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MINISTER FOR WOMEN

People Trafficking

24. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Minister for Women, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for International Development regarding the trafficking of women and girls for forced prostitution in Kosovo. [182673]

Jacqui Smith: I fully support the work of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development, to support the development of an effective justice system in Kosovo that operates in accordance with international standards. This is an essential step in improving human rights and preventing abuses such as human trafficking. We are also working with our partners in NATO and the UN to establish robust, preventative policies and to ensure that anyone accused of trafficking will face justice.
 
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Iraq

25. Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister for Women, what support the Government is giving to the Iraqi Women's Higher Council. [182674]

Ms Hewitt: The Iraqi Women's Higher Council (IWHC) was the first of a number of women's organisations to evolve over the last year. Following a scoping study of the needs of new, emerging women's NGOs in Iraq, commissioned by DFID earlier this year, the UK is now supporting the development of a diverse NGO sector. We believe this will provide a strong and sustainable base for ensuring women's voices are heard, and women play a full part in the future of their nation. Currently we are helping to increase women's organisations' influence in national policy and the political process through both the Civil Society Support Fund and the Political Participation Fund.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

26. Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister for Women, if she will make a statement on progress towards a commission for equality and human rights. [182675]

Jacqui Smith: We published the White Paper "Fairness for All: A New Commission for Equality and Human Rights" on 12 May, setting out our vision for the new Commission and so place equality and human rights at the heart of society. We shall be consulting on the White Paper until 6 August.

Sporting Clubs

27. Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Minister for Women, what plans she has to propose legislation to outlaw discrimination against women in sporting clubs. [182676]

Jacqui Smith: The Government supports the Private Member's Bill put forward by David Wright which would outlaw sex discrimination by mixed-sex private clubs, including sporting clubs, against members, applicants and guests. Sports clubs that are open to the public are already subject to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 which makes such discrimination unlawful.

Violence Against Women

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Minister for Women what recent discussions she has had regarding the Government's commitment to developing a national strategy to eliminate all forms of violence against women in the UK. [182549]

Ms Hewitt: The Ministers for Women work closely with the Home Office and are active members on the Inter-Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence which leads the implementation of the Government's strategy on domestic violence.

In the UK domestic violence forms a fifth of all violence crimes (Home Office statistics) and this is why the Government has focussed its strategy by introducing the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. This will ensure that victims are put at the heart of the criminal justice system. The Bill will help ensure an effective police response when victims report domestic violence, and
 
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make sure that the civil and criminal law offer the maximum protection to all victims to stop the violence recurring.

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Minister for Women what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on (i) the prevention of violence against women, (ii) the protection of women and their families against violence, (iii) the punishment and rehabilitation of offenders against women and (iv) access to justice and reparation for victims of violence against women; and if she will make a statement. [182550]

Ms Hewitt: I have commissioned research on the economic costs of domestic violence. This quantifies the costs of such violence towards both men and women by analysing its impact on public services, the work place and the economy.

My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, has an extensive programme of work, both research and in practice, to tackle violence against women. In addition he recently announced a £4 million package of services to help victims of sexual offences. This money will be recovered directly from offenders and will be used to help provide community based services including increasing the number of Sexual Assault Referral Centres—a "one stop shop" where victims can receive help and advice.

TRANSPORT

Cyclists

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 16 June 2004, Official Report, columns 934–35W, on pedestrian/cyclist accidents, when he expects information to be available for the number of incidents in 2003. [181686]

Mr. McNulty: The figures for pedestrian/cyclist accidents for 2003 were published on 24 June. The details are set out in the following table:
Pedestrian casualties from accidents between cyclists and pedestrians on footway: GB, 2003

Severity	Casualties
Killed	0
Serious	13
Slight	38
All	51

A27 Lewes Bypass

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what year he expects a quieter road surface to be laid on the A27 Lewes bypass. [182876]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government have given a commitment in their 10-Year Transport Plan to reduce traffic noise through a number of measures including the resurfacing of blacktop roads with quieter material when road pavement maintenance is required. The Highways Agency has no plans at present to resurface Lewes bypass as it is structurally in relatively good condition. However the Agency plans to repair rutting in lane one of a 1-kilometre stretch of both the
 
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eastbound and westbound carriageways this year. Lower noise surfacing materials will be used on this section only.

British Transport Police

Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) outstanding debts to the British Transport Police from train operating companies and freight companies and (b) the cost in police staff time of accessing such funding. [181329]

Mr. McNulty: (a) Four railway companies are withholding the payment of disputed increases in charges for police services arising from a re-allocation of BTP's costs between its customers. The Department has appointed an arbitrator to make recommendations for the resolution of these disputes.

(b) The disputed sums are being held on the BTP Authority's accounts as outstanding debts covered by grant-in-aid by the Department. There is therefore no impact on BTP's budget as the annual budget setting process is settled without provision being made for writing off the debts. The outstanding debts do not therefore impact on BTP's day to day operations.

Caravans (M5)

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what basis the Highways Agency has decided to restrict the use of the M5 motorway, south of Bristol by caravans; [182447R]

(2) what representations he has received from the Highways Agency regarding the imposition of restrictions on caravans using the M5 motorway, south of Bristol. [182449R]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 7 July 2004, Official Report, columns 706–07W to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess).

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken by the Highways Agency into traffic flow and leisure vehicles using the M5 motorway, south of Bristol. [182448R]

Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency monitors traffic flow on the M5 motorway, south of Bristol by using traffic counters installed on the Avonmouth Bridge. While these counters are not able to identify leisure vehicles, they are able to distinguish between cars, vans, cars and vans with trailers, buses and coaches and heavy goods vehicles. Output from these counters shows that when the number of cars and vans with trailers increases, the speed of all traffic crossing the bridge drops significantly.

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