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30 Jan 2007 : Column 173W—continued
Antipodean Co-ordination
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what co-ordination occurs between the British high commissions in Australia and New Zealand on common matters affecting the region; and if she will make a statement. [112480]
Mr. McCartney: There is close contact between our high commissions in Wellington and Canberra on common matters affecting the region. In addition, there is close liaison between our high commissions in the Pacific (Suva, Port Moresby and Honiara) and their Australian and New Zealand counterparts. Officials also have close contact with the New Zealand Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Officials in London meet regularly with the New Zealand and Australian high commissions.
Bermuda Regiment
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects the next fitness for role inspection review into the Bermuda Regiment to be carried out; if she will ensure that the next review is programmed far enough ahead to allow full Bermuda police service and BFS participation, as recommended in Colonel Baxter's report of 2005; and if she will make a statement. [111588]
Mr. Hoon: The next inspection is expected to take place in the autumn of 2007. Full Bermuda police service and Bermuda fire service participation is being included.
EU: Migration and Refugees
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the legal base is for budgeted EU expenditure of €9,900,000 in 2007 on the European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Border. [111295]
Mr. Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the member states of the European Union (FRONTEX) was established by Council regulation (EC) No 2007/2004; its legal basis is articles 62(2)(a) and 66 of the treaty establishing the European Community. The budget for 2007 is €35 million of which €4.3 million has been put into reserve.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the legal base is for budgeted EU expenditure of €60,000,000 in 2007 on the European Refugee Fund. [111296]
Mr. Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
The legal basis for the European Refugee Fund (ERF II) is article 63(2)(b) of the treaty establishing the European Community. Council Decision 2004/904/EC established the European Refugee Fund (ERF II) for the years 2005-10.
The ERF will allocate €68.1 million to member states in the year 2007, of which €8.1 million will be allocated to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the legal base is for budgeted EU expenditure of €3,000,000 in 2007 for the European Migration Monitoring Centre. [111297]
Mr. Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
The European Migration Monitoring Centre is the name of the budget line that finances what is now called the European Migration Network. There is no legal framework as yet. So far, it has been financed under the Commission's powers for preparatory actions.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the legal base is for EU expenditure of €70,200,000 in 2007 on ARGO and the EU Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals. [111298]
Mr. Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
The legal basis for ARGO is articles 62, 63 and 66 of the treaty establishing the European Community. Council Decision 2002/463/EC established the ARGO programme amended by Council Decision 2007/867. The total budget for activities in 2007 is €5.4 million. We expect the Commission to notify member states of the projects shortlisted in spring 2007 and will know then how much of the budget has been awarded to the UK at that stage.
The legal basis of the Integration Fund is article 63(3)(a) of the treaty establishing the European Community. The Integration Fund has not yet been formally adopted. The budget for 2007 has not been determined yet.
Hajj Pilgrimage
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals died while on the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in each of the last 10 years, broken down by cause of death. [112113]
Dr. Howells: We cannot provide definitive figures for the cause of death of those British nationals who died while on the Hajj in the last 10 years, as we only have records of those cases since 2001 in which consular assistance has been sought and these do not record the cause of death. Our records, since 2001, of the numbers of British nationals who died while performing the Hajj are:
| Number | |
During the most recent Hajj, we are aware of 11 British pilgrims who died of natural causes. We are also aware of a further three who died as a result of a coach crash on 9 December 2006 while en route from Medina to Mecca.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions her Department has had with Muslim groups regarding the support offered to British nationals undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. [112114]
Dr. Howells: Since 2000, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has worked in partnership with leading representatives of national Muslim organisations on the Hajj Advisory Group (HAG) to organise the annual British Hajj delegation. The HAG includes members of the Muslim Council of Britain, Islamic Cultural Centre, Association of British Hujjaj, Union of Muslim Organisations and The World Federation of Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities.
The FCO meets regularly with the HAG to discuss how to offer support to British pilgrims performing the Hajj pilgrimage.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the assistance provided by her Department to British Muslims who undertake the Hajj pilgrimage. [112115]
Dr. Howells: Since 2000, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has worked in partnership with leading representatives of national Muslim organisations on the Hajj Advisory Group to organise the annual British Hajj Delegation (BHD). The BHD is based in Mecca during the Hajj season and provides medical, pastoral and consular assistance to British Muslims at the time of the Hajj. We are the only Government in the EU to offer this kind of service.
For the most recent Hajj, the BHD included eight volunteer doctors (who ran a medical clinic) and three FCO officials, and was led by my noble Friend Lord Patel of Blackburn. The BHD provided ‘on the ground’ medical and consular services to the British pilgrims who were performing the Hajj. The medical clinic supported 4,834 patients in total over the 24 day period. The BHD provided essential assistance following a coach crash on 9 December 2006 near the town of Rabigh in which British citizens were killed and injured. Some of the injured later visited the clinic and were assisted by the doctors and consular officials on the BHD, who were able to provide them with consular assistance.
Lebanon
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Lebanese Government on securing the release of Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and Gilad Scalit; and if she will make a statement. [112397]
Dr. Howells: Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were abducted by Hizballah in July 2006. We and the EU have repeatedly called for the immediate release of these two Israeli soldiers. Our ambassador in Beirut raised the issue several times with the Government of Lebanon. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s call for the immediate release of the prisoners with Prime Minister Siniora and the Heads of the Lebanese parliamentary committees when he visited Lebanon in September 2006.
