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22 Oct 2007 : Column 46W—continued
Olympic Games: Greater London
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans exist to use (a) regular and (b) reserve elements of the armed forces in support of security at the 2012 Olympic Games. [158243]
Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
The Government have not received any proposals on the use of the armed forces in support of the security of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We will consider any such proposals carefully should they arrive. Policing in the UK is carried out with the consent and co-operation of the community. We would not want to interfere with these long established policing traditions of which we are justly proud.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans exist to use non-UK (a) police forces and (b) military units in support of security of the 2012 Olympic Games. [158244]
Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
The Government have not received any proposals on the use of non-UK police forces or military units in support of security of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We will consider any such proposals carefully should they arrive. Policing in the UK is carried out with the consent and co-operation of the community. We would not want to interfere with these long established policing traditions of which we are justly proud.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the (a) bid book estimate, (b) bid book estimate adjusted to 2012 prices and (c) current estimate is for (i) the main Olympic stadium, (ii) the Velodrome and (iii) the Aquatic Centre. [158727]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 16 October 2007]: The information requested is set out in the table, except for the current estimated costs of the Velodrome and the Aquatics Centre, which are commercially confidential at present as the Olympic Delivery Authority are in negotiations with potential bidders for the construction of these are in venues.
| Venue | Bid book estimate at 2004 prices (US $ million) | Bid book estimate at 2004 prices converted to sterling $1:£1.6 (£ million) | Bid book estimate adjusted to 2012 prices (£ million) | Approved forecast (including VAT, contingency and legacy transformation costs (£ million) |
| (1) These figures exclude VAT, additional contingency and legacy transformation costs all of which are included within the Approved forecast. Legacy transformation was estimated at £89 million at 2004 prices spread across the Olympic park venues. | ||||
Planning Permission: Air Conditioning
Mr. Simon: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish departmental guidelines on obtaining planning permission for the installation of air conditioning units in Government buildings. [159177]
Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office seeks planning permission where this is required by the local planning authority, which will generally be consulted to determine whether an application is required or not, including in relation to the installation of air conditioning units.
Strategic Priorities for the UK
Mr. Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the proposals in the Strategy Unit's Strategic Priorities for the UK: the Policy Review are under review. [159324]
Edward Miliband: The Strategy Unit's ‘Strategic Priorities for the UK: The Policy Review’ was published as a background paper to inform the Policy Review programme, the conclusions of which are set out in a series of papers available on the Cabinet Office website. The findings from the Policy Review have been feeding into a range of Government business including the comprehensive spending review, PSA targets and departmental plans and strategies.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
EU Reform: Treaties
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Czech counterpart on the proposed EU Reform Treaty. [159160]
Mr. Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is in frequent contact with all his EU counterparts, including the Czech Foreign Minister, on a wide range of issues, including the proposed EU Reform Treaty.
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Dutch State Council's report on the EU Reform Treaty. [160031]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Government welcome the Netherlands Council of State advice on the Reform Treaty. The Council of State is an independent, respected and authoritative body. It offers the Dutch government expert legal opinion on legislation.
The Council of State's opinion, delivered on 12 September, emphasises the differences between the Constitutional Treaty and the proposed Reform Treaty. According to the Council:
“Unlike the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, it (the Reform Treaty) provides no arguments for a gradual expansion of the EU towards a more explicit state or federation.
The purpose of these changes, taken together, is to rid the proposed Reform Treaty as far as possible of the elements from the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe which could have formed a basis for the development of the EU into a more explicit state or federation.
All this means that the proposed Reform Treaty is substantially different from the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe”.
This advice reflects the agreement by all 27 member states that the constitutional concept has been “abandoned”.
Copies of the English translation of the Dutch Council of State advice have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Foreigners: Honours
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether foreign citizens who are made honorary knights or dames are entitled to use the titles associated with those honours used by British recipients. [157157]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The bestowal of an honorary award at Class I or II level does not confer the title ‘Sir’ or ‘Dame’ on the holder. The appropriate post-nominal letters, e.g. ‘Knight of the British Empire’, ‘Dame of the British Empire’, may, however, be used, subject to the rules laid down by the authorities of the recipient's country. It is for the recipients to inform themselves of the rules.
