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27 Nov 2007 : Column 349W—continued
Overseas Property
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what risk assessment his Department conducts in formulating advice to UK citizens purchasing property abroad; [168616]
(2) what criteria are used by his Department when conducting a risk assessment in formulating advice to UK citizens purchasing property abroad. [168617]
Meg Munn: Decisions on property purchases overseas are for the individuals concerned. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not get involved in purchases or disputes, nor can it offer legal advice to individuals planning to purchase property. We would always advise British citizens intending to purchase a property overseas to engage a local lawyer. Where we are aware of particular problems that have been encountered by significant numbers of purchasers we will provide general information in our travel advice for the country concerned. This information is based on the knowledge and experience of the relevant diplomatic posts.
Portugal: European Council
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have made to their (i) Portuguese and (ii) Belgian counterparts on the decision to split the December meeting of the European Council between Lisbon and Brussels. [162081]
David Miliband:
My hon. Friend the Minister for Europe and UK officials have discussed the location of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) with the Portuguese presidency. The Government prefer a single
location for logistical and environmental reasons, but the location of any IGC is at the discretion of the presidency, while EU heads of state have agreed that all formal meetings of the European Council must take place in Brussels.
Carbon emissions from all central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset since April 2006.
Saudi Arabia: Rape
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Saudi Arabian government in the case of the rape victim who was recently sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison; and if he will make a statement. [167877]
Dr. Howells: The Government have raised, and will continue to raise, this case with Saudi authorities.
The facts to hand on this case are disturbing. We will seek clarification on next steps, not least in light of the court's view that media attention has increased the level of the sentence. We are also concerned to hear that her lawyer has had his licence revoked for defending her case.
We urge the Saudi authorities to again review the case. Victims of sexual assault should not suffer further punishment.
Sudan: Electoral Law
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Sudan on its progress towards the enactment of an electoral law. [168170]
Meg Munn: We had encouraged the National Congress Party and Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the two largest parties, to agree the electoral law for approval by the Sudanese Parliament. Since the SPLM’s withdrawal from the Government of National Unity, we have been urging both sides to continue dialogue on their differences on the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement, but the draft electoral law has not been one of the main sticking points.
We have provided technical support including assistance to draft the electoral bill presented to the Sudanese Parliament, a visit for Sudanese election officials to observe the Scottish elections, and equipment for the National Constitutional Review Commission, the committee responsible for drafting the legislation.
Sudan: 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 Sudan, 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. [166074]
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 UN or EU sanctions on Sudan.
Terrorism
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's proposed role over the next three years in tackling radicalisation and promoting understanding overseas, as referred to in the Statement by the Prime Minister on 14th November 2007. [167263]
David Miliband: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his statement to the House on 14 November 2007, Official Report, columns 667-672, the Government will report back on action overseas with other countries to counter extremism when we launch the full national security strategy.
UN Security Council
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific interim proposals for the reform of the UN Security Council the UK has proposed, as referred to in the Prime Minister's Mansion House speech of 12 November. [166134]
David Miliband: The UK is discussing permanent and interim reforms with a range of countries. The UK seeks a Security Council that is more representative of today's world, yet no less effective or capable of taking the tough decisions needed to address threats to international peace and security.
Zimbabwe: 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 Zimbabwe, 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. [166076]
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 Zimbabwe amounts to approximately £172,000.
Duchy of Lancaster
Admiralty House
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the council tax band is of the official ministerial residence in Admiralty House occupied by Lord Malloch Brown. [165875]
Edward Miliband: The official residences in Admiralty House are in Westminster City Council Council Tax band H.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Minister previously occupied the official ministerial residence in Admiralty House occupied by Lord Malloch Brown. [165876]
Edward Miliband: The official residence currently occupied by my right hon. Friend Lord Malloch Brown was most recently occupied by my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott)
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent on (a) repairs and (b) furnishing or refurbishing in each of the official ministerial residences in Admiral House in each of the last three years. [165877]
Edward Miliband: Occupying departments are responsible for the relevant costs associated with the ministerial residences in Admiralty House.
