Previous Section Index Home Page

14 Nov 2005 : Column 922W—continued

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister whether, prior to giving his statement to the House of 24 September 2002, he communicated to (a) the then British ambassador to the United States, Sir Christopher Meyer and (b) his then personal foreign policy adviser Sir David Manning that his policy in respect of Iraq was to achieve regime change. [27084]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Dodds) on 1 November 2004, Official Report, column 112W.

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the (a) benefits and (b) costs to the United Kingdom of its participation in the Iraq War and occupation. [27478]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Dr. Howells) gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 1 November 2005, Official Report, columns 948–49W.
 
14 Nov 2005 : Column 923W
 

London Bombings

Mr. Drew: To ask the Prime Minister who the attendees were at the meeting he held with representatives of the Muslim community following the London bombings of 7 July; if he will publish the notes of the meeting; and what action he plans to take as a result of that meeting. [26961]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Hamilton) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 165W.

I also refer my hon. Friend to the comments made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Hazel Blears), the Minister of State for the Home Office on 10 November 2005, which set out the follow-up action the Government have taken in partnership with representatives of the Muslim community. Copies are available on the Home Office website.

Ministerial Travel

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost was of each Minister's unplanned return journey to London for the Terrorism Bill debate and votes on Wednesday 9 November. [28748]

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost to public funds was of Ministers and accompanying officials (a) returning to Westminster for parliamentary votes on 9 November and (b) returning thereafter to resume official duties away from Westminster. [28609]

The Prime Minister: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers' travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, Travel by Ministers".

Information for the year 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.
 
14 Nov 2005 : Column 924W
 

Ministers (Severance Payments)

John Hemming: To ask the Prime Minister how many severance payments a resigning Minister is entitled to within any 12 month period. [25500]

The Prime Minister: Severance pay is payable in accordance with section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

Typhoon Fighter Planes

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost was of his trip in July to discuss the sale of BAE Systems' Typhoon fighter planes to the Saudi Arabian defence forces; and if he will make a statement. [25287]

The Prime Minister: I visited Saudi Arabia in July 2005 to have talks with HRH Crown Prince Abdullah and other senior Ministers and officials. We discussed a wide range of issues including the Middle East Peace Process, Iraq, our bilateral relationship and the issues facing the G8 Summit at Gleneagles.

Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, Travel by Ministers". Information for the year 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were adopted from overseas in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country. [28227]

Maria Eagle: This information is not available centrally. The following table shows the number of applications to adopt, including a home study assessment, broken down by year and country, received since 1995 by the Department of Health and since June 2003 by the Department for Education and Skills.
19951996199719981999200020012002200320042005Total
Albania112
Algeria1113
Armenia1112117
Azerbaijan11
Barbados11
Belarus111115
Bolivia112
Bosnia-Herzegovina11
Brazil74431211124
Brunei11
Bulgaria2413364124
Burundi11
Cambodia216401867
Canada113
Chile1442112
China59206110123481761751111081661591,441
Colombia14471421125
Czech Republic11
Egypt11
El Salvador11
Estonia33
Ethiopia1135
Gambia112
Georgia1113
Ghana1124
Greece112
Grenada11
Guatemala121626204241328291518205
Guyana1124
Haiti11
Hong Kong112
Hungary1113
India222921226141924242628235
Indonesia11
Iran11125
Ireland33
Jamaica11
Japan112
Jordan112
Kazahstan213612
Kenya1326
Kosova11
Latvia11
Lebanon112
Lithuania1113
Macedonia11
Madagascar22
Madeira11
Malaysia123
Mauritius11215
Mexico1211117
Mongolia22
Morocco31311110
Nepal111212412
Nicaragua11
Nigeria1214
Pakistan313224273532
Paraguay6118
Peru1111127
Philippines154437456241
Poland2112111110
Portugal11
Romania910517823531182
Russia433133141318334033177
St Vincent11
Samoa11
Serbia11
Sierra Leone112
Singapore1113
South Africa1315
Sri Lanka32327223125
Swaziland11
Taiwan112
Thailand5101013645292181113171
Tunisia11
Turkey111114
Uganda11
Ukraine1212129
USA84581152219171316128
Venezuela11
Vietnam11322111115147
Yugoslavia22
Zambia11
Total15430822325794352326285301332(5)313


(5) To date.





 
14 Nov 2005 : Column 927W
 


Next Section Index Home Page