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14 Jul 2004 : Column 1164W—continued

Firearms

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms offences, including air weapon offences, were recorded in each police force area in England and Wales in 2002–03. [182361]

Caroline Flint [holding answer 5 July 2004]: Statistics for the number of non-air weapon offences by police force area were published in January in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 01/04, Crime in England and Wales 2002/03: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime. The equivalent statistics for air weapon offences are not available.

Iraq Refugees

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers from Iraq, having exhausted all domestic remedies, are receiving support on the basis that there is no safe route of return. [173218]

Mr. Browne: Prior to 25 March 2004 Kurds from the Kurdish Autonomous Zone of northern Iraq whose claim for asylum was finally rejected could, on application, be provided with accommodation under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, as amended, because there was no safe route of return available. It is now possible for Iraqis, including Kurds, to return home voluntarily. From 25 March Iraqi Kurds, like other unsuccessful asylum seekers, may be provided with accommodation under section 4 if they are unable to leave immediately due to circumstances entirely beyond their control and are complying with the process for return.

Information on the number of Iraqis provided with accommodation because there was no viable route of return is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service is published quarterly and can be accessed on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Mobile Speed Patrols

Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces are using LTI 20–20 laser cameras in mobile speed patrols. [183038]

Caroline Flint: This information is not recorded centrally. It is for chief officers of police to decide which speed enforcement devices to purchase from the range that have been type approved and that are commercially available.
 
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Organised Crime White Paper

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the White Paper on organised crime addressing the issue of a unified frontier force will be published. [177927]

Mr. Browne: The White Paper "One Step Ahead—A 21st Century Strategy to Defeat Organised Crime" was published on 29 March 2004. It sets out (Section 3.2) the Government's strategy on developing partnerships within border agencies and a co-ordinated approach to border security.

Prisons

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned on the effects of nutrition as a significant contributory factor in anti-social and criminal behaviour; and if he will make a statement. [183939]

Ms Blears [holding answer 13 July2004]: The Home Office has commissioned no research on the effects of nutrition as a contributory factor in antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour and has no plans to do so.

PRIME MINISTER

Butler Inquiry

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each document (a) requested by and (b) provided to the Butler Inquiry Committee by his Office. [184386]

The Prime Minister: The Government co-operated fully with the Butler Review.

European Constitution

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Prime Minister what research he commissioned on the impact on the UK of the Supremacy of EU Law clause of the proposed European Union constitution; and if he will make a statement. [184019]

The Prime Minister: The doctrine of primacy of European Union law existed before the UK's accession to the European Community and has applied throughout Britain's membership. It is a principle of the European Community's legal order which is well-established, essential to the effective running of the European Union and beneficial to the UK.

Lisbon Strategy

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to integrate sustainable development into the Lisbon Strategy agreed at the heads of Government meeting in 2000. [183693]

The Prime Minister: The UK supported the full integration of sustainable development into the Lisbon process. This Government has already made the commitment to setting ourselves on a path to cut carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. by around 2050. We were also the first EU country to produce a policy
 
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framework focused on changing our patterns of consumption and production to make them more sustainable.

In our representations to the high-level group appointed to advise the European Commission, on the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy, we have called for further action to strengthen the European Union's response to climate change, through the adoption of medium-term and long-term targets. We also called for additional action to promote investment in sustainable consumption and production technologies, through the effective use of Community resources and reform of the state aid guidelines.

We shall continue to seek further opportunities to further enhance the Lisbon strategy in this area.

Lockerbie

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 July 2004, Official Report, column 622W, on Lockerbie, what action he has taken to accelerate a decision on the issues raised on 24 May. [183836]

The Prime Minister: We are currently examining issues raised at the meeting with representatives of the Lockerbie families on 24 May. When this has been completed, I will be writing to the families.

United Nations

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet his United Nations Security Council counterparts to discuss reform of the United Nations. [184014]

The Prime Minister: The Government supports reform of the United Nations (UN). My discussions with leaders of other Members of the Security Council regularly cover the need to review how the international community, through the UN, can respond collectively to the problems faced by the modern world. I particularly welcome the UN Secretary-General's decision to set up a High Level Panel to review how the UN can respond more effectively to threats to international peace and security.

The Security Council does not have primary responsibility for reform of the UN system and therefore discussions of these issues also take place with the wider UN membership.

Water Action Plan

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2004, Official Report, column 448W, on the Water Action Plan, what steps are proposed for delivery of the G8 Water Action Plan in those countries which are not committed to prioritising safe water and basic sanitation; and what account was taken of the water sector's needs identified by the World Panel on Financing Water Infrastructure in allocating funding. [183343]

The Prime Minister: We and other donors regularly press countries to make water and sanitation a high priority. We also work with Governments of developing
 
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countries to assist them through providing advice on planning and budgeting and improving capacity and infrastructure for water and sanitation services.

We also provide support and work closely with development agencies and non-governmental organisations, such as UNICEF and WaterAid. For example, we have provided a £17 million grant to assist WaterAid in providing adequate water services to the poorest people in Bangladesh.

We have examined the findings of the World Panel on Financing Water Infrastructure and are working with international organisations such as the World Bank to ensure greater investment in the water sector from both private and public sources.

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