3 May 2011 : Column 607W
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 3 May 2011
House of Commons Commission
Cleaning Services
Caroline Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make it his policy to require all cleaning contracts held with the House of Commons Service to stipulate that the cleaning products used should be EU Ecolabel products accredited by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and if he will make a statement. [52371]
John Thurso: The two Houses have one cleaning contract. The contractor has worked with the principal supplier of the cleaning materials that they use on the parliamentary estate to improve sustainability and minimise environmental impact. Although the particular products supplied to Parliament do not carry the EU Ecolabel they are super-concentrates, which are designed for use on a large scale and can provide even better sustainability benefits, typically in terms of transport, packaging and CO2 emissions. Super-concentrates are also considerably cheaper. Some essential supplies such as sanitisation products are, by their nature, incompatible with the requirements of the EU Ecolabel.
I have asked the House's Director General of Facilities to write to the hon. Member with more detailed information, and a copy of that letter will be placed in the Library.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Bees
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage growth of the bee population in England. [53679]
Mr Paice: DEFRA is undertaking a number of steps to protect honey bee health, including control of statutory diseases, preparing for exotic pests, a range of research projects and implementation of the Healthy Bees Plan. This is a 10-year plan published by DEFRA in 2009 to achieve a sustainable and healthy population of honey bees. The Food and Environment Research Agency is working closely with beekeepers to implement the plan. An important part of this work is education and training of beekeepers, given their important role in sustaining the population of honey bees. These are a managed species whose population size is determined by the number of beekeepers, which has grown in recent years due to an increasing interest in beekeeping, the number of colonies they manage, their beekeeping skills and the time of year, given seasonal fluctuations in the size of colonies.
3 May 2011 : Column 608W
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1133W, on bovine tuberculosis: disease control, in what month she proposes to announce her decision; and if she will make a statement. [53660]
Mr Paice: We received a large number of responses to our consultation, which we are considering carefully. This is a difficult and sensitive issue and we need to get it right. We will announce our decision as part of a comprehensive and balanced TB eradication programme for England as soon as possible.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Kent
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of bovine TB were confirmed in Kent in each of the last 10 years. [53670]
Mr Paice: There were fewer than 10 confirmed reactor cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis (TB) control measures in Kent in each of the last 10 years. For data protection reasons, we do not disclose figures that total fewer than 10, as this may lead to identification of individual cases.
Note:
Data are provisional and subject to change as more data become available.
Source:
DEFRA’s Animal Health Database (Vetnet)
Catering
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the provision of country of origin information on menus in restaurants and cafeterias in Government buildings. [52678]
Mr Paice: There is no legal requirement for restaurants or cafeterias to give country of origin information on menus. However, if they do, it must not mislead.
I have welcomed the introduction, by the food industry, of voluntary principles on country of origin labelling. In the case of caterers, these state that they should be able to provide the origin of the meat, meat products and dairy products either on the menu, on accompanying literature or, at the very least, when the information is requested by the consumer. Among the criteria being considered for the forthcoming Government buying standards for food and catering services is the inclusion of these principles for all central Government catering operations.
Cereal Products
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects of removal of Common Agricultural Policy subsidies from cereal producers on the cost of feed for UK pig producers. [52853]
3 May 2011 : Column 609W
Mr Paice: Feed prices are largely determined by the supply and demand situation on the world market.
Although we have made no specific assessment of the likely effects of the removal of Common Agricultural Policy subsidies from cereal producers on the cost of feed for UK pig producers, the FAPRI-UK project “Impact of HM Treasury/DEFRA's Vision for the Common Agricultural Policy on Agriculture in the UK”, published in 2009, looked at a scenario where the single farm payment (SFP) was phased out, to be replaced by environmental payments, and agricultural trade was significantly liberalised. It concluded that “the phased elimination of the SFP on top of further trade liberalisation [would have] a small impact on the crop sector”. The report projected total feedstuff costs to be 7% lower by 2018 under this scenario, although this primarily reflects a projected fall in livestock numbers.
We are working in Europe with member states and industry to find ways to improve the overall situation for pig producers through discussions in the Commission's Enlarged Pig Meat Advisory Group.
Farming
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the capacity of the farming industry to participate in the small companies research and development tax credit scheme. [49852]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
R&D tax relief is available to limited companies which carry out qualifying R&D within the definition laid out in guidelines published by BIS.
The relief is not sector specific and could be claimed by any company in the agriculture sector which engages in a project to:
‘achieve an advance in science or technology through the resolution of scientific or technological uncertainty’.
Forests
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of users of public forests were (a) walkers, (b) cyclists and (c) horse riders in the latest period for which figures are available. [53260]
Mr Paice: The Forestry Commission has collected data at its principal recreation sites through on-site surveys since 2003.
Average figures from these surveys show that in England from 2003-09:
(a) 63% of visitors go for a walk;
(b) 32% of visitors ride a bike; and
(c) Horse riding visits are estimated at less than 1% of total visits.
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects on local economic development of (a) cycling and (b) equestrian access to public forests. [53261]
3 May 2011 : Column 610W
Mr Paice: A study entitled “Valuing Forest Recreation Activities” was commissioned by the Forestry Commission and published in 2006.
The study estimated the local economic (income and employment) impacts of forest recreation. In particular, the study considered the mean local spend on forest recreation by horse-riders, general visitors, nature watchers and cyclists, mainly at public forests. Horse-riders generated the highest spend per visit but cycling and other activities were also found to generate significant levels of spending. Annual local expenditure at the sites surveyed in the New Forest and Thetford forest were over £60 million and £10 million respectively.
The full report can be found on the Forestry Commission’s website at:
www.forestry.gov.uk
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to introduce regulations on corporate greenhouse gas reporting. [53031]
Mr Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 323W, to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas).
Livestock: Animal Welfare
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress her Department has made in reducing risks to the health of farm animals. [52377]
Mr Paice: DEFRA's Animal Health and Welfare Strategy places particular emphasis on the prevention of disease. Working closely with farmers, the veterinary profession and others, we are making good progress:
We have successfully eliminated Bluetongue through a well co-ordinated vaccination campaign.
DEFRA conducted a public consultation at the end of 2010 on the Government's approach to tackling bovine tuberculosis (TB) and a badger control policy, which highlighted a number of planned changes to existing cattle measures to ensure that that they are better targeted on the basis of disease risk. We will be announcing a comprehensive and balanced TB eradication programme for England as soon as possible.
We have reviewed the implementation of the Veterinary Surveillance Strategy to ensure that risks and emerging threats are effectively identified and prioritised. We continually monitor and assess the global animal health situation to help inform risk-based controls on imports of animals and animal products.
The way we respond to disease outbreaks is also an important factor in reducing risk. The evaluation report of Exercise Silver Birch, a major national exercise designed to test the Government's ability to deal with a significant outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), demonstrated the benefits of changes introduced since the 2001 FMD outbreak.
Livestock: Transport
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on the resumption of the transport of live animals in 2011; and if she will make a statement. [52765]
3 May 2011 : Column 611W
Mr Paice: DEFRA Ministers have had no discussions with their European counterparts on the resumption in 2011 of the transport of live animals for the purposes of further fattening and slaughter. This is a separate trade from the transport of animals for breeding purposes.
Although we would prefer to see animals slaughtered as close as practicable to their point of production, the trade in live animals between member states of the European Union is legitimate and is governed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005.
The European Commission is conducting a review of Regulation 1/2005 and the UK continues to provide the necessary input into this review. In preparation for the eventual publication of any formal proposal to amend the legislation, we will continue to engage with key stakeholders in order to build an evidence-base and gauge views/opinions on the Regulation's implementation and how it might be improved.
Trees: Phytophthora Ramorum
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to eradicate (a) Phytophthora ramorum and (b) Phytophthora kernoviae in trees. [52854]
Mr Paice: The Food and Environment Research Agency and the Forestry Commission are jointly implementing the £25 million, five-year, Phytophthora Disease Management Programme until 2014.
The aim of the programme is to reduce pathogen inoculum to epidemiologically insignificant levels by removing sporulating host plants from high risk areas to reduce the risk of significant tree death and significant impact on heathlands within England and Wales.
“Phytophthora ramorum” has been found to be killing Japanese larch and removal of infected trees has become a priority. The disease has been confirmed at more than 100 sites and statutory powers are being used to require felling of up to 2,000 hectares of infected trees.
“Phytophthora kernoviae” appears to be more of a threat to deciduous trees and heathland and action under the programme includes monitoring for this disease and eradication of any plants found to be infected.
Water: Pollution
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Environment Agency has put in place to implement the recommendations of the National Audit Office in its report published in July 2010 on the Environment Agency's efforts to tackle diffuse water pollution in England. [53628]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency has developed an action plan and associated governance arrangements to take forward the advice and recommendations highlighted in the recent diffuse pollution report.
The actions focus on reviewing and improving approaches to evidence, communication and measures in line with NAO recommendations. Actions include joint work with DEFRA, Natural England and other third parties,
3 May 2011 : Column 612W
and link to the ‘Catchment Management Approach’ to River Basin Planning which was announced on 23 March 2011.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effects of water companies on the natural environment. [53636]
Richard Benyon: Work under the water framework directive involves assessing the current status of water bodies in each river basin and, for those that are failing, confirming the cause of failure. Where a failure is due to a water company discharge or abstraction, measures are included in the improvement plans for the water companies, which form part of their business plans. For the first cycle of river basin management plans, 25% of water body failures were due to water company discharges. However, 82% of the cost of all improvement measures is being funded by water companies. The last set of water company environmental improvement plans were approved in November 2009 and are published on the Environment Agency website.
For the second cycle, improvement plans will be confirmed in 2014 and included in the water company business plans.
The Environment Agency also measures environmental regulatory performance of the 10 major water and sewerage companies on an annual basis. This feeds into a published performance assessment, and leads to financial penalties and incentives for the companies depending on performance. The last assessment took place on 2009 data and was reported in October 2010. The collation and assessment of the 2010 data has now commenced.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
UK-Turkey Relations
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of bilateral relations between the UK and Turkey; and if he will make a statement. [53534]
Mr Lidington: We have excellent co-operation with Turkey on a wide range of issues, reaffirmed in a new Strategic Partnership signed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister during his visit to Turkey in July last year. Priority areas for co-operation include support to stability in the middle east, trade and investment, energy and migration.
Middle East
21. Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the middle east; and if he will make a statement. [53542]
Mr Hague:
The stability and security of our friends in the middle east remains our major concern. But no true stability can result from the repression of legitimate demands for political participation and the rule of law.
3 May 2011 : Column 613W
Nothing can justify the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators. We are supporting peaceful reform in Tunisia and Egypt, just as we are opposing violence elsewhere, and urging all Governments to respond positively to popular calls for better governance.
Ivory Coast
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Ivory Coast. [53543]
Mr Bellingham: We welcome the fact that President Ouattara has at last assumed the office to which he was elected last November.
He faces huge challenges including national reconciliation and economic rehabilitation. Those guilty of serious human rights abuses must also be held accountable.
We have told the President that he will have the support of the British Government in these efforts.
Council of Europe: Manpower
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff were
3 May 2011 : Column 614W
employed by each institution of the Council of Europe for the purposes of
(a)
communication and
(b)
communication with the media in the latest period for which figures are available. [52686]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff were employed at each grade by (a) the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights in each of the last three years and (b) each institution of the Council of Europe; and what estimate he has made of staffing levels in the Council of Europe's institutions in each of the next three years. [52687]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold the information requested, and has made no estimate of future staffing levels in the Council of Europe (CoE).
The Secretariat of the CoE has provided the following information:
| Council of Europe s taff: Numbers by grade working in the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights; and total numbers working for the Council of Europe by grade | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | |||||||||||||
| Grade | |||||||||||||
|
|
A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | A5 | A6 | A7 | B1 | B2 | B3 | B4 | B5 | B6 |
| Grade | ||||||||||||
|
|
C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 | C6 | L1 | L2 | L3 | L4 | L5 | Total |
| 2009 | |||||||||||||
| Grade | |||||||||||||
|
|
A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | A5 | A6 | A7 | B1 | B2 | B3 | B4 | B5 | B6 |
| Grade | ||||||||||||
|
|
C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 | C6 | L1 | L2 | L3 | L4 | L5 | Total |
| 2010 | |||||||||||||
| Grade | |||||||||||||
|
|
A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | A5 | A6 | A7 | B1 | B2 | B3 | B4 | B5 | B6 |
| Grade | |||||||||||
|
|
C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 | C6 | L2 | L3 | L4 | L5 | Total |
3 May 2011 : Column 615W
Departmental Official Cars
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010. [50194]
Mr Lidington: The information is as follows:
(a) and (b): All Ministers have used a car in the last week.
(i) and (ii): This information is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the staff vacancy rate in his Department was in 2010-11; and what vacancy rate has been assumed in his Department's budget for 2011-12. [51387]
Mr Lidington: In 2010-11, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) filled 21 Fast Stream programme and 30 other vacancies for UK-based staff through external recruitment campaigns. This represents a vacancy rate of approximately 1.02%.
In 2011-12, the FCO expects to take on a similar number of applicants to the Fast Stream programme to last year. The Fast Stream recruitment programme is exempt from the Government-wide recruitment freeze.
It is not possible to provide an overall figure for vacancy rates in 2011-12. External vacancies arise only when roles are not filled either internally or from across Whitehall and it is difficult to predict these in advance.
Diplomatic Service
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of his Department’s consular support to British nationals involved in conflicts or natural disasters overseas. [53526]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has in recent months responded to an unprecedented number of crises. We have deployed significant resources to provide immediate, emergency consular assistance to British nationals. Overall the support has been excellent. However, there are lessons to be learnt and the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), commissioned a review to examine the FCO’s arrangements for leading the evacuation of British nationals in a crisis, and, as he informed the House on 21 March 2011, Official Report, columns 822-23W, we will publish the report of the review.
In the meantime, we are ensuring that our responses in Syria and elsewhere are reflecting our experiences of earlier crises.
3 May 2011 : Column 616W
European External Action Service: Manpower
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current staffing level is of the European External Action Service; and what the expected full staffing level is of that service. [52685]
Mr Lidington: There are currently 3,720 staff slots in the European External Action Service (EEAS). The 2012 draft Budget includes plans for 27 new posts. These, and any future additional staff slots would have to be agreed by the EU member states. We are pressing the EEAS to adhere to the agreed principle of budget neutrality.
Exports: Asbestos
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the risks associated with the export of asbestos from Commonwealth states to other Commonwealth states at the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in October 2011. [51756]
Mr Lidington: It is for the hosts and the Commonwealth Secretariat to set the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia. We have every confidence that the agenda will meet the priorities of all member states.
Gibraltar
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Government of Gibraltar received from his Department in each of the last five years. [52069]
Mr Lidington: The Government of Gibraltar have not received any funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the last five years.
Gibraltar: Spain
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the dispute involving the Spanish police and the Royal Gibraltar Police; and if he will make a statement. [53841]
Mr Lidington: We have received information from the Gibraltar authorities and the Spanish Government about the incident involving the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) and the Spanish Guardia Civil (GC) on Sunday 24 April in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW).
The incident occurred during the attempted seizure of a suspect vessel thought to be smuggling drugs. Two suspected smugglers were arrested by Spanish officials and transported to Spain. The UK remains fully confident of its sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and we make this clear to the Spanish authorities on all appropriate occasions.
I discussed the issue of incursions by Guardia Civil vessels into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters with the Governor and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar during my visit to Gibraltar on 12 and 13 April.
3 May 2011 : Column 617W
The UK remains fully committed to the Trilateral Forum as the best means of improving co-operation to the benefit of all the people in the region. I am confident that both the Spanish and Gibraltar Governments share this aim. Judicial, customs and police co-operation is one of the six areas currently being developed under the auspices of the forum.
Iraq: Iran
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to assist the residents of Camp Ashraf. [52705]
Alistair Burt: Our embassy officials meet regularly with the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) and international partners to discuss the situation in Camp Ashraf. We remain concerned about recent developments and have urged the Iraqi authorities to take immediate steps to calm the situation at the camp; ensure that medical supplies are able to enter; and ensure that the human rights of camp residents are respected. We will continue to monitor developments at the camp closely.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Iraqi ambassador about recent attacks on Camp Ashraf by the Iraqi army. [52706]
Alistair Burt: Iraq is yet to appoint a new ambassador to the United Kingdom. However, following an incident on 8 April 2011 at Camp Ashraf, I released a statement calling on the Government of Iraq to cease violent operations in Camp Ashraf immediately.
Our embassy officials, including our ambassador in Baghdad, have raised concerns about the incident with the Iraqi President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of Human Rights. We have made it clear to the Iraqi authorities that we deplore any loss of life and have urged them to set up an independent investigation into the incident.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 4 April 2011 about a constituent. [53789]
Mr Lidington: The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), replied to the hon. Member for Walsall North on 28 April 2011.
Palestinians
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on actions by the Palestinian Authority to honour Palestinian citizens that have participated in terrorist acts; and if he will make a statement. [52232]
Alistair Burt:
The UK deplores all incitement to violence. The naming of a square after the leader of the 1978 terrorist attack would have been distasteful under any circumstances, but particularly so in the wake of
3 May 2011 : Column 618W
the murders that occurred in Itamar. We also strongly oppose the payment of cash directly linked to acts of violence. Our Consulate General in Jerusalem will raise these issues with the Fatah Leadership.
We welcomed Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas' condemnation of the murders that occurred in Itamar. He said they were despicable, immoral and inhuman. We endorse President Abbas's commitment to a path of non-violence and a negotiated solution to the peace process.
Sri Lanka: Elections
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on voter registration of displaced civilians in the north of Sri Lanka during that country's recent local elections. [52870]
Alistair Burt: We have some concerns about the registration of voters in the north of Sri Lanka, particularly registration of the displaced population. Our high commission in Colombo has raised these concerns with the Government and is considering projects which might provide practical assistance with voter registration.
Sri Lanka: Politics and Government
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of civil society in Sri Lanka. [52869]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) 2010 Human Rights and Democracy Report highlights areas of progress, as well as the challenges that remain. The report is available on the FCO Website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/human-rights/around-the-world/human-rights-report/
We remain concerned about the difficult environment for civil society groups, media and opposition. Prominent human rights defenders have faced criticism from the Government, human rights organisations have experienced difficulties with visas to work in Sri Lanka and activists have been intimidated when carrying out their work. We continue to make our concerns known to the Government of Sri Lanka most recently when I met the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 31 March 2011.
Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the role of the military in civilian life in Sri Lanka. [53620]
Alistair Burt: Although the military conflict ended in May 2009, military personnel in Sri Lanka continue to maintain a significant presence. We are aware of increasing involvement by the Sri Lankan army in civilian activities, including law enforcement, particularly in the north. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence also control the Urban Development Authority. We believe the extension of military activity to areas of civilian life may hinder the reconciliation process.
3 May 2011 : Column 619W
Sri Lanka: Press Freedom
Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on media freedom in Sri Lanka. [53619]
Alistair Burt: We monitor the issue of media freedom in Sri Lanka closely. The media there continues to operate in a difficult environment. We regularly urge the Government of Sri Lanka to take decisive action to guarantee press freedom and raise particular cases of concern. Our 2010 Human Rights and Democracy Report:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/human-rights/around-the-world/human-rights-report/
highlights areas of progress as well as the challenges that remain.
Northern Ireland
Royal Ulster Constabulary: Catholicism
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary were (a) Catholic and (b) Protestant at the time it was disbanded. [52677]
Mr Paterson: The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) came into being on 4 November 2001, by virtue of section 1 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. At that time there was a total of 9,446 police officers, including reserve officers. Of that total 756 were Catholic, 8,305 were Protestant and 385 were of undetermined community background.
Transport
Aviation: Working Hours
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions Ministers in his Department have had in the Council of Ministers on (a) the European Aviation Safety Agency and (b) Flight Time Limitations. [53604]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd) of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 178W.
Railways: Electrification
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that Network Rail take steps to reduce delays and cancellations caused by the freezing of the third electrified rail on South East franchise rail lines. [46980]
Mrs Villiers: The “third-rail” electrified network has suffered disruption during the last three winters because of the formation of ice on electrical conductor rails. As a result, during 2010 Network Rail installed experimental heating elements at selected sites to keep the conductor rail free of ice when such conditions arise.
3 May 2011 : Column 620W
It is understood that very good test results were achieved during the severe weather in December 2010, and Network Rail is now proposing to install the system at an additional 160 sites.
I have discussed this potential solution with senior representatives of Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation, and will continue to monitor the progress of this and other actions to improve rail service resilience in the future.
The Quarmby review of the resilience of England's transport systems in winter recommended that conversion of the top contact/third rail system to a less vulnerable method of traction current supply should be considered and evaluated.
The Secretary of State asked the rail industry to formulate proposals in response to the recommendations in the report, including third-rail alternatives, to help the rail system to improve its resilience in winter weather.
In addition the Rail Safety and Standards Board has initiated a research study into the economics of converting to alternatives to the third rail DC system. The outputs of this research work will help inform future investment decisions in relation to the electrified rail network.
Justice
Crime
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions (a) antisocial behaviour orders, (b) acceptable behaviour contracts, (c) warnings, (d) individual support plans, (e) action plan orders, (f) child safety orders, (g) referral orders, (h) parenting orders, (i) parenting contracts, (j) local child curfew schemes, (k) dispersal powers, (l ) fixed penalty notices for disorderly behaviour, (m) detention and training orders, (n) seizure of vehicles used antisocially, (o) closure of licensed premises, (p) confiscation of alcohol from young people and (q) designated public places orders have been used in each (i) local authority and (ii) basic command unit of each police authority area in each region of England and Wales in each year since 2007. [53376]
Mr Blunt: The available information required to answer this question is currently being collated. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available. A copy will be placed in the House Library.
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) prosecutions have been brought and (b) fixed penalty notices have been issued by (i) police and (ii) local authorities for (A) fly-tipping, (B) graffiti, (C) dog fouling, (D) the dropping of litter and (E) parking offences in each year since 2008. [53398]
Mr Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17 March 2011, Official Report, column 558W, for the requested information on the number of prosecutions.
Regarding the information requested on fixed penalty notices, please note that a penalty notice for disorder (PND) may be issued for offences of criminal damage (which includes graffiti) and littering. See Table 1 for
3 May 2011 : Column 621W
the number of persons aged 16 and over issued with a PND for these offences in England and Wales for 2008 and 2009.
PND data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published data on fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for offences listed in parts (B) to (D) of the question. FPNs cannot be issued for fly-tipping. Police community support officers can issue FPNs on behalf of the local authority and these are included in the aggregated figure provided by each local authority to DEFRA. The available information on the number of FPNs issued, by offence type, in England for 2007-08 and 2008-09 can be viewed in Table 2. DEFRA advise that this data collection is now discontinued.
The Home Office advises that information for parking offences in 2008 and 2009 is published in chapter 3 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Police Powers and Procedures 2009/10", a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House. Fixed penalty notice data for 2010 are due to be published in 2011.
| Table 1: Number of persons aged 16 and over issued with a penalty notice for disorder for criminal damage and depositing and leaving litter offences, England and Wales, 2008 and 2009 (1) | ||
|
|
2008 | 2009 |
| (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. | ||
3 May 2011 : Column 622W
| Table 2: Number of fixed penalty notices issued in England, 2007-08 and 2008-09 | |
| (B) Graffiti | |
| Reporting year (April to March) | Number |
| (C) Dog fouling | |
| Reporting year (April to March) | Number |
| (D) Litter | |
| Reporting year (April to March) | Number |
| Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. | |
Driving Offences
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been prosecuted for driving a car while uninsured in each police authority area in the East of England in each year since 2006. [53381]
Mr Blunt: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts in the East of England region for driving without insurance, by police force area, for the year 2006-09 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
| Number of persons proceeded against at the magistrates court for driving without insurance, in the East of England region by police force area, 2006-09 (1, 2) | |||||
| Statute | Offence description | Proceeded against | |||
| Road Traffic Act 1988 S.143(2) | Using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice. | |||||
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many drivers have been prosecuted for (a) offences under sections (i) 3 and (ii) 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and (b) failing to stop after an accident under the provisions of that Act in Suffolk in each year since 2009. [53443]
Mr Blunt: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave on 10 March 2011, Official Report, columns 1211-12W.
Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
3 May 2011 : Column 623W
Human Trafficking: Sentencing
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to increase the length of sentences for traffickers in forced labour cases for the purposes of ensuring that sentences passed (a) reflect the seriousness of the crime committed and (b) are significant enough to act as an effective deterrent. [53330]
Mr Blunt: The offences of trafficking people for exploitation, trafficking people for prostitution and trafficking people for sexual exploitation all carry a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment, which reflects the seriousness of these crimes. Within the maximum penalty, sentencing is entirely a matter for the courts, taking account of all the circumstances of each case and any relevant sentencing guidelines and case law.
Offenders
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders on (a) probation and (b) licence have travelled abroad unsupervised in each of the last three years. [53006]
Mr Blunt: Information on the number of offenders who have been given permission to travel abroad while on licence is not held centrally. To provide such information would incur disproportionate cost.
Police: Prison Accommodation
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners are being held in police cells; at what cost; and how many have been so held in (a) England and Wales and (b) each police force area in each year since 2009. [53405]
Mr Blunt: Police cells, under Operation Safeguard, have not been used since 22 September 2008 and no police cells under Operation Safeguard have been on stand by since the end of October 2008.
In addition to Operation Safeguard arrangements, prisoners may be held overnight in police cells as a “lockout”. Lockouts can arise from a number of factors, including late court sittings, which can compromise the contractors' ability to deliver the prisoner to prison prior to the reception closure time. Under an agreement between NOMS and ACPO, NOMS are charged a flat rate fee of £55.00 per prisoner per night for the use of police cells in these circumstances.
On 26 April 2010, Official Report, column168W, I provided my hon. Friend with the total number of prisoners held overnight in a police cell as a lockout in 2010.
The following table shows the number of lockouts in 2009, 2010 (information provided previously) and 2011 (up to 31 March).
| Number of l ockouts in 2009, 2010 and 2011 (1) by police force area | |||
| Police force | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 (1) |
3 May 2011 : Column 624W
| (1) Up to 31 March | |||
Prison Service: Violence
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Prison Service's policy on zero tolerance on violence; [52778]
(2) what checks are in place to ensure the accuracy of reporting of assaults on Prison Service staff. [52672]
Mr Blunt: NOMS is folly committed to zero tolerance to violence in prisons. No act of violence is acceptable, be it verbal, physical or directed at property. Zero tolerance is a proactive approach to reducing violence in all its forms, in our prisons, and is subject to ongoing and robust monitoring.
3 May 2011 : Column 625W
The Incident Reporting System (IRS, now integrated on to the NOMIS system) is used to record events that undermine the safety of those within an establishment. Assaults are one category of IRS data. The data-entry process is largely reliant on each establishment accurately recording incidents as they occur.
Every assault incident entered onto NOMIS is subject to a central check to ensure that the incident has been reported correctly on the reporting system. If the incident has been reported incorrectly then the establishment is contacted and asked to rectify the error. Once the incident has been entered correctly it is locked and the establishment is no longer able to modify the incident report without contacting NOMS HQ. At regular intervals NOMS HQ will follow up any outstanding incidents with establishments to ensure they are captured accurately and in full.
NOMS uses NOMIS data to undertake quarterly monitoring on levels of violence, referrals to the police and the number of successful prosecutions.
NOMS is committed to open reporting and since 2009 data on violence in prisons has been published in the Ministry of Justice Safety in Custody statistics.
Prisons: Private Sector
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost per prisoner place in each private sector prison (a) including and (b) excluding any capital repayment element in each of the last five years. [53338]
Mr Blunt: The following two tables show the cost per place and per prisoner for the four years 2006-07 to 2009-10. Figures for 2010-11 are not yet available.
For each year the direct cost is shown. Additionally, for 2007-08 to 2009-10 an overall cost is also shown (this information was not collected prior to 2007-08). The direct cost reflects mainly the direct contract costs for each private prison. The overall cost also includes costs met centrally by NOMS, including rates, depreciation, cost of capital, major maintenance, prisoner transport, etc. This includes some estimation.
The capital repayment element is not normally included in the cost per place/prisoner as it is not part of the annual resource operating cost. In table 2 it has been added to the direct cost only, as the overall cost figures in Table 1 already include depreciation and cost of capital charges.
Doncaster and Wolds are privately managed prisons, while the remainder are run under private finance initiative contract arrangements. Due to changes in accounting treatment over the period covered, the figures are not necessarily directly comparable.
Cost per prison place is expressed in terms of the baseline certified normal accommodation number of places, which will generally give a higher unit cost than the cost per prisoner.
3 May 2011 : Column 626W
| Table 1 | ||||
| 2009-10 | ||||
| Direct r esource e xpenditure (£) | Overall e xpenditure (£) | |||
| exc. Capital r epayment | Cost per place | Cost per prisoner | Cost per place | Cost per prisoner |
| 2008-09 | ||||
| Direct r esource e xpenditure (£) | Overall e xpenditure (£) | |||
| exc. Capital r epayment | Cost per place | Cost per prisoner | Cost per place | Cost per prisoner |
| 2007-08 | ||||
| Direct r esource e xpenditure (£) | Overall e xpenditure (£) | |||
| exc. Capital r epayment | Cost per place | Cost per prisoner | Cost per place | Cost per prisoner |
| 2006-07 | ||||
| Direct resource expenditure (£) | Overall expenditure (£) | |||
| exc. Capital repayment | Cost per place | Cost per prisoner | Cost per place | Cost per prisoner |
3 May 2011 : Column 627W
| Table 2 | ||
| 2009-10 | ||
| Inc. Capital repayment (direct resource expenditure ) | Cost per place (£) | Cost per prisoner (£) |
| 2008-09 | ||
| Inc. Capital repayment (direct resource expenditure) | Cost per place (£) | Cost per prisoner (£) |
| 2007-08 | ||
| Inc. Capital repayment (direct resource expenditure) | Cost per place (£) | Cost per prisoner (£) |
3 May 2011 : Column 628W
| 2006-07 | ||
| Inc. Capital repayment (direct resource expenditure) | Cost per place (£) | Cost per prisoner (£) |
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much disinvestment he expects will be required from each private sector prison in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [53336]
Mr Blunt: The level or nature of disinvestment has not yet been agreed. We are in negotiations with the main providers of contracts to central Government and decisions regarding the disinvestment in private sector prisons are dependent on the outcome of these discussions.
Prisons: Public Expenditure
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what level of efficiency savings he expects each of the public sector prisons to achieve in each of the next five years. [53335]
Mr Blunt: I assume the right hon. Member wants the percentage level of efficiency savings predictions for the next five years. There are currently targeted plans that span the spending review period through to 2014-15. As part of the plans to deliver the savings required in the current spending review, public sector prisons will be required to deliver real terms efficiency savings of 10% by 2014-15. The intention is not to realise the 10% savings equally across all of the public sector prisons, but to ensure that local factors are taken into account in efficiency plans.
Prisons: Visits
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people visiting prisons were found to be in possession of illegal drugs in each year since 2007-08; how many such people were referred to the police; and what steps were taken in respect of those not referred to the police in each such case. [53378]
Mr Blunt: Information on the number of visitors to prisons in England and Wales found in possession of illegal drugs is not recorded centrally. Information on the actions taken in respect of visitors not referred to police is now held at local level. To provide the information would require a detailed investigation into all local records and incur disproportionate cost. It is NOMS policy to refer all visitors found to be in possession of drugs, to the police.
3 May 2011 : Column 629W
The following table shows a breakdown by year of visitors arrested or apprehended who have been suspected of smuggling drugs into prisons in England and Wales.
|
|
Total |
These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
These figures may change should any further incidents relating to this period be identified and reported to NOMS.
Privacy
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on super-injunctions issued in relation to the right to privacy; and if he will make a statement. [53661]
Mr Djanogly: We are currently examining the issue of how reliable data on the number of injunctions issued by the courts might be collated in the future.
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to amend the law on privacy. [53662]
Mr Djanogly: The Government recognise the importance of finding the correct balance between individual rights to privacy on one hand with rights to freedom of expression and transparency of official information on the other. Our proposed reforms of the law of defamation are one aspect of this balancing process. Another is the Master of the Rolls' Committee to examine the use of super-injunctions and other issues relating to injunctions which bind the press. The Government will await the report from the Master of the Rolls Committee before deciding on next steps.