| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
30 Jun 2009 : Column 182W—continued
Probation: Hampshire
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the ratio of (a) male to female offenders and (b) male to female probation staff in each age range is in the Hampshire probation area. [281382]
Maria Eagle: The ratio of male to female offenders on the Hampshire probation area’s caseload as at 31 December 2008, by age group, was as follows:
| Age group | Male to female ratio |
The ratio of male to female probation staff as at 31 March 2008, by age group, was as follows:
| Age group | Male to female ratio |
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Probation: Wales
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to introduce reporting centres for Tier 3 and Tier 4 offenders in Wales. [283087]
Maria Eagle: There are no plans to introduce reporting centres for Tier 3 and 4 offenders currently. The establishment of contact centres for Tier 2 offenders is currently being rolled out and these will include provision from probation service staff and partner agencies.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Israel
11. Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Israel on the expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestine. [282698]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK’s position is clear. Following the Israeli Prime Minister’s speech on 14 June 2009, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said to Mr. Netanyahu that the UK expects more on the issue of settlements: a complete freeze in settlement construction, in line with Israel’s Roadmap commitments.
19. Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the middle east peace process. [282708]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK welcomes the Israeli Prime Minister’s support for a two-state solution. His speech on 14 June was a positive step towards making further progress on the peace process. However, more is needed from Israel on the issue of settlements: a complete freeze in settlement construction, in line with Israel's Roadmap commitments. We also emphasize that the Palestinians should continue to be prepared to engage in negotiations with Israel towards achieving a two-state solution.
EU-Pakistan Summit
13. Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome of the most recent EU-Pakistan summit was; and if he will make a statement. [282701]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The first ever EU-Pakistan Summit on 17 June 2009 marked a step change in EU engagement with Pakistan. The Summit established a long-term strategic partnership to tackle issues of violent extremism, security, and democratic governance. The agreed outcomes were: a comprehensive package of trade measures; a total package of €129 million for humanitarian assistance; and greater EU co-operation on counter-terrorism.
European Union
14. Mr. Evennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on
prospects for institutional change in the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [282702]
Chris Bryant: The December 2007 European Council conclusions stated that the Lisbon Treaty would mark the end of institutional debate. Heads of governments attending said:
“The Lisbon Treaty provides the Union with a stable and lasting institutional framework. We expect no change in the foreseeable future.”
The June 2009 European Council provided the assurances that Ireland needed to move forward on the Lisbon Treaty. The Irish government have said that there will be a second referendum in October 2009.
Afghanistan
15. Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Afghanistan. [282703]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Afghanistan remains one of the UK’s top foreign policy priorities. The key political focus for Afghanistan in 2009 is the presidential and provincial council elections which will take place on 20 August 2009. We are actively working in support of the Afghans, the UN and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s International Security Assistance Force to help ensure these elections are successful.
Bagram Detention Facility
16. Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on recent allegations of prisoner abuse at the US detention facility at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. [282704]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have not had recent discussions on this issue. We have previously discussed allegations of prisoner abuse at Bagram with our US allies. It is vital that all detainees are treated humanely. It is right that the International Committee of the Red Cross have access to those detained at the Bagram detention facility.
I note that President Obama has set in motion a comprehensive review of detention policy and practice, including in Afghanistan. We welcome this and await its outcome.
EU Budget
20. Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had in the General Affairs Council on means for reducing the size of the EU budget; and if he will make a statement. [282709]
Chris Bryant: There have been no recent discussions at the General Affairs Council on means for reducing the size of the EU budget. The Commission were mandated by the December 2005 European Council to produce a Budget Review White Paper by the end of 2009. Our contribution to the review was outlined in HM Treasury’s publication, “Global Europe: Vision for a 21st Century Budget.”
Presidential Election: Ukraine
21. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government plan to give to international missions monitoring the conduct of the forthcoming presidential election in Ukraine. [282710]
Chris Bryant: Ukraine will go to the polls for presidential elections on 17 January 2010. The Government will be offering financial support to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) monitoring mission. The offer will be calibrated according to ODIHR’s requirements and our expectation to provide up to 10 per cent. of observers for such missions.
