| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
13 Jun 2008 : Column 570W—continued
Transport: Wales
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what figures the Office for National Statistics holds on the number of people in Wales who live more than two miles away from a bus route or a railway station. [209903]
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 13 June 2008:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding what figures the Office for National Statistics holds on the number of people in Wales who live more than two miles away from a bus route or a railway station. I am replying in her absence. (209903)
The Office for National Statistics does not hold the requested information, but the Department for Transport are responsible for the National Travel Survey which may provide some of the requested information.
Unemployment: Suffolk
Mr. Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of households in Suffolk had no one in full-time employment in each of the last five years. [209388]
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 13 June 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many and what proportion of households in Suffolk have no-one in full-time employment in each of the last 5 years. (209388)
Estimates in the attached table are provided from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) household datasets for the April-June quarter to be consistent with those published in the “Work and worklessness among households” First Release, which is available on the web at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/work0807.pdf
The households are weighted to the population estimates published by ONS in February and March 2003. They do not incorporate the more recent population estimates used in the headline LFS series.
Estimates are based on working age households, which are households that include at least one person of working-age, that is a woman aged 16 to 59 or a man aged 16 to 64.
The LFS is a sample survey covering over 52,000 households in the United Kingdom in each three month period. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
| Number and proportion of working-age( 1) households in Suffolk where no-one is in full-time employment 2003-07, April to June of each year | ||
| Levels (Thousand) | Percentage( 2) | |
| (1 )A working-age household is a household that includes at least one person of working age, that is a woman aged 16-59 or a man aged 16-64. (2) In calculating percentages, households with unknown economic status have been excluded. Note: 1. Estimates are weighted to the 2003 population estimates. 2. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Source: LFS household datasets. | ||
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Reconstruction
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what the cost of running the provincial reconstruction team in Lashkar Gar was in each of the last five years; [209681]
(2) what the objectives are of the provincial reconstruction team in Lashkar Gar; how many personnel the team has; and what the team's performance against its objectives has been over the last five years. [209682]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 9 June 2008]: I am not able to provide figures for the cost of running the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) because we estimate
that to locate, retrieve and extract such information would involve disproportionate cost. The UK employs a broad range of staff in support of the government of Afghanistan to help develop a stable and secure Afghanistan. Over 100 civilian staff in Kabul and over 40 staff in Helmand are employed from across the Government, including the Stabilisation Unit, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit. Their roles include work in governance, stabilisation, reconstruction and development, security sector reform and counter narcotics.
The PRT in Helmand is focused on developing Afghan local capacity in development, security and governance, and is helping administer over £36 million the UK plans to spend towards the province's reconstruction this financial year. Since the UK took over the PRT in May 2006 we have seen early progress on these three fronts, with PRT officials delivering valuable assistance in a challenging environment. Since May 2006, the PRT has implemented 247 quick-impact projects valued at £18 million. This has supported a number of building projects (including schools, parks and police stations), police training and women's rights projects. DFID has also committed £10 million per year over three years (2006-09) to support the government of Afghanistan's long-term development programmes in Helmand.
Departmental Freedom of Information
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of his Department to release the home addresses of (a) senior and (b) middle-ranking officials, if requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what assessment he has made of the implications for personal security resulting from the release of such data. [207215]
Meg Munn [holding answer 22 May 2008]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not generally release the home addresses of officials for reasons of privacy and security. If asked for this information under the Freedom of Information Act, the Department would deal with requests on a case by case basis, applying appropriate exemptions if it is necessary and appropriate to do so.
Departmental Legal Opinion
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what hourly rate his Department has agreed for the payment of Jonathan Sumption QC in relation to his work for the Department on the legal proceedings brought by Mr. Stuart Wheeler. [207717]
Meg Munn [holding answer 2 June 2008]: The Government always ensure that they are represented at the appropriate level and secure an hourly rate which represents value for money for the tax payer. The Government are very confident of the strength of their case and, in responding to this action, will apply to recover its costs from the applicant.
Diplomatic Service: Languages
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of heads of mission employed by his Department speak the language of the country to which they are accredited; and if he will make a statement. [209383]
David Miliband: 99 per cent. (101 out of 102 missions in countries where English is not widely spoken) of heads of mission employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office speak the language of the country to which they are accredited, with varying degrees of fluency.
Eastern Congo: Human Rights
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of proposals for the appointment of a UN High Level special adviser on human rights for Eastern Congo; and what reports he has received on progress towards establishment of the post. [209412]
Meg Munn: The Government are fully supportive of proposals for the appointment of a special adviser on human rights for Eastern Congo to monitor commitments made under Article 3 of the Goma Agreement. Officials are taking this forward with their international partners and with the Congolese. We believe that any such position or mechanism should be part of the Congolese Government’s post-Goma machinery, the “Amani programme”, and are working with Congolese officials to take this forward.
Eurojust
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Members of the European Parliament on the future of Eurojust; and if he will make a statement. [208736]
Meg Hillier: I have been asked to reply.
Home Office Ministers have regular contact with Members of the European Parliament (MEP) to discuss the full range of JHA business. In relation to the future development of Eurojust, my officials briefed UK MEPs on the Government’s position on the draft Council Decision on the strengthening of Eurojust in October 2007 and May 2008. The opinion of the European Parliament on that proposal is expected during the plenary session of 16-19 June 2008. In relation to the Government’s position on the future development of Eurojust, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 May 2008, Official Report, column 1564W.
Kashmir: Cemeteries
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of India on the removal of bodies from mass graves in Indian-held Kashmir. [209967]
Dr. Howells:
We have not raised the removal of bodies from mass graves in Indian administered Kashmir with the Government of India. However, we have called for an improvement in the human rights situation on both
sides of the Line of Control and remain concerned over reports of human rights violations, including continuing allegations of human rights violations by Indian security forces.
Kashmir: Human Rights
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of India on the human rights situation in Indian-held Kashmir in the last 12 months. [209968]
Dr. Howells: We continue to raise our concerns over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control, including with the Government of India. Human rights issues in India, including in relation to Indian administered Kashmir, were raised at the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue in March. We have called for an end to all external support for violence in Kashmir and an improvement in the human rights situation.
Passports: Fees and Charges
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what charge is made to British nationals applying for a standard UK passport at each British consular post. [210855]
Meg Munn: The charge for a standard UK passport at each consular post overseas is currently £119.00. Fees are set in sterling and collected overseas in local currency.
Sudan: Armed Conflict
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation and level of stability in Sudan, with particular reference to the north of Sudan and Khartoum and Omdurman. [208886]
Meg Munn: Calm has returned to Omdurman and Khartoum after the attack by the Justice and Equality Movement on 10 May. Darfur remains unstable and we advise against all but essential travel to the region. We are telling both the Government of Sudan and the rebels that there can be no military solution to the Darfur conflict and all sides must engage constructively in the UN-African Union led mediation process which, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, the UK stands ready to support.
Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will commission research into the number of displaced Darfurians not included in the recent national census in Sudan and its effect on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. [209374]
Meg Munn: Enumeration for the first national census since 1993 took place between 22 April and 6 May. The UN Population Fund will assess the extent of coverage, including of Darfurians, once the census questionnaires have been returned. Full census results are not expected before November 2008.
The UK is a member of the Monitoring and Observation Commission which played a key role in the formation of a census monitoring team. The UK also funded consultants who coordinated the training and deployment of the monitoring team.
Zimbabwe: Elections
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on the effects of the pattern of distribution of food and medicines in Zimbabwe on the forthcoming presidential elections in that country. [208455]
Meg Munn: We express our concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, including the distribution of food and medicines, to African leaders and others in the international community, at every available opportunity. The UK will continue to support the Zimbabwean people. We provided £45 million last year supporting the poorest and most vulnerable Zimbabweans, including helping to feed up to 3 million people and providing treatment for more than 30,000 HIV/AIDS patients.
Health
Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many spontaneous abortions there were in each year since 1990, broken down by (a) length of gestation of the pregnancy, (b) age of the woman and (c) health authority. [209095]
Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
Dental Services
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) molar root treatments, (b) crown fittings, (c) simple denture fittings, (d) full denture fittings, (e) cobalt chrome denture fittings and (f) extractions there were in each of the last five financial years. [209200]
Ann Keen: This information could be provided in the form requested only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is set out as follows.
Information on the number of claims including a crown and an extraction, for general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS) for the years ending 31 March 2005 and 31 March 2006 are given in Annex D of the ‘NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England 31 March 2006’ report.
This report, published by the Information Centre for health and social care on 23 August 2006, is available in the Library and is available at:
Information on the incidence of certain treatments (including root-fillings, crowns, partial dentures, full dentures and extractions) was collected from a sample
of courses of treatment (CoTs), for 2003-04 and the first four months of 2007-08. This information is shown at Table 2 of the ‘Dental Treatment Band Analysis, England 2007: Preliminary results’ report.
This report, published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care on 4 October 2007, has been placed in the Library and is available at:
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |