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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 24 March 2011
Prime Minister
Departmental Hospitality
John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons the transparency pages in respect of Ministers’ meetings and hospitality on the 10 Downing street website have not been updated since September 2010; and what procedures he has put in place to ensure that the pages are regularly updated. [48799]
The Prime Minister: The Government are publishing details of Ministers’ meetings, hospitality, overseas travel, and gifts given and received over £140 on a quarterly basis in accordance with the new Ministerial Code. Information for the period August to September was published in December 2010. Information for the period October to December will be published very shortly.
Leader of the House
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Leader of the House how much his Office provided to each charity it funds in each of the last five years; and how much he has allocated for funding to each such charity in each of the next five years. [48279]
Sir George Young: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons does not directly provide funding to any charities.
Wales
Cyfanfyd: Finance
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with the Secretary for State for International Development on reductions to the budget of Cyfanfyd; and if she will make a statement. [48697]
Mr David Jones: None. Notice of these reductions was given to Cyfanfyd in February 2010.
DFID provides funding for a range of development education projects throughout the UK, including in Wales. DFID's funding for programmes to raise awareness of international development, and for development education, is currently being reviewed.
DFID is continuing to engage with the development education sector in Wales, and will consider options for further funding following the results of the review.
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Departmental Hospitality
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2011, Official Report, column 1W, on St David's day, what the name is of each person who was invited to her St David's day event at Gwydyr house on 1 March 2011. [48700]
Mrs Gillan: I have no plans to release this information.
Departmental Plants
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since her appointment. [48414]
Mr David Jones: Since May 2010, the Wales Office has spent £20 on indoor plants. No other plants or trees have been purchased.
Departmental Theft
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what items with a value of over £100 have been taken without authorisation from her Department since her appointment; and what steps have been taken to recover such items. [48432]
Work-based Stress
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are in place in her Department to (a) reduce levels of work-based stress and (b) provide assistance to staff diagnosed with such stress. [48194]
Mr David Jones: Staff in my Department follow policies and procedures set by the Ministry of Justice for any matters relating to work-based stress.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department provided to each charity it funds in each of the last five years; and how much she has allocated for funding to each such charity in each of the next five years. [48284]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office does not fund any charities.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has carried out an impact assessment on the effects of reductions in his Department's administration costs on frontline services. [48794]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: In the spending review settlement for 2011-12 to 2014-15, I preserved as far as possible expenditure on front line services to secure delivery of the Department's key priorities. I am confident that the larger reduction in the Department's administrative costs can be achieved without jeopardising that delivery.
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Scotland
Departmental Redundancy
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants in his Department have been offered voluntary redundancy since April 2010; and if he will make a statement. [49194]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All its staff are on secondment from other public bodies, mainly the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government. Both the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government recently launched voluntary early departure schemes which were open to all their staff.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Hospitality
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets since 12 May 2010. [48397]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office does not have ministerial drinks cabinets.
Departmental Plants
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since his appointment. [48417]
Mr Paterson: Where possible the Northern Ireland Office uses plants grown at Hillsborough castle which is part of the departmental estate. The expenditure on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since May 2010 is £4,120.47.
£1,428.65 of this spend relates to plants provided for the annual Royal Garden Party in Northern Ireland which was attended by over 2,500 people to recognise their contribution to local communities across Northern Ireland. A further £1,403.63 was spent on stock plants to maintain the grounds at Hillsborough castle. These plants can be used in-house for a number of years, further reducing the Department's year-on-year costs.
Departmental Redundancy
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants in his Department have been offered voluntary redundancy since April 2010; and if he will make a statement. [49196]
Mr Paterson: No civil servants in my Department have been offered voluntary redundancy since April 2010.
Departmental Theft
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what items with a value of over £100 have been taken without authorisation from his Department since his appointment; and what steps have been taken to recover such items. [48436]
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Mr Paterson: No items have been taken without authorisation from the Northern Ireland Office.
Work-based Stress
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are in place in his Department to (a) reduce levels of work-based stress and (b) provide assistance to staff diagnosed with such stress. [48200]
Mr Paterson: Staff in my Department follow policies and procedures in all HR matters as set by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Ministry of Justice policies mandate that:
An assessment is made of the risks to employee health from stress and other psychological hazards;
procedures are implemented to manage and mitigate those risks; and
support is provided for staff experiencing stress or psychological harm as a result of their work.
Managers and staff share responsibility for assessing and managing stress at work. MoJ provides detailed guidance on how these actions should be carried out and the arrangements which should be followed; this also applies with regard to staff who are exposed to potentially traumatising incidents.
Managers and staff have access to support through occupational health and employee assistance services, which include confidential counselling and other psychological therapeutic interventions as appropriate. Managers must consider referral to occupational health services in all cases where staff are absent through sickness with stress related problems.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department provided to each charity it funds in each of the last five years; and how much he has allocated for funding to each such charity in each of the next five years. [48280]
Mr Paterson: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010. Since 12 April 2010, my Department has made a grant to two charities:
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Communities and Local Government
Preventing Violent Extremism Programme
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what records (a) his Department and (b) Government Offices for the Regions hold on the expenditure by local authorities of Preventing Violent Extremism programme funding allocated to them; and what requirements there were on recipient local authorities to inform his Department of the (i) planned and (ii) actual use of the funds. [43856]
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Andrew Stunell: Local authorities undertaking Prevent activity have been funded through the non ring-fenced Area Based Grant. In line with arrangements for non ring-fenced funding, Government Departments and Government offices have not required local authorities to inform them of local funding decisions. We note the criticism of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee in March 2010 over the monitoring and evaluation of the Prevent programme.
