, which includes protecting and expanding where possible education spending. In recent years the IMF programmes have supported the introduction of free education in several countries, including Uganda and Tanzania.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Wheelchair Access
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will assess the accessibility for persons in wheelchairs of positions for advisers to Ministers in (a) Committee rooms and (b) the Chamber. [33361]
Derek Conway: All Committee rooms, including those in Portcullis House, have wide doors and are accessible to wheelchair users. In most rooms, furniture can be moved to provide space for wheelchairs, although manoeuvrability is limited in Committee rooms 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 because of the fixed furniture and fittings. If an adviser using a wheelchair was needed to support a Minister, special arrangements could be made.
There are no plans to make the Officials' Box in the Chamber accessible to wheelchair users. If a wheelchair- using adviser was required to support a Minister, he or she would be able to do so from the area adjacent to the Officials' Box. A handrail has been fixed in the Officials' Box to assist people with disabilities.
Television Sets
Mr. Yeo: To ask the President of the Council how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases. [33230]
Mr. Robin Cook: The Privy Council Office has bought two analogue television sets during this period, but does not own any digital televisions. No specific guidance has been issued by my Department on the purchase of television sets. Both televisions were purchased from an approved supplier.
Computer Equipment
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the President of the Council how many installations of computer equipment in hon. Members' offices (a) within the parliamentary estate and (b) elsewhere since the inception of the current scheme remain incomplete; and how many were satisfactorily completed (i) within the timetable agreed with each Member concerned and (ii) by the end of each month including and since July 2001. [31111]
4 Feb 2002 : Column 656W
Mr. Robin Cook: Approximately 1,280 installations have been undertaken since 5 July 2001, just over half of them on the parliamentary estate. 61 are awaiting completion. Many of these have been deferred at the Member's request and await further instructions.
Satisfaction levels with the new equipment are generally high.
The number of installations completed during each month since July 2001 is shown in the table.
| Number of installations | |
|---|---|
| July 2001 | 0 |
| August and September 2001 | 229 |
| October 2001 | 315 |
| November 2001 | 550 |
| December 2001 | 142 |
| January 2002(6) | 44 |
| Total | 1,280 |
(6) Until 28 January.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members have had computer equipment installed in offices (a) within the parliamentary estate and (b) elsewhere since the inception of the current scheme; and of them how many were not Members of the last Parliament. [31110]
Mr. Robin Cook: 528 Members have had equipment installed since the arrangements for central provision of IT equipment took effect in July. The number of installations to date is 1,280, and just over half of these were on the parliamentary estate. 95 of the Members who have received this equipment were not Members of the last Parliament.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the President of the Council how many contractors have been retained to install computer equipment in Members' offices (a) within the parliamentary estate and (b) elsewhere since the inception of the current scheme; and what assessment he has undertaken of their effectiveness. [31112]
Mr. Robin Cook: A third party supplier, Computacenter, provided contractors to install this equipment. I understand that up to 20 individuals were engaged on this task on any given day. A breakdown of their place of work is not readily available.
Officials monitored the performance of the contractor by means of a system of weekly review. Any concerns were passed on to the contractor for action. We are hopeful that shortcomings experienced in the early months of the scheme have now been rectified and that the contractor is now meeting key targets.
WALES
Golden Jubilee
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. [33255]
4 Feb 2002 : Column 657W
Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 58w.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Antisocial Behaviour
13. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour and disorder in communities. [29861]
Mr. Denham: The Government are taking urgent action to tackle antisocial behaviour and disorder. My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, has already outlined the measures we are taking to increase the effectiveness of antisocial behaviour order (ASBOs). These include proposals to:
- extend the power to apply for ASBOs to the British Transport Police and registered Social Landlords
introduce an interim ASBO that can be issued prior to a full hearing
extend the power to make ASBOs to county courts
allowing ASBOs to 'travel with the person' in circumstances where the behaviour is likely to be repeated elsewhere.
25. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of antisocial behaviour orders in south Wales. [29873]
Mr. Denham: South Wales police were granted four ASBOs between April 1999 and September 2001. Applications are in progress in a number of other cases.
South Wales police have a six-step strategy for dealing with antisocial behaviour, the application for an ASBO is the final step in that strategy. Other measures for dealing with antisocial behaviour include Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs), prosecutions, warning letters, diversion schemes, mediation schemes and multi-agency case conferences.
28. Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to help the police tackle antisocial behaviour in small towns and villages. [29876]
Mr. Denham: We have introduced a range of measures to tackle antisocial behaviour, which apply equally in all areas of the country. These include antisocial behaviour orders, child curfews and changes to the youth justice system. In addition, we have introduced new community sentences for youth offenders including Reparation Orders, Final Warnings, Child Safety Orders and Parenting Orders. We have also made additional funding available for the reduction of rural crime.
31. Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been successfully applied for in the area covered by the Lancashire constabulary. [29879]
4 Feb 2002 : Column 658W
Mr. Denham: From the introduction of antisocial behaviour orders in April 1999 to the end of September 2001 (the last point to which data are available), 16 orders have been granted to the Lancashire Constabulary.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |