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Postal Services: Buses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the financial expenditure on post bus services was in each of the last five years; how many post buses there were in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the levels of public usage of the service. [127090]

Jim Fitzpatrick: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. Adam Crozier the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Gentleman.

Radio Frequencies: Licensing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the (a) one-off and (b) recurring cost of implementing the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators. [125611]

Margaret Hodge: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office
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of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive’s letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Supermarkets: Codes of Practice

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the (a) one-off and (b) recurring cost of implementing the Undertakings on Supermarket/Supplier Relations (Code of Practice) to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators. [125618]

Mr. McCartney: The information is as follows.

(a)(i) and (ii) No assessment of the one-off cost of implementing the Undertakings on Supermarket/Supplier Relations (Code of Practice) has been made. However, consultation on the remedies suggested by the Competition Commission in its 2000 monopoly report on the grocery market and subsequent negotiation of the supermarkets code of practice was a significant project for OFT and DTI lasting some 18 months. Considerably more resources were employed on this project than was normal for the creation of monopoly remedies, given the size and importance of the market and the complexity of the issues involved.

(b)(i) No assessment of the recurring cost to business of implementing the undertakings has been made.

(b)(ii) The undertakings are monitored and enforced by the OFT as part of its function of monitoring, enforcing and reviewing all remedies imposed following Competition Commission inquiries to ensure their continuing effectiveness. The OFT does not keep records or estimates of the costs of monitoring and enforcement of each individual remedy for which it is responsible. However, the supermarkets code and the grocery market generally have accounted for a substantial part of the resources employed in the OFT’s work on remedies.

Telephone Services

Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the use of 087 and 0845 telephone numbers by businesses; and if he will instruct Ofcom to review the effect of using such numbers on customers. [122280]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 22 February 2007]: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Gentleman. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Telephones: Fees and Charges

Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers Ofcom has to restrict telephone companies' (a) prices and (b) payment charges. [126572]


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Margaret Hodge [holding answer 9 March 2007]: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Gentleman. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House

Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many telephone operators in the UK have a Universal Service Obligation (USO); and what restrictions the USO places on the operator's charging and pricing policy. [126573]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 9 March 2007]: Two UK telephone operators have a Universal Service Obligation (USO); BT and Kingston Communications. USO providers are required to put in place special tariff schemes for vulnerable consumers. Affordability is a key criterion for the approval of such schemes by the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom).

Trade Promotion

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which non-EU countries he has set as priorities for Ministers in his Department to visit to promote trade over the next 12 months. [124786]

Mr. McCartney: Ministers will visit a range of markets for trade promotion purposes over the next 12 months.

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which countries Ministers in his Department plan to visit on trade promotion visits between March 2007 and December 2007; which Ministers will visit each; and on what dates the visits are planned. [124810]

Mr. Darling [holding answer 2 March 2007]: Ministers will visit a range of markets for trade promotion purposes over the next 12 months.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Afghanistan

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2006, Official Report, column 1503W, when she expects the UK-Afghanistan Enduring Relationship Action Plan to be published. [125349]

Margaret Beckett: The official review of the Joint Declaration of an Enduring Relationship between the UK and Afghanistan was agreed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Karzai during President Karzai's recent visit to the UK (14-15 February). I have placed a copy of the review, in the form of the Enduring Relationship Action Plan, in the Library of the House.


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Afghanistan: Criminal Code

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made since the April 2002 Geneva conference in establishing a permanent criminal code for Afghanistan. [127073]

Dr. Howells: An interim criminal code for courts in Afghanistan has been in use since 2004. This interim code was developed with the support of the Italian Government, as Afghanistan's partner nation on criminal justice reform.

A draft of the permanent criminal procedure code has now been drawn up by the Afghan Government and it is anticipated that it will go before Parliament by mid-2008.

Afghanistan: Drugs

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the UK gives the Government of Afghanistan in identifying areas for possible poppy crop eradication as referred to in the answer to the question tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) of 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 52W, on Afghanistan; and what criteria are used to determine the suitability of areas for eradication efforts. [127068]

Dr. Howells: The UK helps the Afghan Government co-ordinate eradication to ensure it is targeted in areas with access to alternative legal livelihoods, as set out in the National Drug Control Strategy. Areas identified for eradication are determined by a set of criteria which take into account a wide range of factors. These include: distance to markets, water availability, agricultural diversity, population density, extension of government, access to non-farm income and credit, and activities of development programmes.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support (a) the Government and (b) British forces in Afghanistan are providing to opium crop eradication activities in Afghanistan in 2007. [127072]

Dr. Howells: The main focus of UK support to the Afghan eradication effort is in identifying poppy fields for destruction. We also provide some financial and logistical support. UK military forces deployed under the International Security Assistance Force contribute to the broader counter-narcotics effort by providing the secure environment in which the rule of law can be applied, reconstruction can take place and legal rural livelihoods can be developed. They are not there to take direct action against the drugs trade and do not eradicate.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK has held discussions with the Government of Iran on counter-narcotic issues in Afghanistan. [127075]


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Dr. Howells: Our embassy in Tehran liaises with the Iranian authorities on counter-narcotics issues, including those relating to Afghanistan. We also maintain contacts with the Iranians on counter-narcotics issues in London and Kabul.