My Department is currently developing a new approach to promote integration and participation.
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what legal advice he has received on the introduction of an (a) voluntary and (b) mandatory minimum price for alcohol. [46925]
Robert Neill: Alcohol pricing policy is led by the Home Office.
Departmental Plants
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since his appointment. [48428]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Mr Burley) on 1 February 2011, Official Report, columns 743-44W.
Departmental Public Bodies
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to reduce the number of public bodies within his Department's area of responsibility. [49155]
Robert Neill: Four of the Department's arm’s length bodies have already been closed and a programme of reform is in place which will see another 12 either closed or transferred to the private or voluntary sector by 2012. These were set out in the Government's Public Bodies Review published on the 14 October last year, and confirmed on 16 March 2011 as part of in the Government's response to the Public Administration Select Committee report ‘Smaller Government: Shrinking the Quango State’. The relevant documents can be found at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/public-bodies-reform-proposals-change
Electoral Reform Services
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts for electoral administration services of what monetary value his Department and its predecessors had with (a) Electoral Reform Services and (b) each other provider in (i) 1992, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2002 and (iv) 2007. [46754]
Mr Harper: I have been asked to reply.
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The Cabinet Office acquired responsibility for policy on the conduct of certain statutory elections in June 2010. Prior to that policy sat with the Ministry of Justice and its predecessor Department, the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA): policy on UK-wide elections moved to the DCA in June 2003 with the policy for local elections following in 2005. Prior to June 2003 elections policy sat with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now the Department for Communities and Local Government). From 2001 the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions had this responsibility. Before 2000, it rested with the Home Office.
I can confirm that (a) there were no contracts for electoral administration services between the Government Departments responsible for electoral policy in 2002 and 2007 and Electoral Reform Services. The position for 1992 and 1997 could be established only at disproportionate cost; (b) what contracts the relevant Departments had in each of those years with other providers of electoral administration services could be established only at disproportionate cost.
Flood Control
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future provision of flood prevention services previously provided through the Government office network; and what assessment he has made of the effects on flood prevention services of the closure of that network. [38008]
Robert Neill: The Government office network contribution to flood risk management has previously been in respect of the building of resilience and supporting local agencies responding to flooding emergencies.
With the abolition of the Government office network the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), in consultation with other Departments, is developing a new model for resilience, building on the work and the relationships already developed.
The core DCLG resilience role is to support the Government in responding to national emergencies, and to support local responders in planning, preparing and responding to emergencies.
DCLG is putting in place a new approach to resilience, reflecting the coalition priorities for localism, decentralisation and big society and to end the forced regionalisation of services.
Government Offices for the Regions: Buildings
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future use of buildings used by the Government Office network. [46997]
Robert Neill: In advance of their abolition on the 31 March 2011, the Department for Communities and Local Government's estate strategy is focused on arranging disposal or future re-use of the Government offices for the regions' property portfolio.
This work will reduce the size of the portfolio from 14 buildings currently to 10 buildings by the end of 2011-12 and down to seven by the end of the spending review period. The retained buildings will be re-used by a range of Government Departments and agencies.
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Local Government Finance
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each local authority received from each (a) revenue and (b) capital funding stream from his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; what the total funding allocated by such streams was in each year; and what the change was in the level of funding in (A) cash and (B) real terms. [46810]
Robert Neill [holding answer 18 March 2011]: I have today placed details of allocations made so far to individual authorities in the Library of the House. These reflect our success in un-ringfencing and simplifying funding streams—the Government are rolling around £4 billion of grants in 2010-11 into the unhypothecated formula grant by 2014-15, and the number of separate core grants for local government reduces from over 90 to fewer than 10.
The total of grant funding allocated directly from this Department to all local and fire authorities in 2010-11 so far is £28.3 billion revenue and £0.639 billion capital. The total allocated so far in 2011-12 is £25.2 billion revenue and £0.248 billion capital.
These figures do not provide the basis for a like-for-like comparison of the change in funding between the two years because (a) we do not yet have the full picture of funding for 2011-12, with more announcements to be made; and (b) there have been changes in methodology between the two years.
For example, the 2010-11 private finance initiative revenue funding includes allocations made by this Department on behalf of other Government Departments. From 2011-12, each Department will provide revenue funding from its own Departmental Expenditure Limit to support private finance initiative schemes relating to services for which it has policy responsibility. Therefore, the figures for private finance initiative funding 2011-12 only cover the allocations in respect of schemes for which this Department has responsibility. As a result, the figures imply there has been a £766 million reduction, when there has actually been an increase in private finance initiative revenue funding.
A better measure of the impact on local authorities is changes to revenue spending power published on 31 January 2011. We have made sure that no local authority will see a reduction in spending power of more than 8.8% in either 2011-12 or 2012-13. This information is available on our website at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/grant.htm
Regional Development Agencies: Assets
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2011, Official Report, column 593W, on departmental public expenditure, whether income from the disposal of the assets of regional development agencies in 2013-14 will be directed to the geographic localities in which such assets were situated. [49030]
Robert Neill: Income from the disposal of the assets of regional development agencies in 2013-14 will support the Departments' housing and regeneration initiatives in different parts of the country, including those in which assets were situated.
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As an illustration for my Department's support for housing and regeneration in Newcastle, I would point the hon. Member to my Department's press notice of 10 March 2011 on the Byker Estate and the writing off of up to £42 million of local housing debt by the Government:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/communities/1861951
Social Rented Housing
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the promotion of social mobility through reducing levels of under-occupation of social housing. [48890]
Andrew Stunell: In January the Minister for Housing and Local Government announced a £13 million programme to help under-occupying social tenants who wish to move. While no tenant will be forced to move, many tenants welcome the offer of support to find a home that better suits their needs. Helping under-occupiers to move will often free up a larger home for other tenants, including those who have been overcrowded.
Our radical reforms to tenure, mobility and the rules on allocating social housing, together with the introduction of a national home-swap scheme, will provide local authorities with tools to address under-occupation and to help support greater mobility among social tenants.
Squatting
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many buildings on his Department’s estate were occupied by squatters in each year between 2006 and 2010; and on how many occasions his Department sought interim possession orders to remove squatters from such buildings in each of those years. [47616]
Robert Neill: There have been no instances of squatting in any of the central departmental estate properties during the period in question.
Work-based Stress
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements are in place in his Department to (a) reduce levels of work-based stress and (b) provide assistance to staff diagnosed with such stress. [48247]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) currently has the following measures in place to reduce levels of work related stress:
a stress at work policy;
a contract with Health Management Ltd. for the provision of an occupational health service;
an enhanced Employee Assistance Programme delivered through Right CoreCare. This service offers advice on a range of issues such as health and well-being, debt, work and career issues, relationship and emotional concerns and legal information; and
a programme of workshops, presentations and training courses for staff and line managers covering a range of issues both directly and indirectly related to the management of stress. These cover financial advice, job search, managing change and completing application forms, as well as general support from the Department’s Employee Assistance Programme.
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When a member of DCLG staff is diagnosed with work-based stress either by their GP or the Department’s Occupational Health Adviser, he or she is referred by their line manager or HR to the Employee Assistance Programme. Where appropriate, the line manager will also conduct a stress risk assessment in line with the Health and Safety Executive Stress Management Standards and put in place any adjustments recommended by the GP or the Occupational Health Adviser.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department provided to each charity it funds in each of the last five years; and how much he has allocated for funding to each such charity in each of the next five years. [48287]
Robert Neill: The Department’s records do not differentiate between payments made to charities and other voluntary and community sector organisations. A list of payments made under section 70 of the Charities Act 2006 to charities and voluntary groups is published in the Department’s annual report and resource accounts on a yearly basis.
This information includes payments made by the Department to charities in each year. Departmental annual reports and resource accounts for each year are published on the Department’s website. Grant spending over £500 since 2008-09 is also published on the website as part of my Department’s broader transparency agenda.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer question 35814 tabled on 19 January 2011 for answer on 21 January 2011 on London borough councils. [44110]
Robert Neill: I will reply to the hon. Member in due course with a substantive and comprehensive answer on the representations and the steps we have taken to address them.
Home Department
Departmental Hospitality
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets since 12 May 2010. [48398]
Damian Green: No money has been spent by the Home Department on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets since 12 May 2010.
Asylum: Finance
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the future funding of charities which support asylum seekers. [48993]
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Damian Green: My officials and I have received a number of letters from MPs and other interested parties on this issue.
Crime
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on any relationship between levels of street lighting and levels of crime. [48238]
James Brokenshire: In 2002 the Home Office commissioned and published a systematic review of existing research evidence on the effects of improved street lighting. This can be found on the Home Office website at:
http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors251.pdf
The report analysed eight US studies and five British studies and concluded that the evidence showed that improved street lighting reduced crime. An updated review of the evidence by the same authors published in 2008 by the Campbell Collaboration came to the same conclusion. This can be found via the following link:
http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/news_/improved_street_lighting_reduce_crime.php
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on (a) salaries and (b) pension entitlements for special advisers in the financial year 2010-11 to date. [46575]
Damian Green: Data sets which outline the number and cost of special advisers at specified dates are published quarterly on the Cabinet Office website.
The latest list, which includes an estimate of the total pay bill costs for 2010-11, was published on 10 March 2011 and can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
This estimated pay bill includes pension costs.
Details of pension arrangements for special advisers are set out in the Model contract for Special Advisers, which can also be accessed on the Cabinet Office website.
Drugs: Crime
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect on demand of trends in the street price of hard drugs. [48610]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office has not commissioned or evaluated research on the relationship between trends in the street price of hard drugs and the effect on demand.
Street prices of drugs vary considerably and are dependent on a number of factors such as availability and purity. Trends in prevalence of drug use in the general population are measured through the British Crime Survey and data for 2010-11 will be available in July 2011. Findings from the 2009-10 survey show that levels of last year Class A use among adults aged 16 to
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59 were 3.1% in 2009-10 (around 1 million adults), which is lower than in 2008-09 (3.7%) and at similar levels to 1996 (2.7%).
Drugs: Young People
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects of reductions in local government spending on levels of drug abuse among young people; and if she will make a statement. [40591]
Sarah Teather: I have been asked to reply.
As the National Drug Strategy, published in December 2010, makes clear, local authorities are best placed to decide what services are required for preventing drug and alcohol misuse amongst young people in their area, and for intervening early when young people start to develop problems.
The Early Intervention Grant allows local authorities the flexibility to develop the most appropriate approach to supporting vulnerable young people, including those at risk of substance misuse. Alongside this, the Young People’s Pooled Treatment Budget which has been maintained at £25.4 million for 2011-12 provides funding for specialist substance misuse services for young people.
Entry Clearances: Multinational Companies
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications for intra-company transfers were (a) approved and (b) rejected in each year since 2009. [49023]
Damian Green: In 2009, 22,029 intra-company transfer visa applications were issued and 1,171 were refused. In 2010, 29,176 were issued and 1,106 were refused.
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2009 | 2010 |
| Note: The data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change. Source: CRS | ||
Gangs
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the joint thematic review on the management of gang issues published in June 2010. [48346]
Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
The report raises important issues about how we tackle gangs both at local and national level. We are considering our response in the light of the Government's focus on greater local accountability and the need to develop local solutions based on local needs. We are committed to working with partners to tackle gang-related crime and provide support to help people leave the gang lifestyle.
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Departmental Plants
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since her appointment. [48420]
Damian Green: A limited amount of planting is provided through the 2002 PFI contract in some of the internal and external shared areas of our headquarters building, the costs of which are not charged separately. Elsewhere on the Department's estate figures on plants and trees costs are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department provided to each charity it funds in each of the last five years; and how much she has allocated for funding to each such charity in each of the next five years. [48276]
Damian Green: Although the Home Office and UK Border Agency have made grant payments to fund charitable organisations over the past five years and may continue to do so in the future, it would not be possible to fully answer this question to the level of detail required without incurring disproportionate cost. To do so would require investigating more than 300 not-for-profit recipients, and identifying whether they, in turn, make payments to charities as a lead partner.
As with all grant funding in the Home Office and agencies, grants paid to charities are monitored to ensure that recipients deliver the objectives of individual projects as well as contributing to the strategic aims of the Department.
The Criminal Records Bureau and the Identity and Passport Service have not provided any funding to charities over the previous five years and have not allocated any budget to fund charities over the spending review period.
Transport
Cycling: Brighton and Hove
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with Brighton and Hove city council on its proposal to use the Transport and Maintenance (LTP) capital grant to remove cycle lanes along both sides of Grand Avenue and The Drive; and if he will make a statement. [42877]
Norman Baker: Neither the Secretary of State for Transport nor I have had discussions with Brighton and Hove city council on its proposal to use the Transport and Maintenance (LTP) capital grant to remove cycle lanes along both sides of Grand Avenue and The Drive. Cycling England is following up this issue with Brighton and Hove city council at present. It is for local communities to decide how best to invest local funds.
Departmental Public Appointments
Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) have been and (b) are to be closed,
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merged or reorganised following his appointment; and how many (i) women and (ii) men who are public appointees at each body will no longer hold such an appointment in consequence. [47097]
Norman Baker: The coalition Government are committed to increasing the accountability of public bodies, and this involves reducing their number and their cost to the taxpayer. The proposals for the majority of bodies across all Departments were announced and published on 14 October 2010. An updated list reflecting changes since October 2010 has been published on the Cabinet Office website this month.
Summary information on public appointments is published annually by the Cabinet Office. This includes data on gender. Copies of the most recent report can be downloaded from:
www.civilservice.gov.uk/ndpb
Driving Offences: Mobile Phones
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents were caused by the driver using a mobile telephone in each of the last two years for which figures are available; how many (a) males and (b) females in each age group (i) were killed, (ii) were seriously injured and (iii) received minor injuries; and how many such people had been travelling in the vehicle as (A) the driver, (B) a front seat passenger and (C) a rear seat passenger. [48867]
Mike Penning: There were 323 reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain in 2008, where a police officer attended the scene and “driver using mobile phone” was reported as a contributory factor.
The corresponding figure for 2009 was 325 reported accidents. This contributory factor includes ‘hand held’ and ‘hands free’ phones, where their use (or attempted use) contributed to the accident.
Further information requested is given in tables 1 to 3.
| Table 1: Casualties in reported road accidents where the contributory factor “driver using mobile phone” was reported, by gender and age, GB: 2008-09 | ||||
| Number of casualties | ||||
| Year of accident | Age of casualty | (a) Male | (b) Female | Total |
| (1) Includes cases where age was not reported. | ||||
| Table 2: Casualties in reported road accidents where the contributory factor “driver using mobile phone” was reported, by severity, GB: 2008-09 | ||||
| Severity of casualties | ||||
| Year of accident | (i) Killed | Serious | (iii) Slight | All severities |
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| Table 3: Casualties in reported road accidents where the contributory factor “driver using mobile phone” was reported, by casualty class, GB: 2008-09 | ||||||
| Vehicles with a contributory factor of “driver using mobile phone” | ||||||
| Car occupants | Other vehicle occupants | |||||
| Year of accident | (A) Driver | (B) Front seat passenger (1) | (C) Rear seat passenger (1) | (A Driver or rider | (B+C) Passenger | Other casualties (2) |
| (1) Seat positions can only be identified for car passengers. (2) Includes pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles for which this contributory factor was not reported. | ||||||
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of drivers of each (a) sex and (b) age group who regularly use a mobile telephone whilst driving; and if he will make a statement. [48868]
Mike Penning: Questions about frequency of using a hand-held mobile phone to speak or text while driving were asked as part of a survey of attitudes to road safety in 2010, with results available broken down by age and gender. The results of this survey are available on the DFT website:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme5/natcen2010survey/
Driving Tests: Yeovil
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in identifying a new site for a practical driving test centre in Yeovil; and if he will make a statement. [48575]
Mike Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has identified alternative premises in Yeovil from which to deliver driving tests. Terms are provisionally agreed and the agency expects to legally secure the premises by 1 June 2011.
Large Goods Vehicles
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of heavy goods vehicles registered overseas which used roads in England in each of the last five years. [47750]
Mike Penning [holding answer 18 March 2011]: According to the Department for Transport’s “Survey of Foreign Road Goods Vehicles United Kingdom 2009”, there were 1,459,600 trips to the United Kingdom by foreign registered HGVs in 2009.
They are estimated to have travelled 0.948 billion vehicle kilometres in the UK in 2009, which is 4.8% of the 18.8 billion vehicle kilometres driven by UK-registered HGVs. Separate figures for England are not available.
Foreign-registered HGV statistics for the years 2000 and 2003 can be found on the DfT website. Statistics have not been compiled for other years.
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Motor Vehicles: Safety Belts
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made an estimate of the number of (a) males and (b) females in each age group who regularly (i) wear and (ii) do not wear a seat belt in the (A) front and (B) rear seats; and if he will make a statement. [48869]
Mike Penning: Estimates of the proportion of male and female car occupants (i) wearing and (ii) not wearing a seatbelt in observational surveys carried out in 2009 are shown in the following table, broken down by age group and seating position.
| Proportion of car occupants (i) wearing and (ii) not wearing a seatbelt or other restraint, weekdays: Department for Transport observational surveys, November 2009 | |||||
| Male | Female | ||||
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Age | % w earing | % n ot wearing | % w earing | % n ot wearing |
Questions about frequency of not wearing a seatbelt as a driver and as a passenger were asked as part of a survey of attitudes to road safety in 2010, with results available broken down by age and gender. The results of this survey are available on the DfT website:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme5/natcen2010survey/
Motorways: Speed Limits
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of (a) the likely cost to the public purse of increasing the motorway speed limit to 80mph and (b) the effect of such an increase on the annual number of road deaths. [45329]
Mike Penning: No estimate has yet been made by the present Administration of the likely costs and impacts of increasing the motorway speed limit to 80 mph. Any such estimation would be considered as part of the implementation of our new road safety strategy, which we expect to publish in May.
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Railways: Electrification
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with representatives of Network Rail on the upgrading of the electrified third rail on south east rail lines; and if he will make a statement. [46979]
Mrs Villiers: I meet regularly with senior representatives of Network Rail and the train operators to review operational performance. These meetings have included discussion about the operation of the ‘top contact’ third rail electrification system during severe winter weather. The rail industry is currently looking at ways of making the network more resilient in such conditions.
Railways: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 28 February 2011, Official Report, columns 17-18WS, on local and regional rail services, what estimate his Department has made of the effects on rail overcrowding of changes to funding arrangements for local rail schemes up to April 2015. [45258]
Mrs Villiers: The changes in funding arrangements will have no impact on overcrowding as the services funded by local authorities and Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) operate on lightly used routes or at quieter times of day.
Renewable Fuels Agency
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees the Renewable Fuels Agency has; and what the cost to his Department of that body was in each of the last three years. [48171]
Norman Baker: The Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) currently employs 12 staff and is carrying two vacancies. The RFA's budget in 2010-11 was £1.75 million. This has subsequently been reduced to £1.57 million. In financial years 2009-10 and 2008-09 the RFA was funded as now by grant in aid from the Department for Transport and the costs were £1.36 million and £1.32 million respectively in those years.
Roads: Accidents
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has assessed the merits of introducing stricter liability rules for drivers involved in collisions with pedestrians and cyclists for the purposes of making it easier for victims of negligent drivers to claim compensation. [37255]
Mike Penning: I do not consider that there is merit in a change from the current arrangements in favour of stricter liability. The general principle in considering negligence is that the victim needs to prove that the defendant's actions caused the accident. It would be an anomaly if this was changed for collisions with pedestrians and cyclists. Also, it could lead to unfair results in cases where the motorist is driving entirely responsibly and the accident is caused by the irresponsible or negligent behaviour of a cyclist or pedestrian.
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Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pregnant women in each age group were (a) killed, (b) severely injured and (c) slightly injured in road accidents when travelling in the vehicle as (i) the driver, (ii) a front seat passenger and (iii) a rear seat passenger in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many were (A) wearing and (B) not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. [48998]
Mike Penning: The information requested is not available. Information on whether the women involved in accidents are pregnant is not routinely collected by the police.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding his Department has allocated to each local authority for road improvement in each year since 1997. [45839]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport provides local authorities outside of London with Integrated Transport Block funding for small scale transport schemes; Highway Maintenance Block funding for maintenance of local highways; and Major Project funding for transport schemes over £5 million. Integrated Transport Block and Major Project funding is not solely dedicated to road improvements and Highway Maintenance Block funding is for structures (e.g. bridges and street lighting) as well as roads.
Local authority funding allocations for the Integrated Transport and Highway Maintenance blocks for the period 2000-01 to 2010-11 are available on the Department's website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/localauthorities/funding/fundingstreams/
Different funding arrangements were in place for both funding streams before 2000-01.
Major scheme funding by local authority in relation to road projects for the period 2006-07 to 2009-10 is outlined in the following table. Data before 2006-07 are not available.
| Major scheme spend | ||||
| £000 | ||||
| Authority | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
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Separate arrangements are in place for local transport funding in London.
