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20 Nov 2008 : Column 753W—continued
File-sharing itself is a manifestation of the new digital age and the communications revolution of the last 20 years. It is the result of converged technologies and new consumer behaviours and dealing with it may require a combination of responses by a number of players, including Government. The Digital Britain work will
look to deliver a digital copyright framework which supports creativity, investment and job creation in the creative sectors.
We would expect that any action which significantly reduced the overall level of unlawful file-sharing would benefit the smaller music bands and record labels.
Redundancy
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department left under (a) involuntary and (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 2005-06; how many of them in each case were paid (i) up to £25,000, (ii) £25,001 to £50,000, (iii) £50,001 to £75,000, (iv) £75,001 to £100,000 and (v) over £100,000 in the year before they left; and how much (A) was spent in each of those years and (B) is planned to be spent on such schemes in (1) 2008-09 and (2) 2009-10 by (Y) his Department and (Z) its agency. [237356]
Mr. Sutcliffe: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport there have been no (a) involuntary or (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in any year since 2005-06. There are none planned for 2008-09 or 2009-10. In our agency the Royal Parks there was an involuntary staff exit scheme in 2006-07 but as the numbers of staff involved were less than five we are unable to reveal how much they were paid in order to protect the privacy of the individuals. There are no staff exit schemes planned in the Royal Parks for 2008-09 or 2009-10.
International Development
Bangladesh: Overseas Aid
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has plans to fund a catering training institute in Sylhet, Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement. [236474]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is funding the Hotel and Catering Institute in Sylhet, through the Skills and Opportunities for Employment Project (SKOPE). This funding was approved in February 2008. SKOPE is a three-year, £12.9 million project run by a leading Bangladesh education non-governmental organisation (NGO) (the Under Privileged Children's Education Project, UCEP). It provides skills and training to the urban poor that is directly linked to getting a job in the private sector. A portion of this project, £400,000, has been ear-marked to establish the Hotel and Catering Institute in Sylhet. The Institute will be a private-public partnership between UCEP and the Government of Bangladesh. A Memorandum of Understanding to that effect was signed this year on. 1 September.
The foundation stone for the architect-designed, three-storey building will be laid on 25 November 2008, in the presence of senior UK and Bangladesh Government officials. The Institute will provide training in food preparation and cooking, beverages, reception, and accommodation services. Around 300 students will complete training in the first five years, and this should provide a model for future skills development in Bangladesh.
Cayman Islands: Hurricanes
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of islands on the Cayman Islands which have been affected by the recent hurricane. [237107]
Mr. Michael Foster: Hurricane Paloma caused minimal damage to the main island of Grand Cayman. Little Cayman and Cayman Brae, which have a combined population of 2,000, suffered extensive infrastructure damage.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the level of the damage caused by the recent hurricane to hit the Cayman Islands; and what estimate he has made of the cost of reconstruction. [237156]
Mr. Michael Foster: Hurricane Paloma caused extensive damage to infrastructure on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. There was minimal damage to the main island of Grand Cayman.
Initial reports indicated that up to 80 per cent. of houses on Cayman Brac were damaged. There were no deaths or major injuries. It is too early to determine the cost of reconstruction. The Cayman Islands government are undertaking a detailed impact assessment with the assistance of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. We have offered support for this assessment.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department has provided for the Cayman Islands following the recent hurricane. [237157]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Royal Navy hurricane patrol assisted Cayman Island authorities with an initial reconnaissance of Cayman Brac in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Paloma, with reopening of the airport and with the distribution of relief supplies provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Royal Navy.
The emergency response for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman has been effective and well co-ordinated. The government of the Cayman Islands has not requested external assistance.
Chain Reaction Conference
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department provided to the Chain Reaction conference on 17 to 18 November 2008. [236118]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development provided £100,000 to the Chain Reaction conference.
Departmental Accountancy
Mr. Scott:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's (a) chart of accounts and (b) resource account codes and usage
descriptions for the financial years (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. [235959]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: A copy of the Department for International Development's (DFID) chart of accounts for 2006-07 and 2007-08 will be placed in the Library.
The codes used in the chart are also used for preparing resource accounts. Each code has a brief description that describes its use.
Montserrat
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government is taking to encourage tourists to visit Montserrat. [236109]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has recently approved funding of nearly £1 million for a three-year Montserrat tourism development project, building on support provided in previous years. The project will also receive financing from the European Union's European Development Fund.
The project will improve tourism infrastructure, in particular marine and beach environments, walking trails, and develop the Volcano Visitor Centre. It will also regenerate marketing activities and develop tourist services to international standards. The project includes a community-based challenge fund to support creative ideas for tourism investment.
Other work supported by the DFID, including the development of the new capital town at Little Bay and the improvement of air and sea services to the island, will also contribute to enhancing Montserrat as a tourist destination.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had with the government of Montserrat on encouraging alternative industries to tourism in Montserrat. [236108]
Mr. Michael Foster: Officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) are in regular contact with the Montserrat government on business development initiatives.
DFID has financed the establishment of the Montserrat Development Corporation (MDC) in 2007 to promote private sector development. The corporation is implementing a programme to support local businesses and to expand and diversify the economy. Plans are being developed in renewable energy, fruit and vegetable processing, and volcano-related products, including the manufacture of composite building materials using volcanic ash. We are separately financing projects to explore the potential for commercial wind-power and geothermal energy production.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether there are plans to develop the transport infrastructure of Montserrat. [236110]
Mr. Michael Foster:
The new airport on Montserrat was completed in 2005. Focus has now shifted to the
improvement of sea access. A preferred option for harbour improvements and the construction of a breakwater in Little Bay has been agreed by the government of Montserrat and detailed design studies are expected to be commissioned shortly.
A road investment programme to improve the main arterial route on the island is planned to start in 2009. We have agreed in principle to fund this, which is likely to cost in the region of £3 million.
We are also supporting the Montserrat government's efforts to improve services,
notably through the re-introduction of a ferry route to Antigua and the appointment of an access co-ordinator to ensure better quality and reliability of both air and ferry services to the island.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will provide financial assistance to Montserrat to establish a network of abattoirs for the humane slaughter of animals. [236113]
Mr. Michael Foster: We recognise there is a need for improved livestock slaughtering arrangements in Montserrat. We are willing to provide financial assistance for an appropriate solution, which is likely to be a single facility rather than a network of abattoirs. The Montserrat government is currently developing proposals.
Turks and Caicos Islands: Overseas Aid
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department plans to provide to the residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands during reconstruction following Hurricane Ike; and whether this includes a cash element. [235528]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development, jointly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated an intention to provide up to £5 million to support the post Hurricane reconstruction plan. This will be subject to agreements on managing the funds, including the appointment of technical expertise to oversee the use of all funds, to ensure that they are targeted to the most vulnerable.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role his Department has played in the development of a long-term recovery plan for the Turks and Caicos Islands following Hurricane Ike. [235529]
Mr. Michael Foster: In conjunction with other international agencies, the Department for International Development (DFID) has funded expert technical support to the Government of the Turks and Caicos Island (TCI). The United Nations Development Programme has engaged a consultant to assist the TCI Government develop its reconstruction plan.
DFID, jointly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated an intention to provide up to £5 million to support the reconstruction plan.
Communities and Local Government
Aerials: Planning Permission
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information her Department holds on the number of mobile telephone mast planning applications which were (a) refused and (b) approved in the latest period for which figures are available; and what average number of objections to such applications were received in that period. [237177]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Department does not hold this information.
Buildings: Demolition
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what statistics (a) her Department and (b) its agencies collect on the number of demolitions of non-domestic dwellings. [235839]
John Healey: Neither the Department nor its agencies collect statistics on the number of demolitions of non-domestic properties.
Business Links: Finance
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 30 October 2008, Official Report, column 1256W, on business links: finance, which projects are under investigation for potential financial irregularities. [236027]
John Healey: The information cannot be disclosed due to commercial confidentiality.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 30 October 2008, Official Report, column 1256W, on business links: finance, what the timetable is for the investigation of the financial irregularities in the Business Link projects funded under the Interreg programme. [236028]
John Healey: The Business Link projects funded under the Interreg programme, which have been subject to audit checks, have been submitted in a report to the European Commission. The European Commission has not set a specific timetable for responding to my Department.
Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of carbon monoxide poisoning in private homes. [237012]
Mr. Iain Wright:
Landlords are responsible for maintaining their properties, including the safety of gas and electrical appliances and the fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy. All private
landlords are required by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to ensure that all gas appliances are maintained in good order and that an annual gas safety check is carried out by a CORGI-registered tradesman.
There are no current requirements to install carbon monoxide monitors in privately rented properties. However, we are keen to promote good practice and landlords’ organisations are already engaged on safety issues and are involved in the promotion of good practice to their members.
The Building Regulations are reviewed periodically on the basis of advice from technical experts, and we are planning later this year to look at the changes and developments that have taken place since our last review in 2002.
Community Relations: Dalits
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will assess the extent of inter-communal discrimination against Dalit people living in the UK. [237916]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Communities and Local Government has conducted, with stakeholders, an informal scoping exercise to learn more about the extent to which some communities believe caste is a continuing social phenomenon within British society and to identify any evidence that individuals have been discriminated against on these grounds. We are currently in the process of assessing responses received.
Council Housing
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisations are being paid to facilitate work for her Department on (a) council housing, (b) the review of council housing finance and (c) the housing reform green paper; and how much each organisation is being paid. [235505]
Mr. Iain Wright [holding answer 13 November 2008]: In terms of (a) council housing, there are too many organisations to list on this topic. This question would need to be more specific for us to be able to respond.
In terms of (b) the review of council housing finance:
Housing Quality Network - An Evaluation of Management and Maintenance Costs in Local Authorities - £29,980;
Housemark - Evaluation of Management and Maintenance Costs (data supply) -£9,600;
Building Research Establishment - Review of the Major Repairs Allowance £35,388;
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