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31 Mar 2004 : Column 1428W—continued
Probation Service
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from serving members of the Probation Service in respect of proposals made in the "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" publication, issued in January; and what cost-benefit analysis has been made of the proposals to introduce a purchaser/provider model for the Probation Service. [159939]
Paul Goggins: As of 8 March the Home Office has received, in response to the proposals in "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives", 163 representations from serving members of the National Probation Service or from representative groups working within Probation.
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The National Offender Management Service implementation team will consider the specific details, including the costs/benefits of the introduction of a purchaser-provider model across Correctional Services.
Study Visas
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the range of fees payable for visas to study in the UK is; what the average fee payable is; whether higher fees are payable for visas for longer courses; what fees are charged for visa extensions for students who do not complete their courses on time; and if he will make a statement. [164154]
Mr. Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
Students currently pay £36 for a student visa application, irrespective of course length. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration announced the introduction of charging for extensions to stay in the UK on 10 July 2003. The fee for all leave to remain applications including students is £155 with a premium rate of £250 for a same day service.
Wheel Clamping
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in the licensing of wheel clampers. [164161]
Ms Blears: On current plans the Security Industry Authority propose to commence the licensing of wheel clampers towards the end of 2004. Details of the licensing criteria are currently being finalised and are likely to include an identity check, a criminal records check for relevant previous convictions, and a check on the applicant's professional competence to do the job.
SCOTLAND
Parliamentary Questions
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department since 1 January 2003, broken down by (a) ordinary written and (b) named day; what percentage in respect of (a) were answered within 10 working days and what percentage in respect of (b) were answered by the specified date. [157735]
Mrs. McGuire: 387 parliamentary questions were tabled to the Department from 1 January 2003 to end February 2004, of which 331 were ordinary written and 56 were named day. While records on average processing times are not collected, approximately 75 per cent. of the ordinary written questions were answered within 10 working days. Approximately 65 per cent. of the named day questions were answered by the specific date.
Census
Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many same-sex couple households there are in Scotland according to the 2001 Census; [163064]
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- (2) how many households in Scotland contain two or more persons, excluding students, who do not see themselves as a couple, according to the 2001 Census; how many people there are in such households; how many people are in such households where there are pensioners; and how many people he estimates are in such households who are related to each other. [163065]
Mrs. McGuire: The Census is a devolved matter in Scotland. However, the Registrar General for Scotland, Mr. Duncan Macniven, will write to the hon. Member setting out the information requested.
UK Supreme Court
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment has been made by his Department of the possible change in fees in civil cases in Scotland that may be required following the establishment of the UK Supreme Court; [162940]
- (2) what discussions he has had with Scottish Ministers about the possible change in fees in civil cases in Scotland that may be required following the establishment of the UK Supreme Court. [162941]
Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for the establishment of the UK Supreme Court and will continue to discuss all aspects of its administration, including the development of appropriate funding mechanisms, directly with the Scottish Executive and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Iraq
7. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he had in Iraq on support for ethnic groups. [164507]
Hilary Benn: In Baghdad and Basra last week I held discussions on a wide range of issues including those affecting ethnic and religious groups. DFID is not providing assistance in support of any specific groups. DFID aims to promote social and political cohesion by increasing the participation of all Iraqis in the democratic process. DFID recently agreed to establish a £5 million political participation fund to assist towards meeting this objective.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on post-war reconstruction and development in Iraq. [164156]
Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement I made to the House on 25 March 2004, Official Report, column 66WS, following my visit to Iraq on 22–23 March.
Global Fund
8. Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with European ministers regarding (a) the funding and (b) the administrative structure of the global fund. [164508]
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Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier.
Zimbabwe
9. Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. [164509]
Hilary Benn: The humanitarian crisis continues to be fuelled by a number of factors including the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Government of Zimbabwe's misguided economic policies, the fast track land programme, and late rains. Up to 8 million Zimbabweans are currently facing food shortages prior to the harvest in April 2004. In addition, the Government of Zimbabwe is increasingly incapable of providing basic social services such as water and sanitation, health and education to its population.
The 2004 harvest may provide less than half the food needs of the population, mainly due to lack of seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural inputs. Even with a change in the political climate, the need for a humanitarian response in Zimbabwe will continue at least until the April 2005 harvest, and possibly beyond.
Primary Education (Girls)
10. Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in providing primary education for girls in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [164510]
Gareth Thomas: According to the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2003–4, girls' enrolments have increased faster than those of boys over the decade to 2000. The Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) for girls' primary enrolment in developing countries has increased from 73.5 per cent. in 1990, to 78.9 per cent. in 2000. The Gender Parity Index (GPI), which measures the ratio between girls' and boys' enrolments rates, has also improved from 0.89 in 1990 to 0.93 in 2000 for primary education, thereby closing the gap in East Asia and the Pacific. Of the 128 countries for which there is data currently available (including developing countries), 81 countries have achieved gender parity in primary education.
In recognition of these statistics, DFID is planning to increase its investment in primary education up to £1 billion over the next five years, and we shall be using the UK Presidencies of the G8 and the EU in 2005 to promote girls' education in Africa.
Cuba
11. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, if he will restore bilateral aid to Cuba; and if he will make a statement. [164511]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: There has not been a direct UK development programme to Cuba for many years. DFID department does fund a Small Grants Scheme which provides up to £120,000 per annum. The scheme has funded mainly community based, rural projects, working through non government organisations.
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There are no plans to initiate a bilateral programme to Cuba.
In July 2003, the EU renewed its common position on Cuba, adopted in December 1996, in light of continued human rights concerns. In line with this Position, the Commission is supporting activities which promote the transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights, improve the living standards of the Cuban people, and encourage sustainable economic growth. Currently the European Commission is supporting programmes to a total cost of £10 million. The UK share of these programmes amounts to £1.8 million.
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