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11 Jan 2010 : Column 701W—continued
The reports show that since 2001 the Investigatory Powers Tribunal made determinations in favour of complainants in 2005 and 2008. The former related to two complainants who lodged a joint complaint; the latter related to two separate complainants. Copies of the Commissioners' reports are in the House Library.
Right of Search
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) bodies and (b) officials are authorised to carry out inspections and investigations of private houses and premises without a search warrant; [308577]
(2) what timetable has been set for the publication of the report by Lord West on powers of entry; and how many representations that review has received. [308693]
Mr. Hanson: The list of statutory powers of entry to dwellings and premises can be found at:
A record is not held centrally on the number of officials authorised to gain entry for enforcement purposes. The outcome of the review of entry powers will be published in March 2010.
Telephone Tapping
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each of the four national security categories have been informed by the Metropolitan Police that their voicemails had been illegally tapped on behalf of media organisations as a result of the investigation leading to the conviction of Mr. Glenn Mulcaire and Mr. Clive Goodman in 2007. [307874]
Alan Johnson [holding answer 6 January 2010]: I understand from the Metropolitan Police Service that a very small number of individuals were contacted in the categories listed, and that no additional individuals have been contacted since Assistant Commissioner Yates' statements in July last year.
The MPS is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of those who may have been subject to illegal interception of their communications, but is actively considering against that background what information might be released which would not permit the possible identification of individuals.
Terrorism: Stop and Search
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to police forces on use of powers under anti-terrorism legislation to stop and search people taking photographs. [308735]
Mr. Hanson: Guidance has been provided to the police on a number of occasions regarding the use of counter terrorism stop and search powers in relation to taking photographs. These have included the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) guidance on stop and search which was revised and reissued to all forces in November 2008. It explains the background and purpose of stop and search powers, the different circumstances in which they might be used, including circumstances where photography may be involved.
In August 2009 the Home Office published a national circular clarifying the use of counterterrorism legislation in regards to photography in public places. The Circular (012/2009) can be found on the Home Office website. I also wrote to all chief constables whose forces had standing section 44 authorisations. This letter reiterated how the powers should be used and was accompanied by a copy of the national circular.
The Metropolitan police also issued their own local guidance on counterterrorism legislation with regard to photography in public places in August 2009. The guidance was published on the public Metropolitan police website. And on 15 December 2009 John Yates, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan police, issued further guidance to all Metropolitan police officers on the use of stop and search powers in relation to people taking photographs.
Travel: Personal Records
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether airlines are required under the e-Borders scheme to provide credit card or bank details of passengers; and what categories of information airlines have provided to date. [307871]
Alan Johnson: [holding answer 6 January 2010]: Carriers can be required to provide reservation data, known as Other Passenger Information (OPI) to the e-Borders system, but only if it is collected in the normal course of their business. This may include details of method of payment, including credit card information.
There are 53 pieces of information that may have been provided by carriers to date. These are outlined in schedule 1 to the Immigration and Police (Passenger,
Crew and Service Information) Order 2008, which can be found at the following weblink:
A copy is available in the House Library.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the list of Other Passenger Information required by the e-Borders programme. [307875]
Alan Johnson [holding answer 6 January 2010]: Full details of the information to be collected have been outlined in schedule 1 to the Immigration and Police (Passenger, Crew and Service Information) Order 2008 which came into effect on 1 March 2008.
This information can be found on the following weblink:
A copy is available in the House Library.
UK Border Agency
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which countries the UK Border Agency has offices (a) co-located and (b) not co-located with the British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. [307113]
Mr. Woolas: All the UK Border Agency's overseas offices are based in British diplomatic missions, except for the UK visa section, which is in the UKBA's estate in Croydon. The agency's commercial partners also run visa application centres for the agency in 110 locations. These are not co-located with the diplomatic missions.
Vetting
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to police forces to take account of the judgment of the Supreme Court on the right to make representations about information held on individuals and disclosed by a Criminal Records Bureau check; and if he will make a statement. [307270]
Mr. Hanson: Guidance will be issued by the Home Office in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to take account of the judgment of the Supreme Court as it related to those cases where a right of representation may be appropriate.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Departmental Pay
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in 2008-09. [306903]
Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 January 2010, Official Report, column 566W.
Departmental Training
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) cost was of each of the last four away days attended by a Minister in his Department; and which Minister attended on each occasion. [305465]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office ministerial team meet in a formal capacity twice a year to discuss strategic issues with senior officials and advisers. These meetings are usually held away from the office and take a full working day. Details of the last four away days attended by FCO Ministers are as follows:
17 September 2009 at 1 Carlton Gardens - attended by 28 people including the right hon. David Miliband, my hon. Friend Ivan Lewis and my noble Friend Baroness Glenys Kinnock. The total cost of the away day was £591.
