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15 Jun 2009 : Column 74W—continued
Iran: Nuclear power
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the E3+3 on Iran's nuclear programme; what reports he has received on the number of centrifuges in Iran; and if he will make a statement. [278684]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's most recent conversation with US Secretary of State Clinton took place on 3 June 2009 and they discussed Iran, as well as a range of other matters. The Foreign Secretary keeps in regular contact with counterparts from the rest of the E3+3, and the development of the Iranian nuclear programme remains an issue of serious and shared concern. Senior officials from the E3+3 last met on 8 April 2009 and also keep in regular contact.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General's Iran report of 19 February 2009 states that Iran had 5,537 centrifuges installed, of which almost 4,000 were enriching uranium hexafluoride (UF6). We anticipate that the Director General's next report, which will be discussed at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on 15 June 2009, will show that Iran has continued to develop its enrichment programme, despite five UN Security Council Resolutions requiring it to stop.
North Africa: al-Qaeda
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the strength of al-Qaeda in North Africa. [279373]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQ-M) represents a significant terrorist threat in north Africa and the Sahara. Exact numbers are unclear, but estimates suggest a strength of around a thousand. AQ-M has the intent and capability to carry out terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings and kidnappings, against both regional and western, including British, interests. AQ-M claimed responsibility for the murder of a British citizen, Edwin Dyer, around 1 June 2009.
North Korea
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many North Korean officials are subject to a travel ban and assets freeze under the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006). [278635]
David Miliband: Three North Korean organisations with links to their country's ballistic missile programme are subject to asset freezes under the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, following North Korea's satellite launch on 5 April 2009. No individual officials are currently subject to travel bans or asset freezes. The new UN Security Council Resolution 1874, passed on 12 June 2009, tasks the UN Sanctions Committee to designate further organisations and individuals for travel bans and asset freezes.
Palestinians
Mr. Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Palestinian Authority security forces in creating stability in Nablus, Jenin and Hebron. [278688]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
The Palestinian Authority is making very significant progress in developing the capability and professionalism of its security forces. In particular,
the reinforcement of Palestinian Authority security forces in the main urban centres of the West Bank—including Jenin, Nablus and Hebron—has meant that those cities are much safer today than they were a year ago. We support fully the Palestinian Authority’s determination to uphold the principle of the legitimate law enforcement agencies having a monopoly on the use of force and its subsequent attempts to control armed militias operating in the West Bank. On the Palestinian side, building a fully effective criminal justice system remains an immediate challenge. On the Israeli side, it is imperative that the Israeli defence forces (IDF) give the Palestinian security forces the space to take full responsibility for the security situation in area A and increasing responsibility for the security situation in area B.
Sri Lanka: Arms trade
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on alleged sales of military equipment to the Sri Lankan Government since 2006 by the UK and other EU countries in contravention of the 1998 EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports; and if he will make a statement. [278682]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: All UK export licensing decisions relating to Sri Lanka have been consistent with the Consolidated Export Licensing Criteria, and the EU Code of Conduct. All UK licence applications for exports to Sri Lanka have been carefully assessed against the criteria on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the goods, the end use, and end users, and with full consideration of the prevailing situation. In line with these criteria, any export licence applications that would provoke or prolong the internal conflict or be used for internal repression have been refused.
We cannot comment on exports or licensing decisions made by other countries, including our EU partners. However COARM, the EU Working Group on Conventional Arms in Brussels, provides a forum for discussion of any issues relating to the Code of Conduct. There was such a discussion in June 2008, when an export to Sri Lanka was involved. As a result of these discussions the exporting state revoked a licence that had previously been approved.
West Bank
Mr. Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement. [278639]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
The Palestinian Authority is making very significant progress in developing the capability and professionalism of its security forces. In particular the reinforcement of Palestinian Authority security forces in the main urban centres of the west bank—including Jenin, Nablus, and Hebron—has meant that those cities are much safer today than they were a year ago. We support fully the Palestinian Authority's determination to uphold the principle of the legitimate law enforcement agencies having a monopoly on the use of force and its subsequent attempts to control armed militias operating in the west bank. On the Palestinian side, building a fully effective criminal justice system remains an immediate
challenge. On the Israeli side, it is imperative that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) give the Palestinian security forces the space to take full responsibility for the security situation in Area A and increasing responsibility for the security situation in Area B.
Zimbabwe: Embassies
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 15 September 2008, Official Report, columns 2201-02W, on Zimbabwe: embassies, how much the embassy of Zimbabwe owed in business rates on the latest date for which figures are available; and what steps are being taken to ensure that payment of outstanding business rates is made. [279326]
Chris Bryant: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) of HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for billing and collection of national non-domestic rates (NNDR). VOA send quarterly statements to all missions, and we continue to work with the VOA to press all diplomatic missions to pay their NNDR bills.
The embassy of Zimbabwe has not made any NNDR payments in the last five years.