Pakistan
22. Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Pakistan. [282711]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The relationship between Pakistan’s main political parties has stabilised since March. It is critical that Pakistan’s politicians continue to work together to address Pakistan’s key challenges. We are encouraged by the significant cross party support for the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to bring security and stability to Swat and respond to the humanitarian crisis. We continue to work to help develop a strong, stable and democratic Pakistan.
Iran
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on developments in Iran following the recent presidential election; and if he will make a statement. [282700]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We deplore the violent response of the Iranian authorities to post-election demonstrations and the severe restrictions placed on the media. We have made clear that it is for Iran’s people to choose their own government. It is essential that the Iranian authorities investigate fully the allegations that have been made about the election.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of developments in Iran’s nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement. [282707]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We remain deeply concerned about its nuclear programme. As the latest International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran made clear, Iran is still not co-operating fully with the agency and is increasing its enrichment capabilities contrary to the requirements of five UN Security Council Resolutions. We have made clear that Iran can enjoy the benefits of nuclear energy but must reassure the international community that its intentions are exclusively peaceful.
Colombia
Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effects on levels of poverty and social inequality in Colombia of the implementation of the proposed free trade agreement between the EU and Colombia. [282626]
Chris Bryant: Free trade agreements can help alleviate poverty and inequality when combined with others measures. While it is difficult accurately to predict the precise effects of free trade agreements, the European Commission is currently undertaking a Sustainability Impact Assessment of the EU-Andean negotiations, a process which the UK strongly supports. This will provide a guide to its likely economic, social and environmental impact. The draft final assessment report is expected in July 2009.
Colombia: Military Aid
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department began to keep for monitoring purposes a record of Colombian security force personnel who have received UK training in Colombia. [282493]
Chris Bryant: Our embassy at Bogota has records of Colombian Security Forces who have received direct UK training in Colombia from 2000-01. This framing includes that required to counter the illegal drugs trade. We do not disclose the details of this engagement as to do so would compromise operational effectiveness and endanger the lives of British and Colombian staff involved. Our engagement is carefully maintained to ensure that it cannot contribute to any human rights abuses.
Departmental Food
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the (a) meat, (b) fruit and (c) vegetables procured by his Department in the last 12 months was produced in the UK. [281943]
Chris Bryant: A second report on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Departments, and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and HM Prison Service, was published in November 2008, covering the year from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. This report and the first one covering the previous year can be found at:
The report gives details of the proportion of individual meat, fruit and vegetable categories purchased.
Although it is too early to show a trend, the report indicates that the amount of domestically produced food consumed by Government Departments in England is increasing. 65 per cent. of the food procured by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2007-08 was produced domestically. It expects to publish a third report at the end of 2009.
Embassies: Correspondence
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what targets have been set in relation to the time taken by British High Commissions to reply to correspondence from hon. Members; and what proportion of correspondence from hon. Members received a reply from the British High Commission in Islamabad within the target time in the latest period for which figures are available. [282724]
Chris Bryant: Correspondence received in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is dealt with under Cabinet Office guidelines which state that all Departments should set targets for replying to correspondence from MPs. These targets (which may be different to the targets set for other types of correspondence) will be published in the annual correspondence report co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office. Individual Departments’ targets for routine correspondence from MPs should be a maximum of 20 working days. We do not have details of correspondence for specific overseas posts.
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what targets are set in relation to the time taken by British consulates to reply to correspondence from hon. Members. [282731]
Chris Bryant: Correspondence received in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is dealt with under Cabinet Office guidelines which state that all Departments should set targets for replying to correspondence from MPs. These targets (which may be different to the targets set for other types of correspondence) will be published in the annual correspondence report co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office. Individual Departments’ targets for routine correspondence from MPs should be a maximum of 20 working days.
International Atomic Energy Agency
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the merits of increasing the UK donations to the nuclear security fund under the budget of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the purposes of increasing that agency’s verification capacity. [281901]
Mr. Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
The UK reviews annually its ability to make voluntary contributions to the IAEA’s extra-budgetary nuclear security fund. We made the most recent such payment of £3.5 million in March this year, making a total of £5.5 million over the last three years. The Nuclear Security Fund covers assistance to states to address nuclear security issues rather than verification. The latter is handled by the IAEA regular budget, the UK contribution to which is set by the IAEA in accordance with UN allocation procedures.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |