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1 Apr 2009 : Column 1277W—continued
Somalia: Piracy
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the EU/Kenya agreement with respect to the prosecution of pirates; and what support the EU has provided to the Kenyan authorities for their activities in relation to the prosecution of pirates. [267393]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Appropriate arrangements for the prosecution of suspected pirates are important to ensuring the maximum effectiveness of the EU counter-piracy operation Atalanta. We welcome the signature of the EU/Kenya exchange of letters on 6 March 2009 for the transfer of persons suspected of committing acts of piracy.
Nine suspected pirates were transferred to Kenya by the EU operation Atalanta on 10 March but it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the agreement.
The EU will be sending a delegation to Kenya next week to assess the level of support that the Kenyan authorities require in the prosecution of pirates. The EU continues to seek appropriate arrangements with other regional states to ensure that the burden of potential prosecution is shared. The International Contact Group on piracy off the coast of Somalia is also working on building capacity and capability in the region to prosecute pirates.
Veterans Agency
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the budget of the Veterans Agency was in each of the last five years; and how many people it employed in each such year; [267832]
(2) how much the Veterans Agency spent in each of the last five years. [267734]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Veterans Agency (VA) merged with the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency in April 2007 to become the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA).
The VA and SPVA’s allocated budgets, operational costs, and staff numbers in the last five years is provided in the tables. Details of the agencies’ operational costs
and staff numbers can also be found in the VA annual report and accounts for financial years 2003-04 to 2006-07, and the SPVA annual report and accounts for financial year 2007-08. Copies of these are held in the Library of the House.
| VA | |||
| FY | Budget (£000) | Amount spent (£000) | Staff number |
| SPVA | |||
| FY | Budget (£000) | Amount spent (£000) | Staff number |
| Note: The Amount Spent figures represent the Net Operating Costs excluding notional and non-cash costs. | |||
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Veterans Agency spent on legal representation in each of the last five years. [267833]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Veterans Agency (VA) merged with the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency in April 2007 to become the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA).
The amount spent on VA and SPVA legal costs is provided in the tables.
| VA | |
| F Y | £ |
| SPVA | |
| FY | £ |
Duchy of Lancaster
Charities
7. Angela Watkinson To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent assessment the Charity Commission has made of the effect of the recession on charities. [267964]
9. Mr. Evennett To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment the Charity Commission has made of the effect of the recession on charities. [267966]
14. John Howell To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment the Charity Commission has made of the effects of the recession on charities. [267972]
Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today.
Civil Service
8. Andrew Rosindell To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government have to create additional jobs in the civil service during the recession. [267965]
10. Mr. Andrew Turner To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government have to create additional jobs in the civil service during the recession. [267968]
Mr. Watson: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today.
Grassroots Organisations
11. Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to increase the availability of funding for grassroots organisations. [267969]
Mr. Byrne: The Government are committed to delivering real help to communities, right where it is needed. The £130 million grassroots grants scheme, as well as the £15.5 million targeted support fund, target deprivation so those areas in most need get the most help.
In Bristol alone we are investing nearly £1.1 million through grassroots grants, including more than £400,000 through the endowment match challenge.
Voluntary Groups
12. Phil Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assistance he is providing to volunteering organisations that work with unemployed people. [267970]
Mr. Byrne: In January 2008 the Government announced that it will provide up to £10 million to volunteering organisations to create access-to-work-focused volunteering opportunities for people who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for six months.
In addition, in February 2008 we announced a new £15.5 million targeted support fund, which will provide support to third sector organisations providing essential services in the recession. This will include helping people develop skills and access jobs.
Civil Servants: Hospitality
13. David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements his Department has established for the annual publication of details of hospitality and entertainment received by senior civil servants; and if he will make a statement. [267971]
Mr. Watson: The first ever list of hospitality received by board members of Government Departments was published in February.
Balance of Trade
Mr. Newmark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the UK’s trade balance in (a) goods, (b) services, (c) total excluding oil and (d) total was with (i) other EU member states, (ii) Germany, (iii) USA and (iv) Japan in each year since 1997. [268049]
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 April 2009:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question asking for the UK trade balance in (a) goods, (b) services, (c) total excluding oil and (d) total with (i) other EU member states, (ii) Germany, (iii) USA and (iv) Japan in each year since 1997 (268049).
The available figures are given in the table. The figures are consistent with those published in the Balance of Payments 4th Quarter and annual 2008 First Release published on 27 March 2008. Some detailed breakdowns are not available. Totals excluding oil can only be shown for trade with EU. EU data for the 27 Member States are available from 1998 for Goods and from 1999 for Services.
Separate estimates for Services for Germany are made during the annual Pink Book production, although the figure for 2007 published in Pink Book 2008 has been updated in the table. The 2008 figure will be published later in 2009.
| Table: UK balances of (a) Goods, (b) Services, ( c ) Total excluding Oil, (d) Total with (i) EU 27, (ii) Germany, (iii) USA, (iv) Japan | |||||||
| £ million | |||||||
| EU 27 | Germany | ||||||
| Goods | Services | Tota l e xcl. oil | Total trade | Goods | Services | Total trade | |
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