| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
6 Nov 2008 : Column 681W—continued
Financial Services: Disadvantaged
Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policies have been (a) considered and (b) implemented by his Department's Financial Inclusion Team since its establishment. [231799]
Ian Pearson: The Government's policies to increase financial inclusion were set out in ‘Financial inclusion: an action plan for 2008-11’.
Previous Government documents on financial inclusion, including ‘Promoting financial inclusion’, published in December 2004 and ‘Financial inclusion: the way forward’ published in March 2007 show how the Government have developed their financial inclusion policies over time.
Mr. Hands:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings have been held between his Department's Financial Inclusion Team and financial service providers
since the inception of the team; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [231800]
Ian Pearson: Officials from the Treasury meet and correspond with financial services providers on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of financial inclusion issues.
Government Departments: Consultants
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances the use of private sector consultants by Government Departments can be paid for from capital rather than revenue budgets. [233399]
Angela Eagle: Government Departments apply UK accounting standards as adapted and interpreted by the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM). Expenditure on consultancy can only be capitalised where such accounting treatment is specifically allowed for by, either Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 15, “Tangible fixed assets”, or FRS 10, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets”.
HM Revenue and Customs: Correspondence
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Chief Operating Officer of HM Revenue and Customs plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan dated (a) 15 April 2008, (b) 9 July 2008 and (c) 19 September 2008 on his constituent Mr. J McLaren. [233091]
Mr. Timms: I understand that the National Insurance Contributions Office wrote to the hon. Member earlier today. HM Revenue and Customs apologise for the delay in doing so.
Housing: Valuation
Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 9 October 2008, Official Report, column 800W, on housing: valuation, if he will rank each individual locality in each valuation area of Greater London according to the value significance of its co-efficient. [232751]
Mr. Timms: A list of locality reference numbers, ranked in order of value significance by valuation area, has been placed in the Library. The list is based on data extracted between 9 and 11 September 2008.
Information that identifies the extent of each locality can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Investment Income
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of dividend is to be payable on the preference capital provided to banks. [228453]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 20 October 2008]: The Treasury will receive a coupon of 12 per cent. on preference shares subscribed by the Government in the banks participating in the Government’s recapitalisation scheme.
Landsbanki Bank
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guarantees his Department has extended to depositors with Landsbanki Guernsey; and if he will make a statement. [231887]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 3 0 October 2008]: Arrangements for depositors in banks in Guernsey are a matter for the Government of Guernsey.
In line with usual constitutional arrangements, the UK Government will represent the Crown dependencies in their negotiations with the Icelandic authorities.
Mortgages
Anne Moffat: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the support being offered by the banks recapitalised with public funds to mortgage holders. [229959]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 30 October 2008]: As part of its investment, the Government have agreed a range of commitments with banks accessing the recapitalisation scheme, including maintaining, over the next three years, the availability and active marketing of competitively-priced lending to homeowners at 2007 levels.
The Government expect banks to support schemes to help people struggling with mortgage payments to stay in their homes, and to support the expansion of financial capability initiatives.
Public Finance
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the savings ratio was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. [232341]
Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question requesting the saving ratio in a) 1997 and b) 2007. (232341)
Table 1 shows the annual household saving ratio from 1987 to 2007. In 1997, it was 9.6 per cent and in 2007, it was 2.5 per cent.
| Table 1 | |
| Saving ratio (percentage) | |
Valuation Office: Databases
Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham, of 7 October 2008, Official Report, column 601W, on the Valuation Office: databases, what the timetable is for the database alignment exercise to be completed. [232658]
Mr. Timms: The work between Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and Ordnance Survey (OS) to align respective databases is a continuous improvement process.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Algeria: Religious Freedom
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Algerian counterpart in respect of that government's policy towards its Christian community; and if he will make a statement. [229753]
Bill Rammell: Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have had any discussions with our Algerian counterparts on this issue, but I am aware of reports emerging from Algeria concerning the closure of ‘unauthorised’ churches and the detention of Christians accused of evangelisation. On 22 July, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials held a meeting with a range of non-governmental organisations concerned about restrictions on the freedom of religion and belief across the world, including Algeria. Our ambassador raised this issue with the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 23 July 2008.