5 January 2009 at Chevening Estate - attended by 45 people including the right hon. David Miliband, my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown, the hon. Caroline Flint, my hon. Friend Bill Rammell and my hon. Friend Gillian Merron. The total cost of the away day was £1,797.
30 October 2008 at 1 Carlton Gardens - attended by 23 people including the right hon. David Miliband, my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown, the hon. Caroline Flint, my hon. Friend Bill Rammell and my hon. Friend Gillian Merron. The total cost of the away day was £540.
30-31 March 2008 at Chevening Estate - attended by 28 people including the right hon. David Miliband, my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown, the hon. Kim Howells, the right hon. Jim Murphy and my hon. Friend Meg Munn. The total cost of the away day was £5,024. This event was held over two days (Sunday and Monday) and includes accommodation and other associated costs.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) cost was of each of the last four away days held by his Department's Board. [305467]
Chris Bryant: The Board of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office meets in formal session once a month to discuss the delivery of the policies and services decided upon by Ministers. Executive Members of the Board also meet regularly between formal Board meetings to discuss the day-to-day operations of the Department. On occasion, the Board meets for longer-typically half-day-sessions away from the office to discuss longer-term strategic issues and the Board's objectives. The last four such occasions were as follows:
Date: 11 March 2008
Location: 1 Carlton Gardens, London
Cost: £870 (security charge and catering)
Date: 3 October 2008
Location: 1 Carlton Gardens, London
Cost: £665 (security charge and catering)
Date: 6 March 2009
Location: 1 Carlton Gardens, London
Cost: £314 (catering)
Date: 10 June 2009
Location: Chevening House, Kent
Cost: £1,367 (facility fee and catering)
Government Hospitality: Wines
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 197W, on Government hospitality: wines, at which events wine from the Government wine cellar was served in the last 12 months. [310204]
Chris Bryant: Government hospitality manages over 200 events annually for all departments across government. Wine is not served at all functions. Alcohol is generally offered at receptions, lunches and dinners except where dietary and religious considerations would make it inappropriate.
It is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of the events at which wines or alcohol were served throughout 2009 without incurring disproportionate costs.
Iran: Baha'i Faith
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent representations he has made to the Government of Iran on the seven person informal leadership group of the Baha'i community in Iran; and if he will make a statement; [310282]
(2) whether he has requested the Iranian authorities to guarantee the safety of the accused informal Baha'i leadership in Iran and for any trial to be held in public; and if he will make a statement. [310283]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Alongside our EU partners we have made clear to the Iranian authorities our concerns at the charges of 'espionage' and "corruption on earth" levelled against the seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for over a year without trial, most recently through the EU presidency, which summoned the Iranian Ambassador on 10 July 2009. In recent days we have learnt that their trial has been scheduled for 12 January 2010. We have already spoken to EU partners who share our belief that we should collectively make clear to Iran in advance of that date that they have international obligations to ensure that, if it goes ahead, it is a fair trial.
We have been active in using multilateral forums to call for the Iranian authorities to respect the rights of Baha'is and other religious and ethnic minorities. On 18 December 2009, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution on human rights in Iran for the seventh consecutive year. The Resolution condemns 'attacks on Baha'is and their faith in state-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the state to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically'.
We will continue to urge Iran to respect the right to freedom of religion and belief as described in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a state party.
Morocco: Exports
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the purchase by UK companies of goods from Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. [309543]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any reports or representations from UK companies regarding the purchase of goods from Western Sahara or the legalities of such purchases.
The UK continues to maintain its position that Morocco, as the de facto administering power of Western Sahara, is obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities under administration-including the extraction and exportation of phosphates-do not adversely affect the interests of the people in Western Sahara. This was also the opinion of the EU Legal Service when considering the legality of the 2006 EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement before it was finalised.
Wales
Departmental Advertising
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on (a) television, (b) radio, (c) print and (d) online advertising in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [309934]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office has no expenditure planned for advertising in either financial year.
Departmental Surveys
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of his Department's most recent staff survey; which organisation carried out the survey; and what the cost of the survey was. [310234]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office people survey was delivered as part of the Ministry of Justice people survey, and as such its costs were borne by, and not split out from, those of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice's share of ORC International's costs for providing the 2009 survey was £192,000. By procuring a single supplier for staff surveys in 2009-10 the civil service has saved 35 per cent. on the total cost of staff surveys in 2008-09. The results are expected to be received next month and we will put a copy in the Library in due course.
Domestic Visits
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the (a) date, (b) destination and (c) purpose was of each official visit in Wales made by (i) the Secretary of State and (ii) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in each of the last two years. [310277]
Mr. Hain: Since my re-appointment in June 2009, both my hon. Friend and I have always undertaken a busy programme of meetings, visits and functions with a wide range of organisations in Wales. It would require a disproportionate cost to identify and list all of the visits we have made, and those of my predecessor my right hon. Friend the Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy), but specific examples of visits are referred to in previous Wales Office Annual Reports.
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