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30 Apr 2003 : Column 387W—continued
Digital Terrestrial Television
11. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to meet colleagues in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to discuss the roll out of digital terrestrial television in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [109796]
Peter Hain: None—but I maintain close contact with my ministerial colleagues on matters affecting Wales.
Our Digital Television Action Plan aims to ensure the widest range of consumer choice, quality, affordability and accessibility.
Departmental Report (Objective 3)
12. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings he attended in 2002–03 to secure objective 3 of the Wales Office as set out in the departmental report for 2002. [109797]
Peter Hain: I meet my colleagues regularly, both collectively and bilaterally. Our discussions cover a wide range of matters including many where I am able to represent the Welsh interest.
CAP Reform
13. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the impact of CAP reform in Wales. [109798]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the First Secretary and I meet the Assembly Agriculture Secretary and DEFRA Ministers to discuss a variety of issues, including Common Agriculture Policy Reform.
Agriculture
14. Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding agriculture in Wales. [109799]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the First Secretary and I meet the Assembly Agriculture Secretary and DEFRA Ministers to discuss a variety of issues, including the future of the agriculture industry in Wales.
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Barnett Formula
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on reform of the Barnett formula. [109788]
Peter Hain: None. The Government has no plans to replace the Barnett formula.
HOME DEPARTMENT
British Citizenship Applications
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals there were against a refusal of British citizenship in each of the last five years. [109607]
Beverley Hughes: There is no statutory right of appeal against a refusal to grant British citizenship.
Very few individuals seek to challenge the refusal to grant British citizenship by way of application for judicial review—an estimated average of one case per year over the past 10 years. No figures are kept on the number of unsuccessful applicants who make informal representations—either in person or via an MP or other intermediary—against refusal. It is estimated that less than a quarter of those refused citizenship subsequently make representations against the refusal. The outcome of such challenges varies from case to case.
99,825 decisions on applications for British citizenship were made in 2001, of which 9,530 (10 per cent.) were refusals. 88,995 decisions on applications for British citizenship were made in 2000, of which 6,785 (8 per cent.) were refusals.
Information on decisions of applications for British citizenship are published regularly in "Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom, 2001", a copy of which is available from the Library. It is planned that information relating to decisions made in 2002 will be published at the end of August 2003.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 4 March 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Paul Kirby. [109366]
Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 29 April 2003.
Immigration Removal Centres
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff there were at each immigration removal centre in the UK in each of the last five years, broken down by grade. [109508]
Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the ban on paid employment for immigration detainees held in removal centres. [109510]
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Beverley Hughes: We have no plans to provide paid employment to persons detained in immigration removal centres. Immigration detainees are able to participate in a wide range of constructive activities during their detention based on education, sport, recreation, physical education and religion.
Insurance
Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has undertaken on the impact of the withdrawal of public indemnity insurance liability by insurance companies on the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement. [109718]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 28 April 2003]: I am aware of the problems being experienced by those in the voluntary and community sector, as a result of the volatility in the insurance market since 11 September 2001. It is deeply worrying that small groups of volunteers who are making a real contribution to their communities are being faced with such difficulty.
The Active Community Unit in the Home Office has set up the "Insurance Cover Working Group (ICWG)" to look into the situation and advise on practical solutions. The ICWG has engaged external specialists to undertake a study into the current position regarding the provision of insurance for the voluntary and community sector, including public indemnity liability, and to make practical recommendations that will bring relief to the problems.
The consultants report is to be delivered to the ICWG on 16 June 2003 when the Government will be better placed to consider actions and initiatives to address the issue of rising premiums and the withdrawal of insurance cover, that is in some cases affecting the voluntary and community sector's ability to deliver services.
Once the recommendations of the report have been considered, decisions will be taken to implement agreed practical solutions in partnership with the voluntary and community sector, the insurance industry, local authorities and Government Departments.
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with (a) the Department for Education and Skills, (b) the Local Government Association and (c) representatives of local education authorities on the implementation of provisions contained in sections 36 and 37 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; and if he will make a statement. [109518]
Beverley Hughes: Discussions with the Department for Education and Skills continue on a regular basis. Representatives from local education authorities for the areas where accommodation centres have been proposed and from the Local Government Association attended meetings with officials from the Home Office and Department for Education and Skills on 20 August, 20 September, 14 October and 15 January.
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Passports
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports have been mislaid by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate over the past three years; and how many of these have subsequently been found. [108291]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 14 April 2003]: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. In 2002, the Integrated Casework Directorate issued 390 lost passport letters for documents that could not immediately be found. However, a range of measures, including secure holding areas and early return of sponsors' passports, is being taken to improve performance.
Study Visas
Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas have been issued for children of parents who have been given permission to study in the UK in each of the past 10 years. [109727]
Beverley Hughes: I regret that the information requested is not available.
Information on whether visas have been issued for adults or children is not collated centrally. It is therefore not possible to identify separately the number of visas issued for children.
DEFENCE
Biological Agents (Testing)
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence analytical laboratories in the UK have the (a) equipment and (b) expertise to provide a testing service for (i) anthrax, (ii) botulism, (iii) staphylococcus enterotoxin B, (iv) ricin, (v) plague and (vi) smallpox. [109290]
Dr. Moonie: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down is the only defence laboratory within the United Kingdom that possesses this capability.
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