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21 Jan 2009 : Column 1517W—continued
Social Enterprises
Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many social enterprises were established during 2008. [248219]
Kevin Brennan: The most recent figures suggest that there are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK. Social enterprises are not, however, defined by a particular legal form and as a result are not required to register with any one body. Information on the number of social enterprises established in any particular year is, therefore, unavailable.
Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many social enterprises have (a) been established and (b) ceased operating since 1997. [248220]
Kevin Brennan: The most recent figures suggest that there are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK. Social enterprises are not, however, defined by a particular legal form and as a result are not required to register with any one body. Information on the number of social enterprises that have been established or have ceased operating is, therefore, unavailable.
Social Enterprises: Finance
Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the (a) Futurebuilders fund, (b) Adventure Capital fund, (c) Community Builders fund and (d) UnLtd have disbursed to social enterprises and social entrepreneurs since each was established. [248215]
Kevin Brennan:
The amount of funding from these organisations specifically allocated to social enterprises is not available. Social enterprises are not defined by a
particular legal form and as a result are not required to register with any one body or specifically identify themselves as such. However,
(a) Futurebuilders has disbursed £50 million to over 260 third sector organisations looking to build their capacity to compete for and win public service contracts. Of these organisations, we anticipate that many of these investees will be social enterprises.
(b) The Adventure Capital Fund has disbursed a total of £10,279,749 to date. Many of these will also be social enterprises.
(c) The £70 million Communitybuilders fund is currently procuring a national partner and it is intended that the partner will begin disbursing monies in the summer of 2009. It is anticipated that many of the recipient organisations will be social enterprises.
(d) UnLtd is an independent organisation that provides cash funding, practical support and networking opportunities to around 1,000 social entrepreneurs per year across the UK. The Office of the Third Sector does not fund UnLtd grants. Details of UnLtd grant recipients to date are available in their annual report and accounts
Teenage Pregnancy: Essex
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the percentage change in the rate of conceptions among girls aged under (a) 18 and (b) 16 years in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex has been since 2004. [247753]
Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated January 2009:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the percentage change in the rate of conceptions among girls aged under (a) 18 years and (b) 16 years in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex has been since 2004. (247753)
Available figures are estimates of the number of conceptions that resulted in a live birth, stillbirth or legal termination.
Conception rate and percentage change in the rate among girls aged under 18 and under 16 for Southend UA and Essex between 2004 and 2006 (the most recent year for which figures are available), are provided in the attached table.
| Conception rate( 1, 2 ) and percentage change( 3) in the rate among girls aged under 16 and under 18 for Southend and Essex, 2004-06 | |||
| 2004 rate | 2006 rate | Percentage change | |
| (1) Rates are per 1,000 female population aged 13-15. (2) Rates are per 1,000 female population aged 15-17. (3) Percentage change is based on unrounded rates. | |||
Voluntary Organisations
Mr. Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions has he had with representatives of the voluntary sector on the effect of the current economic situation on their activities. [248007]
Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on 14 January 2009, Official Report, column 740W.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Asylum
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress by the Afghan government in meeting its commitments to provide land for Afghan refugees under the Land Allocation Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [242182]
David Miliband: The Land Allocation Scheme is an ambitious Afghanistan government program designed to distribute intact and uncultivated government land to landless returnees and internally displaced persons for housing. It is intended to provide a long-term solution to a complex problem.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is supporting the Afghanistan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation to strengthen capacity, at national and local levels. Though the scheme is not yet as widespread or effective as the situation requires, according to UNHCR as of June 2008, 32,586 families have received temporary land ownership deeds.
Armed Conflict: Reconstruction
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the development of a more deployable UK civilian capability, as referred to in his Department’s Autumn 2008 Performance Report. [246257]
David Miliband: A Cabinet Office review of the UK’s civilian expert capacity was completed last year. The key Departments responsible for delivery of this capacity, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence and the Stabilisation Unit are now taking forward the recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of our deployable civilian capability, both through improving the quality and readiness of deployable civilian experts from current sources and examining the introduction of new processes for identifying and deploying such personnel.
Bosnia: Passports
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina who have been issued (a) Serbian and (b) Croatian passports since the Dayton Peace Accord of 1995. [240840]
David Miliband: The Government have not made an estimate of the number of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) who have been issued with Serbian or Croatian passports since 1995. The Bosnian authorities have no formal figures for the number of dual nationals in BiH. BiH has not had a population census since 1991.
British Council: Finance
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department has provided for the British Council's Reconnect initiative in each year to 2010-11. [249541]
Caroline Flint: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) on 12 January 2008, Official Report column 355W.