The right to freedom of religion and belief in Algeria was raised on 14 April during Algeria's examination under the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review, which the UK participated in. Additionally, the EU-Algeria Association Agreement, which came into force in September 2005, restates that the principles and fundamental human rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an essential part of the agreement and must be followed by both signatories. The EU will continue to raise questions on human rights in Algeria.
We continue to monitor the enforcement of religious laws in Algeria, and are in contact with Christian leaders in Algiers, raising individual cases when it is appropriate.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of trends in the level of attacks on villages in Congo by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA); and what his policy is on the execution of the International Criminal Court warrants issued for four LRA leaders. [231215]
Bill Rammell: The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) poses an increasingly serious threat to security in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group carried out numerous attacks in eastern DRC in September and October 2008, targeting civilians and members of the military. The DRC armed forces have commenced an operation to contain the LRA, with the support of UN peacekeepers.
The UK strongly supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) and urges all States Parties to co-operate fully with the Court, including by executing ICC arrest warrants. We believe that justice is an essential part of sustainable peace and it is vital that those responsible for the terrible crimes committed during the conflict in northern Uganda are held to account. Resolution of the conflict in Uganda must be compatible with the Rome Statute.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the UK has contributed to the operation of Monuc in the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last two years; and what the estimated contribution will be for the next year. [231216]
Gillian Merron: The UK contributes 7.8 per cent. of the cost of MONUC (UN mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo) through its assessed payments to the UN’s peacekeeping budget, and also contributes through the secondment of UK military staff. During financial year 2006-07 the UK contributed £45,034,024 to MONUC, and funded six military secondees at a cost of £620,972. In 2007-08 the UK contributed £39,728,447 to MONUC, and funded six military secondees at a cost of £1,077,271. During the current financial year, we expect to contribute around £45 million through assessed costs, and £850,000 through discretionary spending on five military secondees. MONUC’s current mandate expires in December 2008 and, provided it is renewed, the budget for next financial year will be agreed by UN member states at the UN’s fifth Committee in June 2009.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) work and (b) provide assistance for his Department. [233191]
Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently employs 16 full-time press officers (15 plus one job-share).
Hamas
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has had discussions with Hamas in (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank. [227972]
Bill Rammell: The UK has not been involved in any political dialogue with Hamas since 2005. However, the Government had consular discussions with Hamas members in 2007 regarding the kidnap of British journalist Alan Johnston.
We have consistently said that we are prepared to work with Hamas if they adhere to the criteria set by the Quartet in January 2006. This means Hamas must: commit to non-violence; recognise the right of Israel to exist; recognise previous agreements signed by the Palestinian National Authority. These conditions are entirely reasonable.
Jack McConnell
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether the post to which Jack McConnell has been appointed is subject to the Ministerial code; and if he will make a statement. [231269]
(2) whether the post to which Mr Jack McConnell has been appointed is an office of profit under the Crown; and if he will make a statement. [231270]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked Jack McConnell MSP to become his Special Representative for Conflict Resolution Mechanisms. Mr. McConnell will be based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), working with the FCO, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence. This appointment is not an office of profit. Nor is it subject to the ministerial code.
Japan: Whales
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Japanese counterpart on whale hunting. [228966]
Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with his Japanese counterpart on this subject.
The Government have consistently voiced its opposition to Japanese 'scientific' whaling. Like many members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the UK does not believe that scientific research can justify Japan's lethal whaling programme. The Government make clear this opposition not only at the meetings of the IWC, but also on a bilateral basis. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch Brown,
raised this matter with the Japanese Foreign Minister in January this year, and our embassy in Tokyo makes the UK's position clear to the Japanese authorities on a regular basis.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |