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8 May 2003 : Column 817W—continued
Iraq
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what studies have been conducted to assess the (a) short-term and (b) medium-term economic requirements of Iraqi households. [111455]
Clare Short: With slowly improving security, UN agencies and NGOs are beginning to assess immediate humanitarian needs on the ground in Iraq.
Most agency assessments are available from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) website at: www.agoodplacetostart.org
As soon as practicable the World Bank in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund, UN and others plan to conduct a detailed needs assessment to collect baseline information relating to human development, infrastructure, economic policy needs, institutional capacity and resources.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the likely tax-base in Iraq. [111456]
Clare Short: No assessment has yet been made of the likely tax-base in Iraq. As soon as practicable the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund plan to conduct a detailed needs assessment to collect baseline information relating to the Iraqi economy.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the (a) vulnerability and (b) prospects for retention of agents for food distribution programmes in Iraq. [111457]
Clare Short: It is important to get a food distribution programme re-established as soon as possible. 16 million Iraqis depended on the Oil for Food Programme before the conflict and are therefore vulnerable to disruptions in food supply.
Early indications from WFP and the Iraqi Ministry of Trade suggest that the food distribution network has, in those provinces that have been assessed, survived the conflict. In Basra province WFP has been able to retrieve the records of all 1.8 million beneficiaries of food rations. Assessments are underway in other governorates. It has been reported that many food agents want to resume work and have been reporting to distribution centres.
Primary Education/Gender Parity
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the Government will make meeting the millennium development goals on
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universal primary education and gender parity in access to primary education a priority at the G8 summit; and if she will make a statement. [111561]
Clare Short: We continue to work with the G8 and other governments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for universal primary education by 2015 and gender parity by 2005. We are working to increase the effectiveness of bilateral resources by improving international co-ordination in support of high quality country-owned strategies, as set out for low-income countries in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and linked to national budget processes.
The Fast Track Initiative, which includes all members of the G8 (except Russia), offers the potential to increase dialogue and improve donor harmonisation in the education sector. My Department will continue to work to make the initiative more effective.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with G8 governments regarding meeting the Millenium Development Goals on universal primary education and gender parity in access to primary and secondary education; and if she will make a statement. [111579]
Clare Short: We continue to work with the G8 and other governments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for universal primary education by 2015 and gender parity by 2005. We are working to increase the effectiveness of bilateral resources by improving international co-ordination in support of high quality country-owned strategies, as set out for low-income countries in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and linked to national budget processes.
Venezuela
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with (a) the USA, (b) the EU and (c) Spain regarding the restoration of full democracy and stability in Venezuela; and if she will make a statement. [111641]
Clare Short: My colleagues in the Foreign Office are in regular and extensive contact with EU partners and members of the Group of Friends of Venezuela supporting the Organisation of American States (OAS) facilitation efforts, in which they have stressed the importance of respect for the constitution and for democratic principles.
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with non-governmental organisations regarding working with Venezuelan authorities and NGOs to restore stability in Venezuela; and if she will make a statement. [111642]
Clare Short: The British Embassy is in regular contact with local NGOs in Venezuela and provide support for a number of those NGOs.
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HOME DEPARTMENT
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned into the impact of detention on children in asylum seeking families. [111263]
Beverley Hughes: We have not commissioned any research into the impact of detention on children in asylum seeking families.
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers he detains children who are seeking asylum. [111264]
Beverley Hughes: Families with children who are seeking asylum may be detained under the detention powers contained in paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. Detention in such cases would normally be used in the following circumstances: initially, while identity and basis of claim are being established; where there is a risk of failure to comply with the terms of temporary admission or release; or to effect removal from the United Kingdom. In addition, detention may be appropriate if it appears that the asylum claim is straightforward and capable of being decided quickly using fast-track procedures.
Unaccompanied asylum seeking children are only ever detained in the most exceptional circumstances and then normally only overnight, with appropriate care, while alternative arrangements for their care and safety are made.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to encourage asylum seekers from Iraq living in the United Kingdom to return to their home country. [111298]
Beverley Hughes: We are working now to ensure that Iraqis can be assisted to return to their homeland as soon as practicable. Many Iraqis in the UK have skills which will be of value to the reconstruction of Iraq. The government are committed to helping clear the way for them to do so. We will work closely with the Iraqi communities in the UK and sector experts on voluntary return.
Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Asylum and Immigration cases were actioned by hon. Members in the last 12 months. [111769]
Beverley Hughes: The Home Office received a total of 33,895 written inquiries and representations from hon. Members on asylum and immigration cases during the period 1 April 2002—31 March 2003.
Badgers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the legal protection for badgers. [110326]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
Badgers are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which makes it illegal to kill, injure or take badgers or to interfere with a badger sett. Interference with a sett includes blocking tunnels or damaging the
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sett in any way. Badgers are further protected from certain cruel acts by the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.
A detailed assessment of the status of the badger population was carried out by scientists at Bristol university and was published in 1997. This compared national surveys of badgers carried out before and after the introduction of the Protection of Badgers Act in 1992. The research showed a 77 per cent. increase in the badger population between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. The survey also reported a halving of the incidence of illegal digging of badger setts over the same period, and concluded that reduced persecution had allowed the badger population to recover.
In view of this evidence, we believe that current legislation is making an effective contribution to the protection of badgers.
Road Traffic Offences
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to submit his proposals for new categories of offences for causing death by driving to public consultation; which proposals will be submitted for public consultation; and if he will make a statement; [109717]
- (2) what plans he has to introduce new categories of offences for causing death by driving; if he will list each new offence he is planning to introduce; and if he will make a statement; [109715]
(3) what discussions he has had with other Departments about introducing new categories of offences for causing death by driving; and if he will make a statement. [109716]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 28 April 2003]: The Home Office has been in discussion with the Department for Transport about existing road traffic offences, including those of causing death. We are currently considering the possibility of carrying out a review.
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