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2 Mar 2005 : Column 1253W—continued
Syria
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of US accusations of Syrian involvement in (a) terrorism and (b) insurgency in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [216324]
Mr. Rammell: We share the US concerns about terrorism in the region and the insurgency in Iraq. We have made clear to Syria that we expect them to play a constructive role in tackling both of these issues.
In this context we welcome the steps Syria and Iraq have taken to strengthen their co-operation, including the handing over of Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan to Iraq. We encourage them to continue to develop such co-operation.
We have repeatedly told Syria that she must address the problems created by Palestinian rejectionist groups. Closure of their offices in Damascus is a step in the right direction but Syria must exercise her influence over these groups in a positive manner.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the Syrian Accountability Act and (b) the US Administration's use of the Syrian Accountability Act since November 2003; and if he will make a statement. [216325]
Mr. Rammell: We assess that in the short-term the impact of the Syrian Accountability Act on Syria will be limited. The use of the Accountability Act is a matter for the US. We regularly discuss with the US Administration our concerns about Syria on a number of issues.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the policy of Syria towards (a) Iraq, (b) the Lebanon and (c) terrorism; and if he will make a statement on UK relations with Syria. [217859]
Mr. Rammell: We have a continuing dialogue with Syria on a number of issues, including Syrian support for the Iraqi Transitional Government; the policing of the Syria-Iraq border; improving security in Iraq; implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559; and support for Palestinian rejectionist groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
We encourage Syria to strengthen its support for Iraq. Syria knows that helping to improve security in Iraq will benefit not only the Iraqi people but also the wider region.
Syria is aware that we are seeking full compliance with the demands of Security Council Resolution 1559 and we look forward to discussing with our Security Council Partners in April the UN Secretary-General's
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report on progress. We welcome the UN Secretary-General's announcement of an investigation into the bombing in Beirut on 14 February, which killed 15 people including former Prime Minister Hariri. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean visited Lebanon, 24–25 February, to offer the condolences of HMG on the death of Mr. Hariri and the other victims.
We have repeatedly told Syria that she must address the problems created by rejectionist groups. Closure of their offices in Damascus is a step in the right direction but Syria must exercise her influence over these groups in a positive manner.
Uganda
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ugandan authorities regarding plans by President Museveni to amend the constitution in order to grant himself an indefinite term in office. [218267]
Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr. Simmonds) on 22 February 2005, Official Report, column 590W.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide capacity-building assistance to the Forum for Democratic Change in Uganda. [218271]
Mr. Mullin: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently funding a project to help build capacity in all Uganda's major political parties as they prepare for the 2006 elections. This includes the Forum for Democratic Change. The project provides small group training focusing on professional skills development for parties. We will seek opportunities to build on this with further cross-party support over the coming year.
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Ugandan Government regarding the plans by President Museveni to amend the constitution in order to secure an indefinite term in office. [218284]
Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 22 February 2005, Official Report, column 590W.
Western Sahara
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Council of Europe's support for the Baker Peace Plan for the Western Sahara. [217223]
Mr. Rammell:
The United Kingdom has noted the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's Resolution 1408 (2004) on the Western Sahara.
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The United Kingdom fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Special Representative Alvaro de Soto to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the Western Sahara dispute which provides the people of the Western Sahara with an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination.
We believe UN efforts to find a solution to the dispute should be maintained and continue to urge all parties to the dispute to engage constructively with the UN.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the EU regarding the situation in Zimbabwe. [218707]
Mr. Mullin: We regularly discuss the situation in Zimbabwe with our EU partners. With our strong support the EU unanimously agreed to renew for a further year its package of targeted measures against the Government of Zimbabwe, starting as of 21 February 2005. These consist of an arms embargo, and a travel ban and assets freeze on leading members of the Zimbabwean Government.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Access to Work Scheme
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the cost range of bids made to the Access to Work scheme was in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the average award was; [214626]
(2) by which months of the financial year the Access to Work budget has been spent in each of the last five years; and how often the Access to Work budget has been (a) overspent and (b) underspent in each of the last five years. [214636]
Maria Eagle: The Access to Work grant paid to individuals is based on their particular need and can range from the cost of a small piece of specialised office equipment to six-figure sums paid to provide Support Workers. Although information is not collected on the cost range of Access to Work grants, the average amount paid to Access to Work beneficiaries during the last full financial year, 2003–04, was £1,607.
Spend on Access to Work has exceeded the baseline funding figure in each of the past five financial years. Funding for Access to Work was spent by March 2000; February 2001; January 2002; February 2003 and February 2004. Expenditure subsequent to those dates in each financial year was funded from underspend on other Departmental budgets.
Total expenditure in each year is in the following table.
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| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 24.4 |
| 2000–01 | 32.5 |
| 2001–02 | 42.5 |
| 2002–03 | 50.3 |
| 2003–04 | 56 |
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Source:
DWP Disability and Rehabilitation Division
Age-based Benefits
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit recipients receive (a) some and (b) all their benefits at a lower rate on the basis that they were aged less than 25 years, broken down by benefit. [211897]
Mr. Pond [holding answer 1 February 2005]: Incapacity benefit (IB), severe disablement allowance (SDA), disability living allowance (DLA) rates are not normally affected if a customer is under 25.
The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is in the table.
(25) Under 18 for lone parents, as lone parents aged 18–24 qualify for the full benefit rates. Couples on JSA where either the claimant or the partner is under 18 also receive a lower rate of benefit.
(26) IS/JSA figures are at August 2004 from 5 per cent. Working Age Client Group data. HB/CTB figures are at May 2003 and from 1 per cent. data.
(27) Claimants of JSA are only entitled to claim DLA as an additional benefit.
(28) Due to the estimation procedure to remove overlaps between housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients, and the collection procedures in Scotland, these figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 thousand.
(29) data is negligible.
Notes:
1. IS/JSA figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
3. Council tax benefit totals exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.
4. Housing benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
5. A very small number of housing benefit claimants, where both the claimant and partner are aged under 18, receive a lower rate of benefit. These are not included in the figures but the number is negligible.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. Working Age Client Group sample and 1 per cent. HB/CTB sample.
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