Ministers and officials from the UK and Iran have also attended many multilateral meetings at which Afghan counter-narcotics issues have been discussed, such as the good neighbourly relations declaration ministerial in June 2006.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Cotswold of 27 February 2007, Official Report, columns 1192-3W, on Afghanistan: opium, what reasons were given by the Afghan Government for their decision not to use ground-based spraying on opium poppy crops in 2007; and if she will make a statement. [127074]

Dr. Howells: The Afghan Government made their decision not to conduct ground-based spraying this year following wide consultation and internal discussion, but chose not to make their reasons public. The Afghan Government have expressed their determination to tackle opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan through a variety of means, including by carrying out robust manual and mechanical targeted eradication this year, as set out in the national drug control strategy. If this proves ineffective ground-based spraying will be on the list of options for next year.

Bangladesh: Corruption

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the extended detention of 30 politicians and businessmen in Bangladesh on corruption charges. [126694]

Dr. Howells: We understand that the recent detentions of those suspected of involvement in corruption have been made under the 1974 Special Powers Act, which provides for detention to be extended beyond the initial 30 day limit. While we support the right of the Government of Bangladesh to take legitimate measures against corruption and the abuse of public office, we continue to urge the Government, army and law enforcement agencies to act impartially, with respect for public safety, human rights, media freedoms and the rule of law.

Bosnia: UN

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's position is on the future of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [122952]

Margaret Beckett: The Peace Implementation Council (PIC), on which the UK sits, reviewed its decision to close the Office of the High Representative (OHR) when it met on 26-27 February.

While the security situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina remains, and is likely to remain, stable, the UK has been concerned at a recent increase in nationalist
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politics, including in some cases anti-Dayton political rhetoric. Against the backdrop of the completion of the Kosovo Final Status process, the UK will argue at the PIC that closure of the OHR should be delayed beyond June 2007 to ensure the international community's capacity to safeguard progress in Bosnia-Herzegovina and assist its further political development.

China: Censorship

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the decision by the Chinese Government to restrict the number of internet outlets. [126709]

Mr. McCartney: We are aware of the Chinese Government’s announcement that they intend to restrict the number of new internet cafes and bars opening this year. We are concerned by any measures that could further limit freedom of information in China. We raised our concerns about restrictions on access to information at the recent UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 5 February.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of people using the internet in China over the last two years; and what her assessment is of the level of restrictions placed on internet users in China. [126710]

Mr. McCartney: We estimate that there are more than 130 million internet users in China (9 per cent. of all Chinese), an increase of £36 million since 2004. We are concerned by China's continued restrictive regime on access to information, including the blocking of websites and tighter controls on blogs and search engines. We raised our concerns most recently at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 5 February.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Asylum

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Congolese authorities on the removal of failed asylum seekers from the UK to the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if she will make a statement. [126120]

Mr. McCartney: Officials from our embassy in Kinshasa and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London have frequent discussions with their Congolese counterparts both in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and London about the removal of failed asylum seekers from the UK. The most recent discussions surrounded the return of 38 Congolese nationals on a charter flight to the DRC on 26 February. These discussions included an assurance from the Congolese Government that returnees would be well treated upon their return and of their continued cooperation for future returns. We also continue to work with the Congolese authorities on encouraging the voluntary return of failed asylum seekers to the DRC.


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BAE Systems

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many current security passes to enter her Department's premises have been issued to employees of BAE Systems; and if she will list the BAE Systems employees who hold such passes. [126535]

Mr. Hoon: We have four BAE Systems staff members details registered on our pass system. However, to date, one individual only has been issued with a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) pass. This was a contractor pass issued in January 2007 and allows only limited access to and within our buildings.

We do not provide any personal information relating to individuals who have been issued with FCO passes.

Departments: Travel

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much her Department spent on travel in each year since 1997. [125850]

Mr. Hoon: The following amounts were spent on travel in the UK and overseas by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in each of the last nine financial years, rounded to the nearest £100,000.

Amount (£ million)

1997-98

31.0

1998-99

30.6

1999-2000

36.0

2000-01

36.3

2001-02

43.1

2002-03

40.2

2003-04

40.4

2004-05

43.0

2005-06

47.8


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