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6 Jun 2008 : Column 1213W—continued
Burma: Overseas Aid
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's annual budget for aid to Burma for 2008-09 has been allocated to (a) the United Nations, (b) international non-governmental organisations and (c) Burmese aid organisations. [209407]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Based on current commitments and projections, the £12 million budgeted by DFID for Burma in 2008-09, excluding cyclone assistance, will be channelled as follows:
United Nations: 35 per cent.
International non-governmental organisations: 43 per cent.
Burmese aid organisations: 22 per cent.
Where money is channelled through United Nations programmes, such as the Three Diseases Fund and UNICEF's multi-donor education support, for delivery by international and local non-governmental organisations, it is included in the percentages for the non-governmental organisations rather than for the United Nations.
Burma: Storms
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to seek to ensure that Government aid reaches those for whom it is intended in Burma. [207881]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: All the aid delivered to Burma via UK transport has been consigned directly to international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or to the United Nations (UN). On arrival, it is met by DFID staff and transferred directly to the UN or international NGOs for storage and onward distribution. No UK relief items have been given to the government or the armed forces. The organisations receiving UK relief supplies have their own logistical arrangements to deliver supplies to communities affected by the cyclone, and to monitor their use. DFID logistics staff assessed their logistical capacity, and continue to monitor progress with distribution. We have a monitoring strategy in place involving field visits by Burmese and UK-based DFID staff.
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the territorial extent of the agreement with the Government of Burma on distribution of aid to alleviate the effects of Cyclone Nargis is. [209399]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: On 23 May, the Burmese Government told the United Nations Secretary General that it would lift barriers to access by international aid workers to areas of Burma affected by Cyclone Nargis. At the donor conference convened by United Nations and ASEAN on 25 May, the Burmese Government confirmed that all "genuine" international aid workers would be permitted necessary access to the affected region. The Burmese Government further agreed that aid delivered by civilian means would be accepted from all quarters "provided no strings are attached and no politicisation is involved".
Since the conference, there has been some improvement in access to the affected areas. The Burmese authorities have eased their visa regime and have granted some travel permits for international aid workers, including DFID staff, to visit the Irrawaddy Delta. However, much more still needs to be done by the Burmese Government to broaden access and accelerate the flow of aid.
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to ensure that aid delivered to Burma via UK transport is not appropriated by Burmese armed forces. [209479]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: All the aid delivered to Burma via UK transport has been consigned directly to international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or to the United Nations (UN). On arrival, it is met by DFID staff and transferred directly to the UN or international NGOs for storage and onward distribution. No UK relief items have been given to the Burmese government or the armed forces. The organisations receiving UK relief supplies have their own logistical arrangements to deliver supplies to communities affected by the cyclone, and to monitor their use. DFID logistics staff assessed their logistical capacity, and continue to monitor progress with distribution. We have a monitoring strategy in place involving field visits by Burmese and UK-based DFID staff.
Departmental Computers
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has issued guidance to staff in his Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if he will make a statement. [208178]
Mr. Malik:
Within the Department for International Development (DFID) we have used our intranet to publicise the need for staff to take a degree of personal responsibility towards meeting our energy efficiency targets. This includes messages on the need to switch off electrical equipment such as personal computers, screens, printers and phone chargers when not in use. We have also put ‘switch-off’ reminder stickers on many items of equipment, and display, in various locations throughout the offices, posters on energy efficiency as provided by the Carbon Trust. We have also made it a responsibility
of our security staff to check and where appropriate switch off unused electrical items whilst carrying out their patrols.
Developing Countries: HIV Infection
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department plans to publish an updated version of Taking Action-The UK's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world; and if he will make a statement. [208347]
Gillian Merron: A written ministerial statement was made in the House of Commons on 2 June, Official Report, columns 42-43WS, and a copy of the updated strategy ‘Achieving Universal Access—the UK's Strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world’ and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
Fair Trade Initiative
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2008, Official Report, column 1175W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what Fairtrade products are (a) available for purchase at his Department's staff catering facilities and (b) offered at official departmental meetings and engagements. [209013]
Mr. Thomas: The following Fairtrade items are available for purchase in my Department's UK staff restaurants:
Tea
Coffee
Hot chocolate
Confectionery
Bananas
Fruit juice
Water when available.
Of the above, tea, coffee, and fruit juice are available for official meetings and engagements, and we also provide fair trade sugar. Bottled Fairtrade water was also provided prior to 2008, but since then no bottled water, Fairtrade or otherwise, is purchased, as we now use filtered tap water at all meetings.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2008, Official Report, column 1175W, on the Fairtrade initiative, what the value was of Fairtrade produce purchased at his Department's staff catering facilities in each of the last three financial years; and what proportion of total revenue this represented. [209014]
Mr. Thomas: Our contract caterer does not maintain detailed records of Fairtrade purchases. However, as all our tea and coffee sales are Fairtrade, we estimate that this is approximately £110,000 pa, or 30 per cent. of the value of the total sales.
Food Waste
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [208143]
Mr. Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not separately measure food waste as it represents, by volume, an extremely small proportion of our overall waste.
DFID remains committed to the government sustainable operations targets on waste. The latest (2007) report by the Sustainable Development Commission confirmed that we had made excellent progress already in reducing the overall volume of waste produced since 2004-05, with a 9.6 per cent. reduction over this period, against the target of 5 per cent. by 2010.
Justice
Bail Accommodation and Support Service: Weston-Super-Mare
John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will investigate whether ClearSprings complied with their obligations to consult local stakeholders before setting up a new bail hostel in Weston-Super-Mare. [207873]
Mr. Hanson: I have investigated ClearSprings consultation with stakeholders in Weston-Super-Mare. ClearSprings wrote to Avon and Somerset police on 13 June 2007 and have had subsequent meetings with officers. ClearSprings wrote to North Somerset district council on 6 August 2007 and again on 29 March 2008 and are still seeking a response. Avon and Somerset probation was contacted by email on 3 February 2008 and subsequent meetings have taken place. Accommodation provided by ClearSprings under the Bail and Accommodation Support Service is residential housing, not bail hostels.
Cognitive Self-Change Programme
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisons in the high security estate provide the Cognitive Self-Change Programme. [208044]
Maria Eagle: One. HMP Long Lartin.
Departmental Computers
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has issued guidance to staff in his Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if he will make a statement. [208172]
Maria Eagle: Guidance has been issued to all staff in the Ministry of Justice's headquarters, HM Prisons Service, HM Courts Service and Tribunals Service asking for personal computers to be switched off when not in use. For those members of staff unable to do so due to technical reasons, revised guidance has been issued asking them to switch off printers and monitors.
Life Imprisonment
Mr. Garnier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of defendants sentenced to life imprisonment spent more than one year in local prisons immediately after sentence without (a) a structured sentence plan and (b) access
to relevant rehabilitation courses in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [207890]
Mr. Hanson: Information on the numbers of all life sentence prisoners held for more than one year in local prisons without a structured sentence plan or access to relevant rehabilitation course is not available. To provide the information requested would require manual checking of individual records which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance he issues for prison service staff at all grades working with life sentenced prisoners who continue to deny having committed their offences. [207895]
Mr. Hanson: Guidance on the management of life sentence prisoners who deny their guilt is contained in “Chapter 7 of Prison Service Order 4700”, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library. As with all life sentence prisoners, those who deny their guilt will be released only when the Parole Board considers that it is safe to do so.
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offending behaviour specialists are employed by his Department to work on issues relating to life-sentenced prisoners; and in which agencies, establishments or other units they are based. [208047]
Mr. Hanson: A broad range of multi-disciplinary staff work with prisoners in relation to their offending behaviour. This is often part of other duties and not limited to one group of prisoners. Therefore the requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by evaluating the jobs of all those involved at 142 establishments across England and Wales. The staff are primarily based in establishments, probation areas, and in headquarters groups in the Ministry of Justice supporting delivery.
Life Imprisonment: Education
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what courses designed specifically for life sentenced prisoners are available to life sentenced prisoners held in local prisons for (a) under 12 months, (b) between 12 and 24 months and (c) between 24 and 48 months. [207894]
Mr. Hanson:
There are no specific accredited offending behaviour programmes targeted directly at life sentenced prisoners. Whether a prisoner requires a programme,
and if so, which one, will depend upon the assessment of their risks and need rather than an individual's sentence. The National Offender Management Service offers a range of accredited programmes for offenders based on their specific behavioural needs as well as other regime activities such as education, work, and training. The timing and sequencing of interventions will depend on the needs of the individual concerned and the establishment.
If a course is needed and cannot be undertaken in an establishment, offenders are moved to establishments where their offending behaviour needs can be addressed.
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners serving life sentences in (a) HMP Belmarsh, (b) HMP Wakefield and (c) HMP Whitemoor were engaged in education programmes in each of the last 48 months for which figures are available; and what the average number of hours per day spent by each prisoner in such programmes was. [207968]
Maria Eagle: To provide information in such detail would require each prison undertaking extensive research, some involving prisoners who by now would have been transferred elsewhere. The information is therefore not available in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Life Imprisonment: Prison Accomodation
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average time served by life sentenced prisoners in (a) category A and (b) category B prisons prior to their transfer to open conditions was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [207898]
Mr. Hanson: Information on the transfer of prisoners within the prison estate, and the average time served in each prison establishment, is not held centrally and to collect it would require extensive manual inspection of records.
Life Imprisonment: Prisoners Release
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average period for imprisonment served by prisoners released during a life sentence was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [207897]
Mr. Hanson: Figures showing the average length of time served by all prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment in prison establishments in England and Wales in each year since 1997 can be found in the following table:
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