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20 Oct 2004 : Column 744W—continued
ITC Consultants
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department spent on outside information technology and communication specialist consultants and engineers in the 2003–04 financial year. [191907]
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Hilary Benn: DFID spent a total of £5,398,815 on outside information technology and communication specialist consultants and engineers in the 2003–04 financial years. This figure comprises:
£5,178,718 spent on consultants and engineers engaged to assist with the development and support of internal systems, including the Catalyst business change programme.
£220,097 spent on specialist consultants engaged to assist with the Information and Communication for Development programme who were funded directly from DFID running cost budgets. This figure does not include consultants engaged indirectly through DFID-funded international development activities, which were managed by third parties.
Ministerial Expenditure
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department spent on (a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [191392]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID does not own any residential properties in the UK and therefore has not spent any such money on maintenance, renovation, council tax or running costs.
Information on expenditure on maintenance and running costs of residential properties overseas is not centrally available and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
Theft and Fraud
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1997. [191417]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The estimated cost of fraud and theft to DFID each year since 1997, including the number of cases, is illustrated in the following table. While many of the cases are relatively small in financial terms (the total loss due to fraud in recent years is 0.006 per cent. of DFID's total spending), DFID remains committed to minimising such losses. This year DFID has reviewed and updated its policy and response to fraud and theft, with advice from anti-fraud specialists.
| Fraud | Thefts(30) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | Number of cases | £ | Number of cases | |
| 1996–97 | 0 | — | 8,273 | 3 |
| 1997–98 | 0 | — | 48,365 | 4 |
| 1998–99 | 96,925 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 1999–2000 | 79,813 | 5 | 11,220 | 4 |
| 2000–01 | 4,800 | 3 | 13,439 | 8 |
| 2001–02 | 70,787 | 6 | 12,778 | 6 |
| 2002–03 | 102,984 | 17 | 2,684 | 3 |
| 2003–04 | (31)232,917 | 17 | 2,192 | 2 |
(30) Does not include items with a zero net book value.
(31) This is the current estimate since investigations are ongoing for some cases in 2003–04.
Uzbekistan
Mr. Pope:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of progress in meeting his Department's goals of
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achieving economic and political reform through constructive engagement with the Republic of Uzbekistan. [192169]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID continues to have dialogue with the Government of Uzbekistan on economic and political reform, in concert with the international financial institutions and other donors. In particular, the Department works with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in support of the economic and political benchmarks set out in EBRD's country strategy for Uzbekistan. An EBRD review of the benchmarks earlier this year concluded that, overall, limited progress had been made. With EBRD and others, DFID continues to monitor developments in Uzbekistan in relation to the strategy benchmarks.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Brazil
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Government of Brazil on the effects of inflation rates in the country on (a) economic recovery and (b) political stability. [192059]
Mr. Rammell: The UK-Brazil Economic Talks took place on 10 September 2004 in London. They were the latest in a regular series of talks, the last of which was hosted by Brazil in May 2003. The UK delegation included senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HM Treasury, Bank of England, the Department for Trade and Industry, the Department for International Development and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The talks included discussion of economic developments in Brazil (embracing prospects for inflation and growth) and the process of economic reform. A range of international economic, financial and trade issues were also covered.
British Council
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much Government funding was provided to the British Council in each year since 1997. [192048]
Mr. Mullin:
Since 1997 the Foreign and Commonwealth has provided the British Council with grant in aid at the levels set out in the following table. The difference between the allocation up until 1998–99 and that of 1999–2000 and subsequent years is explained by a machinery of Government transfer from the Department for International Development (DfID), when the Foreign and Commonwealth Office took over DFID's grant in aid responsibility to the British Council. The British Council also receives grants amounting to £4.4 million (2003–04 figures) from the Department for Education and Skills, Education Northern Ireland, Scottish Executive Education Department and the National Assembly Training and Education Department of Wales.
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The council runs development contracts on behalf of a number of Government Departments, notably DFID. and the EU. It also generates income through charging for education services (English language training and examinations). Its total turnover in 2003–04 was £455 million.
FCO grant in aid to the British Council:
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| Grant in aid British Council | |
| 1997–98 | 97,884 |
| 1998–99 | 97,448 |
| 1999–2000 | 133,248 |
| 2000–01 | 137,720 |
| 2001–02 | 144,985 |
| 2002–03 | 151,455 |
| 2003–04 | 165,474 |
| 2004–05 | 173,600 |
British Overseas Territories (Public Holidays)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which days of the year in (a) the Turks and Caicos Islands, (b) Anguilla, (c) Bermuda, (d) the British Indian Ocean Territory, (e) the Caymen Islands, (f) the Falkland Islands, (g) Guernsey, (h) Gibraltar, (i) the Isle of Man, (j) Montserrat, (k) Pitcairn Island, (l) British Antarctic Territory, (m) St Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension Island, (n) the Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus, (o) Jersey and (p) South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands are designated (i) public holidays, (ii) national days and (iii) ceremonial days; and what representation from the UK there is at ceremonies held to mark each such day. [191266]
Mr. Rammell: It is not usual for dates in the calendars of the Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies to be specifically designated as "ceremonial days". However, occasions such as HM the Queen's Birthday and Remembrance Sunday are usually marked ceremonially, and the Governor (or equivalent) would normally attend.
While, strictly speaking, it is inaccurate to speak of a "National Day", the term is sometimes used to denote an annual celebration of the particular identity of an Overseas Territory or Crown Dependency.
The details for the Overseas Territories mentioned in the question are as follows:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus
The UK is represented at some Greek Cypriot religious holidays and other celebrations by the administrator or other appropriate Sovereign base area administration representative. Turkish Cypriot holidays are observed, but not celebrated in the Sovereign base areas.
