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EU External Trade: Colombia and Peru

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2010, Official Report, column 316W, on Peru: EU external trade, what mechanisms are in place to monitor the implementation of the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the EU-Andean (Peru and Colombia) Free Trade Agreement. [5987]

Mr Davey: The Trade and Sustainable Development chapter of the agreement incorporates a clause committing each party to establish a Council on Trade and Sustainable Development. The Council shall consist of representatives responsible for labour, environmental and trade matters who will meet within the first year following the entry into force of the agreement and thereafter as necessary. The Council will have a duty to identify actions for achievement of the objectives of the agreement and to identify recommendations for good implementation. Once a year the Council will meet with civil society organisations and the public to carry out discussions related to the implementation of this chapter.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2010, Official Report, column 316W, on Peru: EU external trade, whether he has made an assessment of the likely effects on the level of illegal logging in the Peruvian Amazon of the EU-Andean (Peru and Colombia) Free Trade Agreement. [5988]

Mr Davey: The European Commission has undertaken extensive analysis of the EU-Andean (Peru and Colombia) Free Trade Agreement, which is in the public domain. The latest report, dating from July 2009 prior to conclusion of negotiations, states that increased market access for processed timber products can be expected to add to existing deforestation trends, and illegal logging is a significant contributor to this problem. The Sustainable Development chapter of the agreement contains provisions to counter this, aiming to improve forest law enforcement and governance, and promote trade in legal and sustainable forest products.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2010, Official Report, column 316W, on Peru: EU external trade, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of the human rights suspension clause in the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the EU-Andean (Peru and Colombia) Free Trade Agreement. [5989]

Mr Davey: The Human Rights suspension clause in the EU-Andean (Peru and Colombia) Free Trade Agreement sends an important political signal that EU member states will always aim to promote principles of human rights and democracy. It also provides a locus for the EU to regularly raise human rights concerns with Peru and Colombia.

Further Education: Finance

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which further education colleges are eligible to apply for funding from the College Investment Fund. [5485]


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Mr Hayes: There are 158 colleges eligible to receive a share of the renewal grant. These colleges are listed as follows. These very same colleges are also eligible to apply for a share of the enhanced renewal grant.

Eligible colleges


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Further Education: Greater London

Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which further education colleges in London will be eligible to apply for funds from the £50 million of capital funding announced by his Department on 21 June 2010. [6465]


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Mr Hayes: There are 27 further education colleges from the Greater London Region eligible to receive a share of the £30 million 'Renewal Grant'. These colleges are listed as follows. These very same colleges are also eligible to apply for a share of the £20 million 'Enhanced Renewal Grant'.

Eligible colleges

Graduates: Employment

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assistance he plans to provide to graduate jobseekers. [6161]

Mr Willetts: We recognise that the job market remains competitive for new graduates in these difficult economic times, as it does for others. However, a degree remains a good investment in the long term.

The Government are committed to helping prepare graduates find work. That is why it is vital that prospective students are equipped with the best possible information up front, which is why I have asked universities to provide employability statements to help them make informed choices.

Higher Education: Anti-Semitism

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2010, Official Report, columns 314-15, on higher education: anti-Semitism, when he plans to meet representatives of the Jewish community and the higher education sector; if he will place in the Library a copy of the agenda of that meeting; and if he will make a statement; [5379]


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(2) what his policy is on the continuance of the higher education sub-group of the cross-Government working group on anti-Semitism; what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues about this group since his appointment; and if he will make a statement; [5584]

(3) what guidance his Department has issued to higher education institutions on combating (a) anti-Semitism, (b) stereotyping of the Jewish community and (c) violent extremism; what discussions his Department has had with the Jewish community on the issue; and if he will make a statement. [5585]

Mr Willetts: The meeting with Jewish community and higher education stakeholders is in the process of being arranged and I anticipate that it will involve broad discussions on anti-Semitism and the implications for the higher education sector, including the future of the BIS Anti-Semitism and Higher Education Group. A formal agenda has not yet been agreed for this meeting but I would be happy to place a copy in the Library when it is available. I have held no discussions with ministerial colleagues about this group.

The former Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills provided updated and revised guidance to higher education institutions on 'Promoting Good Campus Relations, Fostering Shared Values and Preventing Violent Extremism in Universities and Higher Education Colleges', available here:

This provided detailed guidance to help institutions address issues concerning violent extremism, applicable to any form this might take on campus. The Department has not issued any guidance about the stereotyping of any community.

The sector itself has also produced guidance which offers institutions practical strategies to deal with instances of hate crimes and intolerance on campus, including anti-Semitism.

