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9 July 2008 : Column 1658W—continued
Departmental Written Questions
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long on average his Department took to answer (a) ordinary written and (b) named day questions in each of the last three years. [215467]
Meg Munn: The following table shows the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s ordinary written and named day parliamentary questions statistics in each of the last three years:
| Ordinary written parliamentary questions answered within five parliamentary sitting days | Named day written parliamentary questions answered on the named day | |||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
Embassies: Foreign Workers
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK missions overseas are run by locally-engaged staff. [216303]
David Miliband: The following missions are run by locally-engaged staff:
| Country | Mission |
Languages
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which foreign language training providers are providing language training services to his Department under framework agreements. [216302]
David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has signed a framework agreement with 15 foreign language training providers shown as follows:
Ana Lazarevic;
Communicaid;
European Business School London;
Farnham Castle Language Group;
Gateway;
Institut Francais;
King's College London;
L2 Language and Cultural Services;
Language Services Direct;
Language Studies International;
London School of Economics;
Linguarama;
Rainbow Language in Business;
School of Oriental and African Studies; and
World Language Consultants.
As at 1 July 2008, the 11 suppliers currently providing language training are:
Ana Lazarevic;
Communicaid;
Gateway;
Institut Francais;
King's College London;
L2 Language and Cultural Services;
Language Services Direct;
Linguarama;
Rainbow Language in Business;
School of Oriental and African Studies; and
World Language Consultants.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of (a) rockets and (b) mortar bombs launched into Israeli territory from Gaza since 19th June 2008; and if he will make a statement. [216199]
Meg Munn: We have received reports that ten home-made rockets and mortar shells have been fired into Israeli territory from Gaza since 19 June.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary welcomed the ceasefire that began on 19 June and commended the role Egypt played in getting this to happen. We urge all parties to abide by the commitments they have made. Palestinian militant groups must stop firing rockets into Israel and the Israeli government should ensure that important humanitarian aid and supplies can get through to Gaza.
Western Sahara: Human Rights
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make it their policy to seek the implementation of the recommendations of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Mission to the Western Sahara and the refugee camps in Tindourf, with particular reference to the monitoring of the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the refugee camps. [216271]
Meg Munn: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) visited the region in 2006 to gather information on the human rights situation. The OHCHR shared its report privately with Morocco, Algeria and the Polisario on 8 September 2006 but, in accordance with the terms of reference agreed between the parties, did not publish it. I understand the OHCHR maintains its decision not to make the report public, and the UK respects this decision.
The UK is concerned that the conflict in Western Sahara remains unresolved and the impact on the humanitarian situation in the region. We are keen to see a resolution to the situation in Western Sahara. To this end, the UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We support the process of UN-chaired negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario currently under way. Success in these negotiations depends upon building greater confidence between the parties. In this respect, the UK remains open to supporting UN human rights monitoring in Western Sahara if it can be shown to enhance rather than obstruct the mutual confidence of the parties.
Zimbabwe: Sequestration of Assets
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect of freezing Zimbabwean assets on Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [215409]
Meg Munn: There is no legal authority for a blanket freeze of all Zimbabwean assets in the UK but we are looking at a range of targeted options which impact on those specifically responsible for the crisis in Zimbabwe. This could include extending the existing EU targeted measures which have already frozen the bank accounts and prevented the travel to the EU of 131 named regime members. In considering these options we shall take full account of the likely impact of any new measures on ordinary Zimbabweans.
Culture, Media and Sport
Amusement Arcades: Coastal Areas
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the economic effect on seaside arcades of B3 machine entitlement. [215872]
Mr. Sutcliffe: My written statement of 25 June 2008, Official Report, column 15WS, set out the Government's response to representations from sectors of the gambling industry seeking changes to the regulatory regime for gaming machines in arcades and bingo halls. My statement confirmed that the Government are taking steps to help premises such as seaside arcades by bringing forward to this year the review of category C and D gaming machine stake and prize limits.
Category B3 gaming machines are high stake, high prize gaming machines with a maximum prize of £500. Only arcades to which children do not have access—termed adult gaming centres in the legislation—are permitted to offer such machines. Seaside arcades to which children have access, termed family entertainment centres, are not permitted category B3 gaming machines, only category C and D machines.
Brass Bands: Finance
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support his Department provides to brass bands associated with former coal fields. [210233]
Margaret Hodge: The Department’s funding for the arts in general, and brass bands in particular, is channelled through Arts Council England. In the last five years, the Arts Council has provided lottery funding for activities or projects that involve brass and silver bands as set out in the following table. This funding is not monitored by whether the band is associated with former coal fields.
| £ | |||
| Activities or projects that involve brass or silver bands to some extent | Activities or projects that predominantly or wholly involve brass or silver bands | Total | |
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