Defence
Armed Forces
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to examine future proposals for capability reductions consistent with the level of scrutiny applied to such proposals in the strategic defence and security review. [49105]
Nick Harvey: The strategic defence and security review (SDSR) identified the forces and capabilities required to protect our national interests until 2020. Any reductions or enhancements to that force structure will be scrutinised against that strategic guidance. This will be reviewed at the next SDSR.
Armed Forces: Housing
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force has made of current and future requirements for community policing within the estate of its married quarters. [47883]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 23 March 2011]: A range of options for the Ministry of Defence’s future requirement for civil policing services is currently under consideration. No final decisions have yet been taken.
Armed Forces: Officers
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many late entry commissioned officers reached the rank of full colonel or above, or its equivalent in each of the three services in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [48779]
Nick Harvey: It is not possible to provide information which distinguishes between the equivalent of late entry commissioned officers and direct entry officers in the Royal Navy and RAF without incurring disproportionate cost.
In the Army, late entry terms of service do not currently permit promotion beyond lieutenant colonel. However, it is possible, in some circumstances, for late entry officers to apply to transfer to direct entry terms of service that allow promotion beyond lieutenant colonel in competition.
Of those in this category the following promotions to substantive colonel have taken place each year:
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|
|
Number |
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK serving commissioned officers are working in British embassies and high commissions; and how many of these are (a) direct entry and (b) late entry commissioned officers. [48781]
Peter Luff: There are 112 UK serving commissioned officers working in 72 Defence sections in British embassies. Of these, 108 are direct entry officers and four are late entry commissioned officers.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many commissioned officers including direct entry and late entry commissioned officers appointed to roles in the Ministry of Defence building in Whitehall are (a) of or above and (b) below the rank of lieutenant colonel or its equivalent; [48782]
(2) how many (a) commissioned officers excluding late entry and (b) late entry commissioned officers were appointed to roles based in the Ministry of Defence building in Whitehall in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [48783]
Nick Harvey: As at 1 January 2011, there were 580 officers at lieutenant colonel, and equivalent, and above, and 380 at major, or equivalent, and below, stationed in the MOD’s Main Building and Old War Office in Whitehall.
Information on whether or not an officer is a late entry commissioned officer is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has undertaken on the effect of using the consumer prices index when uprating benefits for army invalid pensioners and war widows under pensionable age. [42875]
Nick Harvey: None. The Treasury has taken the decision across the public service. Calculations and research have not been carried out by each Department for itself.
British Antarctic Survey
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the relationship is between his Department and the British Antarctic Survey. [49029]
Nick Harvey:
The Ministry of Defence provides a range of logistic support to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). BAS utilises the Falkland Islands military airbridge and has access to East Cove Military Port in the Falkland Islands for water, fuel and other stores. Both services come at a cost to the BAS. Moreover, our Royal Navy vessels patrolling the South Atlantic make regular port
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calls to BAS bases on South Georgia. The Royal Navy ice patrol vessel which is present in the region throughout the austral summer provides some logistical support to BAS assets in Antarctica.
Community Policing: Housing
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effect of a move towards tri-service accommodation on requirements for community policing. [47884]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 23 March 2011]: The requirement for dedicated community policing support for service personnel and their families living in Service Family Accommodation in the UK is determined by an assessment of all relevant information, including local issues and any specific community needs.
Departmental Hospitality
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets since 12 May 2010. [48404]
Departmental Public Bodies
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. [48683]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 March 2011, Official Report, column 942W, to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Jon Trickett).
Departmental Theft
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what items with a value of over £100 have been taken without authorisation from his Department since his appointment; and what steps have been taken to recover such items. [48446]
Peter Luff: Information regarding items with a value of over £100 taken without authorisation will be placed in the Library of the House.
The National Crime Recording Standards and Home Office Counting Rules require Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) to record all crimes committed or alleged to have been committed on the Ministry of Defence (MOD) estate. On receipt of these allegations MDP will assess them on their merit and will either investigate the allegation itself, or pass them to the appropriate law enforcement agency to undertake any further investigation it deems necessary in accordance with the relevant policing protocol.
The MDP has actively promoted a number of crime reduction initiatives throughout the MOD. One such initiative is the “office watch” scheme, which encourages the safeguarding of MOD offices and MOD property by raising awareness of staff, in relation to their own and others' personal property, as well as property of the MOD. The MDP also has 81 Defence Community
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Police Officers (DCPOs), who are trained crime reduction officers working in MOD establishments across the country. These officers provide an effective deterrent to potential criminals, by raising the awareness of staff, service personnel, service families and contractors. At sites where there are no trained MDP crime reduction personnel present, all staff, and also contractors and visitors, are encouraged to work together to make their places of employment and homes safer and more secure.
HMS Endurance
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate his Department has made of the cost of base porting the future Antarctic Patrol Ship at Devonport alongside the other ships of the Hydrographic Survey Squadron; [48908]
(2) what progress he has made in replacing the capability formerly provided by HMS Endurance. [49027]
Nick Harvey: On 22 March 2011 the Ministry of Defence signed a contract, worth £26 million, with GC Rieber Shipping to lease an ice-breaking vessel to deliver the UK’s ice patrol capability for at least the next three years. This is an interim replacement for HMS Endurance while we consider how best to deliver this important capability in the long term.
The interim replacement ice patrol ship will be named HMS Protector and will be base ported at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, reflecting the base porting arrangements that are in place for HMS Endurance. We expect to make decisions on the longer term delivery of this capability, including base porting arrangements and their costs and the future of HMS Endurance, next year.