Gaza: Poverty
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of (a) poverty and (b) unemployment levels in Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [159564]
Mr. Malik: I have been asked to reply.
DFID relies on agencies with a presence in Gaza for humanitarian and poverty updates and does not duplicate these by adding its own regular assessments. For example, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) closely monitor the humanitarian situation and produce regular reports. UNOCHA reports that 87 per cent. of Gazans live below the poverty line of $2.40 daily income.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reports that unemployment for Gaza was 32.3 per cent. over the period April to June 2007. However, this figure is an underestimate as it does not include large numbers who have turned to unpaid family labour, are in seasonal employment or who have left the labour force when they could not find work. In addition, the World Bank reported in September that the closure of trade in and out of Gaza has significantly increased redundancies. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that an additional 10 per cent. of employees would like to work more hours if this were possible.
House of Europe
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the establishment of a House of Europe in London; and if he will make a statement. [158450]
Mr. Jim Murphy: There have been no discussions between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the European Commission regarding the establishment of a House of Europe in London.
The European Commission and the European Parliament currently have separate office premises in London. The leases on both buildings are set to end within 12 to 18 months. The Commission and Parliament are currently considering whether to move into a suitable building together.
The practice of sharing office premises exists in most member states.
Iraq: Armed Forces
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 255W, on Iraq: armed forces, what changes were made to plans agreed before the invasion as a consequence of the flexibility to take full account of developments on the ground; and if he will make a statement. [159519]
Dr. Howells: The details of planning remain confidential. Planning was reviewed on a regular basis and adapted in light of developments on the ground in Iraq and taking into account the views of the Iraqi people, who had suffered under Saddam Hussein’s regime for 35 years.
I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 255W.
Iraq: Foreign Relations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been put forward for the creation of an international contact group for Iraq with a permanent secretariat; and what the UK’s policy is on the proposals. [157383]
David Miliband: The creation of a Contact Group or similar initiative has previously been suggested by, among others, the UN and the Iraq Study Group.
However, the Government of Iraq is clear that it should lead international discussions on Iraq and is doing so through the Neighbours process. We welcome that leadership, and the invitation it extended earlier this year to key members of the international community to participate. We believe that the Neighbours process is the primary international, multilateral mechanism for establishing co-operation between Iraq and its neighbours. We also welcome the UN Secretary-General’s announcement at the High Level meeting on Iraq in New York on 22 September that the UN will help establish a permanent secretariat in support of regional co-operation.
Iraq: Young People
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was committed by the UK to projects aimed at young people in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq in each of the last five years. [158842]
Mr. Malik: I have been asked to reply.
DFID supports the Government of Afghanistan to deliver services to children and young people, including £55 million this year to fund the recurrent budget, which pays salaries of teachers and doctors. It is not possible to attribute an exact figure for funding which benefited young people, since, for example, health sector funding provides benefits for all age groups. However, the following table sets out our total contribution to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) for the last five years, and the estimated amount of this, which went to support the education budget:
| £ million | ||
| Financial year | ARTF unpreferenced funding | Amount supporting education( 1) |
| 1 Around one-third each year. | ||
In addition, DFID Afghanistan has committed £42 million (2003-10) to the Government of Afghanistan's National Solidarity Programme, which funds communities' own priority projects including health clinics, schools, and wells—all of which benefit young people.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has allocated £330,500 to projects that benefit young people in Afghanistan between 2004-05 and 2007-08. Examples of these projects include teacher training, vocational training and informal schooling for children who have not had access to the formal education system. And in 2006-07, the UK spent £6.2 million on Quick Impact Projects in Helmand, to improve local facilities, including £645,000 ($1.29 million) on schools and parks, which benefit young people.
We have not specifically supported projects aimed at young people in Iraq. Our programme has focussed on supporting economic reform, governance and institutional building, providing essential infrastructure in southern Iraq, supporting civil society and political participation and addressing humanitarian needs. Since 2002-03, DFID has disbursed the following on bilateral assistance to Iraq:
| £ million | |||
| Financial Year | Reconstruction and Development Assistance | Humanitarian Assistance | Total DFID Bilateral Programme |
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