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28 Feb 2007 : Column 1322W—continued

In Uganda we support NGOs working to change attitude and behaviour on domestic violence and undertaking local and national advocacy for new laws on domestic relations and sexual offences. We have committed £117,000 over three years to the Centre
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for Domestic Violence and Prevention to help communities and civil society organisations to end domestic violence. We are also providing £180,000 for three years to MUFUMI Human Right Defenders Network which is working on similar issues.

In the last two years in northern Uganda we have provided £1.6 million to UNICEF to work with women and young people on issues around protection and sexual violence in camps for internally displaced people. This year we have also provided £240,000 to Save the Children Fund for similar activities.

In Pakistan, DFID committed £6 million to the UNDP Gender Support Programme in December 2006. The programme supports the Government of Pakistan in reducing poverty in Pakistan by enabling women, especially the poor, to participate more equally in economic, public and domestic life. £2 million of DFID’s contribution will be used to establish a Gender, Justice and Protection Fund, with the specific aim of supporting joint Government and civil society efforts to tackle violence against women.

DFID has also committed £3.5 million, to the Gender and Education Policy Support Project (GEPSP), a joint initiative with the Government of Pakistan and UNICEF to generate better understanding of security concerns and to strengthen capacity to do something about them. Security is critical to female participation in education. Good practice includes locating schools within reasonable distances (primary but also middle and secondary schools once girls have reached puberty), promoting safe access to schools for girls and female teachers (e.g. via travel allowances and school buses), building boundary walls (and in some cases providing security guards), enforcing the ban on corporal punishment and developing a culture among teachers where this is not seen as necessary.

The DFID-funded Gender Support Project which came to an end in 2006 supported 57 projects aimed at women’s empowerment. 10 of these focused on the issue of violence against women. An example is a project aimed at ending violence against women in the southern part of North West Frontier Province through legal empowerment. The project focused on raising awareness among young people of the issue of violence against women, and providing legal aid and skills to women.

Iraq: Asylum

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contingency plans have been agreed with the Governments of (a) the United States, (b) Syria and (c) Jordan in order to address the problems created by the influx of large numbers of Iraqi refugees into countries neighbouring Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [122949]

Hilary Benn: We are in close touch with our partners and agencies about the situation regarding displaced Iraqis inside Iraq and in the region.

While we acknowledge that the influx of refugees has put pressure on national provision of services in countries including Syria and Jordan, and there are certainly needs in small border camps, the degree to which neighbouring countries require significant emergency assistance is not yet evident.


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Despite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) recent appeal (which incorporates contingency planning), UNHCR is still in the process of making investigations both into the caseload and priority needs of refugees. Needs assessments are currently being undertaken by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other organisations. These will provide a clearer picture of how best to respond.

A meeting of international partners, including the US, UN agencies, representatives from regional governments and donor representatives will take place in Geneva this week to discuss the caseload of refugees in the region and agree the best ways to respond. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, in liaison with other humanitarian partners.

Iraq: Overseas Aid

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further consideration his Department has given to contributing to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees $60 million appeal to help displaced Iraqis; and if he will make a statement. [122747]

Hilary Benn: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has limited access in Iraq owing to the poor security situation, and only provides support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in six out of Iraq’s 18 governorates. We have therefore made a contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who are able to work nationwide through the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. This support includes emergency assistance including shelter, food and non-food items, as well as supporting hospitals by providing war wounded kits and other essential materials. They also run community projects to enhance the capability of local service provision, such as infrastructure repairs and water and sanitation projects.

We may yet contribute to UNHCR’s appeal to support Iraqis who have been displaced in the region. We are currently in discussions with UNHCR and international partners on the precise caseload and their needs.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response the UK has made to the UNHCR’s January 2007 Iraq Situation Supplementary Appeal; and if he will make a statement. [122913]

Hilary Benn: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has limited access in Iraq owing to the poor security situation, and only provides support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in six out of Iraq’s 18 governorates. We have therefore made a contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who are able to work nationwide through the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. This support includes emergency assistance including shelter, food and non-food items, as well as supporting hospitals by providing war wounded kits and other essential materials. They also run community
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projects to enhance the capability of local service provision, such as infrastructure repairs and water and sanitation projects.

We may yet contribute to UNHCR’s appeal to support Iraqis who have been displaced in the region. We are currently in discussions with UNHCR and international partners on the precise caseload and their needs.

Iraq: Reconstruction

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much he has allocated to the provision of security by private contractors for those implementing reconstruction, humanitarian and community relations programmes in Iraq; and what proportion of total expenditure on such programmes provision for security represents. [123593]

Hilary Benn: For the period March 2003 to February 2007, DFID spent £390 million on reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to Iraq. Of this total, £38.2 million was spent on the provision of security by private contractors, representing almost 10 per cent. of overall spend.

We keep this security expenditure as low as we reasonably can. But without this, we would not be able to do the vitally important reconstruction and humanitarian work which we have been doing in Iraq. We have a duty to protect the very dedicated teams of staff who work in Iraq in extremely difficult circumstances.

