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Written Answers to Questions

Monday 20 December 2004

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Circular EC34/2004

Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the status is of Electoral Commission Circular EC34/2004; and whether it is binding on local authorities. [204752]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it provides advice to electoral registration officers and returning officers by virtue of the provisions of section 10(3) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Electoral registration officers undertake their statutory duties independently of local authorities. The Commission's advice is not binding on either electoral registration officers or local authorities.

Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether political parties were consulted before the publication of Circular EC34/2004 by the Electoral Commission. [204753]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it did not consult any political parties before issuing this circular. It is not the Commission's practice to consult parties on such circulars, which are statements either of the Commission's policy or of its understanding of the law.

Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate the Government have made of the impact on general election turnout of Electoral Commission Circular EC34/2004; and if he will make a statement. [204756]

Mr. Viggers: This is a matter for the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the total expenditure of the Electoral Commission has been in each year since its creation; and what the estimated budget is for the forthcoming year. [204751]

Mr. Viggers: Total expenditure by the Electoral Commission in each of the years 2000–01 to 2003–04, and projected figures for the current financial year, are set out as follows. The figures for 2000–01 relate to the period from the inception of the Commission in November 2000. The Speaker's Committee will consider in the new year the financial provision to be made for the Commission in respect of 2005–06.
 
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	£ million
2000–01	2.421
2001–02	6.066
2002–03	18.160
2003–04	18.635
2004–05 (projected)	28.621

Further detailed information is available in the Commission's annual reports and accounts, each of which has been laid before the House and is available in the Library.

Political Party Registration

Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what steps the Electoral Commission are taking to prevent the malicious or confusing registration of party names by new political parties. [204749]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that, provided an application by a party for registration complies with the registration requirements, it is required to grant the application unless the registered name proposed by the party meets any of the criteria set out in section 28(4) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, or it includes any word or expression prohibited by the Registration of Political Parties (Prohibited Words and Expressions) Order 2001.

The Commission has no power to refuse an application for registration on any other grounds relating to the proposed name.

Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Electoral Commission will place in the Library the guidelines it follows when considering the registration of political parties' names. [204750]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has procedures in place for managing the registration of political party names and emblems. These include an internal guidance document, which details the process to be followed in the registration of a political party and the legislative provisions to which the Commission must adhere in undertaking this process. A copy of this document will be placed in the Library.

Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what advice the Government have given the Electoral Commission on (a) the registration of political parties' names and (b) preventing malicious or confusing registration of party names by new political parties. [204754]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that is has not received any advice from the Government on (a) the registration of political parties' names or (b) preventing malicious or confusing registration of party names by new political parties.

Voting Lists

Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what advice the Government have given
 
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the Electoral Commission on the provision of absent voting lists to political parties outside an election period. [204755]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has received no advice from the Government on this matter.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General how many pages the Attorney General's legal advice to Her Majesty's Government on the legality of initiating hostilities against Iraq produced in March 2003 comprised. [204328]

The Solicitor-General: The information requested relates to the provision of confidential legal advice and is covered by legal professional privilege. It is therefore exempt from disclosure under paragraphs 2 and 4(d) of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what effect instability in Afghanistan is having on his Department's reconstruction effort in the country. [204723]

Hilary Benn: Security in Afghanistan is an urgent challenge facing the Afghan Government, especially in the South and East of the country where Taliban insurgents continue to encroach.

In spite of fears that deterioration in the security situation would disrupt the Presidential elections, there were very few serious security incidents or reports of violence in the run-up to election or on the day itself. This was a credit to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the Coalition and the Afghan Army and Police, who all contributed to maintaining security.

Threats to the safety of Afghan and international staff have meant that some NGOs and international organisations are finding it increasingly difficult to operate in some parts of the country. So far, the Department for International Development's programme has not been significantly affected and difficulties exist only in specific areas. Organisations are doing an excellent job in working around these areas to continue providing assistance wherever possible. However, the overall effect on the provision of humanitarian aid and reconstruction is very serious.

Arab World (Sexual Health)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the recent statements by Mohammed Imad al-Daker, consultant on HIV/AIDS
 
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at UNICEF, concerning the role of the media in the Arab world with regard to sexual health education; and if he will make a statement. [204634]

Hilary Benn: DFID has not seen a full text of the interview concerned. But Mohammed Imad al-Daker's reported comments, for example on the need for a responsible media to disseminate correct information to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS seem most sensible. Proper consideration of women's rights taking into account the cultural values of the Arab world, along with strong national media awareness, are key to stemming the reported rapid increase of HIV/AIDS in the region.

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