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15 Oct 2003 : Column 270W—continued
Immigration and Asylum
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consultation he has had with the new EU states about immigration and asylum. [132238]
Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary (who has lead responsibility for asylum and immigration matters), and other Government Ministers have regular discussions with their counterparts in the new member states on issues of asylum and immigration. These discussions take place within formal bilaterals as well as in the margins of other meetings.
Sri Lanka
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens are residing in Sri Lanka. [131834]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: There are currently 856 British Citizens and their families registered with the British High Commission in Colombo as resident in Sri Lanka.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans were implemented by his Department since 1997 to resolve the conflict in Sri Lanka through negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; and if he will make a statement. [131889]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We support the Sri Lankan peace process both politically and practically, and welcome the remarkable progress that has been made since February 2002 when the current ceasefire came into effect.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, DFID and MOD work together to promote peace under a "Peace Building and Reconciliation Strategy", which aims to strengthen the incentives for peace and reconciliation through an integrated programme of activities by all three departments. Funding for this strategy is in part provided from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (jointly administered by FCO/DFID/MOD).
While we do not have a formal role in the peace process, we are working with the Tokyo Donors' Conference co-chairs (Japan, Norway, EU and US) to implement the conference's recommendations. The peace process is first and foremost an internal affair for the Sri Lankan people to resolve. We hope that the LTTE will shortly be tabling proposals that will enable all parties to return to the negotiating table.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when representatives of his Department raised the conflict in Sri Lanka in (a) the EU Council of Ministers and (b) the United Nations since 1997; what the outcome of discussions was; and if he will make a statement. [131890]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: At the November 2002 meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC—the foreign affairs sub-council of the EU
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Council), the Council reiterated its support for the Sri Lankan peace process and said that any EU engagement would be closely co-ordinated with other international efforts. In June, the EU co-chaired the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development in Sri Lanka.
Foreign and Commonwealth Officials meet regularly with the Heads of the UN agencies and their representatives. Most recently the Head of DFID Colombo met with the UN Acting Resident Co-ordinator on 6 October in Colombo.
UN Bodies (Membership)
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries that have in the past 30 years been voted out of (a) the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Human Rights Commission and (b) the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; and if he will make a statement. [131628]
Mr. Rammell: The membership of these UN bodies is decided on the basis of regular elections that are contested by member states. States serve for three years and must stand in elections if they wish to be re-appointed. There is no procedure to vote countries out.
Over the last 30 years, many member states have been unsuccessful in their bids for election or re-election to UN bodies. I would refer the hon. Member to a list of member states' tenures on the Commission on Human Rights and on the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions over the past 30 years copies of which will be deposited in the Library of the House.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Competitive Sports
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of schoolchildren undertake competitive sports. [132301]
Mr. Caborn: Data collected from School Sport Co-ordinator partnerships during the autumn term 2002 indicated that one pupil in five in their schools was involved in inter-school competitions and events and one pupil in two in intra-school competitions and events.
Lottery Funds
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on (a) the action she is taking to ensure the equitable allocation of good cause Lottery money and (b) the use of Lottery funds for sport-related activities. [131939]
Estelle Morris: The Government are keen to see all areas and groups receive a fair share of Lottery money. Reforms introduced under the 1998 National Lottery Act, the revised policy directions issued to distributors in the same year, and the introduction of targeted programmes such as the Fair Share initiative were designed to help ensure the equitable allocation of Lottery funding. The National Lottery Funding
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Decision Document, published in July of this year, contained further proposals to make it easier for communities to access funding.
Lottery investment in sport aims both to foster World Class achievers and promote physical activity at all levels. It does so by providing funds directly to elite athletes and to Sports Governing bodies, and also by giving funding for equipment, coaching and facilities infrastructure in communities across the UK.
HEALTH
Cancer Patients (Fertility Services)
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what services are available to newly diagnosed cancer patients of reproductive age to preserve their reproductive options, with particular reference to (a) advice and information, (b) sperm storage and (c) egg storage, in each cancer network in England and Wales; [126963]
- (2) what fertility services are provided to patients of reproductive age suffering from fertility problems following treatment for cancer in each primary care trust; [126964]
(3) what funding arrangement he makes to provide fertility services for cancer patients; [126965]
(4) what plans he has to develop guidelines for newly diagnosed cancer patients of reproductive age to preserve their reproductive options. [126966]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Information on the provision of infertility services and treatments to national health service patients by primary care trusts (PCTs) is not held centrally. It is for PCTs, in partnership with strategic health authorities, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities. The Government's overall approach is to devolve greater freedom to frontline staff and organisations to give them the freedom to innovate and improve care for patients, based on local needs and circumstances.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is expecting to issue clinical guidelines on NHS fertility treatment services in February 2004. NICE has also been asked to produce service guidance on cancers affecting children and adolescents. The scope of this guidance includes specialist follow-up for late effects of treatment including fertility. NICE is expected to consult on the first draft of this guidance in summer 2004. It is anticipated that this guidance will inform decisions about adults who may experience infertility through treatment for cancer.
Cervical Screening
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Hull and the East Riding in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003 have had smear tests; and for how long they waited. [132397]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Coverage of the target age group, aged 25–64, for cervical screening in the East Riding was 85.2 per cent. in 2001–02. Figures for 2002–03 have not yet been published.
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Across the whole of the Northern and Yorkshire region, 48 per cent. of women received the results of their test within six weeks in 2001–02.
Non-smoking Areas
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) public houses and (b) restaurants (i) are smoking free and (ii) have an area set aside for non-smokers. [132212]
Miss Melanie Johnson: This information is not held centrally.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Carer's Allowance
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Milton Keynes are in receipt of carer's allowance. [131427]
Maria Eagle: The numbers of people entitled to Carers Allowance in Milton Keynes are set out in the table. Figures have been given for all people with an entitlement to Carers Allowance and for people with Carers Allowance in payment. Those with entitlement only, are not in receipt of payment because of overlapping benefit rules.
| Parliamentary Constituenciesas at May 2003 | Total with entitlement | Those in payment |
|---|---|---|
| Milton Keynes North East | 635 | 495 |
| Milton Keynes South West | 830 | 645 |
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 per cent. sample
Source:IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample
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