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7 Feb 2003 : Column 475W—continued
Terrorism
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made under the Terrorism Act 2000. [94234]
Mr. Blunkett: On the latest information available 335 people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with (a) MI5 and (b) other intelligence organisations concerning current al-Qaeda terrorist cells within the UK concerning their location and number of operatives. [95327]
Mr. Blunkett: It is longstanding Government policy not to discuss Security Service investigations and operations. I am in regular contact with the Director General of the Security Service and am kept fully informed of the service's assessment of the extent of terrorist activity in the United Kingdom.
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Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations have been received by his Department concerning links between (a) Abu Hamza, (b) Osama bin Laden and (c) the al-Qaeda organisation; and if he will make a statement; [95338]
- (2) what representations his Department has received concerning the extent of support for Osama bin Laden from (a) organised groups and (b) individuals within the United Kingdom. [95326]
Mr. Blunkett: My Department regularly receives representations on a whole range of counterterrorist issues, including those individuals or organisations where concerns have been raised. I have already made clear that the activities of people such as Abu Hamza are closely monitored. Anyone breaking the law and inciting violence, whether under the provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000, Race Relations Act 1976 as amended by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 or the Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994, will be prosecuted. Decisions on this are for the prosecuting authorities. I would not want to state anything publicly that would make their job more difficult.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to apprehend individuals and organisations within the UK spreading (a) pro-terror and (b) anti-British propaganda; and if he will make a statement; [95339]
- (2) what information he has collated on the extent to which al-Qaeda propaganda has been promoted within the United Kingdom since 11 September 2001. [95325]
Mr. Blunkett: The police and the Security Service take all threats seriously and attach a high priority to monitoring and countering any possible activities in the country by foreign extremists. Any credible information is fully investigated. An investigation which yields evidence that an organisation or individuals are supporting terrorism will result in action being taken.
CABINET OFFICE
Congestion Charge
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what arrangements have been made in respect of payment of congestion charge costs incurred by the Leader of the Opposition when using his official car. [96494]
Mr. Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Fraud
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been lost by his
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Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through (a) fraud and (b) theft for each year since 1996–97. [92449]
Mr. Charles Clarke: An estimate of the cost of theft and fraud to my Department since 1996–97 is as follows:
| Year | Theft | Fraud | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 15 | 199 | 214 |
| 1997–98 | 22 | 3,816 | 3,838 |
| 1998–99 | 94 | 5,716 | 5,810 |
| 1999–2000 | 7 | 4,548 | 4,555 |
| 2000–01 | 3 | 17,327 | 17,330 |
| 2001–02 | 8 | 70,069 | 70,077 |
| Total | 149 | 101,675 | 101,824 |
The figure on fraud for 2001–02 includes an estimate of some £67 million relating to serious irregularity and fraud in respect of individual learning accounts.
Information on NDPBs is not collected centrally.
Student Finance (Wales)
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about the transfer of powers for student finance in Wales to the Assembly. [93765]
Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 29 January 2003]: I meet the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales from time to time in the course of normal business. I have had preliminary discussions with both the First Minister and Minister for Education and Life Long Learning in the Welsh Assembly Government about the proposals contained in my White Paper and its implications for Wales.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Convention on the Future of Europe
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Convention on the Future of Europe; and if he will make a statement. [95959]
Mr. MacShane: The recommendations of the Convention on the Future of Europe are likely to be in the form of a draft constitutional treaty. This will be discussed in an Inter-Governmental Conference, where decisions will be taken by Heads of State or Government, acting by unanimity. The outcome will be put to Parliament before ratification.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 17 December 2002 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Arkhand. [94690]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 29 January 2003 to my right hon. Friend's letter of 17 December 2002 concerning his constituent Mr. Arkhand. We are in touch with the constituent concerned and we are taking immediate action on the matter.
Export Licences
Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures will be taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure equipment exported under export licences for HMX pellets and synchros used as an inspection tool on Tay 650 engines to power Fokker 100 aircraft will not be diverted for military purposes for use by the Iranian military or security forces. [94578]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government has made clear its commitment to effective monitoring of the end-use of defence exports, including to Iran. The most effective way to do this is through rigorous assessment at the export licensing stage. Both the synchros and the HMX pellets do have a possible military use. However HMG is as satisfied as we reasonably can be that both of these items are intended only for the legitimate end-use stated. We judged that the risk of these goods being diverted for use by the Iranian military was minimal.
Gibraltar
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Gibraltar will be included in a referendum on the Single European Currency. [94204]
Mr. MacShane: The Government's policy on membership of the single currency is clear. The Five Economic Tests will define whether a clear and unambiguous case for the UK membership of EMU can be made. If, on the basis of the five tests assessment, the Government decides to recommend UK entry, it will be put to a vote in Parliament and then to a referendum of the British people. Parliament would decide the details of any referendum, as part of the legislation needed to hold the referendum.
Kosovo
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy of Her Majesty's Government is on the protection of churches by KFOR troops in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [95546]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 6 February 2003]: Britain, along with its international partners, is working to ensure that Kosovo develops as a tolerant, multi-ethnic society. The security of churches and other religious and cultural sites in Kosovo is important to the success of this effort. British soldiers, as part of our contribution to the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), play an active role in protecting these sites. These arrangements are reviewed regularly by KFOR in the light of the security situation prevailing at the time, and in full consultation with the local and regional authorities.
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Ricin
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received concerning the manufacture of ricin in the UK and the al Qaeda terrorist network. [95318]
Mr. Blunkett: I have been asked to reply.
I understand that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no direct representations concerning the manufacture of ricin in the United Kingdom and the al Qaeda terrorist network. But the Government continues to have regular discussions with our Coalition partners about a wide range of al Qaeda-related security issues affecting the UK.
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