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8 Mar 2006 : Column 1553W—continued
Library Services
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact on book lending rates and library usage of the level of security and protection in public libraries. [56596]
James Purnell: There are no data gathered which attempt to make the link between lending levels, usage levels and security levels within public libraries. However public libraries are usually regarded as trusted and safe spaces for people to use information, acquire knowledge and enjoy reading and discovery.
The level and type of security employed at public libraries is a matter for the parent authorities.
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Licensing
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from local authorities concerning decisions by magistrates on the awarding of costs in cases considered under the Licensing Act 2003. [56331]
James Purnell:
The Government have not issued guidance to the Magistrates' Association concerning the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act). Guidance has been issued to licensing authorities (who are mainly local authorities) under Section 182 of the 2003 Act. It is available from: www.culture.gov.uk/global/publications/archive_2004/guidance_issued_under_section_182_of_the_ licensing_act_2003.htm
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Satellite Television
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the proportion of television viewers in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Wrexham with satellite television. [56526]
James Purnell: Ofcom estimates that 32 per cent. of UK households either subscribe to digital satellite television or receive the free-to-view satellite services. Figures for individual nations or areas are not available at present, although Ofcom will be publishing a report from its Audit of the Nations and Regions in the spring.
TV Licences
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many addresses in the UK are on the database of TV Licensing as having a television set on the premises. [56414]
James Purnell: I understand that the Television Licensing database records the number of premises with a television licence, rather than the number with a television set. As at March 2005 the number of addresses with a licence was 24.7 million and the estimated television licence evasion rate was 5 per cent.
CABINET OFFICE
Civil Service (Political Activities)
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the civil service restrictions on political activities will commence in relation to the 2006 local elections. [56223]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Guidance on this will be issued very shortly.
Departmental Estate
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what building work other than the installation of security measures has been undertaken at the Cabinet Office in the last three years. [55280]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Building work other than the installation of security measures undertaken at the Cabinet Office in the last three years are as follows:
The works specified are part of a continuing programme of works to maintain standards appropriate to a particular buildings role and do not include day-to-day works and planned preventative maintenance.
Ecovert FM
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been paid to Ecovert FM to control rodents in the Cabinet Office since the beginning of their contract. [55310]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Figures paid to Ecovert FM to control pests, including rodents, in the Cabinet Office since the beginning of the contract are shown in the table. The amounts paid to specifically control rodents cannot be separately identified.
| Cost (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 25,932 |
| 2003–04 | 26,822 |
| 2004–05 | 27,724 |
Office of the Civil Service Commissioners
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners will (a) acknowledge and (b) answer the e-mail of 21 January 2006 from Mr. Michael Canton, a constituent of the hon. Member for Yeovil. [56389]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Civil Service Commissioners are independent of government. I understand a reply was sent from the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners to Mr. Canton on 2 March 2006.
Special Advisers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many special advisers worked in the Cabinet Office between 8 September 2004 and 6 May 2005; and what the (a) salary and (b) responsibilities of each were. [56798]
Mr. Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 30 January 2006, Official Report, columns 63–64W.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Afghanistan
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) estimate his Department has made and (b) authoritative estimate his Department has received on the value of (i) poppy growth to the farming community in Afghanistan and (ii) the trade based on poppy farming to the Afghan economy. [56466]
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Dr. Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office relies on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for data on the value of opium production both to the farming community and in terms of its total export value to neighbouring countries.
According to UNODC's Afghanistan Opium Survey (AOS) the total farm-gate value of opium production was US $560 million in 2005, equivalent to 11 per cent. of GDP (2004–05). An estimated 309,000 families were involved in opium cultivation in 2005.
Again according to the UNODC's AOS, the total export value of opium to neighbouring countries was US $2.7 billion, equivalent to 52 per cent. of GDP (2004–05). Of this US $2.14 billion is thought to have gone directly to Afghan traffickers.
Algeria and Ivory Coast
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in (a) Algeria and (b) Ivory Coast. [56016]
Ian Pearson: Algeria's President Bouteflika was voted in for a second term of office in April 2004, in elections judged by independent monitors to reflect the will of the Algerian people. Algeria has since continued to enjoy increasing security and political stability. In September 2005, the Algeria people voted in a referendum for a Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation. We welcomed the participation of the Algeria people in this process. Algeria strengthened its links with the EU when its Association Agreement under the EU's Euromed partnership came into force in autumn last year.
The peace process in Co(r)te d'Ivoire is at a critical stage. International mediation efforts are continuing with the aim of completing all the necessary work needed for elections to be held before the 31 October deadline set by the African Union and UN. We fully support the international community in this role. A meeting was held in Yamoussoukro on 28 February which was attended by key Ivorian figures. We warmly commend this meeting as a useful step in creating a greater understanding between all the parties involved.
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