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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
1 Apr 2009 : Column 1278W
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

2003-04

33,515

29,947

844

2004-05

31,067

29,409

844

2005-06

34,663

32,420

836

2006-07

34,883

33,277

817


SPVA
FY Budget (£000) Amount spent (£000) Staff number

2007-08

130,870

134,650

1,111

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 £

2003-04

6,031

2004-05

23,657

2005-06

60,245

2006-07

208,155


SPVA
FY £

2007-08

128,000


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.


1 Apr 2009 : Column 1279W

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]


1 Apr 2009 : Column 1280W

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:

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

1997

-4,947

1,483

-3,464

1998

-5,712

-4,496

1,512

-2,984

1999

-8,085

-1,727

-14,405

-9,812

-6,348

1,001

-5,347

2000

-5,185

-1,638

-14,546

-6,823

-5,673

1,977

-3,696

2001

-12,567

-836

-21,090

-13,403

-6,537

1,954

-4,583

2002

-22,194

-1,409

-30,722

-23,603

-10,378

2,097

-8,281

2003

-26,118

-1,143

-34,259

-27,261

-12,862

2,280

-10,582

2004

-30,873

520

-37,740

-30,353

-13,713

1,753

-11,960

2005

-36,577

-682

-46,163

-37,359

-16,144

1,388

-14,756

2006

-31,391

1,249

-41,119

-30,142

-15,058

1,798

-13,260

2007

-41,986

4,885

-46,307

-37,101

-19,866

2,153

-17,909

2008

-39,186

8,786

-43,117

-30,400

-16,574


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