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27 Nov 2007 : Column 338W—continued


27 Nov 2007 : Column 339W

Institute for Animal Health: Floods

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) on how many occasions Category 3 drains at the Compton and Pirbright sites of the Institute for Animal Health flooded due to storm water in each of the last five years; and whether in each case there was a back-up of potentially contaminated water into bio-secure areas; [166884]

(2) how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff work at the Institute of Animal Health facility at Pirbright; how many buildings and other contractors have worked there in 2007; what bio-security measures are in place to prevent disease transmission by employees, students or contractors; and what other security checks are carried out in respect of individuals with access to the site. [166885]

Ian Pearson: These are matters for the Institute for Animal Health. I have drawn the attention of the Chairman of the Governing Board to the hon. Member's questions.

Prisoners: Education

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many prisoners attained (a) a level 2, (b) a level 3 and (c) a higher than level 3 qualification while in prison in (i) England, (ii) London and (iii) each London borough in each year since 1997. [166927]

Mr. Lammy: The information requested is not available as data were not collected centrally.

The introduction of the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) from 31 July 2006 means that data on individual offender achievement will increasingly become available for adults, young offenders and juveniles in custody, in England. Data in the format requested will be available from spring 2008 for the academic year 2006/07.

Redundancy: Pay

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer of 3 September 2007, Official Report, column 1754W, on redundancy pay, how much was spent by his Department on voluntary redundancy payments in the last 12 months. [166286]

Mr. Lammy: The position remains unchanged from the response I gave to the hon. Member on 3 September 2007, Official Report, column 1754W.

Research: Science

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many scientific research prizes were issued by his Department in each year since 1997; and what their total value was. [166893]

Ian Pearson: The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills and its relevant predecessor bodies have not issued any scientific research prizes since 1997.


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Students: English Language

Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of students taking up English for speakers of other languages courses of the implementation of the new funding system; [167472]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the geographical profile of English for speakers of other languages students of the implementation of the new fees structure. [167473]

Bill Rammell: The first return of learner data is not expected until December 2007, and this will help to develop an understanding of the implications of the Governments changes to ESOL policy for 2007/08 at a national as well as local level. The LSC and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills are working very closely to analyse the full impact of the ESOL policy changes on demand, as well as on provider behaviour and we have commissioned additional impact assessment work to help us do this. The priority for the Government and the LSC is that public support is available to those who need it most, and we will continue to work towards this agenda.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Afghanistan: Detainees

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which NATO members currently involved in ISAF in Afghanistan do not have memoranda of understanding on the transfer of detainees with the Afghan authorities; and if he will make a statement. [166139]

David Miliband: We are aware of a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Afghan Government and The Netherlands, Canada, Norway, and Denmark. The UK also has a bilateral MoU.

Our MoU details the arrangements reached between the UK and Afghan Governments and sets out the responsibilities of both parties before and after the transfer to Afghan authorities of persons detained in Afghanistan by British forces.

Afghanistan: Politics and Government

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK has put forward a candidate for the position of UN Special Representative for Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [166132]

David Miliband: The contract of the current UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Tom Koenigs, runs until February 2008. He has announced his intention to step down. We, and other UN member states, are considering the issue of his successor, which is ultimately a decision for the UN Secretary-General.


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Belarus: Sanctions

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the implementation of European Union sanctions on Belarus, with particular reference to the UK's compliance; what the total amount of assets frozen is by (a) EU member states and (b) the United Kingdom in line with these sanctions; and if he will make a statement. [166067]

David Miliband: The UK is firmly committed to the full implementation of all EU sanctions, along with our EU partners.

EU member states do not systematically share detailed information concerning the value of funds they have identified and frozen. However, they are legally obliged to freeze all funds and economic resources belonging to persons listed under the sanctions regime. It is prohibited to make funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to these persons.

To date no funds have been identified in the UK in relation to EU sanctions on Belarus.

Bosnia: Radioactive Materials

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to his counterpart in Bosnia-Herzegovina on the theft of 60 radiation generators from nuclear medicine department storage in Banja Luka in the Entity of Republica Srpska in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [166145]

David Miliband: We are aware that on 8 November, 60 lead containers were stolen from the Banja Luka Institute for Medicine. Bosnian police have stated that this theft poses no danger to the public since the radioactive isotopes stored in the containers have expired. The police believe that the lead was stolen for resale. The Bosnian police and Interpol are investigating the theft. I have therefore not made representations on this issue.

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the International Atomic Energy Agency on the theft of 60 radiation generators from nuclear medicine department storage in Banja Luka in the Entity of Republica Srpska in Bosnia-Hezegovina. [166158]

David Miliband: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave him today (UIN: 166145).

Burma: Sanctions

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the implementation of European Union sanctions on Burma, with particular reference to the UK’s compliance; what the total amount of assets frozen is by (a) EU member states and (b) the United Kingdom in line with these sanctions; and if he will make a statement. [166073]


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David Miliband: The UK is firmly committed to the full implementation of all EU Sanctions along with our EU partners.

EU member states do not systematically share detailed information concerning the value of funds they have identified and frozen. However, they are legally obliged to freeze all funds and economic resources belonging to persons listed under the sanctions regime. It is prohibited to make funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to these persons.

The reported balance of UK frozen funds in relation to EU sanctions on Burma amounts to approximately £49,500.

China: Summit Conferences

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations have been made for the EU-China Summit on 28 November; what topics he expects to be on the agenda for this summit; and if he will make a statement. [166064]

David Miliband: The UK has worked closely with the EU Presidency, Commission and Council Secretariat, and with other key member states, to work towards a successful EU-China Summit. I expect the summit to cover issues such as: a review of negotiations on an EU-China Partnership and Co-operation Agreement; discussion of the sectoral dialogues and bilateral agreements (including partnership on climate change and energy co-operation); economic and trade issues; human rights; and discussion of international and regional issues (including Burma and Africa).

Cote d'Ivoire: Sanctions

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the implementation of European Union sanctions on Cote d'Ivoire, with particular reference to the UK's compliance; what the total amount of assets frozen is by (a) EU member states and (b) the United Kingdom in line with these sanctions; and if he will make a statement. [166070]

David Miliband: The UK is firmly committed to the full implementation of all EU sanctions, along with our EU partners.

EU member states do not systematically share detailed information concerning the value of funds they have identified and frozen. However, they are legally obliged to freeze all funds and economic resources belonging to persons listed under the sanctions regime. It is prohibited to make funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to these persons.

The reported balance of UK frozen funds amounts to £18,352.07, in relation to UN and EU sanctions on Cote d' Ivoire.

Croatia: Sanctions

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the implementation of European Union sanctions on Croatia, with particular reference to the UK's compliance; what the total amount of assets frozen is by (a) EU member states and (b) the United Kingdom in line with these sanctions; and if he will make a statement. [166071]


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David Miliband: The UK is firmly committed to the full implementation of all EU sanctions, along with our EU partners.

There are no EU financial sanctions imposed on Croatia. EU Common Position 2004/694/Common Foreign Security Policy imposed an asset freeze on individuals indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. To date no funds have been identified in the UK.

Departmental Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of inquiries received by his Department from the public were responded to within (a) one week, (b) 14 days, (c) 28 days, (d) two months and (e) three months; and in what percentage of cases it took (i) over three months and (ii) over one year to respond. [167384]

Meg Munn: The percentage of general inquiries received by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from members of the public and responded to within:

Percentage

one week

59.2

7 to 14 days

4.2

14 to 28 days

5.6

One to two months

19.7

Two to three months

0.5

Transferred to other Government departments or indecipherable

10.8


Unfortunately, I am unable to provide the hon. Member with statistics before 1 August 2007 as letters received before that date were not recorded.

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