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8 Apr 2003 : Column 178W—continued
Organ Sales
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to deter the sale of organs in under-developed countries to visitors from developed countries. [106082]
Mr. Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
The Human Organ Transplant Act, 1989 prohibits, in the United Kingdom, commercial dealings in human organs, places restrictions upon transplants between living persons who are not genetically related and requires certain information to be supplied about transplant operations.
Most countries with organ transplant programmes also have legislation banning payments for organ donation. There are formal arrangements in place between European transplant organisations to ensure that when an organ cannot be used in the originating country it is offered for use to patients in other European countries.
Renewable Energy Programmes
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department will provide for capacity building programmes for implementation of (a) research and development and (b) installation of renewable energy and low carbon technologies in (i) developing and (ii) less developed countries; and how the United Kingdom plans to assist scientific and engineering development in sustainable energy technologies in these countries. [107585]
Clare Short: Much of my Department's work on renewable energy is undertaken through our Knowledge and Research (KaR) programme, which has, over recent years, included both technical and institutional issues to promote their use in developing countries. The technologies have included solar, wind, biomass and small hydropower. All such projects have a substantial capacity building approach, working as far as possible with organisations in developing countries. We have a public website listing and giving details of past and current renewable energy projects funded through the KaR programme—www.etsu.com/dfid-kar-energy/.
Our overall approach to energy for development is to encourage consideration of the full menu of options to
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improve access to affordable energy services, not limiting this to renewable sources. This is reflected in an Issues Document, Energy for the Poor, which was released by this Department at the World Summit for Sustainable Development last September.
In addition to our KaR programme, my Department also contributes and participates in the multi-donor Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP), which is a global technical assistance programme supported by the World bank and UNDP as well as other governments. The work being undertaken through ESMAP includes building local research and development capacity in developing countries in sustainable energy and renewable energy technologies. The work of ESMAP can be seen on their website www.worldbank.org/esmap.
Rwanda
Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment is of the humanitarian situation in Rwanda. [107712]
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Clare Short: Rwanda is a very poor country with a recent history of genocide and great humanitarian needs. Scores against basic humanitarian indicators place Rwanda in the bottom half of most rankings within sub-Saharan Africa. However, the country is recovering from the genocide, and substantial development resources are being deployed in an attempt to lift its people out of poverty.
Earlier this year, unseasonably dry conditions over southern and eastern Rwanda in February and early March 2003 raised concerns about food security. However, an assessment in early March found that most household coping strategies (e.g. casual work and informal cross-border trade) were working well. Rains came in mid-March and food insecurity has since eased across the country.
We believe that our long-term development partnerships with Rwanda is the best way of achieving a sustained reduction in poverty. The UK committed £35million to Rwanda in the last financial year in addition to our contribution to multilateral funding.
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Connexions Service
Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the value of leaflets on drugs and young people's health provided by the organisation Connexions; what public funding for that organisation is provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement; [107571]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the value of leaflets on drugs and young people's health provided by the organisation Connexions; what public funding for that organisation is provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [107572]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 7 April 2003]: Connexions does not produce advisory leaflets on drugs and health issues at a national level. The Connexions Service through its 47 Partnerships in England provides front line advice and support to young people, working closely with other government departments and other public agencies delivering services to young people. Where specialist help is needed by a young person including in the areas of drugs or health, Connexions personal advisers broker access to this specialist support. It is up to Connexions Partnerships to decide
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on the most appropriate use of resources to meet the needs of young people in their area and they may choose to develop leaflets for young people where they see a need, in co-operation with local partners.
Overall funding available for Connexions in 2003–04 is £457.7 million, which is provided under DfES's Spending Review settlement.
A-level Results
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students achieved (a) one and (b) one to three A-E grades at A level (i) in England and (ii) at schools and colleges based in the Buckinghamshire constituency in 2001–02; and if he will break down those figures between (A) independent schools and colleges and (B) state schools and colleges. [106984]
Mr. Miliband: The percentage of students achieving (a) one and (b) one to three A-E grades at GCE/VCE A level in independent schools and in maintained schools and FE sector colleges both in England and Buckinghamshire constituencies in 2001–02 is as follows:
| 1 GCE/VCE A-level pass | 1 to 3 GCE/VCE A-level passes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | Buckinghamshire constituencies | England | Buckinghamshire constituencies | |
| Independent schools | 9.5 | 4.5 | 76.2 | 87.2 |
| Maintained schools and FE sector colleges | 22.4 | 13.7 | 74.8 | 76.7 |
| All institutions | 20.6 | 12.9 | 75.0 | 77.7 |
Admission Policies
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the payments made to Electoral Reform services in respect of (a) the preparation for and (b) the conduct of parental ballots on selective secondary schools' admission policies in each of the last five years. [105839]
Mr. Miliband: The Education (Grammar School Ballots) Regulations came into effect on 3 December 1998. To date, £1,102,945 has been paid to Electoral Reform Services, the bulk of which is passed on to schools in the form of grants to cover costs in providing information to the company. The payments have been made as follows:
| Petition Year | (a) Preparation for ballots | (b)Conduct of ballots | Totalfor year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 22,778.81 | 0 | 22,778.81 |
| 1999–2000 | 216,283.51 | 1,780.07 | 218,063.58 |
| 2000–01 | 58,285.36 | 0 | 58,285.36 |
| 2001–02 | 438,099.66 | 0 | 438,099.66 |
| 2002–03(3) | 365,717.66 | 0 | 365,717.66 |
(3) So far
Archaeology
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans his Department has to (a) increase the teaching of archaeology in schools and (b) make pre-history part of all national curricula. [107846]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: There are no current plans for the Department to increase the teaching of archaeology in schools or to increase the references to pre-history within the National Curriculum.
The teaching of aspects of archaeological study and of pre-history are already included as part of the Programmes of Study for History which is a compulsory part of the National Curriculum in England for all pupils in years 1–9, that is key stages one to three.
Assaults on Staff
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many assaults on staff by (a) pupils and (b) parents have taken place in each year since 1997; and in how many cases was a conviction obtained. [106956]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: As the hon. Member has been told in previous answers (on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 402W and 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 128W), the Department does not collect this information. Injuries that lead to an absence from work of three days or more must, however, be reported to the Health and Safety Executive. Information
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available from the Executive shows that all reportable assaults in the education sector in Great Britain totalled 160 in 1999–2000, 171 in 2000–01 and provisionally 143 in 2001–02; there are no figures for the related numbers of convictions.
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