We support efforts to secure the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Scalit, captured by Palestinian militant groups in June 2006. We have not discussed this issue with the Government of Lebanon. We have, however, discussed it with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Israeli Government on securing the release of Lebanese citizens being held without trial in Israel; and if she will make a statement. [112398]
Dr. Howells: Officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have held discussions with Israeli Government officials about the issue of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.
The UK also supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 of 11 August 2006, which brought about the end of the summer 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The resolution recognised the sensitivity of the issue of Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel in the context of establishing lasting peace and stability.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the United Nations on securing the release of (a) Israeli citizens held in Lebanon and (b) Lebanese citizens held in Israel; and if she will make a statement. [112399]
Dr. Howells: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 of 11 August 2006, which brought about the end of the summer 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, recognised the urgent need to secure the unconditional release of abducted Israeli soldiers, and to settle the issue of Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel. The resolution, which the UK worked hard to bring about, encouraged efforts aimed at resolving these issues. The UN regards this as a top priority, and is conducting delicate negotiations with the parties. We have regularly encouraged the UN to maintain this sense of urgency. We hope to see progress soon. We continue to stay in touch with the Governments of Israel and Lebanon about the issue of prisoners.
Trade and Industry
Chevrolet Electric Car
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has had discussions with representatives from General Motors on the development of the Chevrolet Volt electric car. [112481]
Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, has not had any direct discussion with General Motors on the Volt electric vehicle concept. However, as one would expect, officials from the Department have discussed the Volt vehicle as part of their regular dialogue with the company.
Credit Reference Agencies
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many credit files on consumers are held by credit reference agencies in the UK; how many of these show a record of bankruptcy against a particular consumer; and how long the record of bankruptcy remains on a consumer’s credit file after discharge from bankruptcy. [112484]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I am unable to state how many credit files on consumers are held by credit reference agencies in the UK or how many of these show a record of bankruptcy against a particular consumer, as this information is not maintained by the Department.
On the advice of the director general of fair trading, credit reference agencies may retain information about county court judgments on file for up to six years. This period is not arbitrary but rather based upon legislation such as the Limitations Act 1980, which sets limits for various types of legal action. We are advised by the main agencies that information pertaining to an individual’s bankruptcy is now also held for six years.
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many credit files on consumers held by credit reference agencies in the UK show a record of an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) against a particular consumer; and how long the record of IVA remains on a consumer’s credit file after the period for its completion has ended. [112485]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I am unable to state how many credit files on consumers held by credit reference agencies in the UK show a record of an IVA against a particular consumer as this information is not maintained by the Department.
On the advice of the director general of fair trading, credit reference agencies may retain information about county court judgments on file for up to six years. This period is not arbitrary but rather based upon legislation such as the Limitations Act 1980, which sets limits for various types of legal action. The two largest credit agencies, Equifax and Experian, operate a similar policy with regard to IVAs and also typically retain information for a period of six years.
Dispute Resolution
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether (a) his Department and (b) Ofgem have any plans to require energy suppliers to become members of alternative dispute resolution schemes which can investigate complaints on behalf of small business consumers; and if he will make a statement. [111695]
Malcolm Wicks: The existing level of regulatory protection in respect of gas and electricity broadly reflects that in general consumer law. It is open to Ofgem to consider whether additional regulatory protection, including the introduction of alternative dispute resolution schemes, is required. I understand that the chairman of Ofgem will write to my hon. Friend about the information she has sought.
Doha Round
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he has made to the calls from the Association of South-East Asian Nations for the resumption of the Doha Round; and what representations he has made to the EU Trade Commissioner on the Doha Round. [110830]
Mr. McCartney: We welcomed the statement on the importance of the DDA and the commitment to complete the negotiations made by the Association of South-East Asian Nations at the meeting of their Economic Ministers in August 2006, as we have welcomed similar statements made by other parties to the negotiations. Following the ASEAN statement, I met a number of the ambassadors of the ASEAN nations in the UK to discuss trade and economic issues in September 2006. That was followed by a decision by the Secretary-General of ASEAN on 4 December 2006.
The Government remain fully committed to securing an ambitious, pro-development outcome to the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). In order to achieve this objective, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State
for Trade and Industry, other ministerial colleagues and I have had regular contacts with the EU Trade Commissioner.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the EU Trade Commissioner on the likely success of the Doha trade round. [111586]
Mr. McCartney: The Government remain fully committed to securing an ambitious, pro-development outcome to the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). In order to achieve this objective, myself, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and other ministerial colleagues have had regular contacts with the EU Trade Commissioner.
Engineering: Africa
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with engineering companies on the opportunities for doing business in Africa; and if he will make a statement. [104285]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 27 November 2006]: The Department has assisted over 4,600 British companies working in Africa during the past 12 to 18 months through its range of services. This figure includes providing substantive assistance to over 150 companies working in engineering field. We help British companies develop their export strategy, provide support and advice on market entry, advise on local customs, and assist in finding a local partner, dealing with red tape and understanding ways of doing business. Working with our stakeholders we arranged 65 inward missions and 62 outward missions, to African countries in recent years includingSouth Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Libya. Our ambassadors/high commissioners and senior government officials have helped British companies in their efforts to secure contracts in Africa by extensive lobbying with Ministers and officials.
Through our services, we have supported UK engineering firms dealing in a range of multiple industrial projects including roads, bridges, dams, major oil and gas exploration, construction of power plants and infrastructure projects throughout the whole of Africa.
The UKTI ‘Online Market Introduction Service’ has helped some of our small to medium-sized engineering firms (SMEs) to bid for sub-contracts to supply specialist support to multi-national organisations. Examples of the service and products these companies provide are:
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