Burma: Politics and Government
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Burma on the rights of people belonging to opposition groups in that country. [249690]
Bill Rammell: In regular contacts between our embassy in Rangoon and the Burmese military government, we continue to stress the need for all political actors, including Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy and other democratic groups, to be allowed to play their full part in shaping the country’s future. Most recently, our ambassador expressed the UK’s deep concern to the Burmese Foreign Minister about the severe prison sentences handed down to democratic and human rights activists in late 2008.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has repeatedly reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to democracy in Burma. In May 2008 under UK chairmanship, the UN Security Council reaffirmed its demand for the regime to start an inclusive political process. We still hold to this demand, and continue to support the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to break the political deadlock. We continue to lobby countries in the region to bring pressure on the Burmese regime to reform.
Cuba: Overseas Trade
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Cuba on the terms of the trade embargo between the UK and Cuba. [249214]
Gillian Merron: There is no trade embargo between the UK and Cuba. A number of UK businesses operate in Cuba and our embassy in Havana offers assistance to British companies looking to work there. The UK continues to oppose the US trade embargo against Cuba.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the governments of (a) Uganda, (b) Rwanda and (c) Burundi on compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1807 for the Democratic Republic of Congo. [246295]
Gillian Merron: We have encouraged the governments of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda to exert tighter controls over their borders to prevent the illegal trade of natural resources and weapons. In particular, we have called on the government of Rwanda to take steps to deter the recruitment activities of illegal armed groups from eastern DRC within their territory. We have called upon the government of Burundi to respond constructively to requests by the UN Group of Experts, which is mandated under UN Security Council Resolution 1870 to investigate the means by which illegal armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo receive funding, weapons and other support.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Rwanda following the report on 12 December 2008 by the UN panel of experts (S/2008/773), on that report's allegation that the Rwandan government is supporting the rebel group National Congress for the Defence of the People in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [246296]
Gillian Merron: We are committed to help bring about a peaceful solution to the violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and have urged the Rwandan authorities to take a constructive approach to dealing with illegal militias and to curtail support for them from within Rwanda. We continue to press both the Rwandan and DRC governments at the highest levels to respond constructively to the UN Group of Experts’ recommendations.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Forces
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military training the UK has given to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2005. [246294]
Gillian Merron: The UK has provided the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) with several training projects since 2005. These include:
a peacekeeping English language project, which has to date trained over 200 students;
training of 20 members of the FARDC as interpreters; and
leadership training for 30 FARDC junior officers by Sandhurst instructors.
Training on Security Sector Reform has also been provided for the FARDC Chief of Staff and senior FARDC officers. In addition, the UK has run several individual courses for FARDC officers at African British Training Centres including:
(a) managing defence in the wider security environment;
(b) collective training;
(c) peace support operations;
(d) managing defence within a democracy.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Military Aid
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has provided assistance to the government of Democratic Republic of Congo on arms stockpile management and weapons import marking. [248686]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 19 January 2009]: The UK is one of the largest bilateral donors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), contributing some £70 million this financial year to build a capable and accountable state, reducing violent conflict and its impact. This includes a number of projects designed to promote Security Sector reform. However, we have not provided assistance to the government of the DRC specifically on arms stockpile management or weapons import marking.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Mining
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK-based companies have been involved in the exportation of (a) cassiterite, (b) coltan and (c) wolframite from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as referred to in the report of 12 December 2008 by the UN panel of experts (S/2008/773). [246293]
Gillian Merron: We are aware of a number of UK-based companies involved in mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo, although precise details of their activities are not held. Only one—Afrimex, which is involved in the exportation of cassiterite—is referred to by name in the UN panel of experts report.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government supports proposals to widen MONUC’s mandate to include the establishment of border-monitoring teams to check goods entering the Democratic Republic of Congo. [246305]
Gillian Merron: We fully support the mandate of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), which was renewed by UN Security Council resolution 1856 (2008) on 22 December 2008. The mandate includes provisions for the mission to inspect without notice aircraft and any transport vehicle using the ports, airports and border crossings into North and South Kivu and Ituri. It also requires MONUC to use its monitoring capacities to curtail the provision of support to illegal armed groups derived from the illicit trade in natural resources.
Recent events in the DRC demonstrate that poor governance of natural resources can act as a significant contributing factor to the resurgence of violence. It is important that DRC’s mineral wealth is brought under legitimate control, both as a source of much-needed revenue for the state and to restrict financial support to illegal armed groups.
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