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11 Jun 2008 : Column 304W—continued
Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2008, Official Report, column 335W, on Sudan: peacekeeping operations, what progress has been made in appointing a Joint Chief Mediator; what the mandate of the mediator will be; and when he or she is expected to be in post. [209359]
Meg Munn: We are pressing the UN and the African Union (AU) to appoint a joint UN-AU chief mediator for the Darfur political process. We would expect that the chief mediator would be responsible for the mediation between the government of Sudan and the rebels.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the UN Secretary General's report of 9 May 2008, S/2008/304, what progress has been made by the Joint UN-AU hybrid force for Darfur in establishing regular contact with rebel movements to address security challenges in Darfur. [209373]
Meg Munn: We understand that the UN-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur, in coordination with the UN-AU Special Envoys for the Darfur political process and representatives of UN agencies, meets regularly with rebel movements and other key parties in Darfur to discuss security matters, including civilian protection and humanitarian access.
Venezuela: Politics and Government
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of improper payments made by the government of Venezuela to the Belize Bank. [209223]
Dr. Howells: I am aware of media reports of on-going legal proceedings between the government of Belize and Belize Bank, regarding payments reportedly received from Venezuela. This is a matter between the Belizean entities concerned.
Zimbabwe: Elections
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to members of the African Union on the fair and free running of the forthcoming presidential elections in Zimbabwe. [208456]
Meg Munn: Both my the hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, are in regular contact with African Union (AU) leaders and foreign ministers to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe and, in particular, the conditions for the presidential run-off election on 27 June. Our embassies and high commissions in Africa have also reminded AU governments of our concerns and emphasised the need for the timely deployment of sufficient numbers of AU observers.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what technical assistance the Government (a) have offered and (b) propose to offer to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in relation to recent and forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [209371]
Meg Munn:
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has made no request for assistance. Our efforts have focused on urging the Southern African Development Community and African Union leaders, and others in
the wider international community, to deploy observers in advance of the second round of the presidential election. These observers should be provided in sufficient numbers, and as soon as possible. Once deployed, we will press for all observer teams and missions to fully co-ordinate their efforts and include contact with and scrutiny of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Zimbabwe: Travel Restrictions
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent dicussions he has had with international counterparts on the restrictions on international travel upon Robert Mugabe and other members of the government of Zimbabwe. [208453]
Meg Munn: It was agreed at the meeting of the Council of the EU on 18 February to renew the common position on Zimbabwe for a further 12 months. The effect of this is to extend the duration of the EU's targeted measures, which include a travel ban on President Mugabe and 130 other Zimbabwean citizens.
Duchy of Lancaster
Childbirth: Hertfordshire
Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many babies were born at (a) Hemel Hempstead hospital and (b) Watford hospital in each of the last three years, broken down by constituency of residence of the mother. [210158]
Mr. Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 June 2008:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many babies were born at (a) Hemel Hempstead Hospital and (b) Watford Hospital in each of the last three years, broken down by constituency of residency of mother. I am replying in her absence. (210158).
The table attached provides the number of live births for (a) Hemel Hempstead hospital, and (b) Watford hospital, by parliamentary constituency of mother's usual residence, 2004 to 2006 (the latest year available). There were no births recorded at Hemel Hempstead hospital in2006.
Civil Partners
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average difference in age was between (a) male and (b) female civil partners in each period for which data is available. [208785]
Mr. Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, 11 June 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average difference in age was between (a) male and (b) female civil partners in each period for which data is available. (208785)
Based on registration data collected in England and Wales, in 2006 the average (mean) age gap between male partners was 8 years compared with 6 years for female partners.
Marriage
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average difference in age between men and women at marriage was in each year since 1978. [208786]
Mr. Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 11 June 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average difference in age between men and women at marriage was in each year since 1978. (208786)
Marital age difference has been defined as husband’s age minus wife’s age. Mean marital age differences for England and Wales between 1978 and 2005 are shown in Table 1.
| Table 1: Mean marital age differences in England and Wales | |
| Marriage year | Mean age difference (years) |
| Source: Registration data | |
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