Middle East

13. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the priorities of his Department are in Palestine, Israel and neighbouring countries. [123732]

Hilary Benn: Since Hamas entered government in March 2006, DFID's priority in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) has been to support Palestinian basic needs through the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM). Through the TIM, DFID has provided £12million for Palestinian front line health services, allowances to the poorest government workers and for essential operation, maintenance and repair work for water, sanitation and electricity services.

DFID does not maintain bilateral aid programmes with any of the countries surrounding the oPt which are middle income, including Israel. This allows DFID to better target scarce resources towards the poorest and most fragile countries.

Overseas Aid: Education

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department’s spending on educational programmes is undertaken through international institutions. [123252]

Mr. Thomas: Around 39 per cent. of DFID’s budget is channelled through international and multilateral organisations, part of this goes towards education. The total amount of funding through multilateral
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organisations is published in the document ‘Statistics on International Development’, copies of which are available in the Library. The proportion of this funding which is spent on education varies from institution to institution and from year to year. The following table outlines funding through major international institutions relevant to education.

Total DFID expenditure on the funding of selected multilateral organisations
£ million
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06

Multilateral organisation

European Community

730

871

1,031

951

917

International Development Association

214

221

381

204

271

UNICEF

18

20

18

24

32

UNESCO

3

3

3

3

3

African Development Fund

29

33

32

35

34

Asian Development Fund

27

26

24

22

19


In addition we channel substantial funds through civil society organisations, part of which goes towards education.

Sudan: Asylum

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what UK aid has been allocated to refugees from Darfur in Chad. [123610]

Hilary Benn: In 2006-07 DFID has allocated £4 million to relief programmes in Chad. These funds have been used to provide aid to Darfuri refugees and local internally displaced people in eastern Chad and to refugees from the Central African Republic in southern Chad.

Wales

Smith Institute: Finance

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money from the public purse (a) his Department and (b) its agencies gave to (i) the Smith Institute and (ii) its subsidiary SI Events Ltd in each year since 1997; and for what purpose each payment was made. [123103]

Mr. Hain: None.

Constitutional Affairs

Data Protection

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether her Department’s proposals for two-year jail sentences for individuals who steal or illegally trade in personal information will apply to paper-based manual records. [123666]

Vera Baird: The existing penalties do not apply to paper-based manual records. My Department has no plan to extend the proposals to increase the penalties
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under section 60 of the Data Protection Act to cover paper-based manual records.

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the submission by the Council of Circuit Judges to her Department’s consultation on increasing penalties for deliberate and wilful misuse of personal data. [123675]

Vera Baird: A copy of the submission will be placed in the Library of both Houses of Parliament.


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Departments: Appeals

Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by her Department and its Executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date. [121684]

Vera Baird: A range of independent bodies and offices, including the courts, can hear appeals on decisions made by my Department and its Executive agencies. The following table lists those bodies and offices, the type of appeals they hear and the date of establishment.


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Name of organisation or office Hears complaints and appeals in relation to: Complaints and appeals from: Information breakdown

Claims Management Services Tribunal

This body hears appeals against decisions taken by DCA. The Lord Chancellor acts as the sector regulator

Claims management companies

The CMST has been in place from February 2007

Adjudicator to HM Land Registry

Land Registry

Any

Yes, from February 2004. Established in October 2003

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

All Government Departments including DCA: the Land Registry; Her Majesty’s Courts Service; and the Public Guardianship Office

Any

Information is not held by DCA. Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration established by Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967; Health Service Commissioner established by Health Service Commissioners Act 1993

Pensions Ombudsman

Pension providers including those in the public sector. The DCA is responsible for judicial pensions policy

The judiciary

Not available but unaware of any judicial pension case referred to the Pensions Ombudsman. Established on 1 April 1991

The Adjudicator

Public Guardianship Office (plus a small group of other public bodies and Departments)

Any

Established in 1993

The Information Commissioner

All public authorities and bodies which have to comply with the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection Act

Any

Established in 2001. 2005-06 to date

Independent Complaints Reviewer

The Land Registry and the National Archives (plus a small group of other public bodies)

Any

2000-01 to date. Established on 16 February 1998

Administrative Court

The court hears judicial reviews against public bodies and persons including statutory appeals and challenges against decisions of Ministers given by certain statutes

Individuals and organisations

Across all time periods mentioned. Established on 2 October 2000

Costs Judges of the Supreme Court Costs Office (to hear appeals on fee decisions made by HMCS staff)

Her Majesty’s Courts Service

Barristers/Solicitors working on criminal legal aid in the Crown court

Her Majesty’s Courts Service was launched on 1 April 2005

Civil Service Commissioners

All Government Departments

Individual civil servants

Information is not held by DCA. First established in 1855

Employment Tribunal

All employers including the public sector

The judiciary and civil servants

All. Established on 1 April 1997

Security Vetting Appeals Panel

All Government Departments

Public sector staff and contractors

All. Established in 1997

Civil Service Appeal Board

All Government Departments

Individual civil servants

All. Established in 1971

Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information

All public sector bodies

Individuals and organisations

The National Archives (TNA) from October 2006 to date. OPSI 2003 to October 2006 (merger with TNA). Established on 14 April 2003

Appellate Committee of the House of Lords

All decision-making bodies including the DCA and her Executive agencies

Any (via Court of Appeal)

Established in 1812


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