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Zimbabwe

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK and EU travel ban on Zimbabwean officials is enforced by (a) individual airlines and (b) immigration officials at ports of entry. [53134]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 30 April 2002]: The United Kingdom has adopted a travel ban on certain Zimbabwean officials consistent with a Common Position passed by the European Council. Whilst responsibility for deciding whether to carry a passenger ultimately rests with the airline, there is no requirement on the carrier to be fully satisfied in advance of travel that a passenger will be acceptable to the United Kingdom authorities. That judgment can be exercised only by the immigration officer on arrival. Airlines are, however, required to ensure that only properly documented passengers board their aircraft to the United Kingdom. Zimbabwean nationals do not require visas to enter the United Kingdom, but the airline is expected to ensure that the Zimbabwean passenger is the rightful holder of the passport being presented and that the document itself is acceptable for entry to the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom Immigration Service is responsible for enforcing the travel ban. Immigration officers at ports have been instructed not to grant entry to those Zimbabwean officials placed on the European Union travel ban list.

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Zimbabwean nationals, subject to a travel ban by the United States, have recently passed through United Kingdom ports en-route to the US and any other destinations; and what liaison there is between UK and US immigration officials on this subject. [53133]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 30 April 2002]: We are not aware of any Zimbabwean nationals, subject to a travel ban, passing through the United Kingdom to other countries. But at major United Kingdom airports, only passengers who present themselves at the immigration control seeking entry whilst in transit would come to the

2 May 2002 : Column 897W

attention of the Immigration Service. Many others will remain airside and travel on in direct transit to their destinations and without seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom.

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate has strong links with Untied States officials. Anyone identified by the Immigration Service on arrival in the United Kingdom declared by the American authorities to be unacceptable for entry to the United States will be prevented from travelling on.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pilot accommodation centres for asylum seekers he is seeking to secure; when they will be identified; when they will be announced; and when they will be operational. [52347]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 April 2002]: In respect of the number of pilot accommodation centres we are seeking to secure I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 160W.

In respect of the identification, announcement and operation of these sites, I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Mid- Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) on 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 781W, and to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (John Barrett) on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 97W.

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the development of all asylum seekers accommodation centres will require planning consent. [52350]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 April 2002]: Planning consent will be required in every case.

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how it is proposed that planning applications for asylum seekers' accommodation centres will be handled. [52349]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 April 2002]: Planning notifications will be submitted under the terms of Circular 18–84, which covers developments by Government Departments on Crown property. In every case there will be full consultation with the local authorities and local communities.

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he proposes to issue to private companies proposing asylum seeker accommodation centres as to the standards expected of them in their relations with local communities and representative bodies. [52356]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 April 2002]: We cannot set standards for organisations prior to their involvement formally in arrangements for the delivery of accommodation centres. However, those invited to bid would be expected to do so in accordance with normally expected standards.

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what characteristics he seeks in the sites suitable for asylum seekers' accommodation centres. [52348]

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Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 April 2002]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) on 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1134W.

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to provide information to local communities where proposals to develop asylum seeker accommodation centres are made. [52355]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 25 April 2002]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) on 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 900W.

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many expressions of interest he has received from (a) private landowners and (b) private sector prospective operators of asylum seeker accommodation centres. [52352]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 28 April 2002]: The information requested is commercially confidential.

Yarl's Wood

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Ministers were informed that a decision had been made not to fit a sprinkler system to the premises at Yarl's Wood detention centre; and if he will make a statement. [39523]

Angela Eagle: The decision not to fit sprinklers was informed by a number of different expert sources. The Minister responsible at the time made the decision based upon this advice.

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the latest estimated cost is of the Yarl's Wood fire; and how much is expected to be borne by the Exchequer. [49846]

Angela Eagle: For legal reasons I am unable to comment at this stage on the costs of the Yarl's Wood incident and who will bear responsibility for those costs.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND

THE REGIONS

Railways

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many miles of new railway track have been commissioned in the last six months. [44236]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 18 March 2002]: The maintenance of track, including repairs and replacement, is carried out daily. Some large scale infrastructure projects are currently in hand, such as the West Coast Main Line upgrade which includes track-relaying, and others are being planned, such as the East Coast Main Line upgrade. A host of other infrastructure projects are also in hand or planned nation-wide, as indicated in the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan.

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Budget (Effects on Cheltenham)

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what effect the Budget of 17 April will have on the transport system in Cheltenham. [52936]

Mr. Jamieson: The Chancellor's Budget statement included a number of fiscal and other measures relating to road vehicles and fuels. An assessment of the impact of these on the transport system in Cheltenham has not been carried out.

Young People

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what subjects and on which dates his Department has consulted organisations representing young people; and if he will list such organisations. [52491]

Ms Keeble: This information is not held centrally in the manner requested and could be secured only at disproportionate cost.

The Department is committed to the new core principles for the involvement of children and young people published by the Minister for Young People in November 2001. The Department will shortly be publishing an action plan setting out for the first time how it will implement these principles to extend the participation of children and young people in the design, provision and evaluation of policies and services that affect them.

Ministerial Training

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much has been spent by his Department on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52743]

Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 26 April 2002]: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers or officials in the last five years.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much has been spent by his Department on voice coaching for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52703]

Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 26 April 2002]: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on training on voice coaching for Ministers or officials in the last five years.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much has been spent by his Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52727]

Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 26 April 2002]: There has been no expenditure for training in leadership skills for Ministers in the last five years. However, my Department actively encourages training in leadership

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skills for officials and as a result of the civil service reform programme a considerable commitment has been made in the last two years.

£000

Year	Expenditure
1997–98	n/a
1998–99	22.0
1999–2000	26.8
2000–01	207.0
2001–02	618.6

n/a = not available

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