At the end of the financial year 2008-09, the embassy of Zimbabwe owed a total of £79,883 in national non-domestic rates (NNDR). The embassy's NNDR bill for 2009-10 is £13,531.50. We wrote to the embassy of Zimbabwe in March to highlight their outstanding debts and to remind them of their obligation to pay NNDR. We will continue to press them to settle their debts.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Experiments
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the potential effects of the REACH regulations on the numbers of animals required for scientific procedures in the United Kingdom. [278114]
Dan Norris: REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) aims to minimise animal testing, and actively promotes the development and use of non-animal alternative test methods. However, it is inevitable that some further animal testing will be necessary in order to fill the many gaps which currently exist in our knowledge of the way chemicals impact on human health and the environment. Animal testing is only allowed as a last resort where no suitable non-animal alternatives exist. REACH prohibits repetition of animal tests once they are completed, and requires the data from them to be shared between everyone wanting to register the same substance.
In October 2006, the European Commission estimated that in the region of between 8 and 13 million additional animals might be used across Europe over the entire REACH registration period. However, we expect that number to be significantly reduced as a result of the additional drivers to reduce the amount of animal testing that were incorporated into the final agreed REACH text in December 2006.
These figures should also be read with caution because of the uncertainty about how many registrations will be made over the next nine years. It is not possible to estimate how many tests might take place in the United Kingdom as there are no restrictions on where any individual company may choose to commission any procedures it needs.
Climate Change
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of his Department’s potential gross (a) costs and (b) savings arising from its climate change adaptation measures in the next three years. [277724]
Dan Norris: It is not currently possible to provide estimates of the potential costs and savings over the next three years. It has, however, been shown in the Stern review on the economics of climate change that timely and well-targeted climate adaptation measures will yield benefits in excess of their costs. Some of these benefits will accrue to Departments as cost-savings over the next three years, with further more significant gains to be made in future years. The main rationale for investment to address climate risk will be to reduce the UK’s vulnerability to longer-term climate change impacts.
The Government are undertaking a climate change risk assessment and economic analysis, which will provide estimates of the costs and benefits of adaptation to the UK. This analysis will be presented to Parliament in 2011.
As the hon. Lady is aware, the Government will also be publishing supplementary appraisal guidance this summer. This will help to ensure that adaptation measures are designed and implemented in a cost-effective manner.
Dairy Farming
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals for the Government to underwrite the payments that Dairy Farmers of Britain were due to make to dairy farmers for milk supplied in May 2009. [279908]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I am deeply concerned and saddened by the situation facing farming members and other employees of Dairy Farmers of Britain, following the announcement to call in the receivers (PricewaterhouseCoopers) on 3 June.
Publicly-funded schemes such as those available through Business Link are available to assist SMEs that find themselves in difficulties. Farmers who are in need of business advice should contact Business Link in their region. HMRC's Business Payment Support Service is also available for businesses which are finding it difficult to meet their tax commitments for the sorts of reasons faced by the farmers of Dairy Farmers of Britain.
Ministers have been in discussions with senior industry leaders and officials remain in close contact with the receivers to ensure that those who might need to access these schemes know how to do so.
Departmental Air Conditioning
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. [272117]
Dan Norris: The Department has spent £4,715 on inspection reports required under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of his Department's buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with greater than 250kW of output; how many of these systems have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each inspection report. [272143]
Dan Norris: Four of the Department’s buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with greater than 250kW of output. All four have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. A copy of the inspection reports will be placed in the Library.
Departmental Billing
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies paid in interest to suppliers under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years for which figures are available. [275203]
Dan Norris: These figures are shown in the Department’s resource accounts, under the heading ‘Payment of Suppliers’ in the management report section of the accounts. The accounts, including prior year accounts, can be found on line at:
Figures for the financial year 2008-09 are being compiled currently.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions arising from road-based transport for his Department’s administrative operations (a) in total and (b) per full-time equivalent member of staff in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. [276136]
Dan Norris:
From information held centrally, the estimate made of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions arising from road-based transport for the Department’s administrative operations (a) in total and (b) per full-time equivalent member of staff in 2007-08 was 21,978 metric
tonnes and 0.98 metric kg respectively. Information for the period 2006-07 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the levels of carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel by staff in his Department (a) in total and (b) per full-time equivalent member of staff in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. [276137]
Dan Norris: From information held centrally, the estimate made of the levels of carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel by staff in the Department (a) in total and (b) per full-time equivalent member of staff were:
| (a) Total (m etric tonnes ) | (b) Full-time equivalent (m etric kg ) | |
DEFRA in partnership with other Government Departments offset the emissions for official and ministerial air and rail travel through the Government Carbon Offset Fund.
Departmental Contracts for Services
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which services his Department has outsourced in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [274449]
Dan Norris: From information held centrally, the core-Department has outsourced in:
2004: IT service provision;
2005: Photo Library, and Landscape editorial and print;
2006: Recruitment and Statutory Notice Advertising, and Shared Central Stakeholder Database;
2007: Print Services; and
2009: Sustainable Built Environment and Workplace Solutions.
Outsourcing is one means of maximising value for money as a major business objective of all Government Departments. Best practice procurement in outsourcing is a central element in achieving this objective.
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