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Supporting People Programme

Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons the Supporting People programme has been transferred within his Department to the Homelessness Directorate from the Housing and Care Support Division; and if he will make a statement. [140070]

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reasons for the transfer of housing and support under the Supporting People initiative to the Homelessness Directorate. [140267]

Yvette Cooper: The transfer was an internal administrative decision to ensure that the appropriate skills and staff resources are invested in the Supporting People Programme.

Television

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) television licences and (b) satellite television subscriptions are held by (i) his ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department; and what the total cost has been in each case since May 2002. [138118]

Yvette Cooper: I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Unauthorised Camping

Mr. Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the responses received to the Managing Unauthorised Camping Operational Guidance consultation paper. [137209]

Yvette Cooper: A copy of the responses received to the consultation paper on Managing Unauthorised Camping: Operational Guidance will be made available in the Libraries of the House.

I will write to my hon. Friend once this has been done.

Mr. Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish his response to the Managing Unauthorised Camping Operational Guidance consultation paper. [137210]

Yvette Cooper: Arrangements have been made for the analysis of responses to the consultation paper on 'Managing Unauthorised Camping: Operational Guidance', to be available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Website.

The Guidance will be re-drafted to incorporate comments and will be published early next year.

Wind Farms

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will strengthen the Planning Policy Guidelines to create a presumption against the siting of wind farms in high value landscapes on the perimeter of National Parks. [139837]

Yvette Cooper: The Government issued Draft Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22): "Renewable Energy" for consultation on 5 November. The document sets out the Government's new proposals for

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the handling of all types of renewable energy projects through the planning system Additional safeguards are included for areas of important landscape and environmental sensitivity such as National Parks. However, local planning authorities should not create "buffer zones" around designated areas and apply blanket policies that prevent the development of renewable energy resources. Instead, planning authorities should set criteria based policies in plans to cover all parts of their area, including high value landscapes on the outside of National Parks. These policies should then be used for assessing any planning applications for renewable energy projects that are brought forward by developers.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Ascension Island

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rental contributions were paid by the United States Government to the Government for (a) the use of Wideawake Airport and (b) leasing of land owned by the Government on Ascension Island. [139767]

Mr. Rammell: Under the 1956 Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground Agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States, no rental contributions are paid from the United States to the United Kingdom Government or the Ascension Island Government for the use of Wideawake airfield or for the leasing of land on Ascension Island.

Iraq

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) US authorities and (b) the Coalition Provisional Authority about the establishment in Iraq of a representative body similar to the Loya Jirga in Afghanistan to replace the Iraqi Governing Council. [138891]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had frequent meetings with US authorities and representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority, at which a range of issues relating to Iraq are discussed. The formation of the future government of Iraq is a matter for the Iraqis. On 15 November, Jalal Talabani, President of the Iraqi Governing Council, announces a new plan for establishing a Transitional National Assembly formed through democratic caucus elections at provincial and local levels. At this point, the IGC will dissolve. There will also be an elected Constitutional Convention, leading to full national elections for a new representative Iraqi Government by the end of 2005.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to alter the national flag of the Iraqi state. [139051]

Mr. Rammell: Any future alterations to the national flag of Iraq would be a matter for the Iraqis.

Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the coalition administration in Iraq has maintained full income and

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expenditure accounts in respect of (a) sales of oil generated under the UN Oil for Food programme when it was in operation and (b) subsequent sales of oil on the world market; and if this information will be published. [134992]

Mr. Rammell: Maintaining accounts of Iraqi oil sales under the United Nations Oil for Food Programme is a matter for the United Nations. Sales of Iraqi oil on to the world market since the liberation of Iraq have been undertaken by the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation, 95 per cent. of revenues from oil sales have been transferred immediately to the Development Fund for Iraq for use in the reconstruction of Iraq, and 5 per cent. has gone to the United Nations Compensation Commission as required under the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1483. The accounts of the Development Fund for Iraq are subject to audit by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), comprising representatives of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations and the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development. The IAMB will make public all reports produced under its terms of reference.

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether UN Security Council Resolution 1483 permits the 100 per cent. purchase by foreign companies of all Iraqi economic sectors, excluding only natural resources. [135762]

Mr. Rammell: Resolution 1483 authorises the Coalition to undertake activities to promote economic reconstruction in Iraq, in co-ordination with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General CPA Order 39 on Foreign Direct Investment permits up to 100 per cent. participation in a new or existing business in Iraq, but does not allow for foreign direct and indirect ownership of the natural resources sector involving primary extraction and initial processing. In addition, this Order does not apply to banks and insurance companies. Foreign direct investment is an important means of promoting employment opportunities and improving social welfare. This Order creates the conditions for much needed capita] to enter the Iraqi economy.

The Government are therefore satisfied that Security Council Resolution 1483 provides a sound legal basis for the policy goals of the CPA Foreign Investment Order. We have also satisfied ourselves through UK officials working within the CPA, and the office of the UK Special Representative for Iraq that co-ordination with the UN has taken place, in consultation with the International Financial Institutions. The Order was approved by the Governing Council and had the support of the Minister of Finance.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what patrols UK Navy vessels are undertaking to prevent illegal smuggling of oil off the Iraqi coast; what progress has been made in stemming the trade; and if he will make a statement. [139681]

Mr. Straw: I will write to the right hon. and learned Member and place a copy in the Library of the House.

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Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the method of election of the Government of Iraq.[140150]

Mr. Rammell: I will write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the conflict in Iraq on the war on terrorism. [140171]

Mr. Rammell: I will write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

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