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Uganda
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of girls attended primary school in (a) Uganda and (b) northern Uganda in the last year for which figures are available. [59709]
Mr. Thomas:
At present, data is not available on primary school enrolment rates by gender; however, the Government of Uganda does measure the ratio of girls to boys attending primary school. The most recent information suggests that the ratio of girls to boys in primary education in the country as a whole is 99 per
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cent., highlighting that the number of girls in primary school is very nearly equal to the number of boys. This information is not broken down specifically for northern Uganda because of the problems that population movement and security have created for the collection of data.
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of children had access to primary schooling in (a) Uganda and (b) northern Uganda in the last year for which figures are available. [59710]
Mr. Thomas: The Government of Uganda measures net primary school attendance, rather than access to primary schooling. Net primary attendance refers to the proportion of children of primary school age who enrol in primary school. According to the 2002–03 National Household Survey (UNHS) net primary school attendance in Uganda is 86 per cent, and 77 per cent. in northern Uganda.
Northern Uganda is defined as the five main conflict affected districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Apac and Lira. However, the 2002–03 UNHS did not cover the Pader district, and some parts of the Kitgum and Gulu districts, due to security problems.
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the rate of HIV/AIDS infection was in (a) Uganda and (b) northern Uganda in the last period for which figures are available. [59711]
Mr. Thomas: According to the 2004–05 HIV/AIDS survey, the adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Uganda is 6.4 per cent., and 8.3 per cent. in northern Uganda. Northern Uganda is defined as the five main conflict affected districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Apac and Lira.
United Nations Population Fund
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2006, Official Report, column 713W, on the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), if he will list other donors who (a) announced support for UNFPA and (b) signalled an increase in their contribution to UNFPA; and if he will make a statement. [59464]
Mr. Thomas: Donors who announced support for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2002, when the US withdrew funding were, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Viet Nam, the UK, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Norway, Canada, Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
Additional contributions of $18.8 million were received to during the course of 2002. These contributions were received from nine major donors namely, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK, who increased its contribution from $15 million in 2001–02 to $18 million in 2002–03 and 2003–04. The UK is now providing £80 million core support over its four year funding framework from 2004–05 to 2007–08.
In 2003, six major donors pledged additional increases; Canada, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.
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In DFIDS's view, the UNFPA's activities are in strict conformity with the unanimously adopted Programme of Action of the International Committee on Population and Development (ICPD).
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Crimes (Service Personnel)
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases relating to crimes committed by soldiers on active service are under consideration by his department. [59693]
The Solicitor-General: The decision to prosecute is on for the prosecuting authorities who may consult the law officers.
There are four cases relating to crimes committed by soldiers on active service, where my department has been consulted.
In three of those cases, the Army Prosecuting Authority has directed that there should be a court martial and these will take place in the coming months.
The Crown Prosecution Service is considering the other case.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Alcohol Sales Licences
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences for the sale of alcohol over 24 hours have been granted in Tamworth in the last 12 months. [58087]
Alun Michael: Tamworth borough council licensing department confirms that there has been one application for a 24 hour alcohol sales licence in the last 12 months. This was from a supermarket and was successful.
Arms Exports (Iraq)
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether ministerial approval was sought for the export of 20,878 semi-automatic pistols to Iraq referred to in the Second Quarterly Report on Strategic Export Controls 2004." [59358]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 17 March 2006]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for issuing all export licences. The DTI Export Control Organisation carries out this function on his behalf. Information on whether ministerial approval was specifically sought in relation to individual licensing decisions is exempt from disclosure as its release would prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the 20,878 semi-automatic pistols exported to Iraq referred to in the Second Quarterly Strategic Export Controls Report 2004 carried serial numbers. [59359]
Malcolm Wicks
[holding answer 17 March 2006]: Yes. Each of the pistols in question was embossed with a unique reference number.
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Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the (a) Ministry of Defence and (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office were consulted in respect of the semi-automatic pistols exported to Iraq referred to in the Second Quarterly Report of the Strategic Export Controls Report 2006. [59696]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 17 March 2006]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 81WS by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has received evidence that the parties associated with the export to Iraq of semi-automatic pistols referred to in the Second Quarterly Strategic Export Controls Report 2004 made (a) false, (b) misleading and (c) incomplete statements concerning the final use and destination of the weapons. [59697]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 17 March 2006]: No.
Clearskies Programme
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cut-off date was for (a) household and (b) community applications for the Clearskies Programme. [60061]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 20 March 2006]: The last round for community applications closed on Friday 4 November 2005. Industry and key stakeholders were consulted about this.
Applications for householders closed on Friday 3 March 2006, a period of notice about the closure was given on the programme website.
The new low carbon buildings programme will supersede Clearskies in April this year, and will continue to make grants available for the installation of renewable technologies.
Domestic Energy
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what programmes have been announced by the six major domestic energy supply companies to protect vulnerable customers from the impact of rising energy prices; and how many customers have been signed up for such programmes. [60300]
Malcolm Wicks: Each of the major domestic energy suppliers offer a number of programmes that assist vulnerable customers in various ways. Although information from individual suppliers about take-up of particular schemes is commercially confidential, an annex to the Government's UK Fuel Poverty Strategy Fourth Annual Progress Report", to be published late this year, will include information about the overall impacts of company schemes in 2004 and 2005.