The following are public holidays in Anguilla in 2004: new year's day (1 January); Good Friday (9 April); Easter Monday (12 April); Labour day (3 May); Whit Monday (31 May); Anguilla day (1 June); HM the Queen's Birthday (14 June); August Monday (2 August); August Thursday (5 August); Constitution
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day (6 August); Separation day (17 December); Christmas day (27 December, in lieu); Boxing day (28 December, in lieu).
The Governor attends the Anguilla day parade (and other celebrations, if invited). HM the Queen's Birthday celebrations (held on Monday after the HM The Queen's official birthday in June) comprise: official, uniformed organised parade in the main public park, at which the Governor takes the salute and inspects the Royal Anguilla Police Force, and a reception at Government House, hosted by the Governor.
The following are public holidays in Bermuda: new year's day; Good Friday; Bermuda day (24 May); HM the Queen's Birthday (June); Emancipation day (end of July); Somers day (end of July); Labor day (first Monday in September); Remembrance day (11 November); Christmas day; Boxing day.
The Governor of Bermuda participates in HM the Queen's birthday parade as well as the Remembrance day ceremony.
The Territory does not have a settled population.
British Indian Ocean Territory
The Territory does not have a settled population.
The following are public holidays in the Cayman Islands: new year's day; national heroes day (fourth Monday in January); Ash Wednesday; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Discovery day (third Monday in May); HM the Queen's Birthday (celebrated locally on the Monday following the Saturday designated in the UK); Constitution day (first Monday in July); Remembrance day (the Monday after Remembrance Sunday); Elections day (once every four years); Christmas day; Boxing day.
The following are public holidays in the Falkland Islands: new years day; Good Friday; Christmas day; Boxing day; HM the Queen's Birthday (21 April), when a reception is held at Government House); Liberation day (14 June), when a procession is held in Stanley by the military, including a fly-past (weather permitting) and a reception at Government House; spring holiday (first Monday in October), also called Peat Cutting day; Battle day (8 December); Government holiday between Christmas and new year (30 and 31 December this year).
The following are bank and public holidays in Gibraltar in 2005: new year's day (substitute for 1 January: Monday 3 January); Commonwealth day (Monday 14 March); Good Friday; Easter Monday; May day (substitute for 1 May: Monday 2 May); spring bank holiday (Monday 30 May): HM the Queen's Birthday (Monday 13 June); summer bank holiday (Monday 29 August); Gibraltar national day (substitute for 10 September: Monday 12 September); Christmas day (substitute for 25 December: Tuesday 27 December); Boxing day (Monday 26 December).
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The following are public holidays in the Montserrat: new year's day; St. Patrick's day; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Labour day; Whit Monday; Queen's Birthday; Emancipation day (First Monday in August); Christmas day; Boxing day; Festival day (31 December).
The following are public holidays on Pitcairn: Christmas day; new year's day; Bounty day (23 January). The Governor's Representative attends the celebrations on Bounty day.
St. Helena and her Dependencies of Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha
The following are public holidays in St. Helena: new year's day; Good Friday: Easter Monday; St. Helena day (21 May); HM the Queen's Official Birthday; Whitsun;
August bank holiday; Christmas day; Boxing day
The following are public holidays in Ascension Island: new year's day; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Ascension day (May); HM the Queen's Official Birthday; Whitsun; August bank holiday; Christmas day; Boxing day.
The following are public holidays in Tristan da Cunha: new year's day; Epiphany; Good Friday; Easter Monday; HM the Queen's Official Birthday; Ratting day (local holiday—mid April); Ascension day (May); Whit Monday (May); Anniversary day (14 August); Christmas day; Boxing day.
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
The Territory does not have a settled population.
Possession day (17 January) celebrates the day in 1775 when Captain Cook took possession of South Georgia for the Crown. This is marked by a reception by the Commissioner of the Territory (who is also Governor of the Falkland Islands) at Government House in Stanley.
The following are public holidays in the Turks and Caicos Islands: new year's day; commonwealth day (8 March); Good Friday: Easter Monday; national heroes day (31 May); HM the Queen's Official Birthday; Emancipation day (1 August); national youth day (24 September); columbus day (11 October); international human rights day (24 October); Christmas day; Boxing day.
My noble Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor is the Privy Counsellor with special responsibility for the Crown Dependencies. The following information has been provided by the Department for Constitutional Affairs:
The following are public holidays in Guernsey: new year's day; Good Friday; Easter Monday; first Monday in May; 9 May (Liberation day); last Monday in May; last Monday in August; Christmas day; Boxing day.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor is Her Majesty the Queen's personal representative on the Island. As such, he attends many functions to mark public holidays and Liberation day.
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Her Majesty's Government are generally not represented on such occasions. However, on the occasion of the swearing in of a new Lieutenant-Governor or Bailiff it is usual for a senior official from the Department for Constitutional Affairs to attend the ceremonies.
The following are public holidays in 2005 on the Isle of Man: new year's day (3 January); Good Friday (25 March); Easter Monday (28 March); early May bank holiday (2 May); late May bank holiday (30 May); T.T. bank holiday (10 June); Tynwald day (5 July); summer bank holiday (29 August); Boxing day (26 December); Christmas day (27 December, in lieu).
Tynwald day is the Isle of Man's National Day. Members of the Royal Family may preside on Tynwald Hill at St. Johns during the Tynwald, however the Governor usually presides as the Queen's Representative. The armed forces are also usually represented at the Tynwald Ceremony.
Jersey adopts the same public holidays as England. In addition, 9 May is a public holiday to mark the Island's Liberation. A formal ceremony also takes place to mark Remembrance Sunday. On both days (Liberation day and Remembrance day) His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, HM the Queen's personal representative in Jersey, participates.
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