Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 24 February 2010
Wales
Manufacturing Industries
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been employed in the manufacturing sector in Wales in each year since 1997. [318482]
Mr. Hain: The estimated numbers of employee jobs in the manufacturing sector in Wales in each year since 1997 are as follows:
| As at September each year | Number |
| Source: NOMIS, Employee Job Estimates | |
Ports
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Transport on ports policy between the date of publication of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee's Fifteenth Report of Session 2008-09, on Ports in Wales HC 601 and the date upon which the Government responded to that report. [318279]
Mr. David: The Wales Office contributed to the formulation of the Government response to the Welsh Affairs Committee "Ports in Wales" Report for which the Department of Transport was the lead Department. There were no direct discussions between Ministers of the respective departments but the issues raised by the Report are discussed on an ongoing basis.
Scotland
Computer Games Industry
4. Mr. McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had on assistance to the computer games industry in Scotland. [317404]
Ann McKechin: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with colleagues on a range of issues affecting the games industry in Scotland.
During a visit to Abertay university, Dundee, in December 2009 my right hon. Friend announced a £2.5 million investment for a games industry centre from the Government's strategic investment fund.
Social Deprivation: Ayrshire
12. Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on policy to reduce levels of social deprivation in Ayrshire. [317413]
Mr. Jim Murphy: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues about deprivation and reducing poverty including discussions about tax credits, the national minimum wage and employment.
Economic Performance
13. Mr. Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had on the performance of the Scottish economy. [317414]
Mr. Jim Murphy: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues, representatives from business, trade unions and communities about the performance of the Scottish economy.
Common Agricultural Policy
14. Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on discussions at EU level on reform of the common agricultural policy. [317415]
Ann McKechin: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues.
Departmental Energy
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the estimated (a) amount and (b) cost was of energy used in his Department in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. [317232]
Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office did not centrally record all of its utility usage before the current financial year. This information is, however, now recorded and will be reported in our forthcoming annual report.
Future Jobs Fund
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Future Jobs Fund in Scotland. [317407]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Future Jobs Fund is making a significant impact in Scotland. Last week I announced funding for a further 1,371 new jobs in Scotland through the Future Jobs Fund, which brings the total number of jobs created in Scotland to just under 9,000.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Dubai: Death
Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Dubai on the alleged murder of a Palestinian national by a group alleged to include British passport holders; and if he will make a statement. [318478]
Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) of 22 February 2010, Official Report, columns 22-23.
Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Israel on the use of British passports in association with the death in Dubai of a Palestinian national; and if he will make a statement. [318480]
Chris Bryant: The defrauding of British passports is unacceptable. The Government will continue to take all the action that is necessary to protect British nationals from identity-fraud. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made this clear in a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Brussels on 23 February 2010.
Nigeria: Human Rights
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights record of the government of Nigeria. [318204]
Chris Bryant: The UK is committed to supporting the Government of Nigeria in addressing the human rights challenges it faces. We welcome Acting President Jonathan's commitment of 9 February 2010 to ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians' lives and property while respecting human rights.
We have recently raised our concerns with the appropriate state and federal authorities about issues such as the rights of children in Akwa Ibom state, the handling of unrest by the Nigerian security services in Maiduguri in 2009 and Jos in 2010, as well as allegations of extra- judicial killings by the Nigerian police force in Enugu state, as identified in Amnesty International's report of 9 December 2009. These issues have been covered particularly in discussions with the Inspector General of the Nigerian police force and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Our high commission in Abuja and the Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to raise UK concerns at the highest level, and to encourage reform and accountability in Nigeria's police force, for example through DFID's Justice for All programme.
Home Department
Drugs: Crime
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of illegal drugs trafficked through the UK. [317216]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The trafficking of drugs to the UK is the subject of constant attention by the law enforcement agencies working collaboratively, in the United Kingdom and overseas, against the drugs and individuals involved. In 2008-09 the Serious Organised Crime Agency was involved, with partner agencies, in seizures of 88 tonnes of cocaine and heroin. SOCA works closely with international partners to help them destroy production capability in source countries and deny traffickers the ability to operate their routes to the UK. This enforcement activity appears to have contributed to increases in the wholesale price of cocaine and a reduction in its purity at street level, changes which are suggestive of a shortage of supply of the drug in the UK.