The Cabinet Office is responsible for costs associated with the common parts of Admiralty House as well as for maintaining the fabric of the entire building. These costs are not separately identifiable from the cost in relation to the whole building, which includes office space and meeting rooms.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), if he will break down the Security and Intelligence Agencies' (a) main estimate and (b) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (i) near cash and (ii) non-cash terms. [166850]
Edward Miliband: I refer the right hon. Member to the answers given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) on 24 October 2007, Official Report, column 404W.
Influenza
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what preparations have taken place for the co-ordinated relaxation of specific (a) regulations and (b) targets during any future outbreak of pandemic influenza; which (i) regulations and (ii) targets are being considered; and if he will make a statement. [168240]
Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
Over the last 12 months and during exercise Winter Willow, Government Departments, devolved administrations and agencies have begun to identify regulations that may need to be relaxed to ensure that essential services are sustained during a pandemic and/or to manage the consequences of a pandemic.
Regulations that have been identified will be kept under review as part of ongoing United Kingdom pandemic flu contingency planning.
Any requirement to amend specific regulations or targets will depend upon the nature and scale of any pandemic. Unfortunately this information will only become available during the pandemic.
It would therefore be unhelpful to focus on specific regulations or targets at this time.
Official Hospitality: Charities
Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what Government policy is on the use of Government facilities for fundraising by registered charities; and if he will make a statement. [167665]
Edward Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Hilary Armstrong) on 22 March 2007, Official Report, column 1099W.
Smith Institute
Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the value was of invoices sent by the Cabinet Office to the Smith Institute (a) since 27 June 2007 and (b) in 2006-07. [167666]
Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office did not send any invoices to the Smith Institute in the periods to which the hon. Gentleman refers.
Departmental Catering
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of (a) beef, (b) lamb, (c) pork and (d) dairy products used in (i) the Cabinet Office and (ii) No.10 Downing Street were imported products in the most recent period for which figures are available. [166640]
Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made on 8 November 2007, Official Report, columns 19-20WS, by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jonathan Shaw).
Departmental Foreign Workers
David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) EU foreign nationals and (b) non-EU foreign nationals are employed by his Office. [168095]
Gillian Merron: Checks on nationality are carried out on recruitment to the Cabinet Office (including the Prime Minister's Office). The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Public Sector: Computer Software
Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had on the use of Linux Open source computer software in the public sector. [165144]
Gillian Merron: None. The Government's approach to Open Source was set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Julia Goldsworthy) on 25 October 2007, Official Report, column 486W.
Home Department
Alcohol Disorder Zones
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the implementation of alcohol disorder zones under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006; and if she will make a statement. [167972]
Mr. Coaker: The regulations for Alcohol Disorder Zones were laid in Parliament on 21 November 2007. Subject to final approval, the regulations will commence in early January 2008.
Alternatives to Prison: Cannabis
Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) antisocial behaviour orders, (b) police cautions and (c) official warnings for cannabis possession were issued in (i) England and (ii) each London borough in each year since 1997. [166936]
Mr. Coaker: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) first became available in April 1999. The number of ASBOs issued in each year from April 1999 up to December 2005 (latest available) in (i) England (ii) London and (iii) each London borough can be found in the following tables. The number of ASBOs issued in Greater London shown in tables 1 and 2 differs due to the basis on which the ASBOs have been counted. Table 1 shows the number of ASBOs based on the location of the court that issued them and table 2 shows the number of ASBOs based on the local authority area in which the boundary prohibitions apply.
Data showing the number of offenders cautioned in England and London for all offences from 1997 to 2005 are in table 3. Data for 2006 will be available in late November 2007. The number of cautions issued in each London borough is not available, as police forces only supply cautions data for the whole of the force area.
The available information on formal warnings for cannabis possession (now known as cannabis warnings) is given in table 4. The data relate to the number of recorded offences detected by this method and are not available prior to 2004-05.
| Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, in Greater London and England by year, April 1999 to December 2005 | ||||||||
| Area | April 1999-May 2000 | June-December 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Total issued April 1999-December 2005 |
| Notes: 1. Previously issued data have been revised following joint Home Office/Court Service data reconciliation exercises. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. | ||||||||
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