There is no place for racism of any form, including anti-Semitism, in higher education. Universities have the primary responsibility for ensuring that their students are not subject to threatening or abusive behaviour on campus and have access to a strong legislative framework and guidance to help them deal effectively with instances of intolerance, racism and harassment in their institutions. Government would expect them to vigorously tackle these issues when they arise and report criminal attacks to the police when they occur on campus, or support students to do so.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which directorate of his Department has responsibility for the (a) formulation and (b) implementation of policy on (i) countering anti-Semitism in higher education, (ii) the higher education sub-group of the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism, (iii) the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism and (iv) Government policy on the work of the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Anti-Semitism; how many officials in his Department at each pay band are employed in this Directorate; what other posts in his Department each such official has held; and if he will make a statement. [5586]


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Mr Willetts: The higher education directorate has the responsibility for policy on anti-Semitism in higher education. There are four officials within this directorate who cover policy on anti-Semitism as part of their remit-by grade these are two senior civil servants, one team leader and one higher executive officer. As experienced civil servants these officials have undertaken work in a number other posts across Government in the past.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what files his Department holds on (a) the higher education sub-group of the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism, (b) the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism, (c) the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into anti-Semitism and (d) countering anti-Semitism in higher education; and if he will make a statement. [5587]

Mr Willetts: The Department holds the necessary records on each of (a), (b), (c) and (d) to enable officials to provide the appropriate policy support to Ministers.

Mobile Phones: Health Hazards

Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will introduce regulations requiring mobile phone retailers to display prominently at the point of sale the amount of radiation absorbed by the user for each particular model. [5484]

Mr Vaizey: We have no plans to introduce such requirements. Advice on the availability of specific absorption rates (SAR) values from mobile phones was given in the May 2000 report (Stewart Report) from the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones and an update was given in the Mobile Phones and Health 2004 Report from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) now merged into the Health Protection Agency.

In addition, the UK's four Mobile Network Operators, namely 3UK, 02, Vodafone and Everything Everywhere (following the merger of Orange and T-Mobile in March 2010) have resources within their customer service departments to provide information and advice to users regarding SAR values on handsets.

Information about SAR values is available on manufacturers' websites and also on the Mobile Manufacturers Forum website at:

Rover Group

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the contribution by the Secretary of State in response to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield on 16 June 2010, Official Report, column 898, what the outcome has been of his inquiries into the status of the MG Rover Trust Fund. [6415]

Mr Prisk: The Department has looked into this issue. Secretary of State wrote to the Hon Member on 4 July enclosing a copy of a letter to the Justice for Rover Workers Group which set out the Department's position. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.


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Video Games: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the computer games industry in the North East on assistance to that industry. [6166]

Mr Vaizey: BIS Ministers have had none. However, as the hon. Member will know, the computer games industry is very important to the economy in the north-east. As such, I hope to speak to representatives from the industry in the near future to discuss how the cuts to corporation tax to 24%, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his emergency budget, and the increase in the employer national insurance threshold will stimulate further growth and expansion of this sector.

Cabinet Office

Departmental Internet

Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what criteria have been set to govern the creation of new Government websites; and what role his Department's Efficiency Board will have in (a) the application of those criteria and (b) otherwise in the process of establishing a new Government website. [6538]

Mr Maude: I am determined to reduce the number of Government websites and so the creation of any new sites will be exceptional and only permitted where its objective cannot be met in any other way. The reduction in the number of websites is part of the overall control on communications spending, which the Efficiency Board is overseeing.

Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Your Freedom website cost to build; what his most recent estimate is of the projected running costs for the website in each of the next three years; what the monetary value is of his Department's contract with Delib in respect of the website; on what date the creation of the website was authorised by his Department's Efficiency Board; and if he will make a statement. [6539]

Mr Maude: The total cost of building

was £3,200 including vat. The application, which was bought off the shelf, is situated on an existing website

The most recent estimate for projected running costs for the website in this financial year is £19,853.98 including VAT; this includes the building costs mentioned. This is an approximation because the overall cost is related to the amount of traffic received by the application. This cost could go up or down according to volume of traffic. It is not possible to give running costs over a three year time period as the lifespan of the project has not yet been decided.

The creation of the Your Freedom website did not come before the Efficiency Board as the estimated cost was below the £20,000 threshold for approval.


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Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what policy on moderation is applied to his Department's Your Freedom website. [6542]

Mr Maude: The moderation policy is available on the Your Freedom application at

Government Departments: Manpower

Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office from whom he received advice on conducting his Department's survey into non-payroll staff in respect of departments and non-departmental public bodies. [6368]

Mr Maude: Further to my answer of 29 June 2010, Official Report, column 525W in conducting the recent work force management information scoping exercise, advice was sought from appropriate Cabinet Office officials.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Liverpool

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many of those resident in Liverpool have been in receipt of jobseekers' allowance for over 12 months. [6413]

Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.


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Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 6 July 2010:

Deputy Prime Minister

Absent Voting: Fraud

Graham Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department plans to take to prevent postal vote fraud. [4345]

Mr Harper: The Government are committed to tackling all forms of electoral fraud. We have set out our intention to tackle fraudulent electoral registration by speeding up the introduction of individual electoral registration. I understand that the Electoral Commission and the Association of Chief Police Officers will produce a joint report on allegations of electoral malpractice early next year. We will consider carefully the findings of this report and any recommendations about this issue contained in the reports of the Electoral Commission into the conduct of the recent general election.

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