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25 Nov 2009 : Column 164W—continued
National Independent Electoral Commission
Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of (a) the effectiveness of the National Independent Electoral Commission and (b) the adequacy of its operational resources. [300227]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Independent Election Commission (IEC) was able to hold the first Afghan-led elections for over 30 years. In the face of insecurity and threats to its 160,000 staff across Afghanistan, it enabled millions of Afghans to come out and make their voice heard in choosing the future leadership of their country. While there were minor complaints about the quality of some of the materials it used, such as the hole punches to mark the voter cards, the operation overall was well resourced. The UK contributed £16.5 million to the UN basket fund for elections, which included recourses and capacity building for the IEC.
Clearly there are lessons to be learned for future elections. But the processes in place provided for an independent audit of the results that came through the
IEC. The audit process, conducted by the Electoral Complaints Commission, in co-operation with the IEC following election day on 20 August, was robust and transparent: flaws in the process were reported, investigated and decided on, and fraudulent ballots removed. Following the conclusion of this process, we are confident that the result of the 2009 presidential elections reflects the will of the Afghan people.
Somalia: Human Trafficking
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on levels of human trafficking in Somalia; and what discussions he has had with his Somali counterpart on the matter. [301266]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have not received any reports on the levels of human trafficking in Somalia. The extremely fragile security situation in Somalia means that the UK does not have any presence on the ground with which to monitor issues such as human trafficking. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not held discussions with his Somali counterpart on the matter.
The February 2009 report of the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights in Somalia identified human trafficking, along with many other human rights issues and criminal acts, as an important challenge to be addressed. The report recommends that the Transitional Federal Government make human rights the foundation of its transitional period and that the UN address the root causes of smuggling and trafficking of people across the Gulf of Aden. The UK works closely with the UN Political Office for Somalia to progress the UN-led Djibouti peace agreement.
Somalia: Piracy
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 2 November 2009, Official Report, column 666W, on Somalia: piracy, if he will place in the Library a copy of the final report of the regional needs assessment mission to the Horn of Africa in September 2009. [301968]
David Miliband: I have placed a copy of the final report of the regional needs assessment mission to the Horn of Africa in the Library of the House.
United Arab Emirates
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of the United Arab Emirates. [301972]
David Miliband: The UK aims to strengthen relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in all fields to our mutual benefit.
We work closely with the UAE to promote support for enhanced regional and global security, we aim to improve cultural, sporting and scientific co-operation including supporting the creation and promotion of large scale renewable energy programmes by the UAE.
Our work also aims to support British citizens in the UAE and to foster effective trade and economic co-operation that will further enhance links between British and Emirati businesses to operate successfully.
Whistleblowing
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been made to his Department by its staff since 6 June 2006. [301494]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have had a very small number of allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing since 6 June 2006. No further details can be provided because of the need to protect the identity of those involved.
Cabinet Office
Population: Statistics
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment the UK Statistics Authority has made of the accuracy of the population projections at the 20-year range which it and its predecessors made in the last 50 years. [301651]
Ms Butler: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply to the right hon. Member. A copy of their response will be placed in the Library.
Energy and Climate Change
Cancer: Children
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation to publish its review of the incidence of childhood cancers. [301060]
Mr. Kidney: I understand that the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) hope that the outcome of their further review of the incidence of childhood cancer around nuclear power stations will be available in the spring of 2010. We refer to the review in our consultation on my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's proposed decisions on the regulatory justification of new nuclear power station designs, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House and are available at:
Electricity: Prices
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what the average cost has been of a unit of electricity supplied to domestic dwellings in each year since 1997; [300585]
(2) how many units of electricity have been consumed in domestic dwellings in each year since 1997. [300586]
Mr. Kidney: The information is as follows:
| Domestic consumption (TWh) | Average price per unit (pence/kWh) | |
| (1) January-August 2009 | ||
Price information is the average unit price for UK customers consuming 3,300 kWh per year paying on standard credit terms. Figures for 2009 are provisional. Consumption data for 2009 are given up to the latest available month (August).
Natural Gas: Prices
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what the average cost has been of a unit of gas supplied to domestic dwellings in each year since 1997; [300587]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of units of gas consumed in domestic dwellings in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997. [300782]
Mr. Kidney: The information is as follows:
| Domestic consumption (TWh) | Average price per unit (pence/kWh) | |
| (1) January-June 2009 | ||
Price information is the average unit price for GB customers consuming 18,000 kWh per year paying on standard credit terms. Figures for 2009 are provisional. Consumption data for 2009 are given up to the latest available month (June).
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Taxis
Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contracts his Department has with private hire taxi companies; and what expenditure his Department has incurred against each such contract in each of the last three years. [300840]
Mr. Simon: Private hire taxi services are provided by Addison Lee. During the last three years the following amounts were spent:
| £ | |
Departmental Theft
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of his Department's officials have (a) been reprimanded, (b) had their contract of employment terminated and (c) been prosecuted for theft of departmental property in each of the last three years; and what items were stolen in each case. [300964]
Mr. Simon: At no time in the last three years has a DCMS employee been reprimanded or prosecuted due to theft of departmental property. For the years 2006-07 and 2008-09 no DCMS employee has had their contract of employment terminated due to theft of departmental property. In the year 2007-08, one employee had their employment contract terminated due to the misuse of a Government procurement card on unauthorised purchases. This matter is currently the subject of legal proceedings before the High Court, and it would not be appropriate to offer further details at this stage.
Gambling Commission
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what mechanism the performance of the Gambling Commission against its objectives is assessed; and how often the Commission's performance is assessed. [301346]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission's performance is primarily assessed through a funding agreement with the Department which includes their agreed strategic objectives, together with funding and performance indicators/targets. The Department holds a formal sponsorship meeting with the Commission quarterly to review performance against both the indicators set out in the funding agreement and the Commission's corporate plan.
In addition, I recently held my annual meeting with the chairman and chief executive as required by the funding agreement. The Commission has also been subject to three independent reviews, all of which considered them to be fit for purpose (National Audit Office, Office of Government Commerce and Hampton Implementation Review).
Gambling Commission: Allowances
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much officials of the Gambling Commission claimed for reimbursement of travel expenses in the last 12 months. [301344]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission have advised that their officials claimed £217,655.29 for reimbursement of travel expenses in the 12 months to 31 October 2009. This figure includes the reimbursement for travel undertaken by 134 employees including those who perform routine compliance and enforcement duties.
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