We are currently implementing the recommendations of 'Extending Our Reach: a comprehensive approach to tackling serious organised crime' which was published in July 2009 which, through a wide range of measures, will improve the UK's effectiveness against organised crime, including drugs trafficking.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Europe, (b) the US and (c) Afghanistan on measures to tackle the trafficking of illegal drugs. [317217]
Mr. Alan Campbell: I had discussions with US counterparts (John Brennan, the President's Assistant on Counter-Terrorism, Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security Secretary, and Eric Holder, the Attorney General) in Washington in September. We discussed measures to tackle the trafficking of illegal drugs, looking at source countries and supply routes. Our discussions immediately followed my visit to the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force in Key West, Florida, where joint work is producing strong results in interdicting the traffic in cocaine from Latin America and the Caribbean. I secured agreement for the creation of a senior level US/UK group on organised crime, to include counter narcotics activity.
In my absence on other business earlier this month, Lord West met Gil Kerlikowske, the US Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in London and a number of common issues were discussed, including operational cooperation in tackling drug trafficking.
I continue to take a close interest in EU proposals and actions to tackle drug trafficking, where UK officials are fully engaged with our EU colleagues, focusing on work in Latin America and the Caribbean, West Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Powers of Entry
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to his Department's document entitled Guidance on Powers of Entry-Scrutiny by the Home Department, how many requests for new powers of entry from organisations other than the police have been (a) approved and (b) refused by his Department since October 2007. [312858]
Mr. Hanson: Applications are submitted to the Home Department in accordance with guidance issued to Government Departments on entry powers:
The function of referral to the Home Office is to assist Departments in complying with that guidance rather than refusing applications. The following statutory provisions have been subject to referral to my Department since October 2007.
| Secondary legislation | ||||
| Year | Statute | Department responsible | Number of powers | |
|
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (as amended by Political Parties and Elections Act 2009) | ||||
|
Schedule 19B Investigatory powers of Electoral Commission-Para. 2: Issue by JP of Inspection warrants authorising EC staff to enter premises | ||||
|
Childcare Act 2006 (as amend by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009) Part 3A Inspection of Children Centres. | ||||
|
s.98D: Inspection of Children Centres powers of entry without warrant. | ||||
|
s.98F: Power of constable to assist in exercise of power of entry under a warrant. | ||||
|
Part 3 s.55 Power to make Order conferring/extending powers of entry, search seizure. | ||||
|
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Repeals and replaces powers of entry etc. under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003) | ||||
|
s.62-65: Powers of person authorised by Care Quality Commission to enter and inspect regulated premises. | ||||
|
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/pdf/ukpga_20080030_en.pdf | ||||
|
s.194: JP may issue warrant to authorised BoE inspector appointed under s.193 or constable to enter and search premises/part of premises where inter-bank payment system is managed or operated. | ||||
|
Coroners and Justice Act 2009-Powers for Coroners to investigate deaths | ||||
|
Schedule 5: para. 3 Chief Coroner may authorise senior coroner to enter and search land | ||||
|
Data Protection Act 1998 (as amended by Coroners and Justice Act 2009, Sch. 20 Part 6) | ||||
|
Schedule 9 (Powers of Entry and Inspection): Para. 1(1A)/(1B): Allows circuit judge or District Judge to grant warrant to authorise DP Commissioner to enter and search premises specified in an assessment notice to determine whether data controller is complying with DP principles. | ||||
|
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Part 8, Chapter 2 Common enforcement powers | ||||
|
s.246: Power of enforcement officer to board and inspect vessels and marine installations | ||||
|
s.247: Power of enforcement officer to enter and inspect premises for purposes of exercising functions. | ||||
|
s.248: Power of enforcement officer to enter and inspect vehicles purposes of exercising functions. | ||||
|
s.249/Schedule 17: Provides for issue of warrant to authorise enforcement officer to enter a dwelling. (Believed these provisions may replace one or more powers in marine/fishery protection/regulation type legislation) DEFRA | ||||
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