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11 Jun 2003 : Column 860W—continued
Professional Sports Clubs
Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received on his policy towards professional sports clubs who fail to make full payments to the Inland Revenue or Customs and Excise. [117827]
John Healey: The Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise do not apply specific policies to professional sports clubs. They treat clubs in exactly the same way as they treat all other businesses which are in financial difficulties.
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Over the last 12 months or so they have received fewer than a dozen specific representations about the application of those policies to professional sports clubs.
Public Sector Employees
Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public sector employees there were in 1997; and how many there were at the latest date for which figures are available. [118249]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr Gray, dated 11 June 2003:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about how many public sector employees there were in 1997, and how many there were at the latest date for which figures are available. (118249)
- The information requested is given in the table below.
| Thousands
| ||
| June 1997 | June 2001 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total public sector | 4,954 | 5,163 |
Source:
Economic Trends, June 2002 issue, ONS
Full information on public sector employment is currently published once a year. Data for 2002 are expected to be published in the summer of 2003.
Split Capital Investment Trusts
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority regarding (a) the collapse of split capital investment trusts and (b) compensation for investors; and when the FSA will produce the results of its inquiry. [117844]
Mr. Boateng: The Treasury discusses a wide range of issues with the FSA on an ongoing basis.
Tax Credits
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many telephone calls have been received on the hotline for hon. Members to resolve constituents' tax credit queries in each week since 1 January. [115803]
Dawn Primarolo: The number of calls answered by the MPs' tax credit hotlines in each week to the end of April is shown in the following table:
(4) indicates less than 5.
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Mr. Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of delays in settling outstanding tax credit queries arising from the changes to the tax credit system on 6 April. [115806]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 53, and to the comments I made during the debate in Westminster Hall on 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 99–122WH.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
York Minster Library
Miss McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the library at York Minster. [118482]
Mr. Bell: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 4 June 2003 to the hon. Member for the City of York (Hugh Bayley), from which she will note that the library does not belong to the Church Commissioners.
The sale, loan or other disposal of any item of architectural, archaeological, artistic interest would require approval under the Care of Cathedrals Measure. This is a statutory process and I would not wish to prejudge whatever decision might be made either by the Fabric Advisory Committee or by the Cathedrals Fabric Commission on any such application.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Iraq
6. Tom Brake: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on humanitarian aid to Iraq. [118382]
Hilary Benn: DFID has so far committed £115 million towards humanitarian assistance in Iraq. This is being channelled though the organisations best placed to deliver practical help on the ground: the United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGOs. We have set aside a further £95 million for additional needs as they emerge, but money. Funds from existing DFID programmes will not be diverted to fund our assistance to Iraq.
While significant challenges remain, particularly in maintaining law and order, and restoring power, water and sanitation facilities, a major humanitarian crisis in Iraq has been averted.
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10. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what steps the Department is taking to ensure that (a) medical and (b) food aid is reaching those most urgently in need in Iraq. [118386]
Hilary Benn: Of the £115 million DFID has committed towards humanitarian assistance in the current crisis, £8.5 million has been allocated specifically to medical support through a number of organisations, and £33 million to food aid through the World Food Programme. £35 million of aid not earmarked to specific sectors has been has allocated to the Red Cross and other organisations providing medical and other support.
We provide our support through the organisations best placed to deliver effective assistance. DFID teams in Baghdad and Basra monitor the situation on the ground and liaise with the humanitarian agencies.
14. Ann Winterton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the distribution of food aid in Iraq. [118391]
Hilary Benn: DFID has committed £115 million to humanitarian assistance in the current crisis, of which £33 million has been allocated to the provision of food aid through the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP has pipeline stocks of the main commodities for June, and expects to be able to maintain supplies thereafter. Part of the requirement will be met by purchases from Iraqi farmers. Distribution of food within Iraq, by the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, recommenced on 1 June. DFID teams in Baghdad and Basra monitor the situation on the ground and liaise with the humanitarian agencies. There is not expected to be any food crisis in Iraq.
Zimbabwe
7. Mr. Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on British aid policy in respect of Zimbabwe. [118383]
Ms Keeble : British aid policy is focused on providing help to the people of Zimbabwe. We are working with the United Nations agencies, other donors, and non-government organisations to provide food aid, HIV/AIDS prevention and other health sector programmes. However, we recognise that the plight of the people in Zimbabwe will only be resolved by political change.
12. Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, when the Secretary of State last met non-governmental organisations to discuss aid to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [118389]
Hilary Benn: Since taking up her new appointment the Secretary of State has not met with non-government organisations to discuss aid to Zimbabwe.
We continue to work closely with British and other non-government organisations to share analysis on the terrible situation faced by most Zimbabweans. The majority of our food aid programme in Zimbabwe is implemented by non-government organisations, contracted directly by the Department for International Development, or through the World Food Programme,
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which also receives significant UK funding. Non-government organisations will remain key partners in the process of supporting the people of Zimbabwe through the effective supply of food aid, as well as tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Ethiopia
8. Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what assessment the Department has made of the preparedness of Ethiopian Government departments to handle direct aid payments for humanitarian relief in famine areas. [118384]
Hilary Benn: The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Commission (DPPC) is the lead Government of Ethiopia body responsible for co-ordination of humanitarian responses. Humanitarian relief is delivered by a combination of the DPPC, UN agencies (especially World Food Programme) NGOs and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Overall, the DPPC system is able to adequately deliver humanitarian assistance across most of the country. However, in some districts with weak administrations or problems of unexpected severity, it has been necessary to deliver humanitarian relief directly through UN agencies or Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).
John Barrett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment he has made of the availability of (a) cereal seeds and (b) pulses in Ethiopia; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate planting of seeds and pulses in Ethiopia before the end of the planting season. [118254]
Hilary Benn: The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Ethiopian Government's Ministry of Agriculture reported on both the variety and quantity needs for cereal and pulse seed on 4 June 2003. Estimated needs total $10 million.
We have already contributed to meeting requirements through our £2 million donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in February 2003. We are working closely with the Government and other donors to further clarify and meet non-food needs such as seed.
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