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8 Mar 2010 : Column 29W—continued
Mr. Ivan Lewis: It is clear that the people of Iran are leading the charge for human rights and democracy. However, they need to know that their calls for basic rights and freedoms are supported by the international community. The Iranian Government have a duty to ensure that their actions live up to the human rights standards to which they have committed. The United Kingdom was one of many UN member states to draw attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran during its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva on 15 February. The HRC is currently in session in Geneva, and we are seeking every opportunity to draw attention to the situation in Iran, both nationally and as the EU. My noble Friend Baroness Kinnock raised our concerns when addressing the Council on 2 March and we did so again in our response to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 4 March.
We raised concerns with the Iranian authorities on at least 70 occasions last year, either bilaterally or through the EU and UN. We will continue to work hard alongside partners, international non-governmental organisations and civil society to ensure that the Iranian regime is held to account over its appalling human rights record.
Iran: Nuclear Power
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's latest assessment is of Iran's nuclear capabilities. [321164]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The latest Iran report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General highlights that Iran has increased its stockpile of low enriched uranium to 2,065 kg in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions; is starting to enrich to higher levels when there is no civilian purpose and has announced plans for 10 new enrichment plants. Iran's refusal to answer questions about possible military dimensions to its programme leads the IAEA to express concern about development of a nuclear payload.
Israel: EU External Trade
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the provision of EU concessions to the State of Israel following the European Court of Justice ruling that Israeli goods made in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank cannot be considered Israeli; and if he will make a statement. [320609]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 4 March 2010]: The European Court of Justice's recent ruling in the case of C-386/08 (Brita-Gmbh) concerned the procedures which a EU member state's customs authority should follow in a case where imported goods are shown as being of Israeli origin, and preferential customs tariff treatment is claimed under the EC-Israel Association Agreement, but where there is reason to suppose that the goods in question did in fact originate in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).
This ruling has no effect on the Government's policies, since the Court's ruling confirms the correctness of the policy already in place, and I have had no discussions.
There are no inconsistencies between the Court's ruling and the technical advice concerning the labelling of produce grown in the OPTs that was issued by DEFRA on 10 December 2009.
Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what negotiating position his Department has adopted for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2010; and what objectives he has set for the outcomes of that conference. [320522]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The United Kingdom is committed to working intensively with a wide range of international partners to establish consensus for strengthening the non-proliferation and disarmament regime.
We want the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to produce a mandate or action plan, which is balanced across the three mutually-reinforcing NPT pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Spain: EC Presidency
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had in the General Affairs Council on the agenda of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. [320290]
Chris Bryant: I attended the General Affairs Council on 25 January 2010 where Spain's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation presented the programme for the Spanish Presidency. We welcomed the Spanish Presidency's choice of priorities, in particular the focus on economic recovery with a low carbon, social agenda at its core.
A more comprehensive overview was given in our Command Paper 7778 "Prospects for the European Union: The Spanish Presidency", laid before the House on 29 January 2010.
Wales
Referendums
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which (a) individuals and (b) organisations will be consulted on the request made by the National Assembly for Wales for a referendum to be held under the provisions of the Government of Wales Act 2006. [321167]
Mr. Hain: These issues are currently being progressed.
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what date he is required to give a response to the request for a referendum from the National Assembly for Wales. [321168]
Welsh Language
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and the Welsh Assembly Government on the use of the Welsh language in Welsh politics; and if he will make a statement. [320840]
Mr. Hain: I discuss a range of issues with ministerial colleagues in Whitehall and with the First Minister including those relating to the Welsh language and the passage of the Welsh Language LCO. I also met the Welsh Language Group Mudiadau Dathlu'r Gymraeg last month.
Culture, Media and Sport
Camelot
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions his Department has had with (a) the National Lottery Commission and (b) Camelot on Camelot's application to operate certain commercial services in addition to the National Lottery; and if he will make a statement; [320293]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure the National Lottery Commission consults stakeholders and other interested parties on the implications for its core National Lottery business and brand of Camelot's application to operate certain commercial services; and if he will make a statement. [320294]
Mr. Sutcliffe: My officials and I have regular meetings with both the National Lottery Commission and Camelot about the full range of National Lottery regulation issues, and the possibility of Camelot providing commercial services which are ancillary to the operation of the National Lottery has been discussed in that context.
The approval of the National Lottery Commission is required before the National Lottery operator can undertake any ancillary activity and the commission is currently considering a proposal from Camelot to offer commercial services using National Lottery terminals. The commission will consider the proposal in light of its statutory duties and therefore will take into account issues such as the implications for the core National Lottery business and brand.
The commission is currently consulting on the EU/competition law considerations which may arise from the proposal, as these are issues in which those already offering such services have a direct interest. The commission considers that it will have sufficient information to exercise its discretion properly, without consulting on the implications for the core National Lottery business and brand.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the total carbon dioxide emissions from his Department's buildings in each year since 2005. [319806]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The estimate of carbon dioxide emissions from offices is as follows:
| Tonnes of carbon dioxide | |
Information prior to 2006 is not available.
Departmental ICT
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information technology projects initiated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies were cancelled prior to completion in the last 12 months; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse. [320429]
Mr. Sutcliffe: No information technology projects have been cancelled prior to completion by my Department or its agency in the last 12 months.
Departmental Marketing
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 103W, on departmental marketing, how much his Department and agencies have spent on advertising, marketing, public relations and publicity in relation to the (a) Real Help Now and (b) Building Britain's Future themed campaign to date. [320461]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Both Real Help Now and Building Britain's Future are cross-government campaigns.
This Department spent £300 on a flyer for the Future Jobs Fund, as part of the Real Jobs Now campaign. We have not spent anything directly on Building Britain's Future.
Departmental Offices
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on office refurbishments in each of the last 10 years. [320468]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department has spent the following on office refurbishments in each of the last 10 years.
| £ | |
Departmental Plants
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies has spent on pot plants in 2009-10. [319229]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department has spent £11,018 to date on pot plants in the financial year 2009-10.
The Royal Parks has spent £545 to date on pot plants in the financial year 2009-10.
National Lottery: Sports
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much National Lottery funding was spent on grass roots sports (a) in Poole and (b) nationally in each year from 1997 to 2009, expressed in real terms. [320485]
Mr. Sutcliffe: National Lottery funding for grass roots sports is delivered by two bodies, Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).
(a) Lottery funding to Poole channelled through Sport England from 1997 to 2009 is as follows:
| Financial y ear | Sport England lottery funding Poole (£) |
| (1) To 31 December 2009 | |
(b) Total Lottery funding channelled through Sport England nationally from 1997 to 2009 is as follows:
| Financial y ear | Sport England lottery funding nationally (£) |
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