Jenny Willott:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the proportion of household disposable income spent on energy bills by those households earning (a) the minimum wage, (b) between the minimum wage and average income and (c) above average income in the last period for which figures are available; what
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assessment he has made of the likely effect on those figures of gas price increases planned in March; and if he will make a statement; [58720]
(2) what estimate he has made of the proportion of household disposable income spent on energy bills by those in the (a) bottom 20 per cent. and (b) top 20 per cent. of earners in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii)Scotland; and if he will make a statement; [58746]
(3) what proportion of household disposable income was spent on energy bills in households in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [58762]
(4) what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of household disposable income that will be spent on energy bills for households in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland after the gas price increases announced by energy companies in March 2006 come into effect; and if he will make a statement; [58763]
(5) what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of household disposable income that will be spent on energy bills by (a) the bottom 20 per cent. of earners and (b) the top 20 per cent. of earners in (i)England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland after the gas price increases announced by energy companies in March 2006 come into effect; and if he will make a statement. [58767]
Malcolm Wicks: Data on the proportion of household disposable income spent on energy bills is available from the Expenditure and Food Survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. The most recent data containing full income information corresponds to 2003–04.
It is not possible to make an assessment of the impact of these increases on households earning the minimum wage, due to the different working patterns of those individuals within this group. We do, however, have data on the proportion of household disposable income spent on energy bills by quintile and country for 2003–04 and overall by country, which is shown in the table. The proportion of income spent by the middle quintile may be thought of as a measure of average proportional spend:
| Bottom 20 per cent. of incomes | Middle 20 per cent. of incomes | Top 20 per cent. of incomes | All households | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain 5.9 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 2.6 | |
| England | 5.8 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| Scotland | 5.5 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 3.0 |
| Wales | 5.9 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 3.1 |
It is not possible to work out the impact of recent energy price rises on these statistics. These price increases are likely to have increased the proportion of income spent on fuel, though. Work on the best way to tackle the impact of the price rises for those in fuel poverty in the light of rising energy prices is being taken forward in the context of the Energy Review.
Jenny Willott:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the proportion of household disposable income spent by
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pensioner households in receipt of pension credit on energy bills in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the likely effect of proposed increases to gas prices in March 2006 on the proportion of such income spent on energy bills; and if he will make a statement. [58747]
Malcolm Wicks: Data on the proportion of household disposable income spent on energy bills is available from the Expenditure and Food Survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. The most recent data containing full income information corresponds to 2003–04.
This data shows that the proportion of disposable household income spent by pensioner households in receipt of pension credit in 2003–04 on energy bills in Great Britain is 4.5 per cent. It is not possible to break this figure down further by country because of small sample sizes. Given that the pension credit was only introduced towards the end of this survey period (in October 2003), this statistic should be treated with caution, as the profile of recipients may have changed since the period immediately following the introduction of the benefit.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what forecast his Department has made of the average annual energy bill per household in (a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland after the gas price increases announced by energy companies in March 2006 came into effect; and if he will make a statement. [58761]
Malcolm Wicks: Following the price increases announced by some energy suppliers in February and March 2006, energywatch have estimated the typical standard credit energy bill in Great Britain will be £539 for gas and £349 for electricity, giving a total bill of £888. Separate data for Wales, England and Scotland is not available.
Actual bills will be affected by a number of factors, including the number of customers switching supplier and/or payment methods, and future tariff changes from the energy suppliers.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of household disposable income spent on energy bills by those in receipt of benefits in Wales in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [58768]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of household disposable income that will be spent on energy bills by those in receipt of benefits in Wales after the gas price increases announced by energy companies in March 2006 come into effect; and if he will make a statement. [58769]
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Malcolm Wicks: Data on the proportion of household disposable income spent on energy bills is available from the Expenditure and Food Survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. The most recent data containing full income information corresponds to 2003–04.
The proportion of household disposable income spent on energy bills by those in receipt of income-related benefits in Wales represented 4.0 per cent.
It is not possible to work out the impact of recent energy price rises on this statistic. These price increases are likely to have increased the proportion of income spent on fuel, though. Work on the best way to tackle the impact of the price rises for those in fuel poverty in the light of rising energy prices is being taken forward in the context of the Energy Review.
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost to UK consumers of the pace of energy market liberalisation in Europe; and if he will make a statement. [57835]
Malcolm Wicks: UK energy prices are influenced by a number of complex, inter-related factors and it is not possible to quantify precisely the impact of EU liberalisation. However we estimate that a properly functioning competitive EU gas market could have saved UK consumers in the order of £5 billion in the calendar year 2005 alone.
Significant obstacles to the development of a single energy market remain and we welcome the reviews the Commission is currently undertaking into the functioning of the sector.
While final conclusions are not due until the end of the year, the Commission recently reported in its sectoral inquiry of energy that it has already identified a number of areas of concern, including concentration and announced that it would launch anti-trust investigations shortly.
When the Commission's reviews are completed, we expect it to propose measures that will enable the rapid development of a functioning internal market.
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many gas and electricity suppliers have ceased trading since September 2005; how many domestic and commercial sites each supplied at the point at which they ceased trading; what assessment he has made of the impact of these closures on retail market competition; and if he will make a statement. [57834]
Malcolm Wicks: Since September 2005 Ofgem has revoked the supply licence and appointed a Supplier of Last Resort for five companies, these are summarised as follows:
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The total number of customers affected is very smallcompared to the size of the retail market (over 46msupply points). Based on current evidence, Ofgem does not believe that the exit of the firms listed in the table has undermined the health of retail competition.
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