HMS Scott
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to provide the capability usually provided by HMS Scott while she is fulfilling the role of Antarctic patrol vessel. [49028]
Nick Harvey: HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise have provided the Royal Navy with its hydrographic data gathering capability while HMS Scott has been in the South Atlantic. Tasking of these three ships continues to take account of their respective capabilities in order to ensure that the Royal Navy’s requirements are met.
Navy: Officers
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sea-going commands he expects there to be for Royal Navy officers of the rank of captain in 2012. [48956]
Nick Harvey: On current planning it is expected that there will be eight sea-going commands for the rank of Captain Royal Navy in 2012; they are HMS Illustrious, Ocean, Bulwark, Albion, Daring, Dauntless, Westminster and Protector.
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Rescue Services
Mr Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many call-outs were attended by (a) RNAS Prestwick, (b) RAF Boulmer, (c) RAF Chivenor, (d) DST Leconfield, (e) RAF Valley, (f) RAF Wattisham, (g) RNAS Culdrose, (h) HMCG Lee-on-the-Solent, (i)
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HMCG Portland,
(j)
HMCG Stornoway,
(k)
HMCG Sumburgh and
(l)
RAF Lossiemouth in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [48263]
Nick Harvey: The Information requested is shown in the following table:
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
Data on search and rescue call-outs are regularly published at the following website:
http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=47
Reserve Forces
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to seek contributions from reserve forces to his Department’s Reserve Forces study. [48113]
Peter Luff: In January of this year a web-based survey was launched to gauge the opinion of Reserve personnel and their employers. This survey was publicised through the chain of command and in-house defence publications. In the month that it was online, the survey received approximately 7,500 responses which are currently being collated and analysed. Senior Reservist personnel have also been co-opted on to the bodies overseeing the study, and a number of written submissions from Reservists and others have been received.
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department’s Reserve Forces study is to examine the merits of greater integration of reservists with regular forces. [48116]
Peter Luff: The future extent of reservist integration with Regular forces is a central component of the study. To develop the role played by the Reserve forces and deliver cost effectiveness for Defence we believe there are several avenues for investigation. We are also analysing the extent to which other nations (particularly the US) integrate their Reserve and Regular components.
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the long-term future of fast jet aviation in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm; and if he will make a statement. [48948]
Nick Harvey: As announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm will operate the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jointly with the Royal Air Force.
Warships: Decommissioning
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected decommissioning dates are for (a) RFA Gold Rover, (b) RFA Black Rover, (c) RFA Orangeleaf, (d) RFA Bayleaf, (e) RFA Fort Austin and (f) RFA Fort Rosalie. [48946]
Nick Harvey: Our present planning assumptions are that those ships that will be withdrawn from service are as follows:
RFA Gold Rover—2016
RFA Black Rover—2017
RFA Orangeleaf—2015
RFA Bayleaf—2011
RFA Fort Austin—2021
RFA Fort Rosalie—2022.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Abdelbasit Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the whereabouts of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi; and if he will make a statement. [48999]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no recent reports on the whereabouts of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.
Afghanistan: Detainees
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the detention of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. [47562]
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Mr Hague: We believe that the indefinite detention of detainees is unacceptable, and we have repeatedly called for Guantanamo Bay to be closed. On 6 July 2010 the Prime Minister confirmed to Parliament that we will continue to request the release from Guantanamo Bay and return to the UK of Shaker Aamer, the final remaining former legal British resident. The Government have reiterated this request to the US Government on numerous occasions. Both the Deputy Prime Minister and I have raised Mr Aamer’s case with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. We are actively engaged at senior official level in pursuing our request with the US Administration. However, the outcome of these discussions is uncertain and any decision regarding Mr Aamer’s release is a matter for the United States Government.
Belarus: Human Rights
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to promote respect for human rights in Belarus. [45325]
Mr Hague: The UK is at the forefront of efforts within the EU and the wider international community to bring pressure to bear on the Belarusian authorities, following the fraudulent election and crackdown on the opposition and human rights defenders last December. We have been vocal in advocating a tough EU response, such as re-imposing targeted sanctions on the individuals responsible for human rights abuses. We have repeatedly demanded the release of those detained on political grounds, both at a national level and through our membership of international organisations, such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe and at the UN Council on Human Rights.
Boarding Schools
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department are eligible for assistance for boarding school fees for their children; how many officials receive such assistance; and what the (a) mean and (b) median levels of assistance provided in respect of each child were in the latest period for which figures are available. [48519]
Alistair Burt: It is a condition of their employment that members of the diplomatic service must be prepared to serve anywhere in the world at any time during their career, sometimes at very short notice. Those with children have a legal obligation as parents to ensure that their children receive a full-time education from the age of five years. Most parents prefer to take their children with them abroad, but in some countries we do not permit staff to take their children either for health or security reasons. In others, local schools of an acceptable standard are not available. Continuity of education is also an important factor, particularly at secondary level.
So it is longstanding practice that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) helps staff meet their potentially conflicting obligations by providing financial support for their children's education in the UK where staff choose this, or are obliged to do so given local conditions in the country to which they are posted.
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FCO staff who are required to work at our diplomatic missions overseas may claim financial assistance towards UK boarding school costs for their children, provided that they meet specific eligibility criteria. The FCO refunds standard term fees up to a ceiling which is reviewed annually and determined by an independent survey conducted by ECA International, which is used by public and private sector employers whose staff work across the world.
During the academic year 2009-10, 339 officers received Continuity of Education Allowance for 521 children. This represents about 6% of staff employed in the FCO and FCO Services (a trading fund for which the FCO is responsible). The average sum paid by the FCO per child in FY 2009-10 was £17,342. The median figure was £17,008. Three-quarters of the recipients are below the senior management grade in the FCO (equivalent to the SCS), including junior support staff and single parents.
More than half the children for whom Continuity of Education Allowance is paid are of secondary school age, when continuity is particularly important in the key two year GCSE and A-level course periods. The figures include the cost of low to moderate special needs support where required. This provision is benchmarked against the provision at School Action and School Action Plus in the state school sector. The figures do not include the cost of the education provided by the FCO for one child with severe learning difficulties.
Christianity: Religious Freedom
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received in respect of the treatment of Christians in (a) North Africa and (b) the Middle East. [48595]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received and continues to receive regular representations from parliamentarians and members of the public about the situation for Christians across the middle east and north Africa. The number of representations rose sharply after the tragic attacks against Christian groups in Iraq and Egypt in late 2010.
The Government are greatly concerned about those who are denied the right to freedom of religion or belief. We condemn all instances of violence and discrimination against individuals and groups because of their faith or belief, wherever they occur or whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned. We, together with international partners, regularly make clear to governments across the region the importance we place on promoting cultural and religious tolerance and on eliminating all legal provisions and policies which discriminate against different religious communities.
Croatia: EU Enlargement
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the progress of negotiations for the potential accession to the EU of Croatia. [49270]
Mr Lidington:
Croatia has now closed 28 out of 35 chapters of its accession negotiations. Croatia is making good progress with its reforms but still has a
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number of benchmark requirements to meet, particularly within Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and Chapter 8 (Competition). The Government are strong supporters of Croatian EU accession. We look forward to seeing Croatia join the EU once the criteria have been met.
Departmental Theft
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what items with a value of over £100 have been taken without authorisation from his Department since his appointment; and what steps have been taken to recover such items. [48441]
Alistair Burt: The information required is held separately in various Foreign and Commonwealth Office departments, all of which hold records relating to various losses and thefts of both personal property and official furnishings, including Information Technology equipment losses. As this information is not held centrally, providing an accurate answer would incur disproportionate cost.
Egypt: Freezing Orders
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which of his EU counterparts he has discussed the request from the Egyptian authorities for an asset freeze; and on what date each such discussion took place. [48339]
Mr Hague: We have been at the forefront of arguments within the EU to take action on requests from the Egyptian authorities.
I discussed this issue with my EU counterparts at the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 February. The freeze was agreed on 21 March 2011.
English Language: BBC World Service
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which countries BBC World Service radio broadcasts of programmes in the English language are not accessible. [45876]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service in English is available worldwide via the internet.
The large majority of countries can access the BBC World Service English radio broadcasts. In others, the BBC feels it is more effective to serve these areas through its distribution of BBC World News, the BBC’s international English language news and information television channel, or through radio broadcasts in the local language, such as BBC Arabic services.
India: Human Rights
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to promote human rights in India; and if he will make a statement. [48362]
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Mr Hague: The Government maintain an ongoing dialogue with the Government of India on human rights issues. We also play a leading role in the annual EU-India human rights dialogue which last took place on 22 March 2011.
In January this year a member of our high commission joined an EU delegation to observe the high profile trial of human rights defender Binayak Sen. Last year we took part in an EU visit to the state of Orissa to look at progress made since the violence against Christians in 2008. And last month we invited the legal director of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to take part in a joint EU-India Seminar on Social Inclusion. His visit included meetings with counterparts at the Indian National Human Rights Commission.
We continue to work with non-government organisations (NGOs) to help strengthen the capacity of institutions in India. Through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the EU contributes €900,000 each year to human rights projects in India. The Department for International Development also works together with the Government of India and the NGO community to help ensure equal treatment and access to services for the most disadvantaged communities.
Iraq: Iran
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of access to medical treatment for residents of Camp Ashraf. [47844]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports from camp residents claiming that they have been denied access to medical care. The Iraqi Government’s Ashraf Committee has informed our embassy officials that residents are given access to medical treatment and that serious cases are referred to hospitals in Baghdad or Erbil in northern Iraq.
Our embassy in Baghdad will continue to urge the Ashraf Committee to ensure that the Iraqi authorities treat the residents of Camp Ashraf in accordance with international humanitarian standards.
Japan: Earthquakes
Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) his Department and (b) the British Embassy in Japan was first contacted in regard to documentation for International Rescue Corps work in Japan; when the documentation requested was issued; and what the time taken was from initial request to issue of the documentation. [48693]
Mr Jeremy Browne: On the evening of 15 March 2011, the International Rescue Corps (IRC) asked our embassy in Tokyo for a letter of support for a vehicle access pass for the expressway. The embassy faxed this letter, as a note verbale, to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at approximately 7 am on 16 March 2011, and followed up with phone calls to the Ministry.
The embassy contacted the IRC to keep them updated, but on 16 March the team decided to return to the UK.
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Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his oral evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 16 March 2011, HC 881-i, Q2, what the evidential basis was for his statement that the International Rescue Corps team in Japan did not have logistical, transport or language support. [48898]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The statement was based on reports from our embassy in Tokyo.
Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the British Embassy in Japan did not provide authorisation for the International Rescue Corps to carry out rescue operations in that country. [48899]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Decisions about whether or not to provide authorisation for rescue operations in Japan are for the Japanese Government. Our embassy in Tokyo wrote a formal letter of support to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the International Rescue Corps.