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3 Feb 2004 : Column 772W—continued

Renewables

Mr. Mates: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to maintain the UK's role in European Union research networks for renewable natural resources which are geared to helping developing countries to attain the Millennium Development Goals. [152539]

Hilary Benn: The principal network is the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development which aims to improve the relevance and effectiveness of European investments in agricultural research to reduce poverty in developing countries. The initiative is recognised by the European Parliament and Council and implemented by a coordinating group of members of the European Commission, the member states of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland. The UK is an active participant in the initiative and in the co-ordinating group. An official from my Department is currently seconded to the initiative as its executive secretary.

University Links

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many university links have been established by the higher education Link Scheme funded by his Department; and how the scheme is promoted in UK universities. [152082]

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Hilary Benn: It is estimated that some 3,200 Links between higher education institutions in the UK and in 45 developing countries have been supported by the scheme since its establishment in 1981. The British Council manages and promotes the scheme. Higher education institutions in developing countries submit applications for Links funding to the Council (which will help identify suitable UK partners if the applicant requests this).

The current Links Scheme is due to end in March 2006 and no new applications for funding can be accepted. However DFID is currently considering the report of a review of the scheme and possible future options for higher education partnerships. A decision on the outcome of that review is expected shortly.

Zimbabwe

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which non-governmental organisations active in Zimbabwe are receiving funding from his Department. [152514]

Hilary Benn: DFID directly funds a large number of international and Zimbabwean NGOs as part of its humanitarian support for food aid, agricultural recovery and HIV/AIDS. We support numerous NGOs indirectly through the funds we provide to UN agencies operating in Zimbabwe, such as World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Through our membership of the European Union (EU), the UK is also a significant contributor to NGO programmes through the EU's ECHO and Euronaid humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe.

DFID's main international NGO partners for relief and recovery in Zimbabwe are CAFOD, Christian Aid, Save the Children (UK), Oxfam, John Snow International, HELP (Germany), CARE international and Catholic Relief Service. Our major Zimbabwean NGO partners are FOSENET (a consortia of Zimbabwean NGOs), Farm Community Trust Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Red Cross.

Our HIV/AIDS programme in Zimbabwe includes support for HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives implemented by local faith-based organisations, through Population Services International, and home-based care groups through John Snow International (UK).

WALES

Dee Cockle Regulation Order

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to hasten the implementation of the Dee Cockle Regulation Order. [150041]

Mr. Touhig: I understand that both the Welsh Assembly and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have responded swiftly and positively to requests for assistance in this matter from the Environment Agency Wales and stand ready to do so again if required.

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When the Environment Agency Wales submit a formal application for a Regulation Order, the Government will act as quickly as possible.

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the visits he has made to armed forces' bases in Wales since October 2002. [151739]

Mr. Hain: I recently met Brigadier Iain Cholerton, Commander 160 (Wales) Brigade and will shortly be visiting a Territorial Army training operation at Maindy Barracks in Cardiff.

National Assembly Powers

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the First Minister of the National Assembly to discuss (a) the Richard Commission in general, (b) the Labour Party's evidence to the Commission and (c) any differences between the Labour Party's Assembly Group's evidence and the evidence given by some Welsh Labour hon. Members. [150056]

Mr. Hain: I meet the First Minister on a weekly basis and we discuss a wide range of issues including the Richard Commission. The Labour Party's position vis-à-vis the Commission is a matter for the party.

Wales Office

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the transfer of money for 2003–04 to the Department for Constitutional Affairs in respect of the Wales Office. [152245]

Mr. Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 November 2003, Official Report, columns 1–2WS, and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's written statement on 11 November 2003, Official Report, column 17WS.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Agency Workers

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the provisions relating to statutory sick pay, contained in the Fixed Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 apply to agency workers. [151838]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Fixed Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 repealed a provision that prevented workers with contracts of three months or less from being entitled to SSP. Therefore all workers including agency workers may be entitled to SSP from day one, if they are treated as employees for National Insurance Contribution purposes.

Agricultural Labour

Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many successful prosecutions have been brought under the Employment Agencies

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Act 1973 against (a) employment agencies and (b) gangmasters supplying labour to the UK's agricultural industry. [152098]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The total number of successful prosecutions undertaken by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 is as follows:

	Prosecutions
1977	1
1978	12
1979	15
1980	8
1981	7
1982	5
1983	5
1984	0
1985	2
1986	3
1987	1
1988	0
1989	0
1990	0
1991	0
1992 (to 31March 1992)	0
1992–93	3
1993–94	7
1994–95	3
1995–96	3
1996–97	11
1997–98	14
1998–99	3
1999–2000	3
2000–01	2
2001–02	8
2002–03	8

Data broken down by sector of the private recruitment industry are not available. However, a gangmaster was prosecuted in 1994–95.

Computers (Tax Exemption)

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken and how much has been spent by the Government on promoting the annual tax exemption on loaned computers since it was introduced in 1999. [152064]

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.

The exemption was set out in Budget and other published material when it was introduced in 1999, and it now features in publicly available Inland Revenue guidance on employment expenses and benefits.

The exemption has recently received a major promotional boost with the launch, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 19 January, of guidelines on Home Computing Initiatives. The Government have spent £370,000 on the production, promotion and distribution of these guidelines. Industry partners have also pledged significant funds and resources to promote the guidelines and HCI schemes more broadly.

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Departmental Budget

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) resource and (b) capital budget for her Department for each year between 1997 and 2007. [151800]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 29 January 2004]: These are listed on pages 190 and 194 of "Central Government Supply Estimates 2003–04 Supplementary Budgetary Information" (Cm 5797, May 2003), where a breakdown is available. Figures are shown from 1998–99 (the first year for which resource information was produced) to 2005–06 (the final year of the current Spending Review period). The summary figures are:

£000

	Resource budget	Capital budget
1998–99	3,107,878	18,303
1999–2000	4,547,569	-8,205
2000–01	6,579,561	37,860
2001–02	6,595,438	88,840
2002–03	7,652,813	376,308
2003–04	4,918,551	1,196,194
2004–05	5,260,042	164,000
2005–06	5